W Evans's Roar Profile

The ref and the ‘bunker’ saw the incident which included Jamie George’s ‘involvement’ which the bunker judged to be minimal or non existent (obviously).

The citing meeting has judged the bunker to be wrong. Plain and simple. It’s laughable.

And if say a South African or Irish or Welsh player etc. gets done for exactly the same thing in a QF there’s now a risk of the citing meeting applying a totally different interpretation which will bring the whole tournament to its knees – ie why did the English captain get away with it but our star player not? Has a rule been applied wrongly costing a team a World Cup?

The rules are so badly conceived and poorly written that they are applied inconsistently and unpredictably automatically – the opposite of what a law should be according to natural justice etc.

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Forget the spate of injuries, it’s these kinds of shenanigans that are going to be a blight on this tournament, mark my words.

I don’t like the fact cards are being handed out like confetti and the rules are an absolute mess that disregard the risk of concussions from hips, knees and feet.

It’s opened the door to a mess on field, a mess on review, a mess before tribunals. And the question must be asked, if it wasn’t the English captain in this situation what would the outcome have been?

Very very poor and a real problem for the tournament…

I think it’s a very fair observation.

The question is, do we look for all the problems with this selection (there are a few) or do we look for the upsides (there are many).

Should also say that many of us who err towards glass half full, Christie included, have copped a fair bit for taking that position… more than being accused of being glass half empty!

But thx so much for your comment.

Worth noting as well that Bell, Frost, McReight, Donaldson and Nawaqanitawase were all in the 23 that lost to Dupont’s France 24 v 23 (lead changed 7 times) in 2019. Can’t be that far off…

Glass half empty much?

To be blunt Jacko, Eddie has given the old brigade a chance and they have lost. Rennie gave them a chance. They lost.

Eddie has gone for youth, arguably he’s left Slipper and White who have underperformed which I’m not sure I would have.

“None of these players are anywhere near as good as the French u/20 World Cup winners”.

Only 6 of that side have progressed to test level as of this year.

Worth mentioning Australia finished runner up in that tournament, only losing 24-23. The difference being place kicking.

Also worth noting that Nawaqantiawase starred in that tournament, as did Angus Bell, Fraser McReight, Lachlan Lonergan, Harry Wilson, Ben Donaldson, Noah Lolesio and Nick Frost – 8 players who have won test caps and 5 going to this RWC.

As I say in the article, we don’t have a Dupont or Ntamack but nobody does.

We do have a huge crop (20-25) guys under 24 who already have a Super Rugby season behind them and are about to go to a World Cup. France didn’t have that.

Thanks for your post Train. A few observations:
– regardless of whether it was Rennie’s or Jones’ Wallabies going to the RWC the Wallabies have next to no chance of winning. Miles behind the top 4.
– They might beat England in a QF, they might even get lucky and beat NZ (for the first time in years) in a SF. But to suggest they’ll get lucky 3 times by beating SA, France or Ireland in a final is in itself a ‘ludicrous proposition’.
– You haven’t mentioned the Wallabies series loss at home to a very average England at the end of an 11 month season (which began with a lions tour).
– I maintain what I said about the end of season tour. Comprehensively outplayed by Italy. Beat a poor Wales team after it subbed off its best players while 14 in front with 20 to go. Couldn’t close out games against France and Ireland. Kicked a last minute penalty against Scotland.

Fully recognise that experience wins RWC. That’s why many of us were advocating McReight ahead of Hooper, McDermott ahead of White 2 seasons ago.

Ah Tooly. You again.
When you’re talking about Dupont and Ntamack, no country, not even NZ has two young halves right now who are 20/21yo (which they were in 2019) of that quality.
Looking at Angus Bell (23), Nick Frost (23), Tom Hooper (23), McDermott (24), Carter Gordon (22), Petaia (23) and Jorgensen (18), personally I think it’s hard to find a crop like that anywhere in world rugby.
And that’s before you get to someone like Teddy Wilson.
Ireland and SA have some fantastic young players but none will play test matches for at least another 12-18 months.

Eddie has done what was needed four years ago and ripped the bandaid off. Now he's breathed life into Aussie rugby

Totally agree on Vunivalu.

