The Wallabies Thread

[TOCC]

Even that can be sorted out, the Boks often have a guy on the ball runners hip driving him across the advantage line and becoming the first cleanout

The Tahs were doing for a while as well

It doesn't even have to be individual(s) in the pack, for a long time the guy to get us go forward was Sterling Mortlock, his crash ball usually started the momentum

If it were they easy to be sorted out then it would have occurred already..

It's why MC persists with Skelton even when he is obviously lacking in fitness, why he stuck with Palu well into his twilight and why Timani was brought into an extended bench despite technical deficiencies in a number of areas.

 

[mark_s]

That depends on whether you regard our problems as problems of form, or class, or circumstance.

It's clearly form and maybe a touch if circumstance (incl. injuries), but also momentum and that's what I am a nervous Nellie about. If we get 2 or 3 losses in a row I can see it being hard to stop the rot from here on. Makes this weeks game all important.

 

[Groucho]

Exactly rugby is about using the resources available, not wishing and hoping for some magical player to be excreted from the someone's arse.

The Reds won the comp moving the ball away from contact as quickly as possible, not by having crash ball pigs getting go forward

The Tahs by using two pods with the apex having a unit on his hip

The challenge for the Wobs is that their set piece fundamentals have not let us use any structure or create any pressure for a lot of the first games of the season (it could have been all different if some of those opportunities vs the poms came off, because we were in those games for long periods and confidence is an amazing thing)

This. fatprop for selector.

 

[KAOPointman]

Ok, so what I want to know is where did all the Quade haters go all of a sudden! He's finally back and it's no coincidence that the Wallabies now have a legitimate attacking mastermind again. Foley just isn't at the level required to compete against the worlds best teams. He's solid but that's it. Him playing centre could probably be played by numerous "super rugby" quality players.....who often just need to move the ball on or run hard n straight at the line!
As far as I'm concerned, Quade has shown more then enough that what he brings to the wallabies is invaluable to how we need to be able to play when the cituation calls for it. (as he also did for the 7s team but was mind blowingly dropped) And look how that turned out.
It's been like flicking a switch bringing Quade back in. All of a sudden we have a wallabies team with some legitimate flair and some real threat in attack.
As a die hard Wallaby supporter.......It's such a refreshing thing to see!

 

[TOCC]

Foley was world class in 2015, his performance against England at the RWC was one of the best Wallaby 5/8 performances in recent years... but there's no denying he is out of form in 2016, that's impacted on his confidence and the way he plays, he has started standing deeper in attack and his decision making isn't as crisp.

I said his Japanese 'flexi-contract' was fools gold as it doesn't allow the players an offseason for mental and physical rejuvenation, no player has returned from a Flexi-contract/back to back season and played as well as they did before they left, Foley is no exception to this. He is due for an off-season to get his body right and have a mental break form the game.

 

[Highlander35]

(as he also did for the 7s team but was deservedly dropped)

FTFY

 

[KAOPointman]

FTFY

Let me guess....you missed all the 7s games this year.........otherwise you would have seen the clear difference in our team when Quade was in the squad, but espescially when on the field. Apparently the excuse was he wouldn't be ready in time......but yet he ran the game and the halftime chat when playing. Now why would that be allowed to happen? (Espescialy when it was working). Pah.....the decision was clearly political in some form!

Now compare Quade who hasn't even been in the country playing with these guys every week. He's been in France and getting in shape for 7s......but fits near seemlessly back in and improves our attacking stocks. It's clear the type of player they both are.....

 

[Highlander35]

Let me guess..you missed all the 7s games this year...otherwise you would have seen the clear difference in our team when Quade was in the squad, but espescially when on the field. Apparently the excuse was he wouldn't be ready in time..but yet he ran the game and the halftime chat when playing. Now why would that be allowed to happen? (Espescialy when it was working). Pah...the decision was clearly political in some form!

Now compare Quade who hasn't even been in the country playing with these guys every week. He's been in France and getting in shape for 7s..but fits near seemlessly back in and improves our attacking stocks. It's clear the type of player they both are...

Mate. I watched every tournament, including the Oceania Qualifiers.

Classic Quade. Best on attack would win you the match regardless of opposition. Worst on attack would lose you the match regardless of the opposition. Tackling was fine and he produced more of his best than his worst.

However, he had tactical deficiencies in both offensive and defensive aspects of his game that could only be increased through gametime. Having made himself unavailable for all but 4 tournaments (and by making the decision to sign for Toulon, he did knowingly make himself unavailable) there was insufficient time to iron out those deficiencies which were more likely to lose you a game than win one, when a single mistake costs you a try more often than not.

Friend made lots of mistakes. Quade wasn't one of them.

 

[TOCC]

I think having Quade in the Sevens squad would have made it stronger, but given the time he had to pick up the style and intricacies it was still not good enough to win gold at the olympics.

But, i feel like this discussion has already been done 4 months ago in another thread.

