Planet Rugby Forum

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:26 am

CrazyIslander wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:25 am What's happened to McReight?

Hooper is better.

No love for Mcooper?

CrazyIslander wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:30 am

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:26 am

CrazyIslander wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:25 am What's happened to McReight?

Hooper is better.

No love for Mcooper?

No, definitely not. We've done the "two short openside flankers" thing way too often. We finally have legitimate options at six and eight, so no, let's definitely not go back to that old trick that never actually worked.

My comments, PART 2 (Wallabies Squad):

Am very pleased to see a Squad with a lot of strength provided by the following 2 contingents: 1) a large number of very talented young players (the largest for a LONG time - Bell, Daugunu, Faiamausili,Harrison, Horton, Hosea, Lolesio, McDermott (at LAST), McReight, Philip, Ramm, Uelese, Valetini, Wilson, the 2 Wrights) who will see Australian Rugby in good stead for a lot of years to come, especially with the backup of 2) a strong core of tested and very dependable players with strong leadership qualities who will steady the ship for the younger ones as they go from strength to strength (Fainga'a, Haylett-Petty, Hooper, Koroibete, O'Connor, Petaia, L S-L, Simmons, Sio, To'omua, Tupou, White). I was so delighted by that, and have been so impressed with Rennie since he arrived, that I was almost knocked over with disappointment when I noticed there's also a strong element of the selection curse of past 10 years: ''The more things change, the more they stay the same.' I'm talking about the selection of a number of players who have scant claim to be there (Hanigan, Banks, Ikitau, Simone, Maddocks), and at the expense of a number of people who did more than enough to justify a call-up (Naisarani, Dempsey, Campbell, Ralston).

The Hanigan factor continues to amaze me: I've nothing against the player, he puts in, and gets around the field well, but that's about where it ends. He is picked to cover 6 and lock, but L S-L already does that, and far better. Naisarani can cover both 6 and 8, and with Samu able to cover 7 and 8, plus Liam Wright proficient on both sides of the scrum, we have forward versatility well and truly covered.
Dempsey also far more proficient than Hanigan at 6, but in his case there is less to complain about, as he has a tendency to disappear and reappear from game to game. Even more astonishing is the old foible of re-selecting players who have been tried and found wanting multiple times (Banks and Maddocks), in preference to someone (Campbell) who has done everything that could be asked at Super Rugby level, and still isn't given a chance - it's self-defeating. (Ralston, has a similar claim but a lesser one, as he started Super Rugby AU superbly, but faded away towards the end). I wish Dave Rennie would watch this video of Campbells 2 beautiful try assists against the Brumbies at least 30 times, or at least until he gets that if you play this guy at fullback, your wingers will score tries (and so will your full back ). Particularly noteable is the first try, where JC gets the ball in a backline movement which looks destined to end in a tackle, but he accelerates, does an in-and-away-with-dummy, and suddenly Wright has good space on the outside, after which a beautiful pass puts him in the clear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf9IOFLAZ34

I feel Banks should get further opportunities - but agree on Campbell over maddocks.

Looks like Bled and TRC are in the shitter - maybe a Red Rebels vs Capital Tahs game (pre-cursor to State of O).

No its not but there may not be 4 games all up, some common decency and cooperation is required from our lil broes.

Meant to reply to Zakars comment on the Match Day 23 I previously posted, that 'I'd be surprised if we see Ralston in the squad though, let alone starting.' Yes, you were right, Z, and I think for the reason that I mentioned in my last post: he would have had to hold his good form right through to the end of SR AU to attract DR's attention. Regardless of that, he still did more than Maddocks or Banks.

And I should say apologies to Paisami, whom I forgot to mention in that group of 'very talented young players' coming through.

mightyreds wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 1:22 pm Meant to reply to Zakars comment on the Match Day 23 I previously posted, that 'I'd be surprised if we see Ralston in the squad though, let alone starting.' Yes, you were right, Z, and I think for the reason that I mentioned in my last post: he would have had to hold his good form right through to the end of SR AU to attract DR's attention. Regardless of that, he still did more than Maddocks or Banks.

And I should say apologies to Paisami, whom I forgot to mention in that group of 'very talented young players' coming through.

Ralston is average and he looks like a mungo. He shouldn't be anywhere near the squad.

Farva wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:03 am

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 9:54 am I think Wilson claimed the eight jersey a while back but I'm still shocked not to see Naisarani make that squad at all! There's 45-odd names there and no Isi? He must be spewing.

Id pick Samu ahead of Wilson every day and twice in Sunday.

