Wallabies 2023

[Marce]

We’re allowed to want that and say that out loud.

After 20 years? I don't think so

 

[Eddie's Eyebrows]

After 20 years? I don't think so

Attitudes like this are why the Kiwis live rent free in our heads.

How on earth is Eddie able to motivate a group of players to win the RWC let alone beat the Kiwis if he can't talk about it?

 

[dillyboy]

After 20 years? I don't think so

Bullshit!

What's the point us even turning up then if we can't say we want to win???

 

[Lightblue]

Many people listening to the ’Eddie’ Podcasts out of curiosity? I’m enjoying them.

 

[Wilson]

A good look into Richie Arnold's recent form for those who are curious:

ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?

A lot has been written about Eddie Jones’ appointment as coach of Australia since it was announced in January. However, we haven’t yet had…

www.theroar.com.au

 

[qwerty51]

I wonder how serious EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones) is on Richie Arnold...

There's a write up about him in the Roar today, and he looks to have carried on from his brother:

ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?

A lot has been written about Eddie Jones’ appointment as coach of Australia since it was announced in January. However, we haven’t yet had…

www.theroar.com.au

Someone who watches a bit more French rugby can probably comment further.

Just before he left o/s a few years back when he playing with the Brumbies, I thought he was in excellent form at the time when Sam Carter was injured and the Arnold twins packed together.

Richie was playing as good as Rory had been for Toulouse. Instrumental in their title wins. Toulouse wouldn't have been comfortable letting Rory go to Japan if they weren't confident Richie was one of the best locks in Europe atm. He plays with Meafou as well who obviously is a bit like Skelton so has experience playing with a Skelton-type and has to be executing his core lock duties excellently to pair with him.

If Rodda doesn't make it back I'd like him as the 3rd lock (behind Frost & Skelton). I think we really lack a high quality 3rd lock after those 2 (and Rodda).

 

[Derpus]

Richie was playing as good as Rory had been for Toulouse. Instrumental in their title wins. Toulouse wouldn't have been comfortable letting Rory go to Japan if they weren't confident Richie was one of the best locks in Europe atm. He plays with Meafou as well who obviously is a bit like Skelton so has experience playing with a Skelton-type and has to be executing his core lock duties excellently to pair with him.

If Rodda doesn't make it back I'd like him as the 3rd lock (behind Frost & Skelton). I think we really lack a high quality 3rd lock after those 2 (and Rodda).

You do Philip a disservice IMO.

 

[qwerty51]

Appoint White captain and you can rest assured every ref will be hating us, and while not accusing anyone of anything intentional, unconscious bias comes into play on marginal decisions.

I also think it could also work the other way. I'm always a big fan of a 9 being captain since they see everything happening on the field.

If you noticed last week, White got in Berry's ear about being taken out after the ball and Berry told the TMO to check it. Stuff like that is good captaincy.

Anyway, can't be any worse than Stephen Moore's relationship with Nigel Owens.

 

[Dctarget]

I wanted to rule a line through Richie as he has 80% tackle success but that's the exact same rate as Frost.

 

[Wallaby Man]

You do Philip a disservice IMO.

Yep Philip is the type of player right up Eddie’s alley. He’s abrasive and a good lineout option.

 

[Wallaby Man]

In a bizarro world we could have White as captain (not that bizarre), Wilkin at 7, strangely Uelese as bench hooker for that explosive front row change, Vunivalu on the wing and Foley running at 10.

6 months ago you would of got long, long odds at a bookie for this. It’s shortening by the week as a possibility.

 

[rugbyAU]

Richie was playing as good as Rory had been for Toulouse. Instrumental in their title wins. Toulouse wouldn't have been comfortable letting Rory go to Japan if they weren't confident Richie was one of the best locks in Europe atm. He plays with Meafou as well who obviously is a bit like Skelton so has experience playing with a Skelton-type and has to be executing his core lock duties excellently to pair with him.

If Rodda doesn't make it back I'd like him as the 3rd lock (behind Frost & Skelton). I think we really lack a high quality 3rd lock after those 2 (and Rodda).

Matt Phillip, Neville, Holloway?

 

[Derpus]

In a bizarro world we could have White as captain (not that bizarre), Wilkin at 7, strangely Uelese as bench hooker for that explosive front row change, Vunivalu on the wing and Foley running at 10.

6 months ago you would of got long, long odds at a bookie for this. It’s shortening by the week as a possibility.

Uelese was pretty terrible off the bench for the Rebels. His inclusion is a headscratcher fer me.

 

[Marce]

Attitudes like this are why the Kiwis live rent free in our heads.

How on earth is Eddie able to motivate a group of players to win the RWC let alone beat the Kiwis if he can't talk about it?

Bullshit!

What's the point us even turning up then if we can't say we want to win???

Say it in private. And most important, BEAT them consistenly

 

[Slim 293]

Say it in private. And most important, BEAT them consistenly

What is this multiverse where the media doesn't exist?

 

[upthereds#!]

I suspect that we'll need to take 6 props in the RWC squad. As already forecast by Eddie, HIA will be a significant issue come RWC time. The squad will need to deal with plan B's and redundancies. As such, we will need 3 LHP and 3 THP.

If we head to the RWC with 5 props (say 2 LHP and 3 THP as you have outlined above), and say 1 LHP gets an HIA or injury, we're stuffed. None of Bell, Tupou, Ala'alatoa and Pone are capable of playing on the other side. Only Slipper is (at a stretch, as seen in 2022) and that doesn't leave any cover for LHP.

One of Robertson, Gibbon, Sio or Schoupp will be in the RWC squad (or two, subject to Bell's fitness).

Also, 5 centres (noting Hodge is a Swiss Army Knife) is a luxury. Eddie will likely only take one of Paisami & Foketi.

Agreed - only pick squad members so got stuck with 2 half backs but yes - would quickly drop a centre for a 3rd halfback. Not sure who also gets dropped for the 6th prop.

 

[Marce]

What is this multiverse where the media doesn't exist?

The same universe where Ireland won a Series in New Zealand and I didn't hear Andy Farrell say those things before they made it

 

[Slim 293]

The same universe where Ireland won a Series in New Zealand and I didn't hear Andy Farrell say those things before they made it

I wouldn't have expected Andy Farrell to make comments about a competition the Irish teams don't participate in, or regarding an annual trophy they don't compete for...

 

[Marce]

I wouldn't have expected Andy Farrell to make comments about a competition the Irish teams don't participate in, or regarding an annual trophy they don't compete for...

Don't they face the ABs almost every year as the Top 10 nations? And yes, they don't play the Bledisloe but win a series in NZ is the equivalent of win the Bledisloe. They beat NZ at away twice, the Wallabies wet dream

 

[Slim 293]

Don't they face the ABs almost every year as the Top 10 nations? And yes, they don't play the Bledisloe but win a series in NZ is the equivalent of win the Bledisloe. They beat NZ at away twice, A Wallabies wet dream

Short answer… no.

But I fail to see an issue here - Jones simply stated that we need to target the Bledisloe, as it’s the clearly the primary challenge in a tight schedule the Wallabies have prior to the RWC…

And the Australian Super Rugby teams need to do consistently better against their NZ opponents, which, errr… obviously, they need to do.