Wallabies 2025

[Slim 293]

I’d keep Wilson. I think the criticism has been harsh. He has given away a few penalties (one was harsh for the rolling maul last week as I thought he sacked the catcher not the lifters as the AR called) but I think he’s a symptom of a fwd group not working hard / accurately enough around the ruck. Valetini doesn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders and isn’t providing the impact to warrant selection IMO.

From what I hear Valetini is still working his way back to full fitness, but on the weekend he was far more impactful than Wilson and many of the other forwards.

Wilson has to share the blame for inaccuracy around the ruck.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I’d ring the changes, for the last 2 games of the season.
Tizzano onto the bench. Mcreight has had a huge workload and needs help.
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to start with either Williams or Frost. Or have Canham start if ribs still no good. But suggest they’re ok because swain has been sent home. Desperately need a bigger THL.
I’d start lonergan with Thomas coming off the bench (no point taking him if you’re not gonna play him). Pretty comfortable both those guys can handle the job and desperately want a pass off the deck to the 10.
Would love Carter there to start but his quad didn’t look great. So if no good play edmed, with JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) coming off the bench.
Pietch for Toole.
Jorgo for kellaway

Bench
Ross (unless bell injured, which I’d start him and have Robertson on the bench). Drop Faesler to the bench and start pollard.
Nongorr instead of AAA because I think he could do with a rest unless we absolutely need him.
Williams on the bench. Covering back row and lock.
Tizzano covers back row.
Thomas to ideally come on for the last 10mins. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) to come on whenever. Daungunu to round for the final back.

I’d keep Wilson. I think the criticism has been harsh. He has given away a few penalties (one was harsh for the rolling maul last week as I thought he sacked the catcher not the lifters as the AR called) but I think he’s a symptom of a fwd group not working hard / accurately enough around the ruck. Valetini doesn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders and isn’t providing the impact to warrant selection IMO.

First penalty was fairly obvious from Wilson, swimming around

The second maul penalty before the try was actually against Nongorr though, even though the commentators pinged Wilson while talking over the ref explaining it.

 

[Major Tom]

First penalty was fairly obvious from Wilson, swimming around

The second maul penalty before the try was actually against Nongorr though, even though the commentators pinged Wilson while talking over the ref explaining it.

I’m thinking of the one that the ref called fair sack, then the AR called a pen, and then they swung it wide and JAS clipped the player high and they scored in the corner. I’d have to watch it again but seemed like the whole thing went down because Wilson sacked the ball carrier. One of those ones where I think it’s getting far too whistle friendly. Doesn’t really matter I guess ,they got the ball out and shifted away anyways.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I’m thinking of the one that the ref called fair sack, then the AR called a pen, and then they swung it wide and JAS clipped the player high and they scored in the corner. I’d have to watch it again but seemed like the whole thing went down because Wilson sacked the ball carrier. One of those ones where I think it’s getting far too whistle friendly. Doesn’t really matter I guess ,they got the ball out and shifted away anyways.

That's the one. Nongorr pulled one of their lifters out of the maul right in front of the AR

 

[Major Tom]

From what I hear Valetini is still working his way back to full fitness, but on the weekend he was far more impactful than Wilson and many of the other forwards.

Wilson has to share the blame for inaccuracy around the ruck.

Yeah I’m not saying he gets off Scott free but I think it’s a bit scapegoaty for my liking. Tbf he is the captain so should probably be held to a higher standard. Whole pack needs to lift their intensity and accuracy around the breakdown.

 

[Major Tom]

That's the one. Nongorr pulled one of their players out of the maul right in front of the AR

Yeah ok. I’ll watch it again. Anyways, need to take the error away from Harry. He would have legally shut the mail down if not for that.

 

[Rugby110]

From what I hear Valetini is still working his way back to full fitness, but on the weekend he was far more impactful than Wilson and many of the other forwards.

Wilson has to share the blame for inaccuracy around the ruck.

Valetini is a starter and builds into a game. His impact off the bench while better than most, doesn’t give the team the same advantage. As soon as the S&C’s give the nod for an 80 min outing, then inject him straight back in. I like Hooper at 6, McReight at 7 and Valetini at 8 every day of the week.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I remember Wilson missing a couple of crucial clean outs as well which ended up in turnovers.

Anyway stuff it, let’s try something different to finish the season, go with the McZano - Carlo at 6, Fraser 7 and Valetini 8. Move Hooper into second row and should still win enough lineouts. Try Joseph on wing or FB as well

 

[griffins]

That JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) debacle was total Bullsh.t!!

Is that you Christy?

 

[Spamnoodle]

Ikitau does the pick and drive crap as well which is one man less in backline ... the ABs tend to have a few pick and drives then spin it wide. We plod for ages often coming up tryless. Attack is seriously in need of a shake up.

I bloody boring to watch to. It's like unlimited tackle league at times.

