Wallabies v Wales, Principality Stadium, Sun 27th November, 2.15am AEST

[drewprint]

I like Petaia or Ikitau at 12. It would be great to give them some experience there so they cover the position better come RWC.

I dunno, Ikitau is such a cornerstone for us now, I’d be loath to move him from 13. I’d have Hodge at 12.

 

[qwerty51]

Samu was the bench's man all the last seasons. He deserves the opportunity to play as starter, he earned it. You can't put him on bench to give the chance to a rookie.

He started v Wales last year and a few Tests this year already.

it's about having the better player more experienced player on late - because that's where the game is going to won.

 

[Rob42]

He started v Wales last year and a few Tests this year already.

it's about having the better player more experienced player on late - because that's where the game is going to won.

Only if the game hasn't been won in the first 50 minutes. I sometimes dream of times when the Wallabies could stamp their authority on a game over that first half, so that the replacements don't have to turn the game around and win it.

 

[stillmissit]

He started v Wales last year and a few Tests this year already.

it's about having the better player more experienced player on late - because that's where the game is going to won.

Interesting Qwerty, Rennie has never done that according to my dodgy memory. He starts a strong team and then brings on the rest with a couple of strong players to help the finishers.
I agree with your observation re winning at the end of the game.

 

[stillmissit]

Only if the game hasn't been won in the first 50 minutes. I sometimes dream of times when the Wallabies could stamp their authority on a game over that first half, so that the replacements don't have to turn the game around and win it.

Rob, unfortunately with the points system as it is, a large margin can be lost quite quickly, just ask the AB's.

 

[Agent]

The pressure is on all the time in Test matches. He fluffed a kick he should have made. End of story.

Agree the pressure is always on but we can’t just cast him aside off the back of 5 minutes of rugby and a missed penalty goal in a high pressure situation.

@Braveheart81 I think there is a very good reason to bring Donaldson on. He is obviously considered a high calibre player that could potentially call the position his own one day. We should always looking for a opportunities to blood young players in crucial positions and we seem reluctant to do so in higher profile games against opponents such as the ABs and Boks. I don’t think we should be bemoaning that he was brought on but he probably should have been brought on earlier and given more of a chance. We can rely on Quade and Bernie forever!

 

[Braveheart81]

Agree the pressure is always on but we can’t just cast him aside off the back of 5 minutes of rugby and a missed penalty goal in a high pressure situation.

@Braveheart81 I think there is a very good reason to bring Donaldson on. He is obviously considered a high calibre player that could potentially call the position his own one day. We should always looking for a opportunities to blood young players in crucial positions and we seem reluctant to do so in higher profile games against opponents such as the ABs and Boks. I don’t think we should be bemoaning that he was brought on but he probably should have been brought on earlier and given more of a chance. We can rely on Quade and Bernie forever!

I don't have an issue bringing on players from the bench. My question is why do it with 5 minutes to go for what wasn't an injury replacement.

I reckon once you get to about 65 minutes the bench player should either be on the field or your plan should be that they don't get on the field. Maybe extend that out to 70 minutes.

It seems pretty pointless to give someone only 5 minutes on the field and is more likely to be detrimental to that player and the team than the opposite.

 

[Agent]

I don't have an issue bringing on players from the bench. My question is why do it with 5 minutes to go for what wasn't an injury replacement.

I reckon once you get to about 65 minutes the bench player should either be on the field or your plan should be that they don't get on the field. Maybe extend that out to 70 minutes.

It seems pretty pointless to give someone only 5 minutes on the field and is more likely to be detrimental to that player and the team than the opposite.

Yeah fair call. We seem to be singing from basically the same hymn sheet.

 

[PhilClinton]

I reckon once you get to about 65 minutes the bench player should either be on the field or your plan should be that they don't get on the field. Maybe extend that out to 70 minutes.

The exception of course being if you need a better goal kicker on the field to close out a game. Even then, depending on the flow, that sub needs to be made cautiously and throwing in a cold player to kick something under pressure, regardless of their hit rate, is risky.

I do honestly find it odd that coaches pick players who end up not getting on the field though. I understand positional limitations sometimes force their hand, but it seems like a waste of a pick if you only have faith in a particular player to get onto the field under a specific set of circumstances.

Is the whole concept of starters and finishers something that isn't really done these days? I know a few years ago most teams/coaches were trying to build their gameday squads around those roles. Clearly Rennie doesn't know where he sits on it though, he's left Noah on the pine twice this year.

 

[qwerty51]

Interesting Qwerty, Rennie has never done that according to my dodgy memory. He starts a strong team and then brings on the rest with a couple of strong players to help the finishers.
I agree with your observation re winning at the end of the game.

It's not what I'd normally do it, I just think it better suits the situation here because Gleeson is young and inexperienced and will likely run out of gas. You want Samu on when the game is there to be won or closed out.

