Wallabies 2024

[Tomthumb]

It doesn't matter at this point in the game, there's so much to work on you could just hand it to Laurie and tell him to fix the forwards and get all of the current Wallaby forwards fit for Super Rugby, whilst we look for, preferably, a younger head coach and quality assistants who can take the team forward.

I dont know where this idea that Laurie Fisher is some master coach came from

 

[Sword of Justice]

The best sides now all have massive, aggressive dynamic pigs

That is where the games are won

That is certainly true but I think the Wallabies chasing size has delivered us players like Pone and Richie who to my mind have just not come close to the standard required.

Conversely, players like McReight and Kellaway are often at the top of the 321s when they are picked.

Looking at pack weights we never seem to do too badly and are often one of the bigger packs. I guess the difference is that other teams' big brick out house guys also have six packs.

 

[dru]

I hate to say it. But keeping Eddie might be a better option. If there’s a chance this RWC was a humbling and wake up call for him. A humbled Eddie could improve as a coach.

clutching at straws I know.

There is little about the situation that is less than distasteful. Yep, I expect us to continue with Eddie and a new set of assistants. Assistants who will not likely be as strong now that the words "Wallabies" and "debacle" are so easily confused.

Once again Eddie has experimented, over-reached, and found a number of flaws in these innovations to the game. The question is whether he can adjust and pull it together in the run to the BIL.

We are not going to have a lot of choice here.

 

[Dan54]

Not sure why anyone even thinks Eddie is at riak of losing job, I strongly suspect all will be exactly same at the top of all things in RA over the next few years.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

That is certainly true but I think the Wallabies chasing size has delivered us players like Pone and Richie who to my mind have just not come close to the standard required.

Conversely, players like McReight and Kellaway are often at the top of the 321s when they are picked.

Looking at pack weights we never seem to do too badly and are often one of the bigger packs. I guess the difference is that other teams' big brick out house guys also have six packs.

There is definitely a point of diminishing returns with size. If you are within 75kg of the other pack you will be fine and it seems fitness is deciding a lot of these games in the last 20 minutes. Errors and penalties go up when you're gassed.

When looking at any of the piggies I think the way the game is going you should assess their ability attack violently but controlled. It's aggressive power ahead of sheer mass.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Not sure why anyone even thinks Eddie is at riak of losing job, I strongly suspect all will be exactly same at the top of all things in Rugby Australia over the next few years.

I think we have Eddie until the end of Lions in 2025. New coach given 2 years before a home WC.

 

[Yoda]

The Ironic part is despite all the talk about the young guys, 3 of the most experienced players in the team in White, Kerevi & Koroibete were some of our worst performers

Yep!

 

[Yoda]

Missing tackles is not a result of a poor game plan... Sure he's a great player but he has dropped off this year. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) plays the same position and didn't look nearly as lost as he did.

Portugal’s first try came from Marika not marking the outside man. Poor from such a great player.

 

[Yoda]

I think we have Eddie until the end of Lions in 2025. New coach given 2 years before a home WC.

TGOR. Agree. Although that won’t make 99% of journalists and Wallaby supporters happy, who are all calling for his axing. Talk about jumping on the negative narrative bandwagon. As though sacking the coach is going to fix things. He needs at least another year at least. As you say though, let’s see how things are after we slay the Lions!

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I'd love to see him gone right now but I just don't think RA have the gumption regardless of the $ to do it. 3 years in the job will be seen as naturally enough time to move on from a coach and be able to say 'it's time'. I think they are going to try and own this failure to the point of thinking they disarming fans....

Would say though, if he goes down to Wales at home in a series the year before the Lions it might be done.

 

[Yoda]

I like Lonergan but he is definitely not in the massive and aggressive category, probably the complete opposite: small, skillful, and mobile.

Compared to Cam Roigard, Lonergan is a midget.

 

[Pone's Mullet]

It's a sunny day down here in Melbourne, and I might be feeling the joys of spring, but I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, is Eddie playing 3D chess?

Coming into the job he knew that the Wallabies didn't have a chance for this WC, maybe get to the quarter-finals. So he thought, bring in the new youngsters, let them taste defeat, the experience will serve them well with the Lions in '25 and winning the World Cup in '27.

All his bluster in the press conferences about "smash 'n grab" and 'punch yourself in the face maaate' is all a distraction to keep the focus on him and not the players. Imagine if Rennie had been there and the team go out in the at the quarter-finals, the press would've been on them like a pack of wolves.

......or maybe someone has slipped something in Almond Milk Latte......

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Stop it.

Don't do this,

Tell me more...

No, Stop.

 

[LeCheese]

I think it's been pretty clear all along that the approach (from both McLennan and Eddie) has been blow it up and start again, looking toward '25 and '27 - however, it can also be true that the historic losses sting both fans and players.

Hopefully the pain is only short term, and long term gains are indeed realised.

 

[Derpus]

It's a sunny day down here in Melbourne, and I might be feeling the joys of spring, but I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, is Eddie playing 3D chess?

Coming into the job he knew that the Wallabies didn't have a chance for this WC, maybe get to the quarter-finals. So he thought, bring in the new youngsters, let them taste defeat, the experience will serve them well with the Lions in '25 and winning the World Cup in '27.

All his bluster in the press conferences about "smash 'n grab" and 'punch yourself in the face maaate' is all a distraction to keep the focus on him and not the players. Imagine if Rennie had been there and the team go out in the at the quarter-finals, the press would've been on them like a pack of wolves.

