Rugby follower
Billy Sheehan (19)
Yeh you are probably right there, he will be part of the wider squad and would come straight into the team if Hooper is injured
Wallabies 2021
- Thread starter KOB1987
- Start date
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I expect to see him get a few games. Although Wright looked good last night playing at 7.
The Nomad
Bob Davidson (42)
And he is a genuine lineout option , which never hurts , especially if your 6/8 are Valetini and Wilson.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)'s not a definite yet. Last night was magnificent but his season so far hasn't been stellar. I want to see his tackling rates go up. Below are ranked locks & backrowers of interest by their tackling percentage for TT + AU. McReight is a freak just quietly. Impressive amount of tackles for someone who's had a few bench starts.
Locks
Hosea = 7/8 + 49/55 = 56/63 = 89%
Swain = 16/19 + 71/83 = 87/102 = 85%
Frost = 61/74 + 20/23 = 81/97 = 84%
Salakaia-Loto = 24/28 + 48/61 = 72/89 = 81%
Neville = 89/111 = 80%
Backrowers
McReight = 124/134 = 93%
Naisarani = 12/13 = 92%
Dempsey = 42/46 = 91%
Wright = 45/50 = 90%
Valetini = 126/141 = 89%
Wilson = 110/127 = 87%
Swinton = 114/131 = 87%
ASY (Angus Scott-Young) = 108/126 = 86%
Harris = 57/73 = 78%
Locks
Hosea = 7/8 + 49/55 = 56/63 = 89%
Swain = 16/19 + 71/83 = 87/102 = 85%
Frost = 61/74 + 20/23 = 81/97 = 84%
Salakaia-Loto = 24/28 + 48/61 = 72/89 = 81%
Neville = 89/111 = 80%
Backrowers
McReight = 124/134 = 93%
Naisarani = 12/13 = 92%
Dempsey = 42/46 = 91%
Wright = 45/50 = 90%
Valetini = 126/141 = 89%
Wilson = 110/127 = 87%
Swinton = 114/131 = 87%
ASY (Angus Scott-Young) = 108/126 = 86%
Harris = 57/73 = 78%
hifflepiff
Charlie Fox (21)
Running Hosea and Neville as the starting locks, with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) on the bench wouldn't be too bad.
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) can cover 4, 5 & 6, whilst Valetini and Wilson (who I assume will be starting) can both cover 6 & 8, which allows you to run a specialist like McReight off the bench.
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) can cover 4, 5 & 6, whilst Valetini and Wilson (who I assume will be starting) can both cover 6 & 8, which allows you to run a specialist like McReight off the bench.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I dunno, I still want to see Philip straight back in with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto). Neville on the bench. But, as with McReight, i reckon Hosea will get some game time this year.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
I think we'll see Philip as one of the starting locks. Will be back with plenty of time and was immense last year. Calls the lineouts too. Rodda went off injured over night for Lyon buuut probably won't play finals, so might be back in time. Either way, I think one of those two will be starting. Probably Philip.
Richie and Rory Arnold were both injured last weekend, with Richie's injury worse. But neither are coming home so not really relevant.
But yeah I'd go with Neville/Philip with Hosea on the bench. Or Philip/Rodda with Hosea on the bench. I'm curious about Neville because he's been great but will he make it to the RWC and is he worth the investment?
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Yes all these conversations are probably moot as we're doing 3 games in 11 days and will see some combinations and debuts that normally wouldn't happen.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
I think it depends on who the 6 and 8 and reserve lock are, and of course we could go a 6:2 split. The main problem with Hooper/Pocock is that it would have been more ideal to finish with it rather than start with it. Hooper and McReight going nuts for the last 20 certainly has some appeal.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Not sure I'd be rushing Perese into the wallabies yet. He's had a huge impact at Super Rugby level but he's still putting in uneven performances - plenty of pushed passes, passes to no one and defensive miss reads. He's just not delivering that consistency you want to see in test match rugby.
Don't get me wrong, I'd have him in the squad and be considering giving him game time with the short turn arounds against France, but I'd still have Paisami/Perese behind Paisami/Ikitau and probably To'omua/Paisami.
Don't get me wrong, I'd have him in the squad and be considering giving him game time with the short turn arounds against France, but I'd still have Paisami/Perese behind Paisami/Ikitau and probably To'omua/Paisami.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
At the moment he's more consistent than Petaia. And he's boshing players in the TT that he'd be playing against in a Bledisloe.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
I think you have to compare these stats in combination with their contribution in attack. Some players have high stats on one side of the ball, but low on the other.
On top of that there has to be consideration of other factors which aren’t all measured by stats -
- lineout takes & steals (you’d hope all the locks would be up there)
- scrum proficiency
- breakdown activity & accuracy
- ability to disrupt opposition maul
- post contact metres, passes, offloads
If we are already including guys like Wilson & Valetini in our first choice pack I think the test level experience we have will also be valued on the 50/50 calls.
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) took some time to get going this year - but TT form will count for a lot.
Personally he’s my first picked lock because I think he covers all of the above better than all of the alternatives but the plus for me is options are emerging who are competing across all the requirements of a modern lock and there is going to be competition for the spot.
Speaking of competition for the spot, I am happy with Valetini & Wilson as our starting 6 & 8, but Michael Wells really impressed me and, while he wasn’t named in the Wallaby squad earlier this year he must be putting some pressure on the likes of Anstee, Kemeny and Swinton for a squad spot at least.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
What's their data for working out influence? Surprised to see Simone there, I've been harsh on him.
Silverado
Dick Tooth (41)
Wow. Simone is on my fantasy team and never picks up points. AAAAA over Tupou...nah
D-Box
Cyril Towers (30)
I think you forgot to look west of Canberra with this list
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Yeah, I think that came from Cheika's presentation pre-TT when he was trying to gussy up the Aussie teams' chances. So, to that extent, it was largely bullshit.
To be fair, and to counter my anti-Cheika bias (Would I take on blind trust what he says about rugby? - Nup) those lists were prepared by some sports data analysis mob.
They basically tried to measure how much each player's on-field performances were correlated with their team's positive outcomes. IIRC, it was based on the separate Ao and (unevenly weak) AU comps. So, not a huge surprise to see AU guys taking out more than half the spots where there are wider gaps between the better and mediocre players.
Stats and damned stats. They can be useful but only if (a) you have a handle on what they're measuring -- a bit vague for Joe Public in this case; and (b) are careful with making extrapolations.
I like LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), he's a test player. Physical, tough, big motor, hurts blokes. All he has to do is show a little bit of form in the next few weeks and he's in my test XV.
Same goes for other proven performers like Nic White, Harry Wilson, Scott Sio.
Same goes for other proven performers like Nic White, Harry Wilson, Scott Sio.