Wallabies v France, 7.00am AEDT Sunday Morning

[dru]

and Nonggor needs to get into beast mode...he's too passive.

Well this makes a long ramble less than pointless.

 

[Major Tom]

Struggle to understand a bench 7 now. Fraser is an 80min player and if he got hurt it’s just shit out of luck.

Gleeson, Kemeny, Samu, Brial, Bryant should be contending to occupy that spot with an ability to shift in there if required.

If Fraser missed a game to injury then Tizzano comes in to start.

I think that’s why I hope Lemoto comes on. A ball carrying loose forward who can jackal would help us immensely. The way England uses Pollock is the way to go.
All those players you mentioned are probably a better way to go but don’t really get on the ball. Will be interesting to see how Bryant goes next year, see him as a bigger bodied 7.

 

[Major Tom]

The fuck? You time your jump for when you think you have the best opportunity to compete the ball, not when WR (World Rugby) (World Rugby) regulations determine it. Whether that timing is right or not is another matter. The official reason given to JAS when he rightly queried it was that he wasn’t as high as the French player. It was a match turning decision that should not have even raised a query, he jumped for the ball and lost the compete…..end of.

It was weird, considering I thought there was a similar incident in the back half of the ABs/ Wales game.
TBH the “realistic chance” aspect has been horseshit for 5+ years. Biggest factor is did you have eyes for the ball the whole time.

 

[Major Tom]

While that’s admirable of him, I’m not sure him playing through injury actually helped the team. He hasn’t been playing well, we haven’t been winning and we could have used those test to continue to get experience into Nonggorr etc.

Hindsight is 20/20.
We smash Schmidt for not picking our best players but then we criticise him for playing injured players.
For the record I would like us to play Zane more. He’s not the finished product, yet, but he’s scrummaged against some of the best in the world and held his own.
Will be interesting as the Brumbs definitely wanted him to get surgery rather than go on tour.

 

[Joe Blow]

It was a predictable end to a very long year for the squad. The effort was there but not the class or discipline required to go the full 80 mins.
Time to let Kiss get his hands on the team to give him plenty of time to shape what he wants before the RWC.
Hats off to Schmidt. He has been very good for the most part and the bloke we needed after Eddie’s trainswreck.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think that’s why I hope Lemoto comes on. A ball carrying loose forward who can jackal would help us immensely. The way England uses Pollock is the way to go.
All those players you mentioned are probably a better way to go but don’t really get on the ball. Will be interesting to see how Bryant goes next year, see him as a bigger bodied 7.

Maybe. Never seen him as a ruck threat in a few years of Schools footy but he can probably be as much a threat as Gleeson. He’s a ball runner. Played between 8 and 12.

He will really need to work on defence. At least once a game he has a yellow worthy high shot or shoulder charge. He’s a pure RL forward that the Panthers seem to have little interest in so hopefully Rugby benefit.

 

[Major Tom]

Maybe. Never seen him as a ruck threat in a few years of Schools footy but he can probably be as much a threat as Gleeson. He’s a ball runner. Played between 8 and 12.

He will really need to work on defence. At least once a game he has a yellow worthy high shot or shoulder charge. He’s a pure RL forward that the Panthers seem to have little interest in so hopefully Rugby benefit.

Hmm interesting. I had heard he was pretty handy at getting over the ball and I saw some evidence of him being a pest in the u18 games. Maybe I’m overestimating. We badly need someone who can offer the running game whilst being a pest at the breakdown.
Yeah love Gleeson, he’s got so much power and explosiveness. But he has the tendency to go missing in game.

 

[fatprop]

Gleeson, has such a motor but hands like feet.

Good effort by the Wobs, being in the game and turning up was such a positive with so many changes and third tier players

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Hmm interesting. I had heard he was pretty handy at getting over the ball and I saw some evidence of him being a pest in the u18 games. Maybe I’m overestimating. We badly need someone who can offer the running game whilst being a pest at the breakdown.
Yeah love Gleeson, he’s got so much power and explosiveness. But he has the tendency to go missing in game.

He is no doubt better than most at the Schools level because he's often going to be one of the best players on the park and he's physically dominant. I'll wait to see him do it against the pro men.

 

[rugbyAU]

Why was Thomas over Lonergan - he's just there as injury cover while Tate is out, it's devaluing to say we're giving someone minutes because theyve trained well, Lonergan will clearly be our third halfback when all fit for the WC and can goalkick, so why not give him opportunities

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Coaches might not think he will be or is current the top 3.