 

[liquor box]

Ok, so what I want to know is where did all the Quade haters go all of a sudden! He's finally back and it's no coincidence that the Wallabies now have a legitimate attacking mastermind again. Foley just isn't at the level required to compete against the worlds best teams. He's solid but that's it. Him playing centre could probably be played by numerous "super rugby" quality players...who often just need to move the ball on or run hard n straight at the line!
As far as I'm concerned, Quade has shown more then enough that what he brings to the wallabies is invaluable to how we need to be able to play when the cituation calls for it. (as he also did for the 7s team but was mind blowingly dropped) And look how that turned out.
It's been like flicking a switch bringing Quade back in. All of a sudden we have a wallabies team with some legitimate flair and some real threat in attack.
As a die hard Wallaby supporter...It's such a refreshing thing to see!

As a die hard Reds supporter I am very happy that the Wallabies remaining southern hemisphere tests and the spring tour will allow Quade to play himself into form for the Reds.

Foley has been adequate and at times great but I doubt the other backs were overly excited at the opportunity that he provides them to play well.

Having Cooper at 10 at least means that every back is pretty much assured of one pass that will give them a chance of scoring a try (might be long range!) if they are good enough.

He has plenty of issues that could be improved but so do all of the Australian backline. His positives outweigh the negatives.

Surely with our defensive coach can come up with a simple quick fix

 

[barbarian]

TOCC this whole thread, this whole board, this whole site is just the same 8 or 9 debates on a loop until the apocalypse.

At the moment we've got:

1. Quade at 10
2. Quade in the 7s
3. Rugby on FTA TV
4. ARU failing the grassroots
5. Rob Simmons is the worst

And the ones currently dormant but could return:

5. Liam Gill has been shafted
6. Kurtley Beale is a grub/the saviour
7. Nick Phipps can't pass
8. League converts - good or bad
9. SANZAAR judiciary madness.

And that's not even starting on the Tom Carter threads.......
.

 

[wamberal]

If there were more posters there would be more opinions.


And you omitted the ones about Foley not being able to kick (although he seems to have finally learned to keep his head down when kicking for goal). Better later than never, I guess.

 

[TOCC]

On another note, one specialist number 8 option, Leroy Houston had a cracker of a game vs Worcester earning man of the match over the weekend

 

[dru]

EDIT: sorry bloke. I

TOCC this whole thread, this whole board, this whole site is just the same 8 or 9 debates on a loop until the apocalypse.

At the moment we've got:

1. Quade at 10
2. Quade in the 7s
3. Rugby on FTA TV
4. ARU failing the grassroots
5. Rob Simmons is the worst

And the ones currently dormant but could return:

5. Liam Gill has been shafted
6. Kurtley Beale is a grub/the saviour
7. Nick Phipps can't pass
8. League converts - good or bad
9. SANZAAR judiciary madness.

And that's not even starting on the Tom Carter threads...
.

EDIT: pulling back my response as I really fucked it up. This bit stays:

"Barbarian, I reread my list of "loop tapes" and find what is interesting is not the similarities but the differences."

Everything else was me forgetting where the hell I was.

 

[Groucho]

On another note, one specialist number 8 option, Leroy Houston had a cracker of a game vs Worcester earning man of the match over the weekend

Houston has unlimited potential but he always did. I'd give him a run.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I like the concept of Leroy, but I want to see a lot more realisation at Super level next season before saying he's any kind of answer at eight.

 

[RebelYell]

Will be interesting to see if a replacement is called into the squad? Probably unlikely as players have a week off now before heading to SA, and you would assume that either McCalman or Fardy will join the touring party, but at the same time I have no doubt that if Gilly was around he would be on that plane as a 3rd option at 7, and Leroy might have been an option as well.

For example, if Sean or Hoops got injured in SA and we had nobody else who could cover 7, I would be very concerned. At 6, we will have three options; Mumm, Fardy, Simmons/McMahon/Timani. 8: Timani, McMahon, McCalman. 7? Just Hooper & McMahon.

I would personally add Jarrad Butler at the expense of McCalman as he covers 7 and 8 and has done the hard yards to be in good form in the NRC. Time to reward that competition and a great servant to Aus Rugby.

Obviously for different reasons (injury/overseas) Holloway, C Fainga'a, Hodgson, Higginbotham, Palu all unavailable; I can't see a better option than Butler

 

[fatprop]

Leroy is in the UK playing

edit repeat of TOCC

 

[Brumby Runner]

I am not sold on Butler at either 7 or 8 at Super level, so I'd really be concerned if he made the Wallabies. Very much in the same mold as McCalman and Schatz in terms of impact on a game (KOB please note).

If another 7 is required at any stage, then in the absence of Gilly, I'd go with Colby Fa'ainga. Great motor and an authentic pilferer. Can also cover 8 but not so good there.

 

[TSR]

If another 7 is required, I'd probably go with Jordy Reid. But, to my knowledge neither he nor Colby has had any involvement to date with the Wallabies squad. I would suspect that players with squad experience will be first in the queue for the last two games of the RC.