Wallabies v Lions Game 2 MCG 26 July

[Braveheart81]

Never said anything about starting

Sure but in a game where we got thoroughly outmuscled in the forwards and the game was over 2 minutes after half time (if it wasn't already at half time), it seems pretty understandable that people aren't overly concerned about the bench 10 option.

As you say,Lynagh defends well in the line for the Reds,so perhaps that's what he should be doing for the Wallabies?He wouldn't get taken out in the air by Curry then!

In general play he often drifts to the back for the Reds (as just about every team has their 10 do) because it is beneficial to have them returning kicks.

 

[Derpus]

Sure but in a game where we got thoroughly outmuscled in the forwards and the game was over 2 minutes after half time (if it wasn't already at half time), it seems pretty understandable that people aren't overly concerned about the bench 10 option.



In general play he often drifts to the back for the Reds (as just about every team has their 10 do) because it is beneficial to have them returning kicks.

I do wonder if this is necessary for the Wallabies. I get bringing him forward creates a target in the line but I think a sure backfield is more important. You'd think all of Jorgo, Wright, JAS and Potter (if he survives) are better skilled to field kicks.

He's also never been scared to make a tackle and is, despite his size, probably a better defender than some of the 10s we've hidden in the past.

 

[Braveheart81]

I do wonder if this is necessary for the Wallabies. I get bringing him forward creates a target in the line but I think a sure backfield is more important. You'd think all of Jorgo, Wright, JAS and Potter (if he survives) are better skilled to field kicks.

He's also never been scared to make a tackle and is, despite his size, probably a better defender than some of the 10s we've hidden in the past.

This is the catch-22. If you don't put a strong kicker back there then the opposition kick deeper and take advantage of the fact that Sua'ali'i etc. won't kick as well and will really shank the odd one.

I think the contestable kick option was very specifically targeted at Lynagh. If we've got JAS there instead then the tactic probably changes.

 

[Blue]

Lynagh. Great talent. Is he ready? Nowhere near it, sorry. That much has been evident. But he is the future.

Right now at this juncture we will see if Schmidt makes the hard decisions to try and grind a win. one or two players back from injury ain't gonna cut it. It just is not.

He simply has to start:
Hooper. Ruck upgrade.
Bell
Skelton - hope he is fit
Bobby V - ditto
JOC (James O'Connor) - YES, with very specific instructions.
White plays the first half at 9

Paisami - YES - Ikitau is not a 12, he carries well but he has defensive lapses. Russel and Tuipolotou had him worked out.
Move Joseph to 15 and Wright onto the wing in place of Potter

AND:
Stop screwing around. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Samu HAVE TO BE on the bench. For goodness sake Samu was one of the best players in France for two seasons. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) hits rucks. He is angry. You need some angry.

This is not the tam one would normally select with an eye on the future, but you have to somehow manufacture a win here. How are you planning to do it? More of the same with the addition of Bobby V and Skelton ? No. Give yourselves a chance.

Get nuts at the breakdown. Carry hard up the middle and get the bodies in there. Kicking game front and centre and work off counter attack. Joseph gets more touches from 15. Pressure the midfield heavily. You did not for 60 minutes because you did not have the artillery. The speed of the ball in the first half literally lost you the game. Get parity there and we are talking about a completely different game.

Making tweaks and hoping for something better is the very definition of insanity.

Bell, Pollard, AAA
Hooper, Skelton
McR, Harry, Bobby V
White
JOC (James O'Connor)
Paisami
Ikitau
Jorg, Joseph, Wright

5/2 bench - bc you need all the artillery you can muster at contact. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Samu and Tizzano. Lynagh and the rest on the wood is obvious.

But here is what will happen: Skelton and Bobby V return and not much changes. Sadly you read it here first. I'll be pulling my hair out. FFS Schmidt do something,

 

[Blue]

This is the catch-22. If you don't put a strong kicker back there then the opposition kick deeper and take advantage of the fact that Sua'ali'i etc. won't kick as well and will really shank the odd one.

I think the contestable kick option was very specifically targeted at Lynagh. If we've got JAS there instead then the tactic probably changes.

Who cares he shanks a few? That is why you will play Wright on the wing. The net effect is an upgrade.

 

[Joe Blow]

If JAS is on the wing it’s easier to move him around. They cannot change the structure too much in a week so its unlikely it will happen but with Paisami in the midfield at 12 and Ikitau and JAS out one place wider it might work better.
I know Paisami gets hammered in here as well but he was very effective for the Reds against the BILs and he steps up at this level.

 

[Derpus]

This is the catch-22. If you don't put a strong kicker back there then the opposition kick deeper and take advantage of the fact that Sua'ali'i etc. won't kick as well and will really shank the odd one.

I think the contestable kick option was very specifically targeted at Lynagh. If we've got JAS there instead then the tactic probably changes.

Possibly true of JAS but the other three are decent kickers.

 

[Slim 293]

and he steps up at this level.

Soup level, yes... test level, no.

 

[Blue]

If JAS is on the wing it’s easier to move him around. They cannot change the structure too much in a week so its unlikely it will happen but with Paisami in the midfield at 12 and Ikitau and JAS out one place wider it might work better.
I know Paisami gets hammered in here as well but he was very effective for the Reds against the BILs and he steps up at this level.

Exactly. Like with JOC (James O'Connor), Paisami will have a very specific mission. It did not work with Ikitau.