Who knows what Rennie is going to do? I wouldn't be shocked to see Samu get the nod and I wouldn't be too disappointed either, he's an excellent player and he's in his prime age-wise. But Wilson is young and hungry, he's a better line-out option, a better ball-runner, a more complete number eight, I think he's had a better Super rugby season to boot and to put the nail in, Samu is worth a lot more on the bench that Wilson is. We'll see what Rennie has in mind. It's not a great loss either way but I think there's too many ticks in the Wilson box.

I'm still shocked that Naisarani is not in the squad. That's quite incredible. He had one bad game this season but other than that he's been very good. In the last game I'd say he was even slightly better than Wilson. I am forced to wonder if there's not something else in that little story of which we are unaware. I can't think of any reason you'd leave him out of a matchday 23 let alone a 45 man preliminary squad. For all the above reasons, I'd probably have him starting over Samu and a pretty even chance with Wilson.

ISI has been OK but often his play is not accurate. He got held up over the line a few times in that game and never looks to offload. He is good at carrying the ball to the line and often gets over the advantage line, but it stops there. The difference is that he seeks the man while Wilson looks for space. Wilson is a good link man with offloading skills who often features multiple times in a movement. That part is missing from Naisaranis game.

Still very surprised he didn't make the preliminary training squad at least.

Yes, it's a surprise, particularly with the bang average Swinton selected.

Apropos of nothing, I realised we can nearly put out a full XV of pro indigenous background players, I just can't think of a 6 .

1. C Walker
2. R Abel
3. C Abel
4. Arnold
5. Arnold
6. ??
7. C Faainga
8. J Goddard (semi pro)
9. Sorovi
10. Beale
11. Porch
12. A Faainga
13. Chambers
14. Muirhead
15. Longbottom

Of the above, I reckon the most likely to receive a new cap would be Sorovi - he's impressed me the last few games.

Zakar wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:36 am

Apropos of nothing, I realised we can nearly put out a full XV of pro indigenous background players, I just can't think of a 6 .

Gee, we do have a terrible record as a code, I have to admit.

wamberal wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:53 am

Zakar wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:36 am

Apropos of nothing, I realised we can nearly put out a full XV of pro indigenous background players, I just can't think of a 6 .

Gee, we do have a terrible record as a code, I have to admit.

I think it's broadly in line with population averages to be fair. There are other pro players, but they all play scrumhalf.

wamberal wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:53 am

Zakar wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:36 am

Apropos of nothing, I realised we can nearly put out a full XV of pro indigenous background players, I just can't think of a 6 .

Gee, we do have a terrible record as a code, I have to admit.

Many youngsters are introduced to the code in private schools, which means indigenous kids are likely to be under-represented via that pathway. Additionally, the XV-a-side code isn't strong in the regional, rural and remote areas where many indigenous kids live whereas the XVIII and XIII-a-side codes are.

The fact there isn't a strong and current history of lots of indigenous kids taking up the code may itself be a bit of a barrier. You can see something analogous in the participation rate in another code of another group of Strayan kids who are otherwise keen on sport. Aussie rules enjoys hegemonic status in many states, yet where are the players of Polynesian descent?

Zakar wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:02 am
I think it's broadly in line with population averages to be fair. There are other pro players, but they all play scrumhalf.

I am talking about our record - i.e. our history - of involvement by indigenous players. Thank goodness for the Ellas and Lloydie Walker - they broke the mould.

MungoMan wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:20 am
Many youngsters are introduced to the code in private schools, which means indigenous kids are likely to be under-represented via that pathway. Additionally, the XV-a-side code isn't strong in the regional, rural and remote areas where many indigenous kids live whereas the XVIII and XIII-a-side codes are.

The fact there isn't a strong and current history of lots of indigenous kids taking up the code may itself be a bit of a barrier. You can see something analogous in the participation rate in another code of another group of Strayan kids who are otherwise keen on sport. Aussie rules enjoys hegemonic status in many states, yet where are the players of Polynesian descent?

I am talking primarily about our history: actually our code was comparatively very strong in rural NSW during the sixties in particular when we were still riding on the sheep's back - but I doubt that too many rural rugby clubs went out of their way to welcome indigenous players. Mind you, there was no money on offer either!

Zakar wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:36 am Yes, it's a surprise, particularly with the bang average Swinton selected.

Apropos of nothing, I realised we can nearly put out a full XV of pro indigenous background players, I just can't think of a 6 .

