Tomthumb
Ken Catchpole (46)
What good things did he do?
Wallabies v Lions Game 2 MCG 26 July
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Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Sounds like Mack Hansen will be available for selection for test 2.
Thought the wings were the Lions poorest players, so potentially an upgrade for them there
Thought the wings were the Lions poorest players, so potentially an upgrade for them there
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
In the tour games he has played so far Hansen has been coming in from his blindside and acts as another distributor. It’s been succesful and very hard to stop. Potter toiled hard and was a little unlucky but maybe lacks that top line pace of Jorgo and Corey Toole. The latter was excellent for the Brumbies against the Lions and his chase game is very good. Might be a tad on the small side but he is quick and abrasive.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
Yes. Pietsch is almost as fast and has more weight on him. He will do just fine! Looks like he has been held back from the indigenous side
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Pietsch also went very well in the tour game. I reckon he'd take the fight up to the Lions, he's that kind of player.
Sword of Justice
Dick Tooth (41)
He did what he always does which is hit a ton of rucks and be serviceable at scrum time. Adding in his decent hands and I’ll never turn my nose up at that package. He did need to be subbed a bit earlier though - I reckon 3 of those missed tackles happened late in the first half when our defence was breaking apart and he was gassed.
Uh huh
Ted Thorn (20)
Honestly I'd love to see Toole get a run, but realistically we don't pick blokes that small in this country, even if they are the fastest player in Super Rugby. After the 2024 season, the buzz was that his defence wasn't up to it and I think it's fair to say he rose to the challenge this year, even playing a defensive formation that exposes the wings to a lot of low-percentage defensive plays. His cover defence is first rate and he hits very hard for a wee chap.
If he had been South African, I suspect he'd have a few caps by now, even if only off the bench. I do think it's a shame though, and emblematic of the institutionally stunted strategic imagination the Wallabies have battled with for the best part of 20 years.
Derpus
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I also like this. I honestly think this is what Schmidt would have done if the Wallaby fitness curse didn't strike.
Do we have any actual word on their fitness yet?
pissedoffihavetoregister
Alfred Walker (16)
With skelton we put pressure on our lineout as he has trouble getting airborne. Our lineout was in trouble in the first half but seemed ok in the secondhalf. We solved this in the past by having a tall 6, not sure who that is nowadays.
dru
Jason Little (69)
It's been a scenario for ever. The issues are:
a) how do you adjust the line out to counter a largely non-jumping lock?
b) is it a game which over-rides his potential downside.
To the later I think the answer is a palpable YES.
To the former we have adjusted before, not I think implemented perfectly but certainly adjustment in the right direction. I also think we have jumping options in the loose forwards - not all of which classify as primary jumpers but options al the same. The lineout needs re-purposing anyway.
Two other thoughts that reduce or mediate Skeltons purported strengths.
1. His maul busting wont achieve much when the BIL don't seem that good at them, or at least don't do that many.
2. There is a presumption that Skelton adds to the scrum. I'd suggest that over time the claim can be shaky. And our scrum was doing fine.
FWIW I think Skelton is inked in.
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PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
The Skelton conundrum is interesting because we need bigger bodies to actually make a dent in the Lions defensive line.
Finn Russell though will be salivating though as he’s really got the ball on a string at the moment and will be happy to find touch in our half and force our busted lineout to relieve pressure now with Skelton there.
Finn Russell though will be salivating though as he’s really got the ball on a string at the moment and will be happy to find touch in our half and force our busted lineout to relieve pressure now with Skelton there.
Both fit. Bobby V will be short a gallop but he’ll start.
He held up the scrum that's about it which is good but not enough for the Wallabies. Watch the line outs he missed multiple lifts in attack and D, you can blame hookers or jumpers for over throws but lifters not reacting costs too. Status also have him missing 3 or 4 missed tackles (depending on who you follow) when he defended next to the ruck all night. I do agree he had a good year with the brumbies but I just think he is no longer up to test standard. keep him in the squad 100% all this year but he plays off the bench when the game is slowing down at best and he might still be ineffective. Otherwise there are younger fitter props that can do at least what he did on Saturday.
My skepticism for the process is that it still seems like teams are trying to avoid removing a player for an HIA. In the Fiji test it was absolutely obvious that Slipper had suffered a head knock and then stumbled trying to get up. There was then a stoppage for another injury or something that went for quite a while and then play resumed with Slipper still on the field. It wasn't until a little later that he was brought off for an HIA (which he passed). To me it seems like the process has significant flaws if something that obvious isn't picked up straight away.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
I think the teams themselves have largely stopped doing it (although not all their fault as the drinks runners are not allowed on the field nearly as much as they used to be, although there is no restriction on head assesments)
It seems like they entirely rely on the TV replays that the independent doctor is watching and pings from mouthguard, which can be delayed etc as they watch other incidents., and/or have to findthe incident that caused the ping
I agree with all this. Skelton, Valetini and Gleeson all seemed like clear matchday 23 players before injury and I think they will come straight in. Aside from that, very little change. The turnaround is too short to make mass changes.
It's unbelievably clear that we need to be closer in the physical battle in the first half in particular. While we made the game respectable the Lions built a solid lead and kept us at arms-length all match. I get the need to have a strong bench and I assume that is why Bell has been held back but I also think he needs to be injected into the game earlier. As clearly our best LHP and one of our better overall players he needs to play more than half the game. If Slipper is to start then Bell should come on at the 30 minute mark.
Hopefully Lynagh is more accurate with his kicking this week. It's one of the core reasons he has been selected ahead of Donaldson in my view and he didn't deliver in that regard in game 1. The glaring issue we need to fix up though is him getting caught under the high ball. Can he improve in securing those kicks or do we need to reposition him in defence?
One of our key issues with the kicking game in the first half is that we didn't secure their box kicks very well but they were pretty good at catching ours (outside of Jorgo's moment of magic). I don't think our kicks were worse placed than theirs. Generally we were dropping the ball under some pressure but not a full aerial contest.
Pietsch replacing Potter is a chance but I wouldn't think it is overly likely.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Looked like they had Wright and Lynagh in the backfield in the pendulum, and then Lynagh defended outside Jorgensen on the right when required.
Not sure you could really change that setup too much? Jorgensen isn't nearly as good a return kicker, and despite his undoubted courage, you want Lynagh making as few tackles as possible
I don't really think we have a better option. But it's also great tactics from the Lions