 

[JRugby2]

I bloody boring to watch to. It's like unlimited tackle league at times.

Loathe it all you like - but its simply a percentage play inside the 5m as when done smartly the outcome is almost always try or penalty (in which you can spin it under advantage).

Spin it without that fail safe and the outcome can be a coin flip if the defense is good or the passes are shit.

 

[Yoda]

Loathe it all you like - but its simply a percentage play inside the 5m as when done smartly the outcome is almost always try or penalty (in which you can spin it under advantage).

Spin it without that fail safe and the outcome can be a coin flip if the defense is good or the passes are shit.

As a spectacle though it's crap. Especially when Australia does it to death and doesn't score! Our history is running the ball and exciting backline play.

 

[JRugby2]

As a spectacle though it's crap. Especially when Australia does it to death and doesn't score! Our history is running the ball and exciting backline play.

We've scored countless tries with that method this year. We didn't over the weekend due to dumb rugby.

I don't really care about our running rugby history if preserving it means risking possession when we should be guaranteed points.

 

[House is on Fire]

There's nothing at all wrong with forwards playing tight close to the line. It's been a part of rugby for almost forever...

My issue with it is (1) we don't seem to execute to completion, inevitably someone will get too ambitious and will get held up, and (2) this goes back to my initial point about backs joining in - this leaves the backline short and so doesn't stretch the defence. So it's easier for the opposition to keep numbers around the ruck with less threat through numbers out wide.

Schmidt's Ireland side was expert at making small gains through clever ball movement, hitting seams, and lots of ball movement options in close, patient buildup where posession can be retained, and a huge emphasis on attaching shape which facilitates the ball-in-hand attack. Wallabies are showing none of this. Their pick and go / tight forward work is incredibly one-dimensional without any guile or cunning. It's just bash at them and hope to get the ball over the line.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Schmidt's Sexton's Ireland side was expert at making small gains through clever ball movement, hitting seams, and lots of ball movement options in close, patient buildup where posession can be retained, and a huge emphasis on attaching shape which facilitates the ball-in-hand attack. Wallabies are showing none of this. Their pick and go / tight forward work is incredibly one-dimensional without any guile or cunning. It's just bash at them and hope to get the ball over the line.

FTFY

 

[JRugby2]

There's nothing at all wrong with forwards playing tight close to the line. It's been a part of rugby for almost forever...

My issue with it is (1) we don't seem to execute to completion, inevitably someone will get too ambitious and will get held up, and (2) this goes back to my initial point about backs joining in - this leaves the backline short and so doesn't stretch the defence. So it's easier for the opposition to keep numbers around the ruck with less threat through numbers out wide.

Schmidt's Ireland side was expert at making small gains through clever ball movement, hitting seams, and lots of ball movement options in close, patient buildup where posession can be retained, and a huge emphasis on attaching shape which facilitates the ball-in-hand attack. Wallabies are showing none of this. Their pick and go / tight forward work is incredibly one-dimensional without any guile or cunning. It's just bash at them and hope to get the ball over the line.

I think we're really overplaying how shit we were last week and letting that muddy the reality that we've actually been pretty successful in this specific area of the game this year.

Don't have to strain too hard to remember tries scored like this, particularly Lens ball to Bell to win in Townsville where we had a back in the mix up front, making a pretty massive gain with some clever footwork and ball movement after a fair bit of patience.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Turinui was grilling Slipper on this on Stan earlier in the week.

His question was essentially whether Schmidt would make a technical change or would rev them up for more intensity. Slipper, clearly not wanting to bake his team mates basically responded that Schmidt was more likely to take a third path which was to ask why the team is not meeting the standards at ruck recycle and seal that they have been doing since the Lions. I.e why are you all being so shit at the basics? I short, we played like shit while the opposition played well and therefore we lost.

 

[Tomthumb]

I think we're really overplaying how shit we were last week and letting that muddy the reality that we've actually been pretty successful in this specific area of the game this year.

Don't have to strain too hard to remember tries scored like this, particularly Lens ball to Bell to win in Townsville where we had a back in the mix up front, making a pretty massive gain with some clever footwork and ball movement after a fair bit of patience.

I wish it was just last week, but on the whole we have been dross since we got back from South Africa and getting progressively worse every week

Nic White and Tom Wright are sorely missed for their communication as much as anything

 

[Major Tom]

As a spectacle though it's crap. Especially when Australia does it to death and doesn't score! Our history is running the ball and exciting backline play.

The pick and drive needs to be varied with a short pass to another pod. That’s far harder to defend. The pick and go from halfback isn’t asking enough questions of the try line defence.

 

[JRugby2]

I wish it was just last week, but on the whole we have been dross since we got back from South Africa and getting progressively worse every week

Nic White and Tom Wright are sorely missed for their communication as much as anything

Talking specifically around pick and driving at the line - we've scored heaps from this, this year.

Broadly yes - we've quiet shit for weeks, nothing is overplaying that...