The Wallabies Thread
- Thread starter KOB1987
- Start date
RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
Oh dear. You've been seduced - although I hope not - into The Great Wallabies Player Selections Myth.
Our Wallabies-level problem is not essentially about 'really hard selections dilemmas and new vs old players and so on' at all.
Our problem is that we have a Wallaby HC whom is a very good team motivator, quite good culture-builder, good individual player counsellor and guider, but who has totally failed to design and select a world-class national coaching team of the breadth and depth needed to compete with a other elite coaching groups with the best teams, or even some so-called Tier 2 teams like Scotland.
Grey's best days are super-obviously gone, Larkham's best achievement with the Brumbies is actually very good defence (credit Ryan there to a considerable degree for that btw) and certainly not attack. And so on.
And that neither of these absolutely critical positions/persons have had to undergo a performance assessment/results-delivered hurdle of any kind before becoming full-time Wallaby coaches 'because they just wanted to become full-time'. That is unforgivably lazy and indulgent.
We can ruminate all we like re 'selections' as though this game of numbers and new faces conundrum will unlock another set of Wallaby glory days, but the effort will be in vain until the whole Wallaby support coaching team (I'm still OK with MC as HC btw) is turned over and significantly upgraded.
TSR
Mark Ella (57)
I disagree Redshappy. It is about both. Nowhere in my post did I defend the current coaching regime at either State or National level. A lot of our ingrained problems are clearly not being addressed or are openly promoted by poor coaching.
But where is personal responsibility in all this. Coaching should identify and improve deficiencies in our core skills, defence, discipline and application, but you really don't expect Cooper to take any initiative to fix his tackling, Phipps his passing, Kerevi his defence, Simmons his impact at collisions? Do you not think by now Nabuli should be thinking - hey, maybe I should let this guy actually hit the ground before I tackle him so I don't get another yellow card.
To make it clear, I am not ignoring the fundamental failures in our coaching and development approach/structure or the appointment process that puts them in place.
My post was aimed solely at the selection conundrum.
But where is personal responsibility in all this. Coaching should identify and improve deficiencies in our core skills, defence, discipline and application, but you really don't expect Cooper to take any initiative to fix his tackling, Phipps his passing, Kerevi his defence, Simmons his impact at collisions? Do you not think by now Nabuli should be thinking - hey, maybe I should let this guy actually hit the ground before I tackle him so I don't get another yellow card.
To make it clear, I am not ignoring the fundamental failures in our coaching and development approach/structure or the appointment process that puts them in place.
My post was aimed solely at the selection conundrum.
Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
Meakes could probably handle starting, but the other four would definitely think for development exposure. I'd be tempted to add Tuttle for the same reason given how shitty some of our 9s have been. I also think RHP deserves a look in. Definitely better than Hanigan IMO.
dru
Tim Horan (67)
No not seduced RH, I stick by the primary issue - coaching. In among things I earlier called "trifles" are player performances. I think it's germane to point out the same players we praise on one hand can legitimately be criticised on another. Fans perspective on judging players then falls to either what is considered more important by the fan, or just as likely to cognitive biasses. Of which there are plenty when we start discussions over say, NSW bias, or Quade/Moore/Mumm/Hooper/Phipps hell even Fardy/Higgers etc.
Coaching is our thorn, but you cant really talk about the Wallabies without some discussion on the plyers.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
^^^To me Meakes is a standout to be given a chance.
He played outside Beale through school, made oz schools and u20s and might have had a brumbies eps. He played for Norths and was good but he never got any real talk before going to the uk.
Maybe the received wisdom was that he was not a super or test player.
At this juncture I say that is no longer a legitimate approach - either in his case or more generally.
Whatever talent identification has been going on it has not unearthed the requisite talent. Maybe we no longer produce it.
Let's find out: I often wonder looking back on Conrad smith's career whether this country would have picked him out early enough to stop him leaving the game and pursuing a law career.
He played outside Beale through school, made oz schools and u20s and might have had a brumbies eps. He played for Norths and was good but he never got any real talk before going to the uk.
Maybe the received wisdom was that he was not a super or test player.
At this juncture I say that is no longer a legitimate approach - either in his case or more generally.
Whatever talent identification has been going on it has not unearthed the requisite talent. Maybe we no longer produce it.
Let's find out: I often wonder looking back on Conrad smith's career whether this country would have picked him out early enough to stop him leaving the game and pursuing a law career.
TSR
Mark Ella (57)
I've been thinking of Meakes purely as a 12. If Hunt is out, I'd have him straight in. But didn't he play 13 at Gloucester? Maybe he's our solution there. I'd hope Kerevi will fill one if the centre positions soon enough, but his defence remains an issue (and I'm assuming he'll be fit).
I like Rona as well but would be happy with either, or both.
I like Rona as well but would be happy with either, or both.
TSR
Mark Ella (57)
I was going to respond with LOL - but it is really not funny.
I'm concerned it's going to be accurate though.
I understand systems take a while to bed down, but surely Grey can't be stupid enough to think if we stick with what he is trying to achieve it is going to come good.
Twoilms
Trevor Allan (34)
Center depth was a worry until recently and now we could conceivably have Kuridrani, Kerevi, Meakes, Hunt and Beale pushing for a spot. Not a bad problem to have. Same could be said of the wings (though Naivalu should finally be recognized as our best specialist winger).
Hunt and Meakes would make a great 12-13 combo if you are focusing up on tightening the defense.
Hunt and Meakes would make a great 12-13 combo if you are focusing up on tightening the defense.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Haven't seen a lot of Meakes play until last night but with that shaven head he looks like the sort of hard guy you'd want on your side in a bar fight. Apart from perhaps Hunt it's been a while since we had a back like him that looks like they're actively trying to injure the opposition in defence.
We've fluffed around enough swapping five-eighths to fullbacks and fullbacks to wingers in defence. Come the RC I'd much rather see a guy like Meakes who wants to put bodies on the floor than some guy who can't defend but has 'X-Factor'.
We've fluffed around enough swapping five-eighths to fullbacks and fullbacks to wingers in defence. Come the RC I'd much rather see a guy like Meakes who wants to put bodies on the floor than some guy who can't defend but has 'X-Factor'.
T
TOCC
Guest
Sorry Reg, if you're talking development then I think Mafi has shown more in 2017 then Ready
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I'd like to see Meakes get a go in gold this year. He's been quite outstanding this season and as others have said, his straight running and defence have been spot on. He can also pass, which is a pretty handy skill for a centre to have, as well as being able to hit a hole and break the line. With the right amount of trailing support runners I think he could be quite dangerous.
I'm talking over multiple years. A couple of shots off the bench for Mafi isn't enough for me yet.