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Joined August 2020
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Author, jazz musician, teacher and rugby lover. Definitely not a rugby player - absolutely hopeless at that.
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Call me an imbecile but I actually really like Vunivalu on the wing. He strikes me as a player who lifts his performance against quality opposition – against the Chiefs in the quarter-final, for example, he was excellent, scoring two fabulous tries. Sure he makes mistakes, but let’s just wait and see how he goes – I think he has a higher ceiling than Marky Mark.
Exclusive: Four debutants, Suli to start, skipper in doubt - Eddie springs surprises for Boks opener
Excellent article, Paul.
Aussies have nothing to apologise for over Bairstow's blunder: England lost because they played Blaséball
Spot on. Broad should worry about his own form – his team are staring down a 5-0 defeat. His nick to slips years ago was far worse than this so-called offence. Broad should get off his high horse – his hypocrisy-drenched antics at Lords will certainly be remembered by Australians
Stuart Broad has just given Pat Cummins a lecture on moral standards. The audacity is gobsmacking
Any news on Jorgensen’s return date? I know he is young but I was stunned by his brilliance when I last saw him play for the Waratahs – has incredible pace, reads the play superbly, covers plenty of ground and is a courageous defender. Eddie won’t be too worried about the 15 position when a player of his calibre is on the way up.
The Wallaby 15 should be more Burke than Folau: Eddie can win or lose the World Cup on his 'lone wolf' call
Peter K and Broken Shoulder, I think this is exactly Eddie’s thinking. He would have noticed Hooper’s missed tackles against England last year (e.g. on Ellis Genge), and decided that both Hooper and McReight are best utilised later in the game once the giants have started running out of puff. For that reason, I think either Tom Hooper or Josh Kemeny will start at 7, with Leota/Holloway competing at 6 and Valetini/Gleeson competing at 8. This leaves the Wallabies with the following pack:
1. Slipper (c, until Hooper comes on)
2. Uelese/Faessler
3. AAA/Nongorr
4. Skelton/Holloway
5. Arnold/Frost
6. Leota
7. T Hooper/M Hooper
8. Valetini
Plenty of power there, plus some speed later in the game. That’s the thinking at least! Will be interesting to see how the hookers and Nangorr go.
COMMENT: Eddie has made one huge gamble - and it's not the No.10 call - as he avoids ruthless Hooper decision
Petaia and Jorgensen missed the quarters due to injury, but had enjoyed strong seasons prior to that. Both are talented players. L Lonergan has played well this year, for the most part, but the Brumbies’ set piece was alarmingly weak against the Chiefs – issues at lineout (mostly due to Lonergan’s off throwing), and scrum (as expected, given Lonergan’s lack of power up against his Chiefs’ opposite). Not disputing the merits of the Brumbies’ season – merely talking about key selections for the Wallabies, an important subject over the coming weeks.
'Gutted': Five-minute horror period ends Brumbies' Super Rugby hopes as Chiefs set up final with Crusaders
Very useful game for Eddie Jones – three players (Lachlan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio and Tom Wright) proved they aren’t quite at the standard required. Matt Faessler, Carter Gordon and Jordan Petaia/Max Jorgensen all look like better options.
'Gutted': Five-minute horror period ends Brumbies' Super Rugby hopes as Chiefs set up final with Crusaders
Yes Gleeson is picked largely on potential, but who is the next best 8 after Valetini? Harry Wilson maybe, but Gleeson seems more impactful to me, at least at this point in their careers. That’s not to rule the line through Harry – I just think he needs to recalibrate his approach to the position and focus on running a little wider, not try to emulate Billy Vunipola by running straight into the traffic. That’s more a job for Tupou, Bell and Skelton.
Five things we learned: Waratahs coach's test of faith for QF, one blessing for Eddie from poor season
I thought he played really well in his last test for the Wallabies – the Irish were struggling when he was pushing behind Tupou in the scrum. Was a real shame the latter went off with his Achilles injury – the Wallabies seemed to be on the way to scrummaging the Irish into the turf at that point. With Tom Hooper at 6, the Wallabies have another great line-out option, and Skelton should be able to lift Valetini and Hooper pretty well, too.
