Wallabies 2020
- Thread starter A mutterer
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You've had a go at people for their selections not being based on form or being "wild" but you've happily said someone who has played one Super Rugby match in week 1 this year as outplaying Rob Simmons.
If you use that as a starting point the squad would have:
P: Sio, Slipper, Ala'alatoa, Tupou (space for 2 props in a 33 man squad)
H: Fainga'a, Uelese (space for 1)
L: Rodda, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Simmons (space for 1.5)
BR: Hooper, Naisarani, Dempsey (space for 1.5)
HB: White, (space for 2)
FH: JOC (James O'Connor), To'omua (space for 1)
C: Kuridrani (space for 3)
Back 3: Koroibete, Hodge, Beale, DHP (space for 1)
This is excluding Petaia given he is very unlikely to play in the July test series.
Finsbury Girl
Trevor Allan (34)
An Ode To Rob Simmons
Rob Simmons is the least watchable rugby player of all time. That doesn't mean he's bad, as bad players can actually be really watchable. When someone is having a shocker you can't take your eyes off them.
That's not Rob. He's solid, and has always been solid. A true servant of the game. He's good in the lineout, a good defender, passable ball-runner. He's stayed on our shores when all of his Wallaby second row partners have deserted us.
But he's never really been outstanding at anything.
Even when he has outstanding moments, they aren't really outstanding. He made a huge play in the World Cup Semi, taking an intercept in the third minute and scoring next to the posts. It settled our team immediately, and took all the wind out of the Argies sails.
But the way he did it, it was just so........ unwatchable. He sort of loped towards the posts, and dotted the ball down in the least inspiring way possible. Even when he's making a genuinely great play, I find myself distracted by other things in the room. Even Rob looked bored by it.
He's been around Australian rugby for at least 18 years, but somehow he's only 30. He's eternal, and instantly forgettable.
Lock is generally the least watchable position, but our Rob has taken it to the next level. Kane Douglas had occasional bursts of mayhem in defence. Sitaleki Timani was eight foot tall. Izack Rodda has a great backstory and speaks passionately. Rory Arnold can be a complete goober one minute, then a madman the next. All watchable in their own way.
Not our Rob. Through good times and bad, he's just....... there.
And for that I thank him. May it continue for at least three more years.
.
Rob Simmons is the least watchable rugby player of all time. That doesn't mean he's bad, as bad players can actually be really watchable. When someone is having a shocker you can't take your eyes off them.
That's not Rob. He's solid, and has always been solid. A true servant of the game. He's good in the lineout, a good defender, passable ball-runner. He's stayed on our shores when all of his Wallaby second row partners have deserted us.
But he's never really been outstanding at anything.
Even when he has outstanding moments, they aren't really outstanding. He made a huge play in the World Cup Semi, taking an intercept in the third minute and scoring next to the posts. It settled our team immediately, and took all the wind out of the Argies sails.
But the way he did it, it was just so........ unwatchable. He sort of loped towards the posts, and dotted the ball down in the least inspiring way possible. Even when he's making a genuinely great play, I find myself distracted by other things in the room. Even Rob looked bored by it.
He's been around Australian rugby for at least 18 years, but somehow he's only 30. He's eternal, and instantly forgettable.
Lock is generally the least watchable position, but our Rob has taken it to the next level. Kane Douglas had occasional bursts of mayhem in defence. Sitaleki Timani was eight foot tall. Izack Rodda has a great backstory and speaks passionately. Rory Arnold can be a complete goober one minute, then a madman the next. All watchable in their own way.
Not our Rob. Through good times and bad, he's just....... there.
And for that I thank him. May it continue for at least three more years.
.
Rugby Head
Billy Sheehan (19)
Well based on this, I would be adding/ subtracting the following:
P: HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Robertson
H: Mafi or Rangi
L: Say good bye to Simmons, add Phillips (Him/ Rodda should get the nod to start). Bring in either Luke Jones or one of the three youngsters (Hockings, Swain or Blyth)
BR: Samu should be first selected in the back row (Form has been unbelievable). Add Valetini/ Swinton, these guys look like stars of the future
HB: McDermot and the muscle head from the Rebels (Unsure of name)
FH: Lolessio
C: Simone, Meakes and bring along Kata as a development player?
Back 3: TOM BANKS SHOULD START
VassMan
Darby Loudon (17)
We have 2 excellent tightheads in AAA and Tupou but then it's daylight to the next cab off the rank. Lots of great Looseheads around though. Is HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes)'s switch seen as permanent or just filling a gap. Would be great for the Tahs and Rebels to get Michael Ala'alatoa and Paul Alo-Emile back but wouldn't help the Wallabies. Any good tightheads coming through schools or u20's? I hope that AAA and Tupou get some reduced minutes in lead up to internationals, one to give them a rest and two to develop other guys.