......or maybe someone has slipped something in Almond Milk Latte......

And maybe, just maybe, you've spontaneously grown a a fist sized brain tumour overnight.

 

[PhilClinton]

I think it's been pretty clear all along that the approach (from both McLennan and Eddie) has been blow it up and start again, looking toward '25 and '27 - however, it can also be true that the historic losses sting both fans and players.

Hopefully the pain is only short term, and long term gains are indeed realised.

Problem is that even with the blow up of the squad - the talent we put on the park didn't look great and it's not like we left many names at home who would be able to contribute in 2025 or 2027.

For example it's one thing to say we aren't surprised that Donaldson was mediocre at the RWC. But most of us thought Carter Gordon had a pretty damn good Super Rugby season and would be a good addition to the Wallabies. His rawness was definitely exposed but also some of the flaws in his game. He might not be the flyhalf saviour many envisioned.

Same goes for someone like Kerevi whom we all thought would continue to get better with more time on the park. He seemed like a shell of his former self.

Then we have our genuine stars in Tupou and Skelton, who also happen to be our biggest bodies and injuries are piling up. That probably changes their trajectory for the next few years.

Lots to consider...

 

[Derpus]

Problem is that even with the blow up of the squad - the talent we put on the park didn't look great and it's not like we left many names at home who would be able to contribute in 2025 or 2027.

For example it's one thing to say we aren't surprised that Donaldson was mediocre at the RWC. But most of us thought Carter Gordon had a pretty damn good Super Rugby season and would be a good addition to the Wallabies. His rawness was definitely exposed but also some of the flaws in his game. He might not be the flyhalf saviour many envisioned.

Same goes for someone like Kerevi whom we all thought would continue to get better with more time on the park. He seemed like a shell of his former self.

Then we have our genuine stars in Tupou and Skelton, who also happen to be our biggest bodies and injuries are piling up. That probably changes their trajectory for the next few years.

Lots to consider...

Such an Australian trait. Throw in a youngster who's had all of 10-20 games to develop and expect them to be Dan feckin Carter. And when they aren't - scrap heap.

Blah. The model for developing and introducing young talent successfully is demonstrated every damn day across the ditch. How long did it take for Mo'unga to cement himself in the team? Even when he was behind arguably worse options.

Kerevi was coming back from a serious and often career altering injury. He should have been pulled as soon as it was clear he wasn't match fit. Even if he was fit our game plan played directly away from all of his strengths so you have to wonder what they were trying to achieve playing an unfit ball carrying centre who was tasked with hoofing it.

The managerial incompetence from both RA and the Wallabies is off the charts.

 

[Sword of Justice]

I think Carter Gordon will be our best 10 for the foreseeable future frankly. The wheels fell off in France, granted, but the Wallabies coach and the RA high performance structure have it in their power to continue developing him.

His positive attributes are so far above others coming through including Donaldson and I believe his shortfalls such as kicking are very trainable. All they have to do is actually train him.

 

[Wallaby Man]

Problem is that even with the blow up of the squad - the talent we put on the park didn't look great and it's not like we left many names at home who would be able to contribute in 2025 or 2027.

For example it's one thing to say we aren't surprised that Donaldson was mediocre at the RWC. But most of us thought Carter Gordon had a pretty damn good Super Rugby season and would be a good addition to the Wallabies. His rawness was definitely exposed but also some of the flaws in his game. He might not be the flyhalf saviour many envisioned.

Same goes for someone like Kerevi whom we all thought would continue to get better with more time on the park. He seemed like a shell of his former self.

Then we have our genuine stars in Tupou and Skelton, who also happen to be our biggest bodies and injuries are piling up. That probably changes their trajectory for the next few years.

Lots to consider...

Bell is one of the few regulars in our team that would get a look in at the top teams.

For all the man love we apply to some players because of state blinkers we have massive deficiencies in lots of players.

Outside Tupou and AAT we have guys that are barely Super Rugby quality at prop. Nongoor doesn’t offer anything, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him not even playing top tier rugby in a few years. Pone is always injured and loves to do stupid things, does he realise just how big he is?

Our locks are the least intimidating in world rugby. Frost is a good athlete but packs the power of a scrum half, Arnold is the catch.com version of his brother.

I like Tom Hooper, McReight is a proven Super Rugby performer and can do a role at international level but I think it’s been shown he won’t dominate like we had all hoped at some stage in recent years, Valetini another that would genuinely be in contention for other teams.

McDermott is close to the worst technical scrum half at the World Cup. He’s so good with the exciting things but so poor at the basics. He doesn’t seem to be developing in game smarts or technical proficiency, hes marginally a better player than he was when he debuted. White is a shadow of the player he was 12months ago. It’s almost like the longer he’s in the Aus system the worse he’s got. I’d give it short odds that Lonergan is the scrum half come Lions series.

Kerevi might be one of those that never return to full fitness after a major injury. Petaia isn’t a 13 (hopefully can move to wing with Marika moving on). Like McDermott it’s almost like he hasn’t improved at all since his debut.

Gordon can’t tactically kick and his accuracy is poor.

Could go on.

 

[emuarse]

The best sides now all have massive, aggressive dynamic pigs

That is where the games are won

... and beside these coaches, there are also the front rowers.