If that happens, no Cooper, no Rodda and no Carter Gordon.Yeah, I can see Thorn going for the gig later but he'll want complete autonomy.
Isn’t that Scott Johnson's job to manage? It was with Chekia.I sense that the forwards coach is having a bigger influence than just coaching the forwards.
They had that silly selection panel thing with Michael O’Connor and Johnson, but that seemed to disappear with Cheika. I’m actually not sure what Johnson’s job is these days, he seems to get paid 3/4 of a bar to do fuck all but that’s for another thread.Isn’t that Scott Johnson's job to manage? It was with Chekia.
Hodge has been the reserve back who could fill in anywhere but halfback from the bench. Seems at present that he’s equal to or better than the players he’s brought on to replace.did Hodge shoulder tackle Rennie's daughter? i see no other reason why he doesn't start at 15.. Banks is crap, he is worse than Mogg who i kinda liked, might score a try a game but butchers 3 others..
Hodge has been the reserve back who could fill in anywhere but halfback from the bench. Seems at present that he’s equal to or better than the players he’s brought on to replace.
Yeah, I kind of meant the last two. Should have written some of the players. It just seems unfair that his utility value is hurting the national side, when he offers more than the incumbent fullback and although he’s not as skilful or exciting as Lolo he has a calmer head and maturity to his game.Let's think about that claim.
Is Hodge better than Paisami at 12 - maybe. 13? No
Is Hodge better than Ikitau? Touch and go.
Is Hodge better than Koroibete? Not a chance
Kerevi? Nope.
Kellaway - with that drunken Camel running style? Go to be kidding.
To'omua? Mostly no, else wise touch and go.
Banks? OK you got me.
Lolo? That's the big question.
Hes better than Paisami and Ikitau for sure. He doesn't have their explosive power in contact but he can do all the other things a rugby player is expected to be able to do like kick and pass. Hes also experienced and won't take the wrong option 8/10 like those blokes.Let's think about that claim.
Is Hodge better than Paisami at 12 - maybe. 13? No
Is Hodge better than Ikitau? Touch and go.
Is Hodge better than Koroibete? Not a chance
Kerevi? Nope.
Kellaway - with that drunken Camel running style? Go to be kidding.
To'omua? Mostly no, else wise touch and go.
Banks? OK you got me.
Lolo? That's the big question.
Big concern with Quade as it was in his last games for wallabies is his defence. Not sure heard anything to suggest his defence improved so that side of his game may still be a weaknessThe difference we should look for in Quade is an ability to read the game and adjust, being able to pass short and long both ways and the ability to put others in space. These are all elements that so far Lolesio has failed to grasp. He may in time. Quade also has an excellent kicking game.
The SA rush defence would shut Noah down in a flash. We need to chip in behind and to show some variation to set them back half a step. Rennie knows that SA prefer to play most of the time without the pill so we can look forward to having it a lot. I’m not sure that we have the pace out wide to take advantage this week and we will need to be very smart about when we use it and when we give it back. Our kicking game has been pedestrian, invariably giving it directly back to the ABs in space. That needs to change.
We are also going to have to make some yards up the middle before we go wide. No easy task against this Bok side yet we did this reasonably well when Hodge came on at 10 last week.
Expectation is low as far as a win goes this week but I am looking for a varied smarter game to counter what the opposition throws at us. Of course we also need to front up at the coal face. Looking forward to it.
I'm not sure of the point you are trying to make but it reads as though you think that the players who have started the tests are entitled to stay there there because they were selected to start. I don't think anyone is rewriting history, we're all focusing on the now, which is pretty shit. It's never bothered me ever seeing Reece Hodge's name on the teamsheet anywhere, I've always been a supporter.Reece Hodge hasn't started a test this year, and yet I wonder how many Gaggers are editing their posting history from "not good enough to train with the squad" to "best flyhalf/centre/wing/fullback in the team!"
Yet the Boks are world champions and Lions' series champions for a reason.
Sounding a lot like this game will be without crowds. Surely RA got some assurances from the Qld govt when they moved the tournament there, but Anna is Anna. Hopefully they’ll just have the sense to have some localised lockdowns.
Yes, I kind of had similar thoughts myself, that was written before yesterday's presser BTW. Politics would dictate that if there is a lockdown it will be after all the sport has finished tonight and be lifted in time for next weekend's fixtures - 'be seen to be doing the right thing'.There is no lockdown as yet. If there is one (70% chance) it would not start today, it would start at 4 pm tomorrow, based on previous experience. It would be for three or four days, I reckon. Anna being Anna, she will bend over backwards to keep all the pro sporting events full functional.
Not me, I always considered him as the perfect utility off the bench. It just seems that although he still fills that role well, some of the players ahead of him are getting picked ahead of him as they don’t have that versatility. You have to drop banks altogether if not picked as he can only really play fullback. At five eighth he’d be close to our best option at present because JOC (James O'Connor) is injured and Lolo (or any of the other young playmakers queueing up) needs more experience. In years to come we aren’t going to talk about him like we do Gregan, Ella, Horan, et al, but at present he’s unlucky not to be getting a start.Reece Hodge hasn't started a test this year, and yet I wonder how many Gaggers are editing their posting history from "not good enough to train with the squad" to "best flyhalf/centre/wing/fullback in the team!"