Roar Rookie
Joined September 2022
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Disgruntled rugby fan who would love to see someone with modern vision for sport entertainment drive the game back to glory.
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The opening Bledisloe Cup game was a tipping point in terms of how frequently the referee is the centre point of fan dialogue and…
A lot of people were wanting folau out of the fullback position and back on the wing near the end of his wallabies tenure.
And it’s because he ran it from the back to little success and couldn’t exit kick.
He was amazing under high balls, but I would expect anyone that played AFL professionally to be so.
We need the full package. The closest is Campbell. He understands the role and you can see it in the little things.
Also, his pace and vision mean would could have a great attacking threat on the counter the same way the All Blacks have the Barrets(J and B) become a fast paced tens from the back when there is turn over.
I don’t think Campbell will be managed into what he could be and I think it’ll be a big mistake.
Exclusive: RA move to shore up backline post World Cup by signing stars to new deals
You’ll find that a lot of our wingers were fullbacks in highschool because they could run it from the back and carve up amateur defences. Thus the highlight reel with no fullback skills and why they end up on the wing.
It’s not that they are bad it’s just the skill level need in international rugby is one very large jump from what they have to do in school.
Great full backs have the athleticism of a wing but they have the smarts of a 10. I think Aus trial wingers at fullback and realise few have the smarts of a ten, then they trial 10s at fullback and they don’t have the athleticism.
It’s a specialist spot and an important one.
Our last really good Fullback played AFL professionally before coming to rugby. Hard to replicate that pathway or expect someone like Sualli to fill it because he plays league.
Exclusive: RA move to shore up backline post World Cup by signing stars to new deals
Agree. Campbell is the only player I’ve seen play the complete fullback role in a long time. And if you look across team sheets, he’s the only actual career full back player. Everyone else is either a winger or a 10 playing fullback.
Exclusive: RA move to shore up backline post World Cup by signing stars to new deals
Exactly. I also think it’s time Rugby Australia had an honest chat with themselves about how fullback in high school does not mean fullback in pro rugby.
There is a strong chance that Sualli will end up another player in the wing pool. I just don’t think it’s worth it. Feels like changing things by doing the same old thing.
Exclusive: RA move to shore up backline post World Cup by signing stars to new deals
I think these are good players and loyalty is important but if I put on my number cruncher hat, I’m not sure the wing spot is where I’d focus all these contracts.
Wright is improving at fullback but the three key factors that we need at fullback are taking the high ball, not conceding turn overs by isolating and great exit kicks that don’t give counter attacking back threes acres of space to carve up.
Both Jock and Mark N had 3 missed tackles last week, Wright conceded turn overs but I don’t think missed tackles.
So what we’re looking at is what’s the hardest thing to teach these wing turn fullback players?
To me, taking the high ball, not conceding turn overs and good exit kicks are the ones you can’t teach over night. Because all of them are a combination of skill and instinct that can only come from being in the position of fullback for most of your career.
We have a plethora of X factor to put at fullback, but it’s these things the wallabies need there.
Defence is skill, strength and attitude, while can’t be made perfect overnight it can be worked on. But good positioning is also instinct.
The wallabies EOYT lost a lot of games by small margins. Dropped balls and turn overs by fullback are giving away too much territory every game. And kicking it straight to back 3 weapons isn’t helping either.
There’s a trend in rugby to hype up try scorers and wingers benefit from that. Korobete, Toole, Pietch, Daugunu, Mark N, Vunivalu, Wright, Jorgensen…We have heaps of wingers and there always seems to be new wingers. If rugby was just played by wingers we’d be sorted.
Exclusive: RA move to shore up backline post World Cup by signing stars to new deals
Taj is from the same school as Carter Gordon and Mason Gordon. Interesting to watch anyone that comes out of there as the school put a lot of resources into securing their first premiership since 1954 and they achieved it in 2020.
'Relieved, frustrated': Young gun's double helps Reds scrape home against Fiji in penalty-a-thon
He’s a good finisher who can’t take a high ball which means he’s not a fullback.
'Relieved, frustrated': Young gun's double helps Reds scrape home against Fiji in penalty-a-thon
Ball handling was pretty bad for most teams on the weekend. Tough to judge with the heat players had to play in.
The Wrap: Unfair triple-jeopardy law cruels the Blues, Brumbies building, Reds relief
Didn’t Eddie turn around Lancaster’s bad side that exited their home WC in the pool stage? I believe it was 18 wins in a row and a spot in the WC final?
Borthwick is tasked with what his predecessor couldn’t do but Eddie actually did it when he took over ????
The Wrap: Unfair triple-jeopardy law cruels the Blues, Brumbies building, Reds relief
I want a good entertaining product that draws crowds and a wallabies team that puts in a good fight against the top teams.
'What a bloody joke': Sexton bows out of 6N with slam but England fume over 'utter farce'
I think that’s Jock’s first start since the powers that be decided to try another winger at Full back in petaia. He’ll be better for it and hopefully not 40 degrees next game.
'Relieved, frustrated': Young gun's double helps Reds scrape home against Fiji in penalty-a-thon
Yep, understand it was a combination of things that meant Gordon wasn’t in the mix. I meant I wish there was alternate reality where he could’ve put his hand up prior to that tour rather than after it.
Mainly because, as everyone knows, the 10 spot is a real worry and the WC is a few months away. Would’ve been great to have at least one solid young ten in the mix by now.