Five things we learned: Waratahs coach's test of faith for QF, one blessing for Eddie from poor season
Totally agree. This has to be the Wallabies’ 8:
1. Sio/Bell/Slipper
2. BPA/Lonergan/Faingaa
3. Tupou/Fa’amasuuli/AA
4. Skelton/Philip
5. Arnold/Frost
6. Hooper/Holloway
7. Hooper/McReight
8. Valetini/Gleeson
Five things we learned: Waratahs coach's test of faith for QF, one blessing for Eddie from poor season
Spot on. Tawera’s stocks went up dramatically over the weekend – his rivals (Tate, Ryan, Jake) all looked well short of World Cup standard. A one-two combo of Nic White and Tawera Kerr-Barlow is pretty impressive – especially when they’ll be feeding the ball to talented players such as Quade Cooper and Carter Gordon.
ANALYSIS: The four types of No.9s and how Eddie's tactics will determine Nic White's World Cup partner
This is a good question, and will no doubt be occupying Eddie’s thoughts. For mine, Skelton has to start – he’s the best lock in Europe at present. But he needs to be paired with another outstanding lineout lock, and another great jumper at 6. The most likely set up would seem to be:
4. Skelton
5. Rodda/Frost/Arnold
6. Holloway/Leota/Tom Hooper.
And if Skelton starts, Valetini must as well – he’s a better lineout option at 8 than Gleeson is.
Once Skelton goes off at, say, the 55 minute mark, Gleeson comes on. The options then become:
Playing two conventional locks (e.g. Frost and Arnold), and moving Valetini to 6; or
Taking Valetini off not long afterwards, and bringing Samu on.
Regardless, there is plenty to like about these options – the lineout should be secure and there is no shortage of power with Skelton, Valetini, Gleeson, etc. trucking it up the middle. (Mind you, we’ll need it if Tupou and Bell are unavailable.)
Grizzly discovery: The four men vying to be Eddie's 'boss bear' at the World Cup
My thoughts:
* Gordon is potentially a better player than QC. A much better defender, definitely, and less prone to brain fades. Quade is probably the Wallabies’ first pick 10 at the WC, especially given his potentially world-beating combination with Kerevi. But Gordon needs to be taken to the WC. At present I’d rank them 1) Quade, 2) Gordon, 3) Foley, 4) Lolesio and 5) Donaldson (and remember, the All Blacks needed their fifth choice, Stephen Donald, when they won the WC in 2011 – Bem Donaldson might yet be called upon for much higher duties);
* the Wallabies should definitely pick one of either Tom Wright or Max Jorgenson at 15. Both seem very able, although Max J probably is a little quicker and has a higher ceiling. Kelloway should be in the 23 as a utility back;
* the best Wallabies backline currently- all players available is 9. White, 10. Cooper, 11. Koroibete, 12. Kerevi, 13. Ikitau, 14. Nawaqanitawase, 15. Jorgenson. Reserves: Lonergan, C Gordon, Kelly way.
Carter Gordon has the gift of time - but how long until he gets to test himself in a Wallabies jersey?
We have a lot of solid locks but not many who can mince it with Etzebeth, Retallick, etc. Skelton is one of those – his work at the ruck and maul is second to none. And let’s not forget that he is a proven WINNER – whatever misgivings people have about his lineout prowess
(or lack thereof), his record speaks for itself – wonderful tournament victories with the Waratahs, Saracens and La Rochelle. For mine, he’d be just about the first one picked for the Wallabies. But it would mean playing him alongside two extremely strong lineout options at 4 and 6 – Arnold, Rodda, Frost and Holloway would seem the most likely candidates.
ANALYSIS: The attribute that makes Will Skelton world class, and why he should start for Wallabies at RWC
Tom Hooper remains intriguing to me. Hopefully he ca get on the park soon – last time I saw him play he seemed to have all the ingredients needed to do well at No 6: size, lineout acumen and dominance at the ruck/maul. Would also enable Gleeson and Valetini to share the No 8 role over the course of the WC. Don’t mind the idea of Nick Frost playing 6, either- he’s incredibly quick.