Silverado
Dick Tooth (41)
^^^^
Nice piece Barb. Simmons does what is needed for a lock. He may not bend the line or break people in 2 in defence, but having spoken to props who have played with him he is the first lock they want behind them at scrum time and he's an excellent jumper in attack and defence. He doesn't give away stupid cheap shot penalties and doesn't make a lot of highlight packages because he's too busy doing the hard work around the breakdown. He's no John Eales, but who is? He's worn Gold over 100 times by doing the meat and potatoes stuff
Nice piece Barb. Simmons does what is needed for a lock. He may not bend the line or break people in 2 in defence, but having spoken to props who have played with him he is the first lock they want behind them at scrum time and he's an excellent jumper in attack and defence. He doesn't give away stupid cheap shot penalties and doesn't make a lot of highlight packages because he's too busy doing the hard work around the breakdown. He's no John Eales, but who is? He's worn Gold over 100 times by doing the meat and potatoes stuff
Luke Jones is injured and heading back overseas at the end of the season. Seems very unlikely he will get picked.
Which position will Samu play? He's playing number 8 for the Brumbies but Naisarani is the incumbent and also in good form. Hooper is clearly in excellent form too. Will Samu play 6 with Hooper and Naisarani?
There is a question over whether Ryan Louwrens is eligible for the Wallabies. Even then, will he get selected ahead of Powell and Gordon? I'd doubt it.
Rugby Head
Billy Sheehan (19)
That would be my back row.
If he is eligible and based on current form, he would get my nod over Gordon. For Powell, he has been behind the most dominant forward pack in Aus rugby this year, that is all. Louwrens cohesion with To'omua could be a factor, as I believe he will be our starting 10.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
*BH just quoting you to reference the list you posted
FG, despite your dislike of a couple of the players in that list they will all be in the initial squad. It would be arrogant of Rennie to dismiss their prior selection without at least taking a look at them in the environment above where they are currently playing, as that's all he has to go off initially. That doesn't necessarily mean they will be selected to play and/or included in future squads.
I also think it's possible/likely that there will be more than 33 in the initial squad - there are a number of areas where there are more in-form rookie players than available spots, and he'll want to weigh these players up against each other.
Finsbury Girl
Trevor Allan (34)
KOB I expect nothing so will not be disappointed.
France is the future. Allez les bleus.
France is the future. Allez les bleus.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
There's nothing on the official SANZAAR website but in today's Hurld Gregor Paul claims the draw is in for a radical overhaul from 2021:
Australia v NZ home & away every year
Argentina v SA home & away every year
Australia v Argentina two at home one year, two away the next, v SA two away one year two at home the next
NZ v Argentina & SA opposite to Australia's draw
It's hidden behind the Hurld's partial pay wall but that's the guts of it: still six matches per team per year but clearly some years will be more challenging than the previous one. Allegedly in the interests of cutting the amount of travel players are required to do & purely coincidental that it will cut costs. Also you may have noticed the complete absence of Fiji and/ or Japan (unless of course they're somehow going to be tacked on or shoe-horned in somewhere).
Again, nothing on the SANZAAR site but I can't imagine GP has just made it all up.
Australia v NZ home & away every year
Argentina v SA home & away every year
Australia v Argentina two at home one year, two away the next, v SA two away one year two at home the next
NZ v Argentina & SA opposite to Australia's draw
It's hidden behind the Hurld's partial pay wall but that's the guts of it: still six matches per team per year but clearly some years will be more challenging than the previous one. Allegedly in the interests of cutting the amount of travel players are required to do & purely coincidental that it will cut costs. Also you may have noticed the complete absence of Fiji and/ or Japan (unless of course they're somehow going to be tacked on or shoe-horned in somewhere).
Again, nothing on the SANZAAR site but I can't imagine GP has just made it all up.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Rob Simmons is probably high on the list of one of the most rubbished/disliked players in Australian rugby.
Except by the last 3 Wallabies coaches and each & every super rugby coaches he’s had (plus by most of his teammates from what has always been said about his peers).
Except by the last 3 Wallabies coaches and each & every super rugby coaches he’s had (plus by most of his teammates from what has always been said about his peers).
formerflanker
Ken Catchpole (46)
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Nah, I think you've misread the article because it states they're reducing the matches to four per year.........
So Australia and New Zealand will play each other twice a year but will only play South Africa and Argentina once a year alternating between home and away......... eg. Aus v SA at home, Aus v Arg away one year, alternating the following.
To mirror that SA and Argentina will play each other twice a year, but only play Australia and NZ once a year alternating between one opposition at home and the other away.