After watching the rebels game I thought Carter’s kicking boots would be enough to keep him out and then I watched Noah’s efforts and it was back to square one.
'Significant': Hodge's injury adds to Rebels' pain as Gordon, Wilkin shine again
This kind of thing has been a red card for years. When Aussies talk about how ridiculous cards like this are we are dragged in comment pile ons and get told we don’t care about player safety.
“He come from far, at speed, upright, tucked his shoulder, no arms, direct contact to the head, red card”. How many times have we heard that?
You can’t celebrate your team getting an advantage through things like this for years while tearing down those who question it and then complain when it happens to you.
Either you care about rugby laws and how they impact entertainment objectively or you only care when they don’t benefit your team.
'What a bloody joke': Sexton bows out of 6N with slam but England fume over 'utter farce'
Handling errors across a few aus teams make for difficult watching. But when the Rebels click, they make scoring tries look easy. Really impressed with some of their play.
Carter Gordon is great to watch. Would’ve loved it if he put his hand up for that Aus A tour last year.
'Significant': Hodge's injury adds to Rebels' pain as Gordon, Wilkin shine again
A lot of individual players with potential, but as a team can barely string a few passes together.
Mark Nawaqanitawase had that frustrated aggression you see when someone is part of a team that isn’t coming together well. Tried to palm his way to the try line from 50 meters a few times.
Number 10 is a difficult position and the benchmark is players like Dan Carter, Wilkinson and Sexton. We’re rushing these young tens and putting a hell of a lot of expectation on them. They won’t be international standard for a while, so let it be so.
'Dig our way out': NSW not panicking yet despite clunky loss as Tahs sweat on injured star trio
You can put articles like this on the coogee community notice board to satisfy the echo chamber.
Maybe write an article about Carter Gordon and who his dad talks to?
'Physics defying': Teen wonder Jorgensen makes Waratahs history after 'remarkable' try
I hope Jorgensen is a good fullback.
The whole utility to approach to Fullback is one of the many blights of Aus rugby.
I think the only actual full back in an aus SR team (as in has actually played the position outside of high school for many seasons) is Jock Campbell who is banished because he missed a tackle and isn’t the son of a wallaby.
But Max has around 20kgs on him so maybe he is the saviour.
SRP Rd 4 talking points: Coleman move that must pay off for Tahs, old bull test for Noah, ABs' battle to savour
9 of the 16 teams in RL are within greater Sydney. Can you spell sophist?
RA open to Super salary cap increase, NRL stars, but says 'focus' is on grassroots as CBA announced
Shane Webcke not available?
Exclusive: Eddie opts for former England assistant to join Wallabies ahead of World Cup
Mack Hansen and James Lowe could be on the ANZAC team if they’re not picked for the BIL.
Lions tamers: 16 All Blacks and 7 Wallabies in our projected ANZAC team to tackle the mighty reds in 2025
Sport psychology is an important part of success and I do wonder if the lead up to the world cup loss and the loss itself has created an atmosphere in the England camp that even rubs off on to new players.
They won 18 matches in a row, beat NZ in the final and were then meant to walk over SA who lost to NZ in a pool game. There is no greater toxic weight than the expectation of the English tabloid and histrionic fans.
When you reach for perfection, the burn out can last years.
That perfection was meant to culminate into WC victory. It didn’t. That’s like sliding back down to base camp of Everest as you were about to place your flag at the top.
They don’t have the energy and commitment out there anymore that they had in that 18 win streak but they have a fair few of the same players.
Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations
I don’t understand. Why did you frame the bit about the Tahs v Rebels like the Tahs are the chosen ones that had a bad week and it was “there’s to lose”?
Seems to be a bit disingenuous to say “that’s not to devalue the rebels win”, because that’s what you’re doing.
It’s ok that the Rebels are playing good rugby.
It’s ok to stop the hype machine on the tahs. Edmed has done nothing to deserve his profile, Hooper is past it, Gleeson plays like an aggressive 16 year old, Swinton must have taught Gleeson this, Donaldson is not a fullback and I’m yet to see why he’s even a ten.
It’s not 1989 where you can just plug in a 21 year old Phil Kearns into the Wallabies. Is that what is happening at ARU headquarters? Are they rolling out the TV and VCR combo on stilts and showing highlights of Kearns and going “and therefore, you can put in a young Sydney chap and all the merrier from that point on”.
They all agree and tap their pipes before they rush home to watch the new episode of Acropolis Now.
Can we not catch up with the rest of the world?
SRP Talking Points: JOC's return adds intrigue to Eddie's plans, D-Day for Tahs, duo with a hint of Pocock-Hooper 2015
Pocock should’ve been 7 his whole career. Easily.
It’d be great if the wallabies could stop accomodating nepotistic decisions and rugby league players because they’re not capable of being driven by talented decision making.
'Shake up this comp': Fearless Rebels punish 'loose' Waratahs in huge upset as Hardwick, Gordon shine
The guy that’s taken the opportunity to be away for months training and playing with Namibia would not have been able to negotiate in his relationship playing somewhere else in Australia?
'Shake up this comp': Fearless Rebels punish 'loose' Waratahs in huge upset as Hardwick, Gordon shine
People did want him out of the fullback position, didn’t mean we had someone to replace him.
We always struggle with this spot.
Isaac Lucas would be a handy addition to the race because he can play 10 and fullback like a D-mack.
Exclusive: RA move to shore up backline post World Cup by signing stars to new deals