Wallabies vs Lions , 19th July Suncorp

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I didn't watch many Force games? Is Nick CDC that good/test quality?

He had a handful of very good games to start the year then it tapered off a bit like their season.

Put in the moment I think he'd go after some guys which is valuable. Seems a more controlled Swinton.

 

[hawko07]

He had a handful of very good games to start the year then it tapered off a bit like their season.

Put in the moment I think he'd go after some guys which is valuable. Seems a more controlled Swinton.

'More controlled Swinton' is a pretty good analogy I reckon. I think he has a hard / aggressive edge that we don't really have in our pack otherwise (maybe LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) offers the same - but he's not in the squad).

 

[Dctarget]

Maybe Swinton in defence but his running game is nowhere near Swinton's.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) can't play in the backrow in Test footy though these days. Doesn't have the leg speed. Should be in there for Frost.

I get Frost is always consistent and tops some stats but he lacks impact in tight. I'd rather shove him at 6 and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) in the row if Skelton isn't there. Lacks some grunt but add athleticism to the backrow and have Hooper on the bench. Won't happen though

 

[PhilClinton]

Maybe 300 if that, not incl. accessible seats.

The two big sections available yesterday are no longer - tour group must've fronted up the money. There are a couple of half-rows and smaller collections of seats that have appeared overnight, so no doubt still some coming back from third parties.

Silver section 304 still has a block of about 100 tickets available, which I find strange. Probably one of the better sections and at the $300 price point.

 

[Dctarget]

I think we're a bit shit out of luck fellas with no Skelton and Valetini. I can see us just passing the ball constantly to Wilson and Bell hoping for some miracle linebreak. Lions double tackle them everytime then the rest of our forwards are ineffective at bending the line.

I've been getting excited by the slight disadvantages for the Lions: Keenan not in good shape, Curry out of form, question mark over their blindside. But if I'm being even handed with Aus:
- no reserve tighthead,
- no decent hooker with match fitness,
- lightweight 2nd row,
- two first choice blindsides out,
- scrumhalf uncertain,
- first choice flyhalf out with 2nd choice light on game time
- Jorgensen and Sua'ali'i with no game time

GRIM

 

[Braveheart81]

It is very annoying and shows some opinioned rugby guru's are so far from the game when they keep cricising a flyhalf for beign small.
So many of the great flyhalves are small, agile, & quick thinking players, who know how to vary & control the game. Perhaps Tom Lynaugh is yet to prove himself on the international stage is one thing, but to keep saying he's too small is an insult to the other abilities he possesses.

Maybe saying he's too small was a step too far.

He is small though. So is Noah Lolesio. It undoubtedly makes it harder for them to succeed at international level. I'm not saying he can't play test rugby. He already has. Lolesio has played plenty of it. Their pathway to being in the top few 10s in World Rugby is incredibly narrow though.

I don't think it is overly helpful to compare to past eras. Players have got bigger and more athletic. Michael Lynagh wasn't a small international 10 but if he was playing now he certainly would be. Tom Lynagh is pretty much the same size.

My general view is that if you are a couple of inches under 6 foot and under 90kg life as a test match 10 is going to be considerably more difficult and punishing. If you have physical traits that often come with being smaller (being faster, having better acceleration and being more agile) then that helps fill some of that gap.

 

[Heavyd]

I think we're a bit shit out of luck fellas with no Skelton and Valetini. I can see us just passing the ball constantly to Wilson and Bell hoping for some miracle linebreak. Lions double tackle them everytime then the rest of our forwards are ineffective at bending the line.

I've been getting excited by the slight disadvantages for the Lions: Keenan not in good shape, Curry out of form, question mark over their blindside. But if I'm being even handed with Aus:
- no reserve tighthead,
- no decent hooker with match fitness,
- lightweight 2nd row,
- two first choice blindsides out,
- scrumhalf uncertain,
- first choice flyhalf out with 2nd choice light on game time
- Jorgensen and Sua'ali'i with no game time

GRIM

It could be a recipe for a shackling or it could be one of the Wallabies greatest ever upsets. I'm going for the latter. Go you Wallabies!

 

[LeCheese]

Silver section 304 still has a block of about 100 tickets available, which I find strange. Probably one of the better sections and at the $300 price point.

Not showing up on mine

 

[PhilClinton]

Not showing up on mine

View attachment 22720

Sorry - 339

 

[PhilClinton]

Maybe saying he's too small was a step too far.

He is small though. So is Noah Lolesio. It undoubtedly makes it harder for them to succeed at international level. I'm not saying he can't play test rugby. He already has. Lolesio has played plenty of it. Their pathway to being in the top few 10s in World Rugby is incredibly narrow though.

Probably not a conversation for this thread but I do feel like from a young age, we push our bigger bodies into the centres where they can be fed balls by our undersized playmakers and crash into the opposition. And if you're a bigger body with a decent boot, you'll find yourself being shifted to fullback.

