Wallabies 2021

[TSR]

Injured is my understanding.

 

[SouthernX]

I am all for the continuity 6 months out before a World Cup. But 2 years out.. we should be experimenting and seeing who’s up for the challenge.

 

[TSR]

Okay. So name names. Shouldn’t they demonstrate they are up to it at Super level first?

McDermott is the only one who, IMO, offers any credible alternative to those picked. Certainly none of the other 10s do. I am a big fan of Harrison and I really like the very little I’ve seen from Gordon but, IMO, both those guys are a long way from being credible test options. Who are you suggesting they try?

And are we really better off if we get the to World Cup with 3-4 players who have all played 5-6 tests? I guess part of the answer to that depends on whether Lolesio kicks on and what sort of luck we have with injuries.

Also, do you have any examples of where constant chopping and changing of key players in a team which is already struggling for consistent performance has worked?

Edit: look, I can see where you are coming from in some respects. For example I don’t think it did anyone any favours when Cheika kept picking guys like Dean Mumm and Hanigan. But I also think that it is hard to argue that we were any more successful when those players were dropped for someone else who wasn’t an upgrade.

 

[dru]

Everyone saying we should stay with our halves combo is mad.

It’s 2 years out from the next World Cup. I don’t even think Noah was any good on Wednesday. I’d be filtering in and out any 9 & 10 on RA Radar and letting them prove their worth on the big stage.

With the 9s you've got White, Gordon and Tate working through as you seem to want. Would you add Powel?

With the 10s I don't see any evidence of Harrison or Douglas showing better credentials than Lolesio. None are international ready and it does little to phase through multiple unready prospects. What is happening here is that Rennie has chosen one and is working through a programme of introduction and building. That could possibly have been done with any of Lolesio, Harrison or Douglas and exactly the same discussion would be happening. Given I can't differentiate between the three, all I can say is that the process of introduction and build is working well at this stage.

 

[rugboy]

He gets another chance, as does Gordon. Hopefully they both make a better fist of it.

Are JOC (James O'Connor) and Hodge injured or available?

JOC (James O'Connor) injured Hodge available but not selected.

 

[Joe Blow]

I would have thought that Hodge on the bench would have been a good choice? To'omua is the back up 10 in that 23.
Rennie is obviously looking for something else and he sees part of it in Lolesio. At half back we have pretty good depth so no issue there.

 

[Steak n Weights]

They say the average age of world cup winning teams was 27-28 or something. Most players reach their peak at that age, not too young where you lack experience and not too old where you're losing speed and power. How many of our players are 25-26 years old?

 

[KOB1987]

They say the average age of world cup winning teams was 27-28 or something. Most players reach their peak at that age, not too young where you lack experience and not too old where you're losing speed and power. How many of our players are 25-26 years old?

We will be targeting the 2027 one, so we want our average to be about 21-22. Realistically we'll want it to be about 25 in 2024 when the current rookies are the regular starters.

 

[TSR]

Actually I saw a profile of our squad they will be very close to the age profile this World Cup.

Guys like Wilson & Lolesio are balanced of with guys like JOC (James O'Connor), Slipper & White.

And there is a group of players like Tupou, Ala'alatoa, Salakai-Loto, Vunivalu, Phillips, etc who, from memory, will all be in the 25 - 29 age bracket

 

[Adam84]

They say the average age of world cup winning teams was 27-28 or something. Most players reach their peak at that age, not too young where you lack experience and not too old where you're losing speed and power. How many of our players are 25-26 years old?

I've taken a stab for 2023, age wise the core-squad is about that 27-28 age bracket. Just need someone to stand up for 2, 13 & 15.

1. Slipper 34
2.
3. Tupou 27
4. Skelton 31
5. Phillip 29
6. Valetini 26
7. Hooper 31
8. Wilson 25
9. White 33
10. JOC (James O'Connor) 33
11. Koroibete 30
12. Paisami 25
13.
14. Vunivalu 27
15.

 

[KOB1987]

I've taken a stab for 2023, age wise the core-squad about that age bracket. Just need someone to stand up for 2, 13 & 15.

1. Slipper 34
2.
3. Tupou 27
4. Skelton 31
5. Phillip 29
6. Valetini 26
7. Hooper 31
8. Wilson 25
9. White 33
10. JOC (James O'Connor) 33
11. Koroibete 30
12. Paisami 25
13.
14. Vunivalu 27
15.

2. Lonergan
13. Perese
15. Wright

 

[Jimmyjam]

2. Lonergan
13. Perese
15. Wright

Alternates

2. Latu
15. Carter Gordon - (I've only seen him play a few times, but absolutely convinced he is the real deal. Could easily slot in as a 15 but may even be the staring 10 by then IMO)

 

[wamberal]

It's a balancing act for Rennie. He has to win games this year, as well as assembling and blooding potential players for the future.

It really is about time that the franchises openly agreed to work with him.

 

[Cancelled Account]

Alternates

2. Latu
15. Carter Gordon - (I've only seen him play a few times, but absolutely convinced he is the real deal. Could easily slot in as a 15 but may even be the staring 10 by then IMO)

Gordon needs to have a solid year in Super Rugby to establish himself and to master his playmaking style. He’s a classy and exciting prospect for Australian rugby. Reesjan Pasitoa at inside centre and Paisami at outside is my pick for 2023.

