Wallabies v France, Paris, Sun 6th Nov 7am AEDT

[Braveheart81]

What do you see Gordon as best at?

He's the middle option who's solid at most things.

Probably the best tackler of the three.

Personally I think him and McDermott are very close behind White and it doesn't really matter which way Rennie goes. There's not a clearly better option. Clearly a lot of the fanbase thinks McDermott is far and away the better player and should be the starter though. It doesn't seem like a situation that will ever be reconciled because I can't see McDermott moving up the pecking order rapidly.

 

[Viking]

What do you see Gordon as best at?

Gordon is most well-rounded. Solid passing, kicker, manager, running game. A jack of all trades master of none.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

The way I look at it, we're lucky to have three quality halfbacks.

 

[Viking]

The way I look at it, we're lucky to have three quality halfbacks.

Indeed, but none are really firing are they?

White started strong then went downhill, making errors, pissing off refs.
Gordon was then brought in and didn't show enough to cement his spot.
Tate has clear issues with his passing and game-management.

This is the misconception of Aus rugby depth at the moment. The positions we think we have depth is still only mediocre.

I would say Valetini the only consistent performer at the moment and he doesn't lack any skill that is a determent to his position. Probably Kellaway too.

I'm not sure if this post is too pessimistic or just realistic.

 

[Tomikin]

I'm not a fan of this rotation stuff.

To be frank, it gives a desperate coach a bit of an excuse when things don't go their way. If we get absolutely splintered by the French, Rennie can fall back on the whole 'this wasn't necessarily our strongest side, so we will build from here'.

These Wallabies can't afford to be putting up less than full strength teams each week.

Only place which wasn't a forced rotation was at halfback, and then some bench players. hardly a massive change

 

[Tah Man]

Only place which wasn't a forced rotation was at halfback, and then some bench players. hardly a massive change

And 12

 

[PhilClinton]

Only place which wasn't a forced rotation was at halfback, and then some bench players. hardly a massive change

Yes, but he's acknowledged that the fullback position WOULD have been rotated as well had Bank not gotten injured. Also I imagine McReight will be rotated with Hooper at some point.

My point being the general approach of these rotations is frustrating. It's not like Tate is suffering from burnout.

 

[Viking]

I think rotation is fine. I think there is more then enough games next year to pick and stick. I like the idea of getting enough test caps under there belts beforehand. I think teams are so structured now that there is less importance on combinations (although still important).

I think it's better to focus on minimizing weak links and building depth with more test experience. Rennie only has this tour to do it.

I would be giving Campbell, Skelton, Foketi as much game time as possible.

 

[Latts1992]

The rotation also pretty much mimics what will happen in the first five matches of the world cup next year. Realistically we will have weaker sides out for Georgia and the final qualifier. We will have a slightly stronger team for Fiji, and the strongest team for Wales and the Quarter Final. It's not realistic in a tournament like that to not rotate, so it probably makes sense on this tour to manage the squad similarly.

 

[stillmissit]

You don't start the third halfback against Scotland, a match the bookies had as pretty much even, and one given the tour schedule was a must-win.

He doesn't know who his best 9s are.

Great post qwerty. The hub of Rennie's problem is it is not only in 9's where he has 3 pretty good ones, but he is also not sure about most positions. I think if he was given carte blanche to pick whoever he liked we would have a team of older players who would play one great game in 3. The end result would be no youngsters coming through and a desert left behind him.

 

[PhilClinton]

I'm firmly in the camp that the Wallabies don't have the luxury of being able to rotate players so freely in and out of the team, particularly a near MOTM performance from Tate being left out of the 23 entirely. Rennie is a scrambling coach who doesn't really know what is going on at this point, he was a shanked penalty goal away from another loss which would have been another day closer to the end of his tenure as Wallabies coach.

 

[PhilClinton]

The rotation also pretty much mimics what will happen in the first five matches of the world cup next year. Realistically we will have weaker sides out for Georgia and the final qualifier. We will have a slightly stronger team for Fiji, and the strongest team for Wales and the Quarter Final. It's not realistic in a tournament like that to not rotate, so it probably makes sense on this tour to manage the squad similarly.

I doubt the Wallabies would run out their B team against two sides at the RWC. Certainly, for Georgia, with the starters on the bench. But you can't expect your best team to only play 2 games together and then run out and win a Quarter Final.

I should clarify that you can't expect your best Wallaby team to do that. Other nations sure, but this team isn't so talented.

 

[Derpus]

I'm firmly in the camp that the Wallabies don't have the luxury of being able to rotate players so freely in and out of the team, particularly a near MOTM performance from Tate being left out of the 23 entirely. Rennie is a scrambling coach who doesn't really know what is going on at this point, he was a shanked penalty goal away from another loss which would have been another day closer to the end of his tenure as Wallabies coach.

I doubt he will be sacked. Although, i doubt he'll be extended either.

 

[Braveheart81]

particularly a near MOTM performance from Tate being left out of the 23 entirely.

I think this is something that people are miles apart on.

Aside from the big break early in the game I thought he was pretty poor. I'm definitely not alone there.

 

[Silverado]

I always thought his work at THP for the Tahs was really solid technically, I always wondered why he kept being stuck at LHP - the side where dynamism around the field is expected more

Kepu was the better THP at the Tahs?

 

[Slim 293]

And 12

Paisami was a goner after the Wobs set out to curb their indiscretions...

 

[Tomikin]

Yes, but he's acknowledged that the fullback position WOULD have been rotated as well had Bank not gotten injured. Also I imagine McReight will be rotated with Hooper at some point.

My point being the general approach of these rotations is frustrating. It's not like Tate is suffering from burnout.

He said at some point, I think Campbell would have got a gig against Italy probably the same for McReight.. big difference from playing the top team in the world.

I don't think Tate was MOM but not terrible, it's really giving all 3 a chance, and at the moment Tate's not seen as the top number 9.

Paisami may have only got the gig because I believe Foketai was injured.

Once again, the changes for this match and the rotation isn't really that great... 2 positions... most of the bitching feels like people missing their favorite more than any problem with rotation.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

At the end of the day the coaches don't know who our best players are in a lot of positions and neither do the supporters, which is why there is so much debate and hence the rotations. Yes it should have been settled a long time before now but we never got the answers we were looking for.
Classic example was Vunivalu, finally got 3 opportunities to lock in a spot and failed so he got discarded. Now it feels like Campbell is in a sink or swim situation where he really needs to nail this opportunity. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase), Gleeson, McReight may only get 1 shot to prove themselves as well. Donaldson will be lucky to get any

 

[stillmissit]

Kepu was the better THP at the Tahs?

Kepu, like a lot of islander props, was getting better and better as time went on. One of the most impressive of our props in terms of scrummaging and around the paddock.

 

[stillmissit]

At the end of the day the coaches don't know who our best players are in a lot of positions and neither do the supporters, which is why there is so much debate and hence the rotations. Yes it should have been settled a long time before now but we never got the answers we were looking for.
Classic example was Vunivalu, finally got 3 opportunities to lock in a spot and failed so he got discarded. Now it feels like Campbell is in a sink or swim situation where he really needs to nail this opportunity. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase), Gleeson, McReight may only get 1 shot to prove themselves as well. Donaldson will be lucky to get any

I'm not as pessimistic as you are, but I am on the spectrum. The issue is between selection policy and injuries. Don't think he has had an injury free period to prove whether he can select judiciously or not. Having said that I am not convinced the approach is correct but I am not paid to make those decisions and like all managers, he'll live or die based on decisions.