Wallabies v Pumas I
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Looks like McMahon will start
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Fuck, that’s a pretty good life
Sources in Japan say the lifestyle of being able to play in the Top League for four months, holiday for four months and spend four months in pre-season is a compelling reason to join the competition and when deals are in some cases worth up to three-times as much as playing Down Under, it becomes a temptation too good to turn down..
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@machpants said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
Fuck, that’s a pretty good life
Sources in Japan say the lifestyle of being able to play in the Top League for four months, holiday for four months and spend four months in pre-season is a compelling reason to join the competition and when deals are in some cases worth up to three-times as much as playing Down Under, it becomes a temptation too good to turn down..
Dunno - that "four months of preseason" doesn't sound like much fun, based on my experience of preseasons.
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@nta said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
@machpants said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
Fuck, that’s a pretty good life
Sources in Japan say the lifestyle of being able to play in the Top League for four months, holiday for four months and spend four months in pre-season is a compelling reason to join the competition and when deals are in some cases worth up to three-times as much as playing Down Under, it becomes a temptation too good to turn down..
Dunno - that "four months of preseason" doesn't sound like much fun...
I have a patient who's son plays over there. Said they train pretty hard even compared to NPC and Super level, in terms of hours spent. Just lower physicality more speed of play. I guess if you are a pro athlete getting paid 3x more to train vould be worse
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@canefan said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
@nta said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
@machpants said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
Fuck, that’s a pretty good life
Sources in Japan say the lifestyle of being able to play in the Top League for four months, holiday for four months and spend four months in pre-season is a compelling reason to join the competition and when deals are in some cases worth up to three-times as much as playing Down Under, it becomes a temptation too good to turn down..
Dunno - that "four months of preseason" doesn't sound like much fun...
I have a patient who's son plays over there. Said they train pretty hard even compared to NPC and Super level, in terms of hours spent. Just lower physicality more speed of play
Yep and "speed of play" is not what I want to hear when I front up in February to run a Bronco in 35C heat...
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Wallabies team to play Argentina
1 James Slipper (108 Tests)
2 Folau Fainga’a (19 Tests)
3 Taniela Tupou (33 Tests)
4 Izack Rodda (28 Tests)
5 Matt Philip (17 Tests)
6 Rob Leota (1 Test)
7 Michael Hooper (c) (113 Tests)
8 Rob Valetini (12 Tests)
9 Nic White (41 Tests)
10 Quade Cooper (72 Tests)
11 Marika Koroibete (41 Tests)
12 Samu Kerevi (36 Tests)
13 Len Ikitau (7 Tests)
14 Andrew Kellaway (7 Tests)
15 Reece Hodge (51 Tests)Replacements
16 Feleti Kaitu’u (2 Tests)
17 Angus Bell (10 Tests)
18 Tom Robertson (25 Tests)
19 Darcy Swain (7 Tests)
20 Pete Samu (13 Tests)
21Tate McDermott (10 Tests)
22 James O’Connor (55 Tests)
23 Jordan Petaia (12 Tests)Media release:
Wallabies name Hodge at fullback as O'Connor returns from injury
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has named Reece Hodge to play fullback for Saturday's clash against Argentina.
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As expected, Swinton gets a rest. Leota ahead of McMahon is probably not a surprise, but I expect to see the latter in next week's squad all things being even. The Wallabies can't win TRC from here, so it'll be part of the build for EOYT and setting some markers for 2022.
Historically against scrappy teams like Argentina or Scotland, we've played down to their level. No arrogance there, just that we often get sucked into a bit of negative play and letting the niggle get to us, when we should be far better.
What I want to see here is a comprehensive victory as well as the continuation of the style Rennie is trying to produce: solid set piece, smart exits, good skill execution and finishing. Given we racked up a heap of penalties against the Boks, we need to cut that shit out and get the penalties in the single figures.
The Pumas will be less than threatening with Sanchez and Cubelli missing, but I still expect their forwards to turn up with passion and vigor. How we rise above that and ignore the bullshit is key. Probably another good reason for Swinton to be out.
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@chimoaus said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
I think the Wallabies will be too strong, this could turn out to be a pretty strong team, if they win these 2 they will head north with plenty of confidence.
If we can find a fullback more suited to the job, that is becoming one helluva backline for us. Getting toward the right balance of pace and power.
Leota at 6 is interesting - played a lot of second row for the Rabble so his speed on defence is going to be key.
JOC to come on with 15-20 left to see how he feels back in the arena.
We need to dominate them at set piece and really show where we are at as a rugby nation - we're ranked 3 and the Pumas 7 (0.01 points ahead of Scotland), but we should hit them so hard they drop out toward 10.
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Haven't watched or followed much Australian rugby this year, but I had high expectations of Petaia. Been battling injury or not quite as good as he first looked? I was thinking he would have been causing teams all sorts of trouble by now in the starting 15.
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@crazy-horse Battling injury. Missed most of the France series, has only been back for a couple of weeks.
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@nta said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
Leota at 6 is interesting - played a lot of second row for the Rabble so his speed on defence is going to be key.
He did well for the Rebels at lock considering he's only 190cm tall (cue the Ardie height jokes). He is one who seemed to come out of SRTT with his reputation enhanced.
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@bovidae said in Wallabies v Pumas I:
As Valetini seems to have found his mojo in recent weeks, Wilson looks to be on the outer now. He probably isn't versatile enough to be a bench option over Samu either. Still very young.
Apparently he's been told to go add some bulk to help his impact game.
To me, he's more of a Kieran Read style link player and backup ruck pest. However, when the other 2 options are Valetini and Naisarani, and Pete Samu is Mr Versatility off the bench, I guess it is hard.
Wilson would also need to look at the depth we can call on for blindside and think he's a better shot at 8.
EDIT: one issue for him playing at the Reds is they're a young, mobile forward pack, so his role is fast feet and hands. Others are doing the blockbusting hard lines so he and McReight can range wider and be support. Wilson is still young so he's got time on his side.
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Some more detail from Rennie on selections for this week, as well as some general thoughts:
So as a back rower, with Pete Samu's bench versatility, you're either starting or out of the 23.
Some good stuff around the backs as well.
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The five words that reveal why returning Wallabies star is a keeper
