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Wallabies 2019 Thread

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Joe Blow

Joe Blow

Peter Sullivan (51)
Up the Guts said:
On a personal level, I feel bad for Banks because it sucks to miss out on something you’re good enough for and it’d be an absolute dream to go to the RWC. On a broader note, I don’t think it really matters (for team performance) who our back reserves are, they’re going to play against a pool minnow and run waters for the rest of it.
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It’s also about building for the future and giving people experience and a lot about who steps in to the top side in case of injury.
 
Benaud

Benaud

Tom Lawton (22)
I'd have Samu and Banks on the bench in my best 23. How they've missed out on the 31 for Dempsey and DHP is mind boggling. And we really need another specialist winger in the squad; AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is just taking up space. Just reading back, I see everyone here is basically on the same page on those fronts, unusually.

The other 28 seem reasonable.
 
kiap

kiap

Steve Williams (59)
Up the Guts said:
Do you build for the future in a WC? I’m not sure.
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Depends what the respective options can bring.

This will be Pocock's last year at top level. Do you bin him early for a promising tyro?
  • The answer is no because, as exciting as young Wright and others might be, Pocock is still likely to bring much more to the side.
  • If there was a young, fit George Smith off stage, I might change my mind.
Ashley-Cooper is not the player he was. The team is over-covered for centres and the man is slow for a back three player on a team already short in that regard. Has not earned that spot. Banks is a good player and brings that useful pace. He has done enough to be there.
 
KOB1987

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
Banks and Samu are both an injury away from being there. I bet they both feature at the pointy end, assuming we make it that far.
 
B

Bobby Sands

Guest
Cant stomach the Banks & Samu omissions, but that aside.

As expected Jordy strolls into side without playing any footy. Will be in the first XV if he plays a full game against Samoa.
 
TSR

TSR

Mark Ella (57)
I understand the angst re: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) but, TBH, I don’t think it is Banks spot he took as such. I don’t see the logic in having him there when there are 4 better options at 13 (IMO) and 5 better back 3 options, with TK that could cover wing in real need.

I don’t see the value in his selection over carrying a third half (or another specialist winger - but a third half was the main one IMO).

The selection doesn’t really make sense to me, either on form or on the basis of squad balance. That said, I bagged his selection v Italy last year and I thought he was one of our best then. Hope he proves me wrong again.
 
KOB1987

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
Re the unpopular selections, only Cheika seems to be copping the backlash on here, there’s no mention of the three person selection panel, however they got plenty of mentions after we pasted the All Blacks in Perth. Someone might correct me, but I am of the belief that Johnson has the casting vote, which effectively means that he and at least one of the other two endorsed all the selections and, effectively, non-selections.

Personally I think we have one too many locks, one too few loosies, one too many centres, and one too few strike wingers. Presumably some form of justification will emerge as it did in 2015.
 
Adam84

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Listen I’ve thought more about this AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) situation, and i tried to reason the decision with thinking that he offers versatility across a number of positions... But reality is the only real position he offers depth in is at outside centre, he doesn’t have the speed or agility to play wing or fullback anymore.

Realistically i think the only reason they have him there is to hedge their bets in case Petaia is a complete dud, which i think is a poor reason for squad inclusion.
 
Derpus

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
Well, silly selections aside, cant wait for the world cup.

Will never forget sitting in an English pub watching the lads knock the English out of their own world cup while people throw ice at me.
 
Proud Pig

Proud Pig

Ted Thorn (20)
So our backrow is based on Hooper, Isi and a lock who is a totally ineffective 6 or a choice of one of two guys who have the resilience of a blancmange. Now, I have a little bit of a man crush on Pocock but I won't be holding my breath on him staying fit through the world cup. Or maybe I will hold my breath because at the moment I can probably hold it longer than he can stay on the park. The Pooper doesn't work no matter who the other back rower is, particularly if he is only a part-time jumper like Isi. So playing the Pooper will severely hurt our line out unless it is Pooper and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) as the starting 3 and that is something nobody wants to see. There is no way I would be taking both Dempsey and Pocock to the World Cup. Samu or Jones for me, preferably both ahead of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (or Simmons if LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is selected as a backup lock) and Dempsey.

If I was Jones I would hunting around for a club in Japan or Europe. He comes back to Australia to try and grab a spot in the world cup squad and is given 10 minutes across two games to press a case. If he had been given a decent chance to show what he could do and couldn't perform then fair enough but 10 minutes behind someone not exactly setting the world on fire. You would almost think he was behind Hanigan.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) makes no sense, he can only really play as a backup 13 and we have better options selected in the squad as backup. It used to be his flexibility that was his strength but he is not an option for the wing or full back any more, in my opinion. Hodge is also a far better option as that jack of all trades to fill the bench. DHP's form simply does not justify selection, Banks should have been selected before him. I would have had Banks and Maddocks in the squad rather than DHP and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). Naivalu's form has been fairly deplorable all season and I have just never been a fan of Speight.

As for Foley at least you know what you are going to get. It won't be good but you know it is. I would have had QC (Quade Cooper) but that was never going to happen.
 
Viking

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
Yeh i hear everyone... AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) makes no sense.

Banks really hard done by, you would think he could be considered a starter now over the inconsistent form of Beale, and his lack of ability under the high ball.
 
cyclopath

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
Heavyd said:
Its good to have him there just to remember no matter how bad they play we can take comfort Cheika has someone on the bench whom can be relied on not to tackle, kick the ball into touch out of his 22 or kick even the most straight forward penalty goal.
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Geez, that's just a load of rubbish, really. His kicking success rate is higher than Lealiifano's. And no, I'm not saying I'd play him ahead of Lilo at all. And he does tackle in the front line. Sure, he doesn't destroy people, but he puts his body on the line. Just hyperbolic crap, really.
 
cyclopath

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
I'm as surprised as anyone by AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (and not Banks) - can't see the point, and Dempsey (although Dempsey at his best might make a claim, but he hasn't been for some time), not Samu for example. The rest looks pretty standard, I suppose. The interesting thing will be who comes in when the inevitable injuries occur.
 
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