The Wallabies Thread

[Up the Guts]

All this talk of Folau playing wing for the Wobs instead of Fullback.

Just who is the upgrade?

I could understand "if" we had a better 15, who could run and catch near as well as Folau - and had that quality kicking game

I just don't see anyone that is an actual upgrade

And Folau can kick penalties from 50m out. What other fullback in the Australian Conference can do that?

 

[Derpus]

All this talk of Folau playing wing for the Wobs instead of Fullback.

Just who is the upgrade?

I could understand "if" we had a better 15, who could run and catch near as well as Folau - and had that quality kicking game

I just don't see anyone that is an actual upgrade

DHP i shpose. He aint as good at running or catching but he's got a bit of a kicking game.

 

[Derpus]

You are probably right FP, I'd be happy with either he or Naivalu TBH.

The bigger query is who is going to be 13 - Kerevi's playing OK but his defence is sus and probably will remain so. TK is being very uninspiring however he generally lifts once he pulls gold on. Hodge would have to be a contender but he's not going great either.

TK will be dropped, we'll ship 50 points to Ireland in the first match and he'll be reinstated.

 

[Zero_Cool]

All this talk of Folau playing wing for the Wobs instead of Fullback.

Just who is the upgrade?

I could understand "if" we had a better 15, who could run and catch near as well as Folau - and had that quality kicking game

I just don't see anyone that is an actual upgrade

DHP and Hunt IF fit are clear upgrades (in terms of pure play at fullback). If nothing else Folau IS a winger and has been playing out of position for the majority of his career.

 

[Derpus]

DHP and Hunt IF fit are clear upgrades (in terms of pure play at fullback). If nothing else Folau IS a winger and has been playing out of position for the majority of his career.

Lol Hunt. You funny guy.

 

[TOCC]

I could understand "if" we had a better 15, who could run and catch near as well as Folau - and had that quality kicking game

I just don't see anyone that is an actual upgrade

Interesting that you exclude ‘passing’ from that list of attributes that we should expect of Wallabies fullback..

Folaus strengths are his strength in contact and aerial skills, his comparative weaknesses are passing and kicking. His ineffectiveness in linking with other players on counter attack makes and/or presenting the option of an effective kick return limit the Wallabies ability to control territory.

Now I’m not slagging Folau,I think folau has amazing strengths and attributes, I just feel he could play to those same strengths just as well if not better from the wing. Conversely if you have a fullback like DHP, who can link up with his other wingers through his passing and has a decent kicking game then I think that would benefit the overall team.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Interesting that you exclude ‘passing’ from that list of attributes that we should expect of Wallabies fullback..

Folaus strengths are his strength in contact and aerial skills, his comparative weaknesses are passing and kicking. His ineffectiveness in linking with other players on counter attack makes and/or presenting the option of an effective kick return limit the Wallabies ability to control territory.

Now don’t get upset I’m not slagging Folau,I think folau has amazing strengths and attributes, I just feel he could play to those same
strengths just as wel if not better form the wing,

If one was to list Folsu's strengths and weaknesses and then see only that list, even Blind Freddy would tell you he's a winger.

 

[fatprop]

Interesting that you exclude ‘passing’ from that list of attributes that we should expect of Wallabies fullback..

Folaus strengths are his strength in contact and aerial skills, his comparative weaknesses are passing and kicking. His ineffectiveness in linking with other players on counter attack makes and/or presenting the option of an effective kick return limit the Wallabies ability to control territory.

Now I’m not slagging Folau,I think folau has amazing strengths and attributes, I just feel he could play to those same strengths just as well if not better from the wing. Conversely if you have a fullback like DHP, who can link up with his other wingers through his passing and has a decent kicking game then I think that would benefit the overall team.

I don't dispute his weaknesses, I just question whether the current other options are an actual upgrade

 

[Jagman]

Izzy has 62 Wallaby caps meaning he's eligible under Giteau's law to play overseas and still be picked. Whether he plays in Kiwi land, Japan or even the UK, the ARU/Cheika can still pick him and not be hypocritical or open the flood gates.

Bit of a moot argument to be frank.

Folau doesn't have 7 years in Australian rugby so he's not eligible for the Giteau clause. its 60 tests + 7 years

 

[wamberal]

Folau doesn't have 7 years in Australian rugby so he's not eligible for the Giteau clause. its 60 tests + 7 years

Maybe time to change the clause. Said partly in jest.

 

[RugbyReg]

Folau doesn't have 7 years in Australian rugby so he's not eligible for the Giteau clause. its 60 tests + 7 years

it's arbitrary. They'll change it if they need to.

 

[Zero_Cool]

it's arbitrary. They'll change it if they need to.

