The Wallabies Thread

[KOB1987]

Look - it’s my opinion. If you don’t agree that is fine. If I’m doing anyone a disservice here it is Lance.

One of the things that was evident to me when I picked this is that we are still struggling for depth at 10. Foley has had 40 good minutes, that’s it. I am happy with my pick.

I'd agree with that, although Foley hasn't been great so far this season I don't think anyone has done enough to unseat him from the first test as the incumbent, but I'd love to see Lance included in the squad as his deputy, get a run off the bench and if he turns himself into the first pick then good on him. 10 is clearly a problem for us and as has been stated several times the issue of Super teams importing 10's hasn't helped the situation.

 

[TSR]

I find picking the test team at this point is a bit pointless. Injuries are inevitable. But just for clarity this is the test team I expect (with a couple of players bracketed in some positions).

1. Slipper/Sio
2. TPN
3. Kepu/ Ala'alatoa
4. Rodda
5. Coleman
6. One of Hanigan/Dempsey - someone who is a genuine lineout option
7. Hooper
8. Pocock
9. Genia
10. Foley
11. Koriobete
12. Beale
13. Kuridrani (maybe CFS if the current form of both players stays consistent)
14. Hodge
15. Folau

On current form I think Tupou is genuinely pushing at the 3 jersey. He may have struggled with the ref last night but generally has been scrumming well. I don’t really think they will go for either Debreczni or Lance on the bench. I think they will rely on Beale to cover Foley for injury and pick two guys like Kerevi & Maddocks

 

[ShtinaTina]

Glad someone said it. Certainly last year he was excellent.

I’m sick of seeing the same comments on his past form, neglecting to see his improvement.
He has been better than Moore for a good few years & was bang on last year, should’ve worn 2 the entire Wallaby 2017 campaign.

 

[Up the Guts]

I find picking the test team at this point is a bit pointless. Injuries are inevitable. But just for clarity this is the test team I expect (with a couple of players bracketed in some positions).

1. Slipper/Sio
2. TPN
3. Kepu/ Ala'alatoa
4. Rodda
5. Coleman
6. One of Hanigan/Dempsey - someone who is a genuine lineout option
7. Hooper
8. Pocock
9. Genia
10. Foley
11. Koriobete
12. Beale
13. Kuridrani (maybe CFS if the current form of both players stays consistent)
14. Hodge
15. Folau

Agree it's probably the team I would expect but it's a little uninspiring in some regards. I'm not a big fan of the Pooper and Kurindrani has been pretty disappointing at 13 so far, I'd also prefer a Tupou/Kepu combination at 3. A big 8 like Timu (not sure if he's eligible or whether he could replicate his form at Wallaby level) or Valetini (shame about the injury otherwise he may have been knocking down the door) with either Pocock or Hooper off the bench would make for a powerful well-rounded pack.

 

[Derpus]

I’m sick of seeing the same comments on his past form, neglecting to see his improvement.
He has been better than Moore for a good few years & was bang on last year, should’ve worn 2 the entire Wallaby 2017 campaign.

Starting Moore against Scotland was simply ridiculous. People bang on about selecting the best 15 etc, and then Moore gets picked for sentimentality.

 

[Derpus]

Agree it's probably the team I would expect but it's a little uninspiring in some regards. I'm not a big fan of the Pooper and Kurindrani has been pretty disappointing at 13 so far, I'd also prefer a Tupou/Kepu combination at 3. A big 8 like Timu (not sure if he's eligible or whether he could replicate his form at Wallaby level) or Valetini (shame about the injury otherwise he may have been knocking down the door) with either Pocock or Hooper off the bench would make for a powerful well-rounded pack.

Hooper is a shoe-in for 7. Pocock has been out for ages, coming back from injury and Hooper is now Wallabies captain.

Unless Pocock shows some phenomenal form or we revert to the dreaded Pooper he'll be coming off the bench.

 

[Up the Guts]

Hooper is a shoe-in for 7. Pocock has been out for ages, coming back from injury and Hooper is now Wallabies captain.

Unless Pocock shows some phenomenal form or we revert to the dreaded Pooper he'll be coming off the bench.

It’ll be interesting to see how these new laws about the tackler having to enter through the gate affect Pocock’s pilfering ability. Certainly Creevy seems to be getting just as many turnovers for the Jaguares as before the rule change though so hopefully it’s the same for Pocock.

 

[KOB1987]

Hooper is a shoe-in for 7. Pocock has been out for ages, coming back from injury and Hooper is now Wallabies captain.

Unless Pocock shows some phenomenal form or we revert to the dreaded Pooper he'll be coming off the bench.

We'll still have the Pooper but it will be for the last part of the game, not the first part. For some reason people don't mind it in this situation but starting with it is a no-no. I think it's a strategic decision as to what part of the game it's most effective. But I agree, Pocock will need to really smash it before the Ireland series to make the starting side.

 

[TSR]

I would love to see Timu start at 8 if he keeps going how he has been. I rewatched the Reds game this morning. He really looks like the goods. But I don’t see him in the same backrow as Hooper & Pocock and I just feel that is the way Cheika will go.

But really - what do I know about what Cheika is thinking. He has shown a love for bruising backrowers before.

As excellent as Pocock & Hooper both are I would personally be okay if Cheika decides to pick one and go with it.

