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Wallabies 2020

Rugby Head

Rugby Head

Watty Friend (18)
Braveheart81 said:
I agree with Jets though that McReight will get a fair number of caps off the bench.

The decision to make Hooper captain has confirmed to the fans that Rennie thinks Hooper is still a clear first choice. There are obviously some people who were arguing that Wright or McReight could have been first choice this year.

Whether it has actually slowed McReight's progression in reality is hard to say.
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Honestly though, who is the squad would beat Michael Hooper to the captaincy? My only suggestion would be James Slipper, but he's off after 55 odd minutes anyway...
Hooper is by far the best 7 we have in Aus, would also say he is the best leader in Aus too.
 
Brumby Runner

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
Forcefield said:
Perhaps I should have used different words- our forwards were winning the collisions on the whole. We were doing poorly at the ruck (which Samu needs to take some responsibility for) and in the line-outs. Either way you spin it, Samu didn't do much with his opportunity. Compare how he went, for example, with Wilson.

Don't pick holes for the sake of picking holes. If you think the essence of the argument (there is not much between them)is wrong, state your case.
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I thought Samu picked off a couple of lineout steals jumping at 2, and put pressure on ABs ball on other occasions. Had Rob Simmons done something similar, people here would be singing his praises until the end of 21.
 
Viking

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
Rugby Head said:
Honestly though, who is the squad would beat Michael Hooper to the captaincy? My only suggestion would be James Slipper, but he's off after 55 odd minutes anyway.
Hooper is by far the best 7 we have in Aus, would also say he is the best leader in Aus too.
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Easily the best 7. But doubt he is the best leader. I'd argue even AAA and Wright look like better Captains at there respective clubs.
 
Viking

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
Braveheart81 said:
Maybe on Hooper's ability as a captain 5 years ago.

The tropes about Hooper being bad with referees or speaking poorly after games don't really bare out in reality these days in my opinion.
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I don't think he is poor by any means. But I still think AAA and Wright are slightly better at addressing refs. That's not the only part of being a Captain though.

Then there's the on-field leadership getting everyone in the team motivated, communicating well, on the same page etc.

Then there's gameplay decisions. He tends go to the corners a little too often.
 
qwerty51

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Brumby Runner said:
Qwerty, I reckon the coaches see Wright as an option for all three spots in the backrow while they probably regard McReight to be a specialist No 7 only. McReight won't come into calculations while Michael Hooper is available.
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Well let me be clear. Wright ain't a 6 or 8. Not even close to it at Test level. It's laughable people want to have a dig at say Hanigan's ineffectiveness/physicality but happy for Wright to play at #6 at Test level.
 
Brumby Runner

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
People don't have much say in it Qwerty, but the coaches certainly do, and they seem to think Wright can cover 6 and 8 in addition to the obvious spot at 7.
 
TSR

TSR

Mark Ella (57)
qwerty51 said:
Well let me be clear. Wright ain't a 6 or 8. Not even close to it at Test level. It's laughable people want to have a dig at say Hanigan's ineffectiveness/physicality but happy for Wright to play at #6 at Test level.
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Maybe let’s let him have a few more games before we run a rule through him
 
cyclopath

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
TSR said:
Maybe let’s let him have a few more games before we run a rule through him
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He'll probably be good enough to play any position in the back row, in time. I hope he nails down one, and excels, and doesn't end up a utility. Utilities are good, but I think he will probably be really good at one position. My gut feel is 6 long term.
 
Brumby Runner

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
I noticed in the pre-match warm up last night that HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) was packing on the side of the scrum. At first I thought it would be to fill a gap in the wider squad backrow but then figured we should have had Samu, McReight and Naisarani available. I wonder if there is a move in the Wallabies camp to remodel HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) as a No 6.

It would seem to be odd to me if that were so. I reckon HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is better in the front row than Bell and he was playing LHP in the A games against Argentina. I'd prefer to see Bell remodeled as a No 8 if there is a perceived weakness in the backrow.
 
KOB1987

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
Brumby Runner said:
I noticed in the pre-match warm up last night that HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) was packing on the side of the scrum. At first I thought it would be to fill a gap in the wider squad backrow but then figured we should have had Samu, McReight and Naisarani available. I wonder if there is a move in the Wallabies camp to remodel HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) as a No 6.

It would seem to be odd to me if that were so. I reckon HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is better in the front row than Bell and he was playing LHP in the A games against Argentina. I'd prefer to see Bell remodeled as a No 8 if there is a perceived weakness in the backrow.
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I think there is zero chance of either of those happening. Purely contingency planning, which I like.
 
wamberal

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Brumby Runner said:
I noticed in the pre-match warm up last night that HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) was packing on the side of the scrum. At first I thought it would be to fill a gap in the wider squad backrow but then figured we should have had Samu, McReight and Naisarani available. I wonder if there is a move in the Wallabies camp to remodel HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) as a No 6.

It would seem to be odd to me if that were so. I reckon HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is better in the front row than Bell and he was playing LHP in the A games against Argentina. I'd prefer to see Bell remodeled as a No 8 if there is a perceived weakness in the backrow.
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What about Pone??? If anybody could be repurposed, I reckon he would be pretty high on the list. Big and fast.
 
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