Wallabies 2019 Thread

[RoffsChoice]

what do you mean by that? What makes them form a good partnership?

I think it was Arnold and Coleman in the locks in Dunedin which was one of our better performances, wasn't it?

The first game that I think they really shone in together was the 2016 Rugby Championship game *edit - against Argentina* (remember Houston's one cameo?). They also played really well together in the 32-8 win over Wales in 2016.

Derpus is right that they both started in the Dunedin test, and in the first SA draw a fortnight later.

If I said I could quantify how they make a good partnership, I'd be lying. It's entirely an eye test thing. Their individual playstyle makes the strengths of the other greater and the weaknesses smaller.

 

[Rebels3]

Rodda is the no.1 lock in Australia atm. Should be and will be one of the first picked. Coleman is currently a little underwhelming, I don’t even think he in the best 2 locks at the Rebels on current form. Arnold is okay, a little forgotten about from those not supporting the Brumbies but overrated but those that do. Simmons is solid, Carter isn’t even in the discussion, Philip has been playing well but needs to take his game to that next level again to be noticed.

Personally I think Jones and Rodda have been the two best locks in the first 6 rounds, but lack of options at 6 could see him moved there could open up a role for Coleman or Arnold.

 

[Derpus]

Rodda is the no.1 lock in Australia atm. Should be and will be one of the first picked. Coleman is currently a little underwhelming, I don’t even think he in the best 2 locks at the Rebels on current form. Arnold is okay, a little forgotten about from those not supporting the Brumbies but overrated but those that do. Simmons is solid, Carter isn’t even in the discussion, Philip has been playing well but needs to take his game to that next level again to be noticed.

Personally I think Jones and Rodda have been the two best locks in the first 6 rounds, but lack of options at 6 could see him moved there could open up a role for Coleman or Arnold.

I'm pretty sure I've seen Simmons drop an easy no-pressure ball cold in every single match this year.

 

[RoffsChoice]

t lack of options at 6

In order of recall:

• Samu
• McCaffrey
• Higgenbotham
• Hanigan
• Dempsey
• Cottrell
• Ross Haylett-Petty

 

[Rebels3]

In order of recall:

• Samu
• McCaffrey
• Higgenbotham
• Hanigan
• Dempsey
• Cottrell
• Ross Haylett-Petty

Options doesn’t mean quality.

I think starting 6 jersey is out of Jones and Dempsey with Hanigan been the 3rd option.

If they persist with Pooper, Naisarani and Salakaia-Loto will come into calculations for the 6 spot.

Samu/McCaffrey I believe will be purely looked at for a bench spot and nothing more. They are some of the few players that could genuinely put in a solid shift across all 3 backrow positions. I really like the impact they could bring into a game.

Higgers we all know is brilliant but won’t be on the plane

 

[Dctarget]

I think McCaffrey is safely in the Higgers and Meakes box. Doing great work, but too old to be a debutant/come back in to the fold. Pretty confident that that none of those 3 will be near the 23 come September.

What about a backrow of Pooper + Naisarani? Is that too short or something, can backrow aficionados educate me here.

The 5 in the 23 will be Hooper, Pockock, Naisarani, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Samu.

 

['Tattsy'TaylorFan1]

1 Slipper
2 Fitzpatrick / Mafi
3 Tupou
4 Rodda
5 Simmons / Blythe
6 McReight
7 Pocock / Hooper
8 George Smith
9 Tuttle
10 To'omua
11 Daugunu
12 Kerevi (c)
13 Folau
14 DHP
15 Banks

Build the 2023 Wallabies World Cup team around the Queensland Reds. Thorn's youth movement could pay the ultimate dividend then.

 

['Tattsy'TaylorFan1]

I'm pretty sure I've seen Simmons drop an easy no-pressure ball cold in every single match this year.

I reckon Simmons has been outstanding. He plays a totally different game to Coleman, Arnold, Salakai-Loto etc. Brains rather than brawns (Cron has revived his career at the Tahs) plus is far more experienced than anyone else. George Gregan has Simmons starting in the team he made for Fox Sports.

 

[Braveheart81]

They just need to lift Simmons 6 feet off the ground before he catches a pass in general play. Then he's fine.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Re: age, remember that Fardy was 29 when he debuted, and he’s still good enough to start for the Wallabies now; he’ll be 35 by the World Cup.