 

[eastman]

What really impressed me with Fiji on the weekend is the size and strength of their centres. We need to start looking at specialist centres that are powerhouse players, 6 foot, 100kg, with speed and great rugby skill. We seem to keep moving our second, and third choice flyhalf players out to the centres. We’ve got a good selection of back row players in Super Rugby .. do any have skills of a centre?

Arguably none of the centres who played against the ABs have the required skills to be considered elite either. They might have been big aggressive, abrasive and athletic but none showed the skills of their AB counterparts in able to effectively use the ball and set up their outside men.

Fiji are in quite an interesting position; they now have a very competitive forward pack(athletic big men who are now well drilled/ solid in the set piece through French Rugby) and fantastic outside backs as per usual, but what they really lack is a good 9-10-12 axis to effectively link these two.

Fiji aren't going to get any major scalps with Volavola and Botia (who actually is a breakaway) playing together.

 

[Braveheart81]

I am all for the continuity 6 months out before a World Cup. But 2 years out.. we should be experimenting and seeing who’s up for the challenge.

We have less than 30 tests before the next RWC. There really isn't a lot of time for experimentation. There realistically never is at test level.

You have to trust the coaches that they can get to look at a lot more players in a lot closer detail, particularly in a training environment and make decisions based on that.

This concept that we should get to see a whole raft of players given a shot at test rugby so we can decide for ourselves what they're like is never going to happen. How much opportunity does each player get? What happens if the guy you know is the best of the bunch from everything you see elsewhere doesn't do particularly well in his first couple of tests? Are you forced to ditch him because you've got three other guys who have to get a turn?

Concepts like Tom Wright playing 10 for the Wallabies. How much time to you dedicate to running training with him at 10? How long of doing that before you play him in a test? Does he miss selection in the mean time because you've been running someone else on the wing and he hasn't been training there?

 

[Cancelled Account]

Arguably none of the centres who played against the ABs have the required skills to be considered elite either. They might have been big aggressive, abrasive and athletic but none showed the skills of their AB counterparts in able to effectively use the ball and set up their outside men.

Fiji are in quite an interesting position; they now have a very competitive forward pack(athletic big men who are now well drilled/ solid in the set piece through French Rugby) and fantastic outside backs as per usual, but what they really lack is a good 9-10-12 axis to effectively link these two.

Fiji aren't going to get any major scalps with Volavola and Botia (who actually is a breakaway) playing together.

Didn’t say they had elite skills but their aggressive play and defence was impressive. It will be good to see the matchup against our current Wallabies’ centres. Fiji played head to head for a good 40mins.

 

[Cancelled Account]

We have less than 30 tests before the next RWC. There really isn't a lot of time for experimentation. There realistically never is at test level.

You have to trust the coaches that they can get to look at a lot more players in a lot closer detail, particularly in a training environment and make decisions based on that.

This concept that we should get to see a whole raft of players given a shot at test rugby so we can decide for ourselves what they're like is never going to happen. How much opportunity does each player get? What happens if the guy you know is the best of the bunch from everything you see elsewhere doesn't do particularly well in his first couple of tests? Are you forced to ditch him because you've got three other guys who have to get a turn?

Concepts like Tom Wright playing 10 for the Wallabies. How much time to you dedicate to running training with him at 10? How long of doing that before you play him in a test? Does he miss selection in the mean time because you've been running someone else on the wing and he hasn't been training there?

Picking your team 3 years out and believing this is the final team won’t work either. Injuries will be the biggest demise of the current squad, and combinations will then need to be re-established and tried. Now, picking Tom Wright at 10 will need more than 3 years of training in any means.

 

[Braveheart81]

Picking your team 3 years out and believing this is the final team won’t work either. Injuries will be the biggest demise of the current squad, and combinations will then need to be re-established and tried. Now, picking Tom Wright at 10 will need more than 3 years of training in any means.

No, of course you can't do that. Anointing the next big thing is also a recipe for disaster. There's every chance you've picked the wrong guy and they either don't deliver on their potential or someone better comes along.

I do think that you keep picking your best team and blood new players as opportunity presents. Players slot in far more seamlessly to settled and successful teams. The reality of our team right now is that a lot of it is incredibly inexperienced. They need a substantial amount of that time together to build. Even someone very experienced like James O'Connor needs plenty of tests at 10 because he is very inexperienced there at test level.

Based on history there will be a number of players yet to debut who end up in our best 23 at the 2023 RWC but I think that will happen fairly naturally between now and then.

 

[Cancelled Account]

No, of course you can't do that. Anointing the next big thing is also a recipe for disaster. There's every chance you've picked the wrong guy and they either don't deliver on their potential or someone better comes along.

I do think that you keep picking your best team and blood new players as opportunity presents. Players slot in far more seamlessly to settled and successful teams. The reality of our team right now is that a lot of it is incredibly inexperienced. They need a substantial amount of that time together to build. Even someone very experienced like James O'Connor needs plenty of tests at 10 because he is very inexperienced there at test level.

Based on history there will be a number of players yet to debut who end up in our best 23 at the 2023 RWC but I think that will happen fairly naturally between now and then.

JOC (James O'Connor) has been very fortunate to have solid forwards and the likes of McDermott and Paisami either side of him at the Reds this year. If he was playing for the Tahs I don’t know if he would have been the preferred flyhalf.
We have a young squad with a a great core in the forwards leading into 2023. The changes will occur in the backline. You win the games upfront so I think we’re onto a good thing. I’m trusting Rennie’s direction.