 

[Braveheart81]

Right now at this juncture we will see if Schmidt makes the hard decisions to try and grind a win. one or two players back from injury ain't gonna cut it. It just is not.

Making tweaks and hoping for something better is the very definition of insanity.

Bell, Pollard, AAA
Hooper, Skelton
McR, Harry, Bobby V
White
JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)
Paisami
Ikitau
Jorg, Joseph, Wright

5/2 bench - bc you need all the artillery you can muster at contact. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Samu and Tizzano. Lynagh and the rest on the wood is obvious.

But here is what will happen: Skelton and Bobby V return and not much changes. Sadly you read it here first. I'll be pulling my hair out. FFS Schmidt do something,

No international coach is going to bring 8 new players into the starting XV, 10 into the 23 and only retain 3 of the previous starting XV in the same positions. Two of the new players aren't even in the squad.

It would be the surest way to lose the players and probably set you up to lose by 50.

It's easy to suggest though because given nothing remotely like it will happen it can never be proven wrong.

 

[Blue]

Fair enough but then I am afraid the result will be rather obvious.

 

[Slim 293]

Hot take Tuesday...

 

[Beattie]

Sure does make you miss Foley v Cooper or Hooper v Pocock...

That's easy ... it was always Cooper and Pocock. We were lucky to keep Hooper as the next man standing.

 

[Strewthcobber]

The reality for Lynagh (or any 22 year old 10 starting in his first test) is he will be targeted by a good coach and a good playmaker if he's out the back, and he will be targeted if he's in the line.

He will have to deal with 6 x box kicks dropping on him, or have a rampaging 105kg beast running straight at him 6 x times if he's in the line, or he will have the fastest guy in the team try and run around him x6 if he's defending at wing.

Pick your poison

 

[Yoda]

Lynagh. Great talent. Is he ready? Nowhere near it, sorry. That much has been evident. But he is the future.

Right now at this juncture we will see if Schmidt makes the hard decisions to try and grind a win. one or two players back from injury ain't gonna cut it. It just is not.

He simply has to start:
Hooper. Ruck upgrade.
Bell
Skelton - hope he is fit
Bobby V - ditto
JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) - YES, with very specific instructions.
White plays the first half at 9

Paisami - YES - Ikitau is not a 12, he carries well but he has defensive lapses. Russel and Tuipolotou had him worked out.
Move Joseph to 15 and Wright onto the wing in place of Potter

AND:
Stop screwing around. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Samu HAVE TO BE on the bench. For goodness sake Samu was one of the best players in France for two seasons. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) hits rucks. He is angry. You need some angry.

This is not the tam one would normally select with an eye on the future, but you have to somehow manufacture a win here. How are you planning to do it? More of the same with the addition of Bobby V and Skelton ? No. Give yourselves a chance.

Get nuts at the breakdown. Carry hard up the middle and get the bodies in there. Kicking game front and centre and work off counter attack. Joseph gets more touches from 15. Pressure the midfield heavily. You did not for 60 minutes because you did not have the artillery. The speed of the ball in the first half literally lost you the game. Get parity there and we are talking about a completely different game.

Making tweaks and hoping for something better is the very definition of insanity.

Bell, Pollard, AAA
Hooper, Skelton
McR, Harry, Bobby V
White
JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)
Paisami
Ikitau
Jorg, Joseph, Wright

5/2 bench - bc you need all the artillery you can muster at contact. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Samu and Tizzano. Lynagh and the rest on the wood is obvious.

But here is what will happen: Skelton and Bobby V return and not much changes. Sadly you read it here first. I'll be pulling my hair out. FFS Schmidt do something,

JOC (James O'Connor) is past it. He won't tour to SA or the UK. He's there for injury cover and help Tom and Ben in the squad. Hasn't started a game all year.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Why do we all just automatically accept that JAS should be in the 15? Is he really that good at this stage. Yes, he is a freakish talent but also has a lot of flaws and I think will be a lot better after another year of super rugby. The fact he was injured a lot of this year and then never played at 13 has really hurt us I think.

Maybe he would be better off coming off the bench at the end of a game as well. Then we can start with Paisama/Ikitau with Jorgensen and Pietsch on the wings?

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

What’s the Paisami concerns? I reckon he has played well?

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

Why do we all just automatically accept that JAS should be in the 15? Is he really that good at this stage. Yes, he is a freakish talent but also has a lot of flaws and I think will be a lot better after another year of super rugby. The fact he was injured a lot of this year and then never played at 13 has really hurt us I think.

Maybe he would be better off coming off the bench at the end of a game as well. Then we can start with Paisama/Ikitau with Jorgensen and Pietsch on the wings?

Out of the box. I like this thought, I wonder if they would consider it.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) is past it. He won't tour to SA or the UK. He's there for injury cover and help Tom and Ben in the squad. Hasn't started a game all year.

He started two for the Crusaders. But yeah unless an injury he is there to cover. Mind you Lynagh doesn’t train most sessions with various injuries so he is often needed.

 

[Yoda]

He started two for the Crusaders. But yeah unless an injury he is there to cover. Mind you Lynagh doesn’t train most sessions with various injuries so he is often needed.

I have heard that actually. That's another reason why I don't understand how Lynagh got to start. For all the talk of his toughness, which I definitely don't question, he misses a lot of training apparently. Go figure. James would be great to have in squad though I'm sure.