 

[scrans21]

1. Slipper
2. Fainga'a
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Frost
5. Neville
6. Holloway
7. Hooper
8. Samu
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Wright
12. Hodge
13. Ikitau
14. Nawaqanitawase
15. Campbell

16. Lonergan
17. Gibbon
18. Robertson
19. Swain
20. Gleeson/McReight
21. Gordon
22. Donaldson
23. Petaia

No experimentation for this one. We need to beat Wales and end the tour on some sort of a positive note.

 

[Tomikin]

I don't have an issue bringing on players from the bench. My question is why do it with 5 minutes to go for what wasn't an injury replacement.

I reckon once you get to about 65 minutes the bench player should either be on the field or your plan should be that they don't get on the field. Maybe extend that out to 70 minutes.

It seems pretty pointless to give someone only 5 minutes on the field and is more likely to be detrimental to that player and the team than the opposite.

Unless for a particular reason, e.g. Bringing on Hodge for a long-range bomb or someone like Ryan Lonergan as a kicker as his a sharpshooter... otherwise I tend to agree, players can't get into a game in 5 mins.

unless of course Lolesio was cramping or limping or some other fuckery we don't know about the sub should have been earlier.

 

[Brumby Runner]

This is now the "must win" game. Two wins and two close results with the sides ranked 1 and 2 will be a pass, but still not what it could have been with a fractionally stronger side against Italy. A loss to Wales will be a real spoiler.

Therefore, I reckon Rennie et al will go conservative in some of their selections. I would be very surprised if Pete Samu doesn't start at 8, and if Noah doesn't start at 10. Maybe Lonergan at 2, but more likely FF (Folau Fainga'a). Campbell should be a shoe in for 15, and Wright and Nawaqanitawase should be the wingers. The centres are less clear. Ikitau at 12 and Petaia at 13 is an option, but could be Hodge at 12 and Ikitau at 13. Hodge on the bench might be the safest option.

 

[Derpus]

Samu was the bench's man all the last seasons. He deserves the opportunity to play as starter, he earned it. You can't put him on bench to give the chance to a rookie.

Samu is ideal on the bench though. He isn't suited to starting at test match at 6 or 8 and he doesnt have the work rate or defensive efficiency of Hooper to warrant a start over him at 7.

I wouldnt be starting either of Gleeson or Samu - I'd be starting Wilson. But he's at home?

 

[Derpus]

This is now the "must win" game. Two wins and two close results with the sides ranked 1 and 2 will be a pass, but still not what it could have been with a fractionally stronger side against Italy. A loss to Wales will be a real spoiler.

Therefore, I reckon Rennie et al will go conservative in some of their selections. I would be very surprised if Pete Samu doesn't start at 8, and if Noah doesn't start at 10. Maybe Lonergan at 2, but more likely FF (Folau Fainga'a) (Folau Fainga'a). Campbell should be a shoe in for 15, and Wright and Nawaqanitawase should be the wingers. The centres are less clear. Ikitau at 12 and Petaia at 13 is an option, but could be Hodge at 12 and Ikitau at 13. Hodge on the bench might be the safest option.

I don't see how Samu can start at 8 - he's completely unsuited to Valetini's role in the side.

 

[Braveheart81]

Without Skelton, Valetini and Tupou we're short of ball carriers. I agree that Gleeson really needs to start.

We've also lost our main crash ball runner in the backs (Paisami).

 

[stillmissit]

I wouldnt be starting either of Gleeson or Samu - I'd be starting Wilson. But he's at home?

True but the backrow is hardly Rennie's main focus or he would have pulled Wilson in and put bobby v at 6. Then for this game Wilson 8, Holloway 6 and Hooper at 7 with Samu finishing would have been a better backrow to my mind.
Would Rennie start Holloway at 8, Hanigan 6 and Hooper 7 with Samu on the bench? I know I would make this call.

 

[LeCheese]

After Foketi got injured a few weeks ago, Rennie mentioned injury cover coming from Aus to join the squad. It's interesting that this didn't eventuate - Stewart, Henry, or Keunzle would be pretty handy to have right about now. Henry in particular has shown that he can fill the hard-running, crash ball mould of Paisami / Kerevi pretty well.

 

[Ballboy]

The Welsh will be cranky after being pipped by Georgia ,, we have the skills just not the brains it seems

 

[Brumby Runner]

I don't see how Samu can start at 8 - he's completely unsuited to Valetini's role in the side.

And yet he starts at 8 with Rob V at 6 for the Brumbies and that was under MacKellar. Not like he hasn't got any experience or form there. And he's a proven test match player, unlike Gleeson who is a package of potential atm nothing more. This game is now just too important, I believe, to muck around with unknown prospects at this level at the expense of proven players. I will be utterly surprised if Rennie doesn't also see it that way.