Pick me Eddie: McReight stakes Wallabies claim to lead Reds to crucial win over Force
Good point, but I’m not sure that is true. With Quade and Carter Gordon (rather than Owen Farrell), Eddie will be looking for power runners in the back row to create plenty of space – the emphasis will be on backline flair rather than a tight, goal-kicking game. Plus the Wallabies have quite extraordinary height in the second row at present. Valetini and Gleeson together would create difficulties for defences (as would Bell and Tupou).
Pick me Eddie: McReight stakes Wallabies claim to lead Reds to crucial win over Force
Just ask Neil Back.
Pick me Eddie: McReight stakes Wallabies claim to lead Reds to crucial win over Force
I think the standout 7s are Wilkin, McReight and Hooper (in that order). Much will depend on whether Gleeson starts or comes on in the last 30 or so. Wilkin will play alo guide Gleeson, because the latter – for all his strengths as a runner and tackler – is not known for his breakdown work. I suspect Eddie will start with Gleeson, Wilkin and Valetini, with a very tallsecond row (perhaps Frost and Rodda).
Pick me Eddie: McReight stakes Wallabies claim to lead Reds to crucial win over Force
Swinton is a talented player, but indiscipline of the kind he routinely shows is exactly the reason we’re number 8 (or thereabouts) in the world, with a win-rate of 38 per cent (!), while Ireland is number 1. It’s pretty simple – if you’re sent off in a game for thuggish behaviour, your team rarely wins – and Swinton seems to continually be guilty of egregiously thuggish behaviour. If he can string together a number of games where he behaves himself, sure, he COULD potentially be a Wallaby again – but I note that he’s just been cited for an incident against the Force. I’d be looking elsewhere at another 6 at this stage – either Valetini or otherwise Frost, Tom Hooper, Holloway, Hanigan or Leota. Eddie needs players who won’t be penalty magnets.
Five things we learned: Why Swinton could still be a Wallaby despite looming ban, time to ditch finals format
No I’m not kidding. I thought he played well (and frankly, the problems in the Reds scrum this year have been on the loose-head side mostly, from what I can tell).
'It's a baby step': Reds snap winless run to keep finals hopes alive and relieve pressure on Thorn
Nongorr, I thought, played very well – he’s not Carl Hayman yet, but he certainly has potential. Would not look out of place in the Wallabies squad, especially given our lack of depth on the front row.
'It's a baby step': Reds snap winless run to keep finals hopes alive and relieve pressure on Thorn
Love to see some attention on JE, but please note: it is Achilles’ heel (the heel of Achilles), not Achilles heel.
'It came as a shock': 'Big, ugly' Uelese responds to Marx comparison but says throw must improve to be in RWC mix
Great post. Scrum power is critical at test level (well, at any level really), and the Wallabies have some serious grunt there with Tupou likely to come back into the fray as well. Uelese is by far our strongest scrummager of all the hookers chosen, and Eddie would fancy his chances of being able to get the best out of him, especially now that he is 26 and has suffered the indignity of being rejected over the past few years. A front row of Bell, Uelese and Tupou would make a few teams pause, I think.
Wallabies winners and losers: Eddie has gone away from Rennie's 'form' principle and backed his eye
Gus is kidding, isn’t he? 110 years of League shamelessly raiding union for its best players, and he has a meltdown when there’s any movement on the other direction?
Rugby News: Morgs whack for NRL 'fool', Gus meltdown over defection, how Tate reacted to brain snap
What a stupid comment. Hooper is a great of modern Australian rugby; Biden has helped save Western democracy after the nightmare years of Trump. Perhaps you can go post comments like this on Breitbart, or some other lunatic fringe website.
Wallabies CONFIRMED: Why Jones opted for Hodge at 12 as Suli starts and four debutants named for Boks clash