Other thing that occurs to me… this team has a couple of big league signings written all over it for 2024 and also Sua’ali factored in.

Cameron Murray? Payne Haas? A high profile play maker at 10/12?

Shock and raw: New skipper, rookies galore and Test careers brutally ended as Eddie's RWC bombshells CONFIRMED

With the exception of Cooper, the full 23 from the last game has been picked.

Yes Vunivalu is a travesty. Yes there are key players injured. Yes it’s a very young side. But there’s a huge amount of talent, enough to win a QF. And after that who knows.

Living in the NH, seeing France and Ireland play regularly, I just don’t see the Wallabies beating 3 of the top 6 in successive weeks this year. Regardless of whether Cooper and M Hooper were playing, even at 95%.

I think Eddie has said I can give youth a chance, get out of the pool, maybe win a QF if I don’t pick up serious injuries to key players (Tupou, Bell and Carter Gordon) and then who knows…

It’s age I reckon – clearly with Samu, Cooper, Hooper and even Rory Arnold overseas, Jones has gone for young blokes.

To be honest, with a lions tour and home World Cup coming, why not?

And it’s not as if any of those players have won many tests the last 2-3 years.

Rubbish. It’s a good side.

I like the selection, clearly a nod to the future and great to see players like Isaak and Jorgensen given an opportunity. Also pleased to see Philip taken as a lock.

My only major gripe is Vunivalu. Waste of a selection and plenty of outside backs who both deserve the opportunity and have the ability to be ahead of him.

A very interesting point about his lack of relationship with a 10!

Part of me feels that he can legitimately point to a lack of contenders at the position. Most of me feels that in part, his style of play wasn’t conducive to building a relationship with any of them!

Cheers for the alternate view Messy Jog. A few observations:
– White has played some 60 tests, McDermott around 20.
– The fact McDermott was playing with front foot ball might have a little to do with him. Tough to play front foot when you don’t have it.
– McDermott was one of a few who made a mistake with a line out but with regards to being held up, I think people were just relieved to see a Wallaby 9 run a little.

White has been a great servant of the game but I do believe he’s become far too predictable also plays into NZ’s hands. Also, his relationship with referees … not good.

Cheers Lano, appreciate it!

It’s a good one … I think, if my history is correct, Alan Jones might have quoted Alexander the Great there?!

Look, nobody wants to lose. But when box kicking the ball away loses you games anyway, why stick with it! As I said in the article, if it was the answer White might have won more games against NZ…

Other interesting part of all this is when the box kick becomes too predictable.
If the oppositions wingers are up field trying to take box kicks it leaves space for kicks in behind. White never seems to mix it up.

To be honest I lost count of the number of times White did it.

Certainly very late on in the game.

The most effective with it are Ireland and SA.

If you look at Ireland they have picked a back 3 who all look like full-backs, Hansen of course was one. It stems back to Connor Murray, Kearney and Bowe.

SA through Joost, Du Perez, de Klerk have had nines who consistently execute the box kick almost to perfection. They play to their teams strength.

The key point is that Tate doesn’t seem to do it when we are level with 120 seconds to go…

A few people have made the point box kicks can be useful at certain points of the game, positions on the field etc.

White seems to have lost the ability to pick his moments.

The biggest crime is wasting a spot on Vunivalu!
Drop him and take both Philip and Holloway.
There’s plenty of cover in the backs with Hodge, Petaia, Perese all able to play multiple positions.

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I think you take Kerevi, Foketi, Ikitau, Petaia and Perese as well as Hodge.

That combination provides some protection at 10 (Hodge), wing (Perese or Hodge at a push) and 15 (Petaia, Hodge). Given the injuries at 12/13 I think Foketi, Hodge and Perese squeeze in ahead of players like Wright, Campbell, Donaldson.

Bell, Slipper, Sio
Porecki, Faessler, BPA
Fa’aumasili, Tupou, Nonggor or Talakai (?)
Skelton, Arnold
Frost, Philip
Hooper, Holloway
McReight, Hooper
Valetini, Samu

McDermott, Longergan, White
Gordon, Cooper
Koroibete
Kerevi, Foketi,
Petaia, Ikitau
Nawaqanitawase, Perese
Kellaway, Hodge

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