Ireland v Wallabies, Saturday 15/11 (Sunday morning Aus time)

[Dctarget]

Difficult to re-group for this.

Ikitau straight in.

Skelton went off with an ankle injury in an away loss for La Rochelle. Bit of a fluffybunny move to play him by O'Gara seeing as he never plays him for away games. O'Gara wasn't definitive about Skelton's injury but that he was 'gutted' and hopes Will can play against France in two weeks. Cheers mate.

C. Gordon looks to be in trouble too. SOS to JO'C? Is Nic White holidaying in Cork by any chance?

I wouldn't hate seeing Wilson dropped to the bench and we run a Hooper/McReight/Valetini backrow. Joe needs to make some big calls.

 

[rugbyAU]

1 - Bell
2 - Pollard
3 - AA
4 - Frost
5 - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6 - Hooper
7 - McReight (c)
8 - Valetini
9 - Lonergan
10 - Gordon
11 - Pietsch
12 - Ikitau
13 - JAS
14 - Jorgensen
15 - Kellaway

16 - Faessler
17 - Ross
18 - Tupou
19 - Williams
20 - Tizzano
21 - Gordon
22 - O'Connor
23 - Daungunu

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Same backrow group but shift Valetini to 8 and let Wilson and McReight work in tandem at 6,7 and get some attack going toward the inner channels and maybe create some space out wide in the next phase.

JOC (James O'Connor) has to come in if Gordon is out. Should be a no brainer unless they are for some reason afraid to hurt Edmed's feelings.

 

[Wilson]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sua'ali'i drop out here, Schmidt did not exactly sound happy with him or the height of his tackling when asked about their discipline in general:

“We’ll have a look at some of those penalties, some of them we definitely have to sort out,” Schmidt said. “The yellow card, Joseph has to go lower, he can’t afford to tackle up around. Even though the player is dropping, you can’t take that risk. You’ve got to go low, so some of those penalties are definitely on us and others we’ll have a closer look at.”

Ideally I'd like to see him in the back 3, but if Schmidt does decide to shift him he may also look at him as a bench option to get some of the spark back that we were getting from Bell and McDermott coming on the second half earlier this year.

 

[KOB1987]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sua'ali'i drop out here, Schmidt did not exactly sound happy with him or the height of his tackling when asked about their discipline in general:


Ideally I'd like to see him in the back 3, but if Schmidt does decide to shift him he may also look at him as a bench option to get some of the spark back that we were getting from Bell and McDermott coming on the second half earlier this year.

The problem with doing that is it means Paisami is still there. So it may alleviate a short term fixable problem in JAS's tackling technique but a bigger problem is still present. We desperately need another international standard centre to front up.

 

[Wilson]

The problem with doing that is it means Paisami is still there. So it may alleviate a short term fixable problem in JAS's tackling technique but a bigger problem is still present. We desperately need another international standard centre to front up.

Personally I don't think Paisami has been anywhere near as bad as others make out (though he has had his issues, like most of our side), the problems with our centres in attack are largely down to tactics and systems. A Paisami-Ikitau pairing is fairly well established over the last few years and can offer a lot, we also have the opportunity to play it as Ikitau at 12 and Paisami at 13 if the aim is to keep the focus on Ikitau's transition to 12.

Beyond that I think our problems with the high ball are shifting the balance away from benefiting getting another of our wing options into the back 3 (none of whom are doing particularly well there), particularly with Wright out. For mine, a backline with 11 Pietsch, 12 Paisami, 13 Ikitau, 14 Jorgensen, 15 Sua'ali'i (12/13 could easily be swapped, as could 14/15) looks much more threatening in attack, capable of handling high balls and solid defence than one running Kellaway at 15 and Sua'ali'i at 13 does right now.

That said, the placement of 10 is the other big issue with high balls right now, and I'm not sure that will change much whatever else happens.

 

[KOB1987]

I actually wouldn't have any issues if they try it - Ikitau could take Hunter to another level and we are very much in 'nothing to lose' territory.

 

[Ignoto]

The problem with doing that is it means Paisami is still there. So it may alleviate a short term fixable problem in JAS's tackling technique but a bigger problem is still present. We desperately need another international standard centre to front up.

Filipo does exactly what you want from an outside centre, runs hard at angles, draws in two defenders and can offload into the space.

I don't think we would lose anything at all by chucking Filipo at 13

 

[rugbyAU]

Skelton and JOC (James O'Connor) are joining the squad today and will be medically assessed

 

[A mutterer]

6,7

I see what you did there....

 

[LeCheese]

I'll fly the flag for camp 'Jake Gordon is, was, and always will be part of the problem'. Slow service, often directionless, and seems unwilling to alter the plan when it isn't working (in fairness, not solely on him).

I don't think it's a coincidence he's only featured in one of this season's wins - the less than spectacular one v Japan, not the Lions, SA, and Argies wins - but has started in 5 of the 8 losses.

But, with White hanging it up and McDermott injured, we're not exactly spoilt for choice with experienced 9s...

 

[Tomthumb]

Skelton and JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) are joining the squad today and will be medically assessed

Locking the gate after the horse has already bolted

 

[Pfitzy]

Irish by a thowwwwwwwwwwwwwwsand