 

[Derpus]

Re: age, remember that Fardy was 29 when he debuted, and he’s still good enough to start for the Wallabies now; he’ll be 35 by the World Cup.

Backrowers age like fine wine.

 

[Slim 293]

I reckon Simmons has been outstanding. He plays a totally different game to Coleman, Arnold, Salakai-Loto etc. Brains rather than brawns (Cron has revived his career at the Tahs) plus is far more experienced than anyone else. George Gregan has Simmons starting in the team he made for Fox Sports.

If there's one word I'd use to describe Simmons......... brains, is probably not that word.

 

[Dctarget]

Re: age, remember that Fardy was 29 when he debuted, and he’s still good enough to start for the Wallabies now; he’ll be 35 by the World Cup.

I agree, but Cheika seems to have a real focus on blooding young players. Seems Fardy was the exception rather than the rule.

 

[Derpus]

I agree, but Cheika seems to have a real focus on blooding young players. Seems Fardy was the exception rather than the rule.

He won't have a real focus on blooding anyone this year. He'll parachute in anyone he thinks will improve his chances.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I've always been a bit of an Arnold skeptic if I'm honest. To me there's a touch of the Henry Speight's about him - good at Super level but never quite able to replicate that form in gold. And he's just a bit of a goober, and has a tendency to spill the ball more often than most.

I acknowledge he's been dicked around by the coaching staff more than just about anyone, and the merry-go-round of locks hasn't served him well at all.

But for now I'm picking Coleman and Rodda to start, even though Coleman's form isn't outstanding. He's more of a proven commodity in the Wallaby jersey IMO.

Arnold is certainly on track for a bench spot, though.
.

I think, on the one hand, you are a bit harsh on Arnold, B, but I agree that the three top locks atm are Rodda, Coleman and Arnold. To me, Arnold is more of an Izzy Folau comparison in forward play. Is the best in the country at setting up the rolling maul and defending the opposition maul, just like Izzy is best in the country at taking the high ball either in attack or defense. Beyond that, they are both a bit iffy from time to time with their skills. For every ball spilt by Rory, Izzy has thrown at least one into touch. Izzy sometimes shows his running abilities as Rory does with his work around the ground, especially his quick hands providing off loads to supports (which might also explain his tendency to drop the ball). I would count Rory as better at the defensive aspects of his position than Izzy is at his.

Neither are the complate package, but are very valuable players to the Wallabies.

 

[Derpus]

I think, on the one hand, you are a bit harsh on Arnold, B, but I agree that the three top locks atm are Rodda, Coleman and Arnold. To me, Arnold is more of an Izzy Folau comparison in forward play. Is the best in the country at setting up the rolling maul and defending the opposition maul, just like Izzy is best in the country at taking the high ball either in attack or defense. Beyond that, they are both a bit iffy from time to time with their skills. For every ball spilt by Rory, Izzy has thrown at least one into touch. Izzy sometimes shows his running abilities as Rory does with his work around the ground, especially his quick hands providing off loads to supports (which might also explain his tendency to drop the ball). I would count Rory as better at the defensive aspects of his position than Izzy is at his.

Neither are the complate package, but are very valuable players to the Wallabies.

Izzy has been out of league long enough to stop throwing those soul destroying speculators. It's irritating. Make the break or catch the high ball and just take the metres rather than trying to turn every touch into a try.

 

[Brumby Runner]

1 Slipper
2 Fitzpatrick / Mafi
3 Tupou
4 Rodda
5 Simmons / Blythe
6 McReight
7 Pocock / Hooper
8 George Smith
9 Tuttle
10 To'omua
11 Daugunu
12 Kerevi (c)
13 Folau
14 DHP
15 Banks

You having a larf, Reg, you having a larf?

Blythe over Hockings, indeed.

 

[Braveheart81]

Being compared to Rory Arnold is probably the harshest critique ever of Israel Folau.

You would think that the better skills that DHP and Banks apparently have in most areas of the game would make them stand out well above Folau who is seemingly a one or two trick pony.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'm pretty sure I've seen Simmons drop an easy no-pressure ball cold in every single match this year.

Does consistent play year on year qualify for "solid"status?

 

[Brumby Runner]

If there's one word I'd use to describe Simmons... brains, is probably not that word.

A lack of playing smarts is what I'd call it.