Bledisloe 1: 29 July @ MCG

[Braveheart81]

 

[Slim 293]

In the second half we could have a potential lineout of Frost, Arnold, Holloway and T Hooper...

Nothing could possibly go wrong...

 

[LeCheese]

3. Allan Ala'alatoa (acting captain) (66 Tests)

so, captain?

 

[qwerty51]

Whilst there are probably doubts about the fitness of 2 of them, that's a full strength tight 5 we've now got in the 23. There can be zero set-piece excuses come Saturday.

Pretty clear Eddie sees Uelese as the 2nd hooker and Arnold, Frost and Skelton as the top 3 locks.

 

[Dctarget]

so, captain?

I guess?

 

[fatprop]

Is this the first time aus has rolled out no specialist fetcher even on the bench?

 

[Braveheart81]

so, captain?

Making the distinction that he is captain for the match but no change in responsibilities in the squad overall.

 

[qwerty51]

Is this the first time aus has rolled out no specialist fetcher even on the bench?

Pete Samu v Wales 2021

 

[LeCheese]

Making the distinction that he is captain for the match but no change in responsibilities in the squad overall.

Yeah I'm just being facetious. Also suggests the positions of Slipper and Hooper in the team/squad are in no way threatened

 

[TSR]

In the second half we could have a potential lineout of Frost, Arnold, Holloway and T Hooper...

Nothing could possibly go wrong...



View attachment 17011

I do like your humour, as brutal as if can be.

 

[Dctarget]

Hooper has played 7 once for the Brumbies apparently. Good luck to him.

 

[HooperPocockSmith]

Wow. Didn't see the T. Hooper selection coming. Pretty stiff on McReight but Jones clearly wants to emulate the success of NH (+ SA) teams of carrying large backrows. There shouldn't be any excuses come LO time with Hooper offering a bit more height.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Can anyone enlighten me why throwing in a line out is a hard thing to do accurately?
It’s throwing but with two hands for added control.

 

[Slim 293]

 

[Dctarget]

Glad the All Blacks are throwing out their B team

 

[LeCheese]

In the second half we could have a potential lineout of Frost, Arnold, Holloway and T Hooper...

Nothing could possibly go wrong...



View attachment 17011

Off topic, but the ball/hand positioning in this photo is interesting considering Uelese's struggles. Being off-centre in the draw doesn't lend itself to a straight throw - I once overheard a pretty respected lineout specialist talking to a group of young hookers about exactly this.

 

[Dctarget]

Papali'i is such a better player than Cane. Hooper has his work cut out for him against Dalton and Ardie being a 7.5.

 

[Highlander35]

Ikitau in for Perese and it's absurdly difficult to argue that that's not the strongest group of backs you could put out, even if positional reshuffling was required.

 

[Slim 293]

Papali'i is such a better player than Cane. Hooper has his work cut out for him against Dalton and Ardie being a 7.5.

And Jacobson off the bench...

I'm surprised we don't have McReight on the bench to balance out all of the big bodies, but it will be interesting to see who Leota comes on for in the second half.

 

[fatprop]

Can anyone enlighten me why throwing in a line out is a hard thing to do accurately?
It’s throwing but with two hands for added control.

They can all do it with no pressure, but to get up with burning lungs, half dazed & battered for the last ruck, then in 30 seconds, clear your head and get you heart rate down and under control .................... it isn't easy