The reintroduction of the Australian A program has been extremely beneficial for the development of fringe players.
It has highlighted some talents and perhaps, allowed provincial coaches to look at their squads and identify weaknesses, which could be adapted in the future, especially with Ben Darwin’s ‘Gain Line’ analytics model, but that’s for another day.
The Australian A program was developed many years ago to provide exposure and give up and comers a chance under higher pressure situations.
It was parked due to necessity, due to funding, which, from a commercial decision, needed to happen.
The new iteration, has certainly been welcomed and offered alternatives to current Wallabies squad. These are all great measures, however, there is no way certain calls will be made on the results from the current series in Japan.
Their are clear standouts in the rugby community that won’t be selected for the spring tour, as Dave Rennie and RA have a quota which some don’t deserve.
These include:
No. 1 good
Jock Campbell
Over three fullbacks went down and despite playing 40-50 minutes per game, caught almost every ball and made decisive runs.
He is the first full blown fullback with similar skills to Burke and Latham, but when three fullback options went down, Rennie kept them in the squad to train.
No 2. Good
Langi Gleeson
This guy has power. He is young and our back row are great, but none have gone to the next level.
Rob Valetini is the top choice, but he was probably an inch or two behind the English and All Blacks. Gleeson needs to tour.
Possibly Gleeson is to young and we do have depth, but maybe squeeze him in if he’s an option for the World Cup in 2023.
Please pick them and give them a start, it can only benefit.
So who didn’t crack it?
No 1 bad
Suliasi Vunivalu
Please RA, I beg and plead with you, release Vunivalu.
I have been a strong advocate of getting him time of the preceding two years, but he is completely out of sorts.
Like many rugby league players, they struggle to adapt.
Rugby league is very one dimensional, “stick within your channel”, rugby union is off the ball and clean outs etc.
Vunivalu, did some great things in the first 20, but he lost interest.
This is not to put his talents down, but compare the work ethic for Marika Koroibete and Semi Radrada who both successfully converted, it’s not there.
Please write off your $800k pa. It’s not going to work without a five-year investment and even then, I doubt it.
(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
No. 2
Ned Hanigan
I’m really apologetic with this one. I reckon he seems like the nicest bloke in videos and recordings. But he is about five percent short .
I’m totally a keyboard warrior on this, but he could be so much better.
He is a player that plays “OK” every time.
He’s happy to be a mid level professional.
Compare that with Jed Holloway, he worked hard, but is struggling with the Wallabies.
Wants to perform. But needs more awareness.
Who can Rennie pick?
The two stand outs above means, someone has to give.
Rennie has plenty of options, but doesn’t have a team, and it’s under 12 months to a World Cup.
He should’ve taken risks earlier? And yes lock downs were encountered, but with injuries and lock downs, Rennie missed a chance.
For me, it’s about guts and glory.
1. Slipper
2. Porecki
3. Alaaladtoa
4. Frost
5. Neville
6. Samu
7. Hooper (McReight)
8. Valatini
9. McDermott
10. Foley (just)
11. (Korobeti isn’t there) Kellaway
12. Foketi/Ikitau
13. Hodge (hear me out) he is a Mortlock, he could nail this position, long range kicking will work.
14. Petaia (I’ll keep backing him, but time is running out, if not Pietsch deserves a crack)
15. Jock Campbell, (remember that elusive runners have won every World Cup since 1987)
Well that’s my team. Australia A provided some headaches, I’m certainly not anticipating a win.
But I think it’s enough to see what others can do.
I’m sure you’ll disagree, but do you reckon the team can beat Scotland and give the others a chance?
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Campbell doesn’t tackle , nor does look like he will learn . Nor do Nawaqa, Foley or Hodge . Ikatau , Paisami and Petaia are really good defenders . Lolisio doesn’t miss any of his tackles .
Catalin D
Guest
Pity nobody thinking to Petaia as a great option to run at flyhalf
dave
Guest
Stick suli in the centre and give him the ball 20 times as a battering ram. The rest of the defence will cover him. The ball never gets thrown to him on the wing - every player especially Jock is trying to make themselves look good so won't pass
The jackler
Roar Rookie
Petaia would be lucky to make any of the NZ super teams starting 15.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
Good post. I agree with PM. You should subit this as a full article.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Thanks. strongly considered Morohan for f/b but then I considered who the winger other than Kellaway would be. With Morohan, Kellaway and Campbell as the back 3 then all are wing/fb hybrids or f/b's, should be very strong against the highball and a kicking game. Otherwise if Morohan was at f/b then wright or petaia needed to be the other winger, and we still would have a depth issue at f/b. This way if Campbell works out at f/b then with morohan you have to strong f/b's. With Foketi being fit though , which I found out later, I would have Foketi at 12 and Hodge on the bench.
PeterK
Roar Guru
probably beat Italy
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
That’s a great team, Peter. At first when you mentioned Morohan, I thought you were looking at him at fullback. I think he is better play maker at fullback than Jock but if you have Hodge at 12, a play making 15 isn’t required. Someone recently posted a highlight reel of Isaac Lucas. That guy looks the goods but I’d playing in Japan so won’t be released on a gamble for the spring tour. However I feel he should have been in the Australia A side for the Japanese games. There is going to be little opportunity for cohesion before the WC with so many injuries and the OS players unable to be selected at times in the year.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
Tooly..... "Banks and Beale are test class proven players who could play behind any of the top sides". Bwahahahahahahahahahaha! Banks has had not had enough tests to justify that comment and Beale has had too many tests where his performance was not up to it.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
Isn’t Latu still suspended? Nevermind, already answered. Back in your box Hooter!
Hooter
Roar Rookie
Samu is a more than effective jumper and Valetini can also jump. BPA is just as deficient in the core competency of a hooker as FF, throw has been unreliable, DP is probably the most reliable in this area. Agree that Latu will be the best hooker in Australia but I would not be picking him as he is too much of a risk discipline wise. Still would like to see the 9 have a bit more of a dart than we do. I agree that Lonnergan is a better option than Gordon but have not seen enough of McDermott at test level to make a judgement. Agree 100% on Petaia
Hooter
Roar Rookie
He does not look like he wants to be there.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Agreed Peteia is too much if a risk this world cup. Much prefer a safer pair of hands. He should only be selected if injuries demand it
Mirt
Roar Rookie
Most of the kicking I saw was poor. Edmed was also guilty of a lot of aimless kicking.
Wozza
Roar Rookie
I thought that but did you see the video of Foley ignoring the ref's instructions to wait after Kellaway's first try? After so blatantly disrespecting the ref to then ignore him after he's repeatably telling him to play is unbelievable! And it doesn't matter if people think the ref got it wrong, he's the one with the whistle.The result doesn't change because people think the ref got ot wrong. I'm sick of seeing a dumb team full of dumb conceited players who keep losing games but if it works for you...
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
This is what Rennie and McKeller will pick and we won’t win a single game: just like last year’s disaster tour. The World Cup axing of Rennie and McKeller can’t come soon enough.
PeterK
Roar Guru
not that I am aware of. I would have hoped his ankle would be ok by now, but not having played all year is it realistic that he can come at test level? Mind you he is the best lock that the wallabies have and at 80% fitness he would still be better than most of the others.
Franco
Roar Rookie
Neville hasn’t sold me at all. Any updates on rodda?
Franco
Roar Rookie
I’d love to know how Hooper mentally damaged you so much but You’ll always make me laugh Tooley. Paismi ????
pm
Roar Rookie
Two Cents, you should submit this and other longer comments as articles. They are very worthwhile, but not many people will read what you have to say as longer comments