Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Show-n-go]

But we're discussing RWC squads...

Giteau played several test matches at halfback, so had adequate experience in the position in case of having to act as emergency cover last RWC.

Foley has zero experience.





If the injury is to your first choice player, or it's a minor injury that will only rule the player out for a match or two, then it becomes a lot more complicated...

Imma say this one more time for the people in the back....

I don’t actually think this is going to happen or is my preferred option

Just think it’s a possibility

 

[Slim 293]

Imma say this one more time for the people in the back..

I don’t actually think this is going to happen or is my preferred option

Just think it’s a possibility

Of course it's a possibility, and possibly the best option depending on personnel.............

But there was a broader discussion occurring, which I think those people in the back were across.

Moving on.........

 

[RugbyReg]

But we're discussing RWC squads...

Giteau played several test matches at halfback, so had adequate experience in the position in case of having to act as emergency cover last RWC.

Foley has zero experience.





If the injury is to your first choice player, or it's a minor injury that will only rule the player out for a match or two, then it becomes a lot more complicated...

Giteau had played an entire club season as a half back. The suggestion that Foley could cover it makes as much sense as suggesting a backrower could cover the spot.

So you may well be coaching england or italy before you know it.

 

[Derpus]

Giteau had played an entire club season as a half back. The suggestion that Foley could cover it makes as much sense as suggesting a backrower could cover the spot.

So you may well be coaching england or italy before you know it.

Sort of, at the very least Foley can pass left to right.

 

[KOB1987]

He was a halfback in the Sevens team. It's a totally different concept I know but it does make him the only viable 3rd option, hence why we need to take 3 specialists.

 

[Braveheart81]

Given our schedule and having no short turnarounds, it makes sense to take 3 hookers and 3 halfbacks. It removes the risk of having to use a non-specialist as a reserve and hope you don't have to play them. It also gives you the opportunity to keep an injured player in the squad if it's a short term injury.

If you go with two halfbacks and Genia has a two week injury early in the tournament, you effectively have to replace him. If you have three halfbacks you can carry on and bring him back when he's healthy.

The third hooker and third halfback are very likely to push out a more deserving backrower and centre/outside back from the squad but the reality is that those players would have only got game time in the Uruguay game and possibly Georgia and are surplus to needs.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Giteau had played an entire club season as a half back. The suggestion that Foley could cover it makes as much sense as suggesting a backrower could cover the spot.

So you may well be coaching england or italy before you know it.

George Smith? But I do agree entirely with your point Reg.

 

[Rebels3]

Given our schedule and having no short turnarounds, it makes sense to take 3 hookers and 3 halfbacks. It removes the risk of having to use a non-specialist as a reserve and hope you don't have to play them. It also gives you the opportunity to keep an injured player in the squad if it's a short term injury.

If you go with two halfbacks and Genia has a two week injury early in the tournament, you effectively have to replace him. If you have three halfbacks you can carry on and bring him back when he's healthy.

The third hooker and third halfback are very likely to push out a more deserving backrower and centre/outside back from the squad but the reality is that those players would have only got game time in the Uruguay game and possibly Georgia and are surplus to needs.

I actually think this is the reason Jake Gordon should be in the squad. Say in the Uruguay/Georgia games, he could sit on the bench and with his pace could cover a wing spot as well as no.9. In the wallaby trial game last year he played some wing and was pretty good in limited time.

 

[fatprop]

Given our schedule and having no short turnarounds, it makes sense to take 3 hookers and 3 halfbacks. It removes the risk of having to use a non-specialist as a reserve and hope you don't have to play them. It also gives you the opportunity to keep an injured player in the squad if it's a short term injury.

If you go with two halfbacks and Genia has a two week injury early in the tournament, you effectively have to replace him. If you have three halfbacks you can carry on and bring him back when he's healthy.

