Wallabies 2023

[Tomthumb]

Didn't know Leota was out with a skin infection, interesting.

After Leota/Leota/Wilson/Holloway/Holloway, what are our thoughts?

IMincrediblybiasedO Jed hasn't set the world alight nor done more than Leota.

Apparently Leota was the one that knocked Folau out at training too

Yeah agree, I really scratch my head with all rave reviews he gets. He doesn't really have the pace at 6 to be a link man and doesn't make many tackles. Pretty stock standard lock playing 6 imo

Wilson has the highest ceiling out of the three of them

 

[Dctarget]

Apparently Leota was the one that knocked Folau out at training too

Yeah agree, I really scratch my head with all rave reviews he gets. He doesn't really have the pace at 6 to be a link man and doesn't make many tackles. Pretty stock standard lock playing 6 imo

Wilson has the highest ceiling out of the three of them

Agreed on Wilson, would love for him to make the position his own. Clearly not hitting those metrics at training.

 

[Wilson]

Agreed on Wilson, would love for him to make the position his own. Clearly not hitting those metrics at training.

I think the issue is he's not what they want from a 6 and Valetini is playing too well for him to get a look in at 8 right now. He definitely didn't have his best game against England, but it also looked like they had him playing a role that just didn't suit his strengths.

I have a feeling we'll see Wilson backing up Valetini and Leota backing up Holloway going forward, with either only likely to feature in a 6-2 bench (or if Samu is injured). That's definitely less set at 6 than 8 though. With a 5 test Northern tour their will probably be a bit of opportunity to play with that and I expect they'll want to make sure anyone key to the world cup squad is getting some game time.

Not sure if anyone else gets a look in at 6/8 without injury/suspension from here on out, but they might try one of the locks at 6 from the bench at some point.

 

[RugbyReg]

Agree about Wilson being an 8 and being behind Valetini.

the 6 I want to see given a shot is Seru Uru.

 

[qwerty51]

Didn't know Leota was out with a skin infection, interesting.

After Leota/Leota/Wilson/Holloway/Holloway, what are our thoughts?

IMincrediblybiasedO Jed hasn't set the world alight nor done more than Leota.

Another article said he was out with a head knock from the same collision Fainga'a was out from, weird.

 

[KOB1987]

Didn't know Leota was out with a skin infection, interesting.

After Leota/Leota/Wilson/Holloway/Holloway, what are our thoughts?

IMincrediblybiasedO Jed hasn't set the world alight nor done more than Leota.

Tuesday long lunch DC?

 

[Dctarget]

Tuesday long lunch DC?

Sadly not.
Game 1 & 2 Leota stared. Then Wilson, then Holloway and Holloway again for Argentina.

 

[swingpass]

Agree that when he has played Leota has been more than adequate, clearly doing a job he has been asked to. i think he and Holloway have the 6 locked down, unless Wilson finds a rich vein of form and plays at 8 with Valetini moving to 6. Swinton is the only other who might get a run, i was surprised and disappointed with how mediocre Suru went for the A's.

 

[Proud Pig]

I am an unabashed Hodge fan but even I wouldn't want to play him at 10 against the Saffas utilizing a 10 man rugby approach. Our best bet at upsetting the men from the dark continent is to play an expansive game. I know it is difficult with the 10s we have available but maybe we can play a shoveling game at 10 with another passer outside him at 12. If we try to play a compressed game against them, their forwards will rag doll us. We can't win in a forward vs forward game. However, 10 man rugby might be an option against the ABs.

 

[Tomthumb]

Someone is going to have to explain this Holloway hype to me. I see more Ned Hanigan than Owen Finegan

 

[Brumby Runner]

I like that Swing, pretty reasonable for me. Guess caveat over Vunivalu but everything else is good.

Yeah, Vunivalu would be the biggest risk in that backline, so Wright on the bench in place of O'Connor. Personally, I reckon Foketi offered a lot in the second test against the Argies and had reasonably good combination with Ikitau. I'd have no issue with him at 12 or at least considered for the bench.

 

[KOB1987]

Sadly not.
Game 1 & 2 Leota stared. Then Wilson, then Holloway and Holloway again for Argentina.

I got that, I was focusing on the last line haha

 

[Brumby Runner]

I am an unabashed Hodge fan but even I wouldn't want to play him at 10 against the Saffas utilizing a 10 man rugby approach. Our best bet at upsetting the men from the dark continent is to play an expansive game. I know it is difficult with the 10s we have available but maybe we can play a shoveling game at 10 with another passer outside him at 12. If we try to play a compressed game against them, their forwards will rag doll us. We can't win in a forward vs forward game. However, 10 man rugby might be an option against the ABs.