He hasn't been considered in the top 3 at any point previously until the pool shrunk with Tate's injury and White's retirement.

2027 will have Gordon, McDermott, Lonergan, Thomas, Wilson the likely 3 playing off for the spots. Werchon, Robertson should be around as well.

 

[Wilson]

I don't think it's a simple top 3 or 4 or however many for the half backs, it's much more split into two streams - the Gordon/White/Lonergan one and the Tate/Kalani/... one. There are different roles these guys are being looked at for and after a month or so with the squad they decided Kalani was ready for a chance at that bench role.

There's still plenty of room for guys to move around across styles there, but it's definitely not a simple linear depth chart for half backs.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Some pretty interesting comments on a podacst (maybe 8-9 combo?) this week about how the good teams aren't thinking of their subs as replacements, or a step down, they are thinking about who they want to on the field when the match is being decided (ie last 20 minutes), as well as having impact options that can change a game before that if needed.

Feels like (due to depth and injury) we are a long way from that - but Thomas may be seen as a finisher - like Tate, and Lonergan not - so worth getting the minutes in to him at the end if that's what his role is going to be

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Seems the way for most pro sports as they get more and more specialised. It's one of the reasons I don't support the current bench having a pure 7. I'd start Tizz or leave him out. If I wanted a game changer late who is a pure 7 then a guy like Reimer fits the bill more so. He can be expected to lock up rucks but again, McReight is an 80min player so the side can benefit more from other weapons being kept for other roles late.

If you wanted to up the speed of a game a player like Uru could be valuable for example but he's not there specifically to swap for Frost after 60 mins.

 

[stillmissit]

Coaches might not think he will be or is current the top 3.

He hasn't been considered in the top 3 at any point previously until the pool shrunk with Tate's injury and White's retirement.

2027 will have Gordon, McDermott, Lonergan, Thomas, Wilson the likely 3 playing off for the spots. Werchon, Robertson should be around as well.

I hope Gordon is gone by 27

 

[stillmissit]

Seems the way for most pro sports as they get more and more specialised. It's one of the reasons I don't support the current bench having a pure 7. I'd start Tizz or leave him out. If I wanted a game changer late who is a pure 7 then a guy like Reimer fits the bill more so. He can be expected to lock up rucks but again, McReight is an 80min player so the side can benefit more from other weapons being kept for other roles late.

If you wanted to up the speed of a game a player like Uru could be valuable for example but he's not there specifically to swap for Frost after 60 mins.

A very good player and like LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) often overlooked, not sure why.

 

[stillmissit]

Some pretty interesting comments on a podacst (maybe 8-9 combo?) this week about how the good teams aren't thinking of their subs as replacements, or a step down, they are thinking about who they want to on the field when the match is being decided (ie last 20 minutes), as well as having impact options that can change a game before that if needed.

Feels like (due to depth and injury) we are a long way from that - but Thomas may be seen as a finisher - like Tate, and Lonergan not - so worth getting the minutes in to him at the end if that's what his role is going to be

True Strewth, when we were 1 point away at 60 mins and lose like that in the last 20 something is very wrong. Most top teams lift in the last 20, whilst we go missing. (still think we ain't fit enough).

 

[Strewthcobber]

True Strewth, when we were 1 point away at 60 mins and lose like that in the last 20 something is very wrong. Most top teams lift in the last 20, whilst we go missing. (still think we ain't fit enough).

We bring our replacement forwards on much earlier and drip feed them into the match

At 64 mins France brought on 5 fresh forwards off the bench, plus an inside centre all at the same time. Fresh legs blow us away.

Our approach gives us an advantage from around 54mins to 64 mins, at least theortetically

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I hope Gordon is gone by 27

I know he's singed through to the WC with RA and they rejected a previous release request but his body has been struggling and he has some good talents below him.

If a good offer came forward and he was keen I could see them letting him take it for a fee. At least one of Thomas/Wilson would need to make the next leap in performance otherwise the Wallabies could find themselves extremely thin in a key position.

 

[SamoanNo8]

Slightly off topic/perhaps unconstructive: has anyone else found the Stan's commentary team to be insufferable lately, and completely incapable of providing a frank and thorough assessment of the Wallabies' woes? Every time the Wallabies err, it is always "brilliant play from [opposition X]" - it never seems to be as a result of unacceptable play from the Wallabies. There is clearly a hesitancy to "offend" any of their Wallaby mates.

J Harrison and M Burke are perhaps the only two who call a spade a spade.

Regards