The third hooker and third halfback are very likely to push out a more deserving backrower and centre/outside back from the squad but the reality is that those players would have only got game time in the Uruguay game and possibly Georgia and are surplus to needs.

Cheika in the Fox interview talked about the starting squad and the plans to augment that squad as injury replacements happen throughout the tournament

 

[RoffsChoice]

It's just a sensible thing to do; make sure you have three players who could play in any position. Lock, backrow, and wing are all pretty easy to have someone step in; they won't necessarily perform as well as someone who plays there all the time, but they can do a job.

But prop, hooker, scrumhalf, flyhalf, inside-centre, outside-centre, and fullback are specialist positions, and you will lose games putting someone there who isn't a specialist (or, at least, experienced). That's a big part of why you see teams pick twice as many front rowers as locks.

However, Australia is in the unenviable position of basically deciding between a third option at hooker/scrumhalf/flyhalf/outside centre who isn't good enough, or picking a talented guy who doesn't have experience there. Hodge is a great player, but I still have nightmares of him defending at 13, but do I have much more faith in Lalakai Foketi?

To be fair, I don't think any team could really endure losing their best two players in one of the key positions listed above. The third option is more a "please don't fuck it up in this game and we hope one of the other two will be fine for next game".

 

[Braveheart81]

Cheika in the Fox interview talked about the starting squad and the plans to augment that squad as injury replacements happen throughout the tournament

I think that's always going to be the reality. You'd be hard pressed to find teams that go through RWCs without needing to replace an injured player.

The challenge is having your starting squad so that you have everyone you want for every game without needing to bring in an injury replacement and also not being forced to replace a key player with a short term injury because your squad doesn't have the flexibility to cover for them without a replacement.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Giteau had played an entire club season as a half back. The suggestion that Foley could cover it makes as much sense as suggesting a backrower could cover the spot.

So you may well be coaching england or italy before you know it.

Plus Giteau was a much, much, much better player than Foley will ever be.

 

[fatprop]

Plus Giteau was a much, much, much better player than Foley will ever be.

I think Foley is a better 10 than Gits, but Gits is the better player but he is a 12

 

[Finsbury Girl]

I think Foley is a better 10 than Gits, but Gits is the better player but he is a 12

Agree to disagree there FP, Giteau excelled everywhere.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Reckon you'll find more than a few Brumbies fans who happily forget his time at 10.

 

[fatprop]

Agree to disagree there FP, Giteau excelled everywhere.

No problem, we get to disagree (and I agree Gits was a great unit)

But Foley is the best 10 we have at the moment, well the most consistent unit who will put his body on the line. Over the last two weeks we have watched Foley square up and take the ball to score last week and in that pile of shit on Saturday night actually dive on loose balls, putting his body on the line. Little things that test players do

 

[Tomikin]

No problem, we get to disagree (and I agree Gits was a great unit)

But Foley is the best 10 we have at the moment, well the most consistent unit who will put his body on the line. Over the last two weeks we have watched Foley square up and take the ball to score last week and in that pile of shit on Saturday night actually dive on loose balls, putting his body on the line. Little things that test players do

Best Now Probably, It's who I would be going with, Quade as backup and at least a start in the RC, To'omua a long shot, heard his form in UK isn't great.

 

[fatprop]

Best Now Probably, It's who I would be going with, Quade as backup and at least a start in the RC, To'omua a long shot, heard his form in UK isn't great.

I don't see To'omua as a 10 either unless we have total desperation, he be a 12 and well behind Kerevi in the form stakes

 

[dru]

I don't see To'omua as a 10 either unless we have total desperation, he be a 12 and well behind Kerevi in the form stakes

I’m not at all sure he would be ahead of Meakes either.

 

[RoffsChoice]

To'omua will be depth, he's a good player at either 10 or 12, but we have good options at 12 (Kerevi, Meakes, Hunt, Beale) and a first choice 10. His best chance at playing is if Cheika doesn't pick Cooper and To'omua acts as the utility inside backs reserve.