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

[Yoda]

We need JAS. He is one our very few players capable of opening up the game for us at any time.

Not the way we are playing.

 

[Yoda]

Ireland 1.19 to Australia 4.90 on Sportsbet.
Interesting to see Wales favourites to beat Japan. 1.18- 5.25. We struggled past Japan. Anyway, the Aussies can win in Dublin. They just need to hit the Guinness the night before and don't listen to Joe! Let JOC (James O'Connor) call the shots, minimise box kicking, get plenty of ball to Jorgo and only have two or three pick and drives on the opponent's line before going wide.... easy! Because what ever Joe's been telling them isn't working. Fraser McReight Captain too and get Harry off the bench. It's easy on the sidelines!

 

[KOB1987]

Ireland 1.19 to Australia 4.90 on Sportsbet.
Interesting to see Wales favourites to beat Japan. 1.18- 5.25. We struggled past Japan. Anyway, the Aussies can win in Dublin. They just need to hit the Guinness the night before and don't listen to Joe! Let JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) call the shots, minimise box kicking, get plenty of ball to Jorgo and only have two or three pick and drives on the opponent's line before going wide.... easy! Because what ever Joe's been telling them isn't working. Fraser McReight Captain too and get Harry off the bench. It's easy on the sidelines!

I'd say that's beacuse we played a B team against them in Tokyo, Wales desperately need to beat them to ensure a top 12 seeding and will field their strongest team against them in Cardiff. That spread does seem a bit ambitious though.

 

[upthereds#!]

Going with

1. Bell 2. Faessler 3. Ala'alatoa
4. Frost 5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Hoops 8. Valetini 7. Mcreight
9. Gordon 10. Gordon 11. Daugunu 12. Ikitau 13. Sualii 14. Jorgo 15. Kellaway

16. Pollard 17. Ross 18. Tupou 19. Williams 20. Wilson/Samu 21. Lonergan 22. JOC (James O'Connor) 23. Potter

 

[Yoda]

Going with

1. Bell 2. Faessler 3. Ala'alatoa
4. Frost 5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Hoops 8. Valetini 7. Mcreight
9. Gordon 10. Gordon 11. Daugunu 12. Ikitau 13. Sualii 14. Jorgo 15. Kellaway

16. Pollard 17. Ross 18. Tupou 19. Williams 20. Wilson/Samu 21. Lonergan 22. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) 23. Potter

Who's goal kicker? Two good ones on your bench.

 

[Yoda]

I'd say that's beacuse we played a B team against them in Tokyo, Wales desperately need to beat them to ensure a top 12 seeding and will field their strongest team against them in Cardiff. That spread does seem a bit ambitious though.

B team rubbish. We should have flogged Japan with whoever we picked. Our backs are 'attack less' and Joe is the 'attack' coach.

 

[upthereds#!]

Who's goal kicker? Two good ones on your b

Who's goal kicker? Two good ones on your bench.

A) Carter Gordon. Likely first choice 10 starter now and going forwards despite a less then stellar conversion stats.
B) JOC (James O'Connor). As much as I love him I can't see him starting this week or beyond this tour. If not selected in the future at all, I see Donaldson on the bench.
C) Lonergan. Can't see him going past Gordon & Mcdermott so unlikely to lean on him as primary goal kicker..
D) Start Edmed. No thanks. Maybe Lynagh in the future, IF the primary selection criteria is kicking

so A) Carter Gordon. Lock it in Eddie

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I see what you did there....

I peripherally am aware of this but have no idea what it means and don't care to interject myself into youth crazes. Let them have their fun. I remember my parents telling me to grow up when I was a teen doing my best WWF/E attitude era "suuuck it"

 

[rugbyAU]

Bell and Gordon are fit

 

[KOB1987]

I can see the logic behind starting Tupou - AAA is carrying a niggle so if he starts and goes off then TT may end up playing 70 minutes straight which will gas him. If TT plays the first half and then AAA has to come off TT can then come back on after having a blow.

 

[Yoda]

A) Carter Gordon. Likely first choice 10 starter now and going forwards despite a less then stellar conversion stats.
B) JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor). As much as I love him I can't see him starting this week or beyond this tour. If not selected in the future at all, I see Donaldson on the bench.
C) Lonergan. Can't see him going past Gordon & Mcdermott so unlikely to lean on him as primary goal kicker..
D) Start Edmed. No thanks. Maybe Lynagh in the future, IF the primary selection criteria is kicking

so A) Carter Gordon. Lock it in Eddie

I guess like Sua'ali'i they have now invested in Carter and will likely push him. He definitely has some good points and flair although he's not a lock in unless his goal kicking is up to it. Still think Donaldson has yet to peak. Never got a decent crack at starting Tests and dropped for Edmed this tour. Edmed! Mate. Still don't understand Joe's logic there. I reckon we will beat Ireland though. Go get them boys.

 

[KOB1987]

I guess like Sua'ali'i they have now invested in Carter and will likely push him. He definitely has some good points and flair although he's not a lock in unless his goal kicking is up to it. Still think Donaldson has yet to peak. Never got a decent crack at starting Tests and dropped for Edmed this tour. Edmed! Mate. Still don't understand Joe's logic there. I reckon we will beat Ireland though. Go get them boys.

I think we can also - I said it in another thread, they are on the slide with their Oceania players having peaked and needing to be replaced with actual Irish players. Ireland are never terrible but I think they are heading to their rightful place of 5-8 on the rankings.

 

[rugbyAU]

Ireland may be on the 'slide' but they've only lost 4 games in the last 2 years (2 to NZ, one to SA in SA and one to France) - they're still much better than us

 

[rugbyAU]

Going with

1. Bell 2. Faessler 3. Ala'alatoa
4. Frost 5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Hoops 8. Valetini 7. Mcreight
9. Gordon 10. Gordon 11. Daugunu 12. Ikitau 13. Sualii 14. Jorgo 15. Kellaway

16. Pollard 17. Ross 18. Tupou 19. Williams 20. Wilson/Samu 21. Lonergan 22. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) 23. Potter

I'd start Pietsch

 

[KOB1987]

Ireland may be on the 'slide' but they've only lost 4 games in the last 2 years (2 to NZ, one to SA in SA and one to France) - they're still much better than us

I'm not disputing that, hence why I emphasised 'can' and didn't say 'will'. They haven't played nearly the calibre of teams we have as often as we have had to and if you want to be technical about your 2 years they did also lose to England in 6N 2024.

 

[Tomthumb]

Why was Skelton not with the Squad already? What's the point of the reg 9 window if you don't use it?

 

[rugbyAU]

Why was Skelton not with the Squad already? What's the point of the reg 9 window if you don't use it?

our coaches, RA etc. are stupid

 

[Ignoto]

Why was Skelton not with the Squad already? What's the point of the reg 9 window if you don't use it?

Because if he already had a sore ankle, what was the point of flying him from France to Italy when the time he would have been commuting to/from airports could have been done via the couch in an attempt to help speed up recovery.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Why was Skelton not with the Squad already? What's the point of the reg 9 window if you don't use it?

The real answer is Skelton is very close to retiring from international rugby to keep his club happy, and if we want to play him at all, it needs to be targetted games in negotiations with La Rochelle

 

[Tomthumb]

Because if he already had a sore ankle, what was the point of flying him from France to Italy when the time he would have been commuting to/from airports could have been done via the couch in an attempt to help speed up recovery.

He hurt his ankle playing club rugby on the weekend