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Wallabies 2023

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
How good is this story about Billy Pollard. Couldn't be woken up to warn him Rennie had placed him on the 6am flight, his brumbies team mates were called till eventually Reimer answered, went round to Pollard's house at 4am, broke the door down and got Pollard up just in time. Pollard packed two tops and two shorts and that was it. Missed his flight to Sydney, but bussed up there, flew to San Francisco, Houston, Santiago then finally Mendoza, 22,300km journey.

“I am very excited. It is still surreal, being around guys like James O’Connor, growing up watching those guys play. I haven’t said much to them,”
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
Likewise with the outside backs. I don't followed the Reds as closely as others so I'm not fully over the campaign for Petaia to play fullback; he might be a world-beater there but I don't know. If commonsense prevails Rennie should instruct/implore/beg the Reds and Brumbies to play Petaia and Wright at fullback next year so's we can see who's better. If push comes to shove a fit Kellaway could play 15, he was quite comfortable at fullback when at the Tahs. Most importantly, continuity's the thing right now in August 2022, let Wright and Petaia sharpen their fullback skills.

Personally, I still think Petaia's best position is 13. He was great there in the last RWC. He could push to be the best player in the world in that position.
Ikitau currently has a mortgage on the spot, he is defensively and positionally solid. But if he goes down, I think the next in line is a step down. Paisami would probably go to 13, but I think he's much better at 12.
I love the idea of Petaia and Ikitau fighting it out for the 13 jersey. And then Wright and Kelleway fighting it out for the fullback spot. Kerevi, Paisami, Foketi fighting for 12.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Mark Ella (57)
Personally, I still think Petaia's best position is 13. He was great there in the last RWC. He could push to be the best player in the world in that position.
Ikitau currently has a mortgage on the spot, he is defensively and positionally solid. But if he goes down, I think the next in line is a step down. Paisami would probably go to 13, but I think he's much better at 12.
I love the idea of Petaia and Ikitau fighting it out for the 13 jersey. And then Wright and Kelleway fighting it out for the fullback spot. Kerevi, Paisami, Foketi fighting for 12.
He's a big body that would suit 13 but I think he's shown a good ability under the high ball which we have lacked. Looking through my fingers every time a high ball goes up recently.
 

Overtime

Herbert Moran (7)
Personally, I still think Petaia's best position is 13. He was great there in the last RWC. He could push to be the best player in the world in that position.
Ikitau currently has a mortgage on the spot, he is defensively and positionally solid. But if he goes down, I think the next in line is a step down. Paisami would probably go to 13, but I think he's much better at 12.
I love the idea of Petaia and Ikitau fighting it out for the 13 jersey. And then Wright and Kelleway fighting it out for the fullback spot. Kerevi, Paisami, Foketi fighting for 12.
Did you forget about Perese at 13? If he stays fit is very solid and would likely be in the team now.
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
Did you forget about Perese at 13? If he stays fit is very solid and would likely be in the team now.

Oh man how could I forgot about Perese. Probably the most destructive runner out of all of them. He's got a bright future if he keeps improving on his defence.
Still prefer Petaia at 13. I'd just hate to see him end up as a Hodge or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) who becomes a utility and never nails down a spot.
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
It would totally suck if he only played 121 tests like Adam Ashley-Cooper or 56 tests and counting prior to turning 28 like Reece Hodge.

Just imagine how good AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would have been if he played 121 tests at 13 only.

Its great to get a single cap, let alone 121, or 56, but deep down every player wants to be a regular starter.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Just imagine how good AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would have been if he played 121 tests at 13 only.

Its great to get a single cap, let alone 121, or 56, but deep down every player wants to be a regular starter.

His versatility is why he played 121 tests. He wasn't our best 13 for significant chunks of his career (behind Mortlock or Kuridrani mostly).
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
His versatility is why he played 121 tests. He wasn't our best 13 for significant chunks of his career (behind Mortlock or Kuridrani mostly).

So it's better for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) but that does not necessarily mean it's better for the team. The best rugby teams from history have mostly had specialists in each position.
 

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
So it's better for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) but that does not necessarily mean it's better for the team. The best rugby teams from history have mostly had specialists in each position.

Specialists, like Mortlock and Kuridrani...

Meanwhile, the All Blacks wingers for the RWC 2011 final were Kahui and Jane.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
So it's better for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) but that does not necessarily mean it's better for the team. The best rugby teams from history have mostly had specialists in each position.

Didn't he keep getting selected in various positions because he was generally the best available for that role?

If he was only ever considered a 13 then we would have gone many tests selecting an inferior fullback or wing. If the 13 was unavailable then a decision is made on whether your team is better by moving AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13 and bring in another wing or leave him on the wing and bring in a 13. It's a case of whether your next best 13 or wing is a better player on a relative basis.

The Wallabies have mostly had specialists in each position. We've rarely had players who move around a lot and those that could play multiple positions tended to stay in the same position for extended periods of time.
 
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