Exactly, you would have thought something like 5 years and 50 caps would be a sensible point to draw the line at. But I don't think they'll change it for Folau, he's good but he's not THAT good.

 

[Derpus]

Just to add to the TK thingo. He looks a bit shite but also he's looking shite in the worst Aussie backline going round.

Team sport and all that. With Beale or Kerevi inside him and a few decent runners outside him he'll be just fine.

 

[TOCC]

TK is a very coachable player, technically he is the most complete centre in Australian Rugby, he runs better lines then any of the other centres options, and his defensive alignment and positioning is as good as any at test level.

He is the Wallabies version of Conrad Smith, not overly flashy or oozing in x-factor, but strong in contact and plays to a solid game plan, at test level that counts for a lot.

 

[Tomikin]

TK is a very coachable player, technically he is the most complete centre in Australian Rugby, he runs better lines then any of the other centres options, and his defensive alignment and positioning is as good as any at test level.

He is the Wallabies version of Conrad Smith, not overly flashy or oozing in x-factor, but strong in contact and plays to a solid game plan, at test level that counts for a lot.

Specially with no dominant defenders inside him..He should start OC till someone can put in the defensive work he does. That's not Kervi..His defensive reads where good at inside centre. Maybe CFS is a chance.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[RoffsChoice]

Even at his worst, Kuridrani is an acomplished tackler and makes good defensive reads to shut down overlaps, and his runs always draw defenders, such that, even when he doesn't break the line, he makes gaps elsewhere.

 

[Slim 293]

TK is a very coachable player, technically he is the most complete centre in Australian Rugby, he runs better lines then any of the other centres options, and his defensive alignment and positioning is as good as any at test level.

He is the Wallabies version of Conrad Smith, not overly flashy or oozing in x-factor, but strong in contact and plays to a solid game plan, at test level that counts for a lot.

I would've had him down as the Wallabies version of Ma'a Nonu...........

Every year his selection is questioned on the back of average Super Rugby form, but always delivers at test level.

 

[Up the Guts]

Probably better to pick Kurindrani who will be, at worst, average in attack rather than conceding 40 points in a half like last year.

However much Kerevi improves over the course of his career (and he has improved this year) I feel it is going to be very hard for him to totally remove the doubts surrounding his defensive capabilities at 13. Even though the poor defensive effort against the ABs in Sydney last year wasn't all on Kerevi I can really only see him starting at 13 if others are injured.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Probably better to pick Kurindrani who will be, at worst, average in attack rather than conceding 40 points in a half like last year.

However much Kerevi improves over the course of his career (and he has improved this year) I feel it is going to be very hard for him to totally remove the doubts surrounding his defensive capabilities at 13. Even though the poor defensive effort against the ABs in Sydney last year wasn't all on Kerevi I can really only see him starting at 13 if others are injured.

I find it very ironic that we are talking about Kerevi being a bad defender and that keeping him out of a Wallabies team... in a team that's likely to consist of Foley, Beale, and Folau. The only player in Australian Rugby who is more of a turnstile is Quade Cooper. We literally hide all three of them in defence either on the wing or at fullback (except not Folau at fullback because he can't defend there).

Kerevi is a fine defender, he struggles in an overly complex defencive system, but we shouldn't need an overly complex system. Maybe you have your 10 drop back to 15 that should be the extent of your defencive systems. Players playing for the Wallabies should be fucking amazing at what they do or they should just front up and defend their position. -_-

While Kerevi might have some short fallings, he's far from the problem, the problem is that 3 of our starting XV literally can't or won't defend in their positions.
This is the one thing that pushes me to forgive the Reds for dumping Quade -- at least everyone is defending at their position.

 

[Up the Guts]

I find it very ironic that we are talking about Kerevi being a bad defender and that keeping him out of a Wallabies team. in a team that's likely to consist of Foley, Beale, and Folau. The only player in Australian Rugby who is more of a turnstile is Quade Cooper. We literally hide all three of them in defence either on the wing or at fullback (except not Folau at fullback because he can't defend there).

Kerevi is a fine defender, he struggles in an overly complex defencive system, but we shouldn't need an overly complex system. Maybe you have your 10 drop back to 15 that should be the extent of your defencive systems. Players playing for the Wallabies should be fucking amazing at what they do or they should just front up and defend their position. -_-

While Kerevi might have some short fallings, he's far from the problem, the problem is that 3 of our starting XV literally can't or won't defend in their positions.
This is the one thing that pushes me to forgive the Reds for dumping Quade -- at least everyone is defending at their position.

If those three are as poor as you say wouldn’t that be an argument for picking Kurindrani, the better defender, over Kerevi to hold the defence together (given Beale, Folau, and Foley are the best combination to play). It’s not really a matter of how kerevi defends relative to the others it is about what the best combination is with the other backs.