Roar Rookie
Joined August 2019
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Met Mrs. Rugby at 11 years old and fell in love immediately. Played through school and university, was a referee for a while then retired to touch football and muay thai.
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It was with great hope and interest that I stumbled upon news of the first Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft to take place in…
Andy Marinos recently stated that Australian rugby are reviewing the existing 60-cap threshold with the likelihood of it being lowered significantly to allow the…
JOC is at 12, Hunter 13
But as you have inferred, there is a lack of depth in the centres if we are having to pick JOC (a utility) at 12 and shift Hunter to 13
Donaldson in as EIGHT uncapped players picked: Co-captains named for Wallabies as Eddie's first squad revealed
Second 23 based on the train-on squad – decent team but it highlights a lack of depth in the front row and centres.
Pone Fa’amausili
Folau Fainga’a
Blake Schoupp
Cadeyrn Neville
Darcy Swain
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Brad Wilkin
Harry Wilson
Jake Gordon
Bernard Foley
Filipo Daugunu
James O’Connor
Hunter Paisami
Max Jorgensen/Corey Toole
Jock Campbell
Josh Canham
Lachlan Lonergan
Sam Talakai
Ned Hanigan
Lachlan Swinton
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
Josh Flook
Donaldson in as EIGHT uncapped players picked: Co-captains named for Wallabies as Eddie's first squad revealed
Rolando – you do realise Lonergan is known for his kicking?
Noah and O’Connor don’t have long kicking games – both are pop guns – it’s well known.
Wallabies squad confirmed: Eddie Jones shocks with big name omissions from first training camp
And from what I understand (don’t know the exact stats) the teams that kick the most are the top 4 (yes, even tbe ABs!) but it’s all attacking kicking to retain possession.
Wallabies squad confirmed: Eddie Jones shocks with big name omissions from first training camp
Partially agree – they (Ireland and to an extent France) play a high phase attack in the other teams half. They rarely play phase out of their half. If you watch their game play it’s all attacking kicks that can be competed for from their half. Their entire back 3 and halves have long accurate kicking.
If you watch the 6 nations this year (I did), it’s all attacking kicking and quick high possession power based rugby, that’s essentially the game plan – Eddies squad reflect this game plan (that’s what I think)
Wallabies squad confirmed: Eddie Jones shocks with big name omissions from first training camp
Before we start shooting Eddie I think we need to consider what he’s been saying that points to the game plan he has in mind, which would then point to the reasons for the squad he’s picked.
1) High work rate ‘off the ball’
2) Short possessions – not multi phase
3) Shorter rest times between game restarts
4) Oz rugby – Smart game play
To summarise (my humble opinion) – momentum-based play, between-phase competition, low percentage game play, which points to momentum runners and defenders and highly skilled kickers, power based direct attacking game on return possessions.
His selections all point to the game plan above (low percentage direct power game ‘but not from our half’), there are tall wingers to retain possession, and full backs, five-eights and halfbacks who can kick accurately off static ball, (generally) strong defenders throughout, forwards and backs that can play tight and have a strong direct running game to build momentum ‘when it’s on’.
How can you tell? The omission of certain players will tell you – Jake Gordon and McDermott, both have strong running games but their kicking to be frank is very inconsistent – No Harry Wilson, not tight enough – No Noah and no O’Connor, not direct enough and both have weak kicking games (especially at international level).
Expect a game plan closer to 2003 England/2019 South Africa. Lots of kicking, tight low percentage game with power based attacking game on return possessions/when the space presents itself at the right end of the field.
Wallabies squad confirmed: Eddie Jones shocks with big name omissions from first training camp
Gould is a bit contradictory, he’s also come out today saying he doesn’t like Rugby Union etc etc and doesn’t want the NRL to become a feeder system but he’s happy to keep poaching school talent from other codes and he didn’t have any issues pumping up a schoolboy rugby game for possibly the two of the biggest rugby union schools in Australia in this video – perhaps he forgot?
'I don't want NRL to be feeder system': Gus fires back in Suaalii slanging match after Robbo blasts 'ridiculous comment'
Fact is – league scouts are always at the schools rugby tournaments identifying and snatching talent. If anything it just shows Rugby is lacking in that department and needs to pick up its early retention game. “Identify potential, not identify a player that’s ready now”
'They desperately need it': Ex-Wallaby pushes Suaalii chase, RA's big worry as NRL star's links to rugby firm up
I’d rather the RA copy the British and Irish and put the money to identifying Australian eligible New Zealanders, Saffies, Islanders at the under 20s. Better bang for the buck
'They desperately need it': Ex-Wallaby pushes Suaalii chase, RA's big worry as NRL star's links to rugby firm up
Interesting how many comments there about the 2019 WC SA destroying Eng scrum.