Simone is now in the squad. He has probably the best long passing and short kicking game of the lot who are vying for the 10 spot. I wonder if there's a chance he could get that spot against the Saffas?

 

[stillmissit]

Because he’s 22, has only played 12 tests and has been chopped and changed constantly. All world class international 10’s took time to develop into what they are. None of them have been top class straight away

Rennie has had the last 2 years to stick with Noah, develop, coach and back him. If he did we would have a star, but as per usual with Aussie rugby, they took the short term thinking, instant gratification option that has now blown up in their face

Dan Carter didn't take too long...From wiki but I'm sure you know this TT:
In June 2003, Carter made his All Blacks debut at age 21 in Hamilton, New Zealand, scoring 20 points against Wales. He was then capped against France in Christchurch, which the All Blacks won 31–23. He was also a substitute in a match against Australia (the Wallabies) in Sydney, which the All Blacks won 50–21. Carter was then included in New Zealand's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad,

 

[Tomthumb]

Dan Carter didn't take too long...From wiki but I'm sure you know this TT:
In June 2003, Carter made his All Blacks debut at age 21 in Hamilton, New Zealand, scoring 20 points against Wales. He was then capped against France in Christchurch, which the All Blacks won 31–23. He was also a substitute in a match against Australia (the Wallabies) in Sydney, which the All Blacks won 50–21. Carter was then included in New Zealand's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad,

I’m sure you’re aware Dan Carter was a 12 for all of the matches you have mentioned. He didn’t play any of those games at 10…

 

[Slim 293]

Dan Carter didn't take too long...From wiki but I'm sure you know this TT:
In June 2003, Carter made his All Blacks debut at age 21 in Hamilton, New Zealand, scoring 20 points against Wales. He was then capped against France in Christchurch, which the All Blacks won 31–23. He was also a substitute in a match against Australia (the Wallabies) in Sydney, which the All Blacks won 50–21. Carter was then included in New Zealand's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad,

Dan Carter didn't start at flyhalf for the All Blacks until he'd played more test matches than Lolesio...

The majority of his starting tests in his first year were at inside centre against tier 2 nations, and then in his second year he was the AB's starting inside centre for the Tri-Nations, and then eventually received his first start at flyhalf against Italy on their EOYT...

The early years of who is probably the greatest flyhalf of the professional era is much different than Noah Lolesio... thrown into his test debut, in what was also his first year of professional rugby, partnered with a rookie inside centre, and then dumped after what was essentially half a game hidden at fullback.

 

[stillmissit]

Foley's form in 2019 before he left fell apart. He's then gone to Japan and played well.

The reason Foley is being considered is because we have a RWC next year. The guy we had picked as the guy is out for a year with injury, the other experienced option is injury prone and there are doubts over his form and the third guy is young and hasn't quite stepped up yet.

If we were another year out I have no doubt we'd be taking a different approach and we'd be looking at Donaldson or Edmed but we have 12-14 tests left before the RWC and none of the guys waiting in the wings have played a single test. They've all played just a handful of Super Rugby games. I certainly think one of them should be brought into the Wallabies squad to start gaining experience but I can't see Rennie rolling the dice and deciding one of them is the option heading towards the RWC and putting his eggs in that basket.

BH, don't disagree with you you but Rennie has done little apart from bringing in Lolesio and with 12 appearances (the majority of Wallabies don't get that number of starts), he should be established and this only 22 is BS if your good enough etc. Re: 'Rennie his eggs into that basket' isn't that exactly what Rennie has done, he's put all his development into one youngster who was I/C in U20's behind Harrison, and then looked around for a player with experience, unfortunately, QC (Quade Cooper) got injured and that has exposed our arses in terms of selections and development.

 

[Dctarget]

I got that, I was focusing on the last line haha

forgive me kob for indulging in some creative license with the ol' internet lingo

 

[Tomthumb]

Please name 1 world class 10 that had cemented his spot at 22, or after 12 tests?

people are way too patient with a guy like Petaia, and not patient enough with a guy like Lolesio

 

[stillmissit]

I’m sure you’re aware Dan Carter was a 12 for all of the matches you have mentioned. He didn’t play any of those games at 10…

Yes, I am aware of that and I often wondered why Lolesio stood out and was started at 10. I think Rennie has put too much faith in Lolesio and we should have had a couple of the young 10's around the squad to see what they had to offer.
Was it Lolesio as Dan McKellar was his coach? Don't think Rennie has done a great job in developing our 10 stocks and he's got little support from our Super Rugby teams.