Australia Wallaby A squad to play a Japan XV Saturday 18th Oct

[fatprop]

Tbh though Gamble is as good if not better than Scott.

If Gamble can replicate some form from his 2 games v Lions then he’s more effective than Scott whilst the Tahs probably want to bring through Durbidge and LeMaitre who was best player in the 19s comp.

Take one of them and likely lose a young in which is something NSW need to move away from.

but he hasn't consistently done anything but twiddle his moustache in a couple of seasons

 

[Red Runner]

yeah Gamble has been a 4/10 for a couple of years with a couple of 9s this year, after the Super Rugby season

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

You wouldn't move on for a consistently average guy though. Not upgrading anything

He's 29 with plenty of footy in him. Use him along with Samu and bring through the likes of Doyle, Le matire, Durbidge plus the heap of others weve seen like Orr in the 18s who are a few more years back.

 

[Dctarget]

Poor Japanese. Can only import so much foreign tall timber like Hockings and Dearns. Swain and Canham had an absolute field day out there.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Are we seeing the full reversion to what they have been traditionally? Japan prepped and planned for the 2019 WC perfectly and made the QFs. Rode that wave for a couple years after but now it's a different side regardless of any remaining players.

 

[Wilson]

Are we seeing the full reversion to what they have been traditionally? Japan prepped and planned for the 2019 WC perfectly and made the QFs. Rode that wave for a couple years after but now it's a different side regardless of any remaining players.

Might have to wait a week to see how the top side goes, I don't Japan has ever really had the depth to back up their peak performances.

My understanding was the selection here was particularly focused on talented guys in their University system who haven't had as much proper pro exposure as they need. It's a bit of an ongoing fight in the Japanese system to get these guys out of cotton wool and into full pro contests against top players.

The problems aren't confined to the uni system though, just look at what a very inexperienced Reds side did to Panasonic at the same time. There's a growing need to get the league one sides playing in a cross border comp where they'll be forced to actually address their defensive frailties.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Was there a team list published for the Wild Knights? It was a disappointing scoreline from a competitive standpoint.

 

[Dctarget]

Are we seeing the full reversion to what they have been traditionally? Japan prepped and planned for the 2019 WC perfectly and made the QFs. Rode that wave for a couple years after but now it's a different side regardless of any remaining players.

Nah they'll still be fine. They rely heavily on imports, allowing them to play above their weight but with a very shallow talent pool. Similar to Scotland who get pumped every u20s comp but can snaffle enough Scottish grandsons from Durban.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Scotland can produce their own world class players though in conjunction with recruiting. Hogg, Russell, Jones and then very good test players like Kinghorn. Japan don't have these guys to then recruit the gaps.

They'll be better than teams of the early 2000s but I don't think they crawl into the top 10 sides.

 

[HJ Nelson]

Was there a team list published for the Wild Knights? It was a disappointing scoreline from a competitive standpoint.

Only what was on Instagram

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Koro with no beard makes me really uncomfortable but gee he looks like a nice fella on head shot only opinion.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Might have to wait a week to see how the top side goes, I don't Japan has ever really had the depth to back up their peak performances.

My understanding was the selection here was particularly focused on talented guys in their University system who haven't had as much proper pro exposure as they need. It's a bit of an ongoing fight in the Japanese system to get these guys out of cotton wool and into full pro contests against top players.

The problems aren't confined to the uni system though, just look at what a very inexperienced Reds side did to Panasonic at the same time. There's a growing need to get the league one sides playing in a cross border comp where they'll be forced to actually address their defensive frailties.

Only two of the 23 are currently playing Uni. Rugby in Japan. The rest are part of a JRL1 club.

The big issue for the Japanese at present is the structures below pro level. Super Rugby Aus gave our guys 3 games to find some form abd fitness leading in. Jaoan doesn't really have anything other than Uni Rugby which is a big step down from JRL1.

Proof in point was the Japan U23s being beaten by mix and match Randwick earlier in the year.

There's plans for academies to bridge the gap but I'm not sure how that would fix the issues in the medium term.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Do the Reds and Australia A players get anything out of flogging these Japanese teams?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think so.

Aus A guys get some match fitness if required for the Wallabies and for the Reds I think it benefits the kids the most. Established players I'd say they get nothing from it but the young ones get a buzz and I'm sure keen to hit pre season flying.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Do the Reds and Australia A players get anything out of flogging these Japanese.

For the likes of Pritchard and Ross being 18 y.o. blokes. Yes. Confidence in making the step up. But for the Aus A blokes being professionals. Very little I would imagine.

Issue is, what are the alternatives. A longer Super Rugby Aus for the pros woukdn't hurt. But we need something in place for the young emerging guys to test themselves and develop beyond a handful of 18/19s games and club Rugby.

 

[fatprop]

You wouldn't move on for a consistently average guy though. Not upgrading anything

He's 29 with plenty of footy in him. Use him along with Samu and bring through the likes of Doyle, Le matire, Durbidge plus the heap of others weve seen like Orr in the 18s who are a few more years back.

I have concerns about Gamble & Samu actually contributing a lot

 

[Wilson]

Do the Reds and Australia A players get anything out of flogging these Japanese teams?

For Aus A the benefit is probably pretty questionable with a result like this. Risk of injury almost makes a game like this not worth it..

Given the Reds ran out a few 18 year olds I think it is pretty helpful for bringing them on. Whether or not the whole exercise is worth it depends a bit more on how competitive the capped game is this weekend.

 

[Red Runner]

Do the Reds and Australia A players get anything out of flogging these Japanese teams?

I'd say most of the Reds do. 21 of the squad have less than 5 Reds caps - including 3 who played for QLD in the U19 tournament a month or so ago (Alex Kelly a late inclusion on the bench for the Reds) and of course the 3 Aussie U18 players.

Unfortunately Tom Robinson seems to have done a bad shoulder injury so will be out for a while - unlikely to be have got anything out of it himself.

 

[Major Tom]

Do the Reds and Australia A players get anything out of flogging these Japanese teams?

For the Reds, it's a marketing exercise playing out in Toowoomba.

 

[PhilClinton]

For the Reds, it's a marketing exercise playing out in Toowoomba.

No offence to the players involved but is it really a marketing exercise when you're running out a bunch of blokes who likely won't play meaningful SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) minutes for some time against a Japanese side without any local international standard players?