It’s not the SA scrum the wallabies need to worry about, since the last WC the Wallaby scrum has had their measure. Just watch tbe SA WB games in the last few years.
The scrums the WBs need to worry about are the English, Irish, ABs, France and Argentina. The WBs have struggled in the set piece against these teams in the last few years. Thr WBs will likey meet Eng or Arg in a QF, France in the SF. If they can’t sort out their scrum for those games forget about the final.
Exclusive: Eddie opts for former England assistant to join Wallabies ahead of World Cup
How many did Lomu and Christian Cullen win?
Zero. But no doubt both players are more than likely the first picks in any All Time XV
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
What was obvious was the English forwards lack pace, power and penetration. I thought the English backs were okay but the Eng forwards did not complement the backs and the 9 needs to run the ball more.
Borthwick needs a more impactful 2 and 9. An enforcer at lock next to Itoje, and more on ball presence from 7 and 8. His props, Itoje and 6 are high work rate forwards they need more zip from the other forwards.
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
I’d say 50% of the problem is they sacked a very good tactical coach as well. You can say what you want about Eddie but there is no doubt about his ability to lift a team’s chances of winning, reducing his team’s shortcomings, via intelligently and well planned strategies on game day – England have lost this.
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
Hansen and Lowe actually play like rugby league wings, they roam and work a lot in the tight as well as the loose – no surprise given the head coach is Andy Farrell!
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
Over Joost van der Westhauzin? Not even close
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
It’s because he’s not part of that conversation – not even in the same class
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
Mack Hansen is an enormous loss to AU rugby too. He could easily have been the WB fullback or even 5/8. Yes, he’s a wing but if you watch him throughout the game in the weekend the guy plays like a fullback/5-8, I think he set up 2 tries himself and almost scored another.
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
On the same table as Joost vdw, Fourie Du Preez, Gregan, Nick Farr Jones, Pinchot? – “Tell him he’s dreaming”, not even in the same class, he’d be on the next table perhaps. And of those mentioned? Joost would be my first choice, big, fast, strong, can tackle, good pass, deadly sniper off the ruck/scrum and highest try scorer in SA when he retired.
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
As Steve Hansen would say,
“He’s playing behind a Rolls Royce forward pack.”
Smith certainly had that privilege in most of his career. It’s only now, in the recent few years where the AB pack has had some retirements and has come down a few notches, that Smith’s quality is showing. He’s still a good 9 but he ain’t no Du Pont, and he’s certainly not in the same league as a host of other legendary 9s (Joost v W, Gregan, Nick Far Jones etc. etc.)
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
Stupid to look at a list and base it on position mate. It’s about supply and demand in the market. In Europe, lots of strong forwards not a lot of electric backs, which the SH has many. In Australia, not enough World Class tight forwards. TT has his weaknesses and his detractors but there is no doubt at all he is one of the strongest scrummaging TH props in the world and Australia definitely don’t have many of them – supply and demand mate – he’s worth every Penny as far as Oz rugby is concerned and rightly so.
CONFIRMED: Tupou signs multi-million dollar deal to stay with Rugby Australia - but he's leaving the Reds for rivals
George Smith was 1, 2, 3 if you ask me. Easily the best 7 bar none, even McCaw (McCaw said so himself!).
'Our House': Coach's crazy bonding exercise as Waratahs sleep at stadium ahead of Super return
In case you don’t realise it – this is classic Eddie mind games. He’s clearly baiting.
'Spirit of the Ellas': Everything Eddie said about WBs resurrection, roadmap, and why we must win RWC
Australian Hubris? Pull your head in – look at the way NZ players and crowds behave at games and it tells you all you need to know – E.g. the relentless booing of opposition players, the All Black players yahoos in opposition faces after scoring a try. Yes no hubris from NZ at all.
'Spirit of the Ellas': Everything Eddie said about WBs resurrection, roadmap, and why we must win RWC
Actually, the All Blacks in 2011 brought back the flat attacking backline, which was extensively used in the 1980s and early 90s … mostly used by the Wallabies especially during the Bon Dwyer era.
So it’s not like using old methods don’t work, it’s about know how and when to use them. The ABs could execute the flat backline because they had 5/8, halfback and centre combinations who could execute under the added pressure.
ANALYSIS: In just 30 minutes Eddie Jones managed what Castle and Rennie couldn't in three years
Either way – lack of depth at Prop and Centres
Donaldson in as EIGHT uncapped players picked: Co-captains named for Wallabies as Eddie's first squad revealed