And yes, I am assuming that Pocock comes back at his normal, influential best from injury which seems a big if, but he’s done it before.

 

[TSR]

I’m sick of seeing the same comments on his past form, neglecting to see his improvement.
He has been better than Moore for a good few years & was bang on last year, should’ve worn 2 the entire Wallaby 2017 campaign.

I can imagine the frustration - but if it helps it is my view that far more people recognise what a wonderful player TPN is, what a loyal servant he has been to the game and what a fantastic & tireless role model he has been in the community.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'd agree with that, although Foley hasn't been great so far this season I don't think anyone has done enough to unseat him from the first test as the incumbent, but I'd love to see Lance included in the squad as his deputy, get a run off the bench and if he turns himself into the first pick then good on him. 10 is clearly a problem for us and as has been stated several times the issue of Super teams importing 10's hasn't helped the situation.

The issue of Lance being ignored over the past 12 months is also hardly helpful.

 

[KOB1987]

The issue of Lance being ignored over the past 12 months is also hardly helpful.

In fairness he was struggling to make the starting side for the Force after he came back from injury and that was after having already been moved on from the Reds and Waratahs. I know you're going to say that the latter was Cheika's mistake too, but they chose to keep Horwitz over him as they thought he had a brighter future. That could be perceived as a poor decision but in reality it's probably a reflection of how the two players measured up against each other at the time.

And he did go on the EOYT in 2016, he didn't get capped but he was there and he got a game, and he broke his arm. Prior to that Cheika was saying it's only a matter of time before he got capped, so he was well in the thought process. Often the decisions which are made aren't as simple as they seem from us viewing from the armchair.

 

[Killer]

In fairness he was struggling to make the starting side for the Force after he came back from injury and that was after having already been moved on from the Reds and Waratahs. I know you're going to say that the latter was Cheika's mistake too, but they chose to keep Horwitz over him as they thought he had a brighter future. That could be perceived as a poor decision but in reality it's probably a reflection of how the two players measured up against each other at the time.

And he did go on the EOYT in 2016, he didn't get capped but he was there and he got a game, and he broke his arm. Prior to that Cheika was saying it's only a matter of time before he got capped, so he was well in the thought process. Often the decisions which are made aren't as simple as they seem from us viewing from the armchair.

No, that's Wessel's coaching style. If a guy does the job and they are winning or near winning he keeps the start (rotation/rest aside)
Lance came back from 'another injury' to the bench and it actually was a very good partnership with him coming on late, so they kept it with just a few games remaining of the season.
Injuries aside Lance was always the preferred 10 at the Force.
Injuries will probably keep him out of the wallabies too, again.

 

[fatprop]

In fairness he was struggling to make the starting side for the Force after he came back from injury and that was after having already been moved on from the Reds and Waratahs. I know you're going to say that the latter was Cheika's mistake too, but they chose to keep Horwitz over him as they thought he had a brighter future. That could be perceived as a poor decision but in reality it's probably a reflection of how the two players measured up against each other at the time.

And he did go on the EOYT in 2016, he didn't get capped but he was there and he got a game, and he broke his arm. Prior to that Cheika was saying it's only a matter of time before he got capped, so he was well in the thought process. Often the decisions which are made aren't as simple as they seem from us viewing from the armchair.

stops this facts stuff, it gets in the way of the conspiracy

 

[TSR]

One if the reasons I posted an inform XV rather than a possible test 15 is that Foley vs whoever & the virtue of Pocock vs whomever has kind of been done to death.

Maybe this is just the wrong thread for it, but there are quite a lot of positives in the form of both the Rebels & the Reds and the Tahs & Brumbies are both last start winners. We won’t see wholesale changes to the Test side but I’m genuinely interested in people’s thoughts about which eligible players have grabbed their attention and might grab a squad place.

 

[Derpus]

One if the reasons I posted an inform XV rather than a possible test 15 is that Foley vs whoever & the virtue of Pocock vs whomever has kind of been done to death.

Maybe this is just the wrong thread for it, but there are quite a lot of positives in the form of both the Rebels & the Reds and the Tahs & Brumbies are both last start winners. We won’t see wholesale changes to the Test side but I’m genuinely interested in people’s thoughts about which eligible players have grabbed their attention and might grab a squad place.

If i had to choose one player it'd definitely be Maddocks. Seems he can play that 14/15 role you always need one of.

 

[KOB1987]

Tah goggles on but I think Holloway will probably get a call up to the wider squad at least.

 

[Braveheart81]

Of the incumbent players I think Hodge is also struggling for consistent form but it is flying under the radar in a good Rebels side. I'm not convinced he's in the form Rebels backline right now let alone the Wallabies.

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[Derpus]

Of the incumbent players I think Hodge is also struggling for consistent form but it is flying under the radar in a good Rebels side. I'm not convinced he's in the form Rebels backline right now let alone the Wallabies.

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Yeah Meakes/English would be a better centre pairing. Debrezeni can kick goals. Hodge, Naivalu and Maddocks all better outside backs.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Tah goggles on but I think Holloway will probably get a call up to the wider squad at least.

So I kind of have to eat my words on this but because of his recent form Timu he's almost the encumbent 8.
Holloway is good, and should be in the squad, but fuck me Timu is putting in big shifts!

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