 

[LeCheese]

Sorry - 339

View attachment 22721

Ah yeah, somehow missed this even though I was looking for that section specifically given it was available yesterday. Can only assume they haven't been sold as they were recently added back to the pool - as you say, I'm sure they would have otherwise been snapped up.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Maybe saying he's too small was a step too far.

He is small though. So is Noah Lolesio. It undoubtedly makes it harder for them to succeed at international level. I'm not saying he can't play test rugby. He already has. Lolesio has played plenty of it. Their pathway to being in the top few 10s in World Rugby is incredibly narrow though.

I don't think it is overly helpful to compare to past eras. Players have got bigger and more athletic. Michael Lynagh wasn't a small international 10 but if he was playing now he certainly would be. Tom Lynagh is pretty much the same size.

My general view is that if you are a couple of inches under 6 foot and under 90kg life as a test match 10 is going to be considerably more difficult and punishing. If you have physical traits that often come with being smaller (being faster, having better acceleration and being more agile) then that helps fill some of that gap.

IMO you need one of them to be a 10/10 to offset it. I'll give Lynagh a really high score for his kicking both in play and off the tee and equally high for willingness even though this one can lead to negative outcomes. He has enough pace but needs support runners to go with him because he doesn't have the legs to then get around a 15.

Given the options available, good luck to the kid. He's not holding out anyone more deserving so lets see what you got.

Probably not a conversation for this thread but I do feel like from a young age, we push our bigger bodies into the centres where they can be fed balls by our undersized playmakers and crash into the opposition. And if you're a bigger body with a decent boot, you'll find yourself being shifted to fullback.

Said this in the U20s thread that we should be skill identifying in sport for 10s. A guy like Harvey in the 20s should be pushed to 10 and tested out. Convo for another thread though.

 

[Tomthumb]

Maybe saying he's too small was a step too far.

He is small though. So is Noah Lolesio. It undoubtedly makes it harder for them to succeed at international level. I'm not saying he can't play test rugby. He already has. Lolesio has played plenty of it. Their pathway to being in the top few 10s in World Rugby is incredibly narrow though.

I don't think it is overly helpful to compare to past eras. Players have got bigger and more athletic. Michael Lynagh wasn't a small international 10 but if he was playing now he certainly would be. Tom Lynagh is pretty much the same size.

My general view is that if you are a couple of inches under 6 foot and under 90kg life as a test match 10 is going to be considerably more difficult and punishing. If you have physical traits that often come with being smaller (being faster, having better acceleration and being more agile) then that helps fill some of that gap.

Yeah this is the biggest part of it. Lynagh is both an undersized 10 and not an above average athlete in any sense so he's starting from behind the 8 ball. If he could move like Damian McKenzie his size wouldn't be an issue

 

[Dctarget]

Maybe I'm clutching but Christy's 'exclusive' quotes Schmidt saying Valetini's inclusion depends on a fitness test today? Christy seems pretty certain that Rob won't play but has cited no proper evidence for that yet.

 

[Major Tom]

IMO you need one of them to be a 10/10 to offset it. I'll give Lynagh a really high score for his kicking both in play and off the tee and equally high for willingness even though this one can lead to negative outcomes. He has enough pace but needs support runners to go with him because he doesn't have the legs to then get around a 15.

Given the options available, good luck to the kid. He's not holding out anyone more deserving so lets see what you got.

Said this in the U20s thread that we should be skill identifying in sport for 10s. A guy like Harvey in the 20s should be pushed to 10 and tested out. Convo for another thread though.

Good points.
I agree Harvey should be given some time at flyhalf because it would at bare minimum make him a better fullback. But if we're going for bigger 10's he isn't likely to help there. Carter Gordon was our guy. And I thought Taj Annan could have been pretty decent in the long term (he would have been battling Lynagh and HMP though).

 

[Strewthcobber]

Finn Smith and Tom Lynagh are the same height, only a few kg difference and aged less than a year apart. Will be a good battle, but it does feel like an established pro up against a youngster with potential.

 

[SamoanNo8]

What time is team announcement?
Regards
Edit: Understand it is Thursday afternoon.

 

[Slim 293]

Maybe I'm clutching but Christy's 'exclusive' quotes Schmidt saying Valetini's inclusion depends on a fitness test today? Christy seems pretty certain that Rob won't play but has cited no proper evidence for that yet.

It was sounding unlikely that he would play as he apparently didn't fully train with the team during the week...

I'm happy for Valetini and co sit out this match so they're 100% for the final two tests.

 

[JRugby2]

It was sounding unlikely that he would play as he apparently didn't fully train with the team during the week...

I'm happy for Valetini and co sit out this match so they're 100% for the final two tests.

We're always generous hosts and let em win the first one anyway. no reason to change it up