Wallabies 2023
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Lightblue
Arch Winning (36)
Is a 10’s job to defend primarily or to run a backline and get the ball to space? Cooper is a great talent but not necessarily a great defender…he is the type of 10 I would rather see, not some solid defending 10? Stewart and Edmed don’t look to have the spark imho…. both would be better at 12. As you say though Eddie liked Farrell who I personally don’t think is a great 10… better at 12 with the young X factor Smith at 10.
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
Eddie will pick him, Hamish Stewart is basically Matt Giteau V2, with better defense. both are same height, both wear scrum caps, etc..
Lightblue
Arch Winning (36)
You maybe right. Although the wingers will never see the ball.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Agree with your view (although the figure of $800k had been debunked to my understanding).
In the Australia A games he was generally poor. But there was one try we score off three quality contributions from him in the space of about 30 seconds.
Which means nothing if you’re poor for the rest of the time - right? That’s the point you & JB are trying to make, isn’t it? Which I 100% agree with.
I’m pretty removed from this so what I hear may be rubbish. But what I heard is that even at the Storm he was on a very specific program to manage his body aimed at allowing him to perform on game day. At the Reds and at the Wallabies he has been treated differently and it has hindered his performance. Again - I am not close to this so this could all be complete rubbish (and if anyone knows better happy for you to shoot me down on this). But if you watched him move for Australia A he certainly wasn’t running confidently.
He is a very long shot to make if - I 100% agree with that.
But all I am saying is Jones is a very savvy coach and is very diligent in all parts of his prep. He is the sort of guy I can see would have no problems overhauling a players training regime. I also don’t see any logic in him not investing in a couple of calls to Vunivalu to try and get the best out of him. He will be visiting Reds training anyway. What’s he got to lose?
Will Vunivalu make the cut - extremely unlikely. Would Jones have ruled him out already. I find that even more unlikely.
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
Harrison has the spark but seems injury prone. I thought he would take over from Lolesio but the Tahs woeful 21 put paid to that idea.
I still expect Carter Gordon to impress this year, may be a long shot for this RWC but might make the initial squad if he continues to improve.
I still expect Carter Gordon to impress this year, may be a long shot for this RWC but might make the initial squad if he continues to improve.
Lightblue
Arch Winning (36)
Woeful 21?
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
Are you referring to something else I missed?
The Waratahs’ year from hell has been confirmed.
10 straight! Waratahs’ worst year confirmed as Blues beat sorry NSW
10 straight! Waratahs’ worst year confirmed as Blues beat sorry NSW
www.foxsports.com.au
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
I mean I really like Hamish…. But he is not Giteau 2.0
Lightblue
Arch Winning (36)
Ok. I understand. 2021.. the year . I thought you meant the Waratah number 21 on the bench and was wondering who you meant.Are you referring to something else I missed?
The Waratahs’ year from hell has been confirmed.
10 straight! Waratahs’ worst year confirmed as Blues beat sorry NSW
10 straight! Waratahs’ worst year confirmed as Blues beat sorry NSW
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
I suspect Eddie may prefer Pete Samu to start over Hooper. If that ends up being so it will be a big shock to many.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
There was an interview with Kevin Foote on The Roar where he mentions Wallaby staff have said Gordon is on the Wallabies radar. Whether that was before or after recent changes, I don’t know.
Lightblue
Arch Winning (36)
Giteau was light years ahead of Stewart… as soon as Giteau went off injured in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, we were toast.
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
Giteau was in his 30's by then & Stewart is only 24. Plenty of time to become a Wallabies mainstay.
Lightblue
Arch Winning (36)
Maybe. At 12 if anything. He’s not a 10 in my book. Not the one if you want to see the backline fire.
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
I agree, Stewart is an extremely useful tradesman but no Cooper or Giteau. We need a dedicated 10 and Stewart to my mind should have remained at 7 (school or early period) where his skill set would have given him a far better chance at a wallaby position.
I take that back! - I thought he was bigger than he is at 5' 11" and 92 kgs he is smaller than Hooper.
dru
David Wilson (68)
I have huge respect for Stewart. In some ways he isn't that far from Jones supposed experiment with a loose forward/centre hybrid. For starch in the D in the backline it's hard to imagine anyone better, but as Lightblue says - it's not exactly the first KPI for a game controlling 10. Definitely Jones could look at how he might use Stewart at 10 - but I'll bet there would be some adjustment in game play and selections to tie it together.
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
He may not be right now, but he's potentially the archetypical Eddie Jones No.10 or 12.
Combining different characteristics & attributes of Matt Giteau, George Ford, Owen Farrell, the closest thing you get in Australia currently is Hamish Stewart followed closely by Tane Edmed.
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
The whole 10 situation will be fascinating to watch in Super Rugby this year. If anybody is going to step up then this year is the one to do it, because if Lolesio develops and becomes the default 10 after the cup then it will be hard to move him.