1. C Walker
2. R Abel
3. C Abel
4. Arnold
5. Arnold
6. ??
7. C Faainga
8. J Goddard (semi pro)
9. Sorovi
10. Beale
11. Porch
12. A Faainga
13. Chambers
14. Muirhead
15. Longbottom

Of the above, I reckon the most likely to receive a new cap would be Sorovi - he's impressed me the last few games.

Jim Williams

shanky wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:09 am

Zakar wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:36 am Yes, it's a surprise, particularly with the bang average Swinton selected.

Apropos of nothing, I realised we can nearly put out a full XV of pro indigenous background players, I just can't think of a 6 .

1. C Walker
2. R Abel
3. C Abel
4. Arnold
5. Arnold
6. ??
7. C Faainga
8. J Goddard (semi pro)
9. Sorovi
10. Beale
11. Porch
12. A Faainga
13. Chambers
14. Muirhead
15. Longbottom

Of the above, I reckon the most likely to receive a new cap would be Sorovi - he's impressed me the last few games.

Jim Williams

I'm sure he keeps fit, but he must be in his 50s by now. Him and Glenn Ella can coach. I'm sure the remaining positions can be filled out by SS/QPR players (Plus S Faainga at reserve hooker, and Abel, Goddard or Gale at reserve scrumhalf)

Calling Bindi.

Come in, Bindi. Over.

• Rugby Union: Is Fraser McReight ready to lead the Wallabies?
  
  Wayne Smith
  5:12PM September 15, 2020
  
  It hasn’t happened for 59 years and the last 39 skippers, but is it possible Dave Rennie will announce an uncapped player as Wallabies captain early next week?
  
  Certainly Rennie has let the mystery run its full course, and then some. Even when he announced his squad of 44 on Sunday – which was the natural time to unveil his choice of captain – he left the issue of who will lead them bubbling away on the backburner.
  
  “We want to wait until the team assembles and we want to tell the team as opposed to doing it through the media,” Rennie explained. “We’ll gather most of the squad in on Sunday. We should get the rest in on Monday and we’ll be able to announce it there. So we’ll let everyone know next week.”
  
  All very matter-of-fact, though his delay left observers wondering what this meant for Michael Hooper. Captain for 46 of his 99 Tests, he was the man who led the Australian team into battle in its last Test, the World Cup quarter-final against England last October. Surely, they reasoned, if Hooper was to be retained as captain what purpose was served in dragging out the announcement?
  
  Rennie’s delay might not spell the end of the Hooper reign, but it might just signal the dawn of a new power-sharing arrangement. The Wallabies next month begin a run of eight Tests in 10 weeks. It will be even more demanding than a Rugby World Cup, where a captain can be asked to lead the side in seven Tests in seven weeks. Even though the Wallabies failed two matches short of reaching the final, Hooper played only in four of the five matches, sitting out the Georgia game.
  
  So even for someone as nigh on indestructible as Hooper, there are limits, it seems. Given the arduous schedule that lies ahead, Rennie could lighten the load on Hooper – who has done nothing to warrant the captaincy being taken from him – by doing one of two things. He could name a couple of vice-captains or, perhaps more likely, he could opt for co-captains.
  
  True, that can be messy. There is, however, a way of ensuring it does not become so. By making another openside flanker co-captain with him. Whenever Hooper is on the field, the co-captain would most likely be on the bench. And vice-versa. If perchance they both happen to be on the field at the same time, it will be the man named skipper for the day who would continue to lead.
  
  There are two other contenders at openside flanker — Liam Wright, the Queensland captain, and Fraser McReight, the man who led the Junior Wallabies to the final of the Under 20 World Cup last year. Both have excellent credentials for leading the Wallabies. Indeed, Wright has shown glimpses of greatness in the way he has steered the young Queensland side into the Super Rugby AU final.
  
  But, alas, there are doubts about his capacity to command a place in the Test starting side. Indeed, that applies pretty much across the other Super Rugby captains. Allan Alaalatoa of the Brumbies has Taniela Tupou laying siege to the tighthead position, while Melbourne Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty not only has a dodgy knee to worry about but also the likes of Tom Banks, Jack Maddocks and Rebels teammate Reece Hodge, all solid claimants to the fullback position.
  
  As for Waratahs captain Rob Simmons, he certainly has the Test experience behind him – 100 caps, neat – but he has signed for London Irish at the end of this year. And the fact that Rennie is likely to bring a couple of locks home as his “coach’s picks” suggests he too could be struggling for a permanent place in the side.
  
  Which brings us to McReight.
  
  Australia’s original World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer always maintained that for a team to achieve real greatness, it needed five or so world-best players in the starting XV. Right at this moment, Australia has none. But it has potential.
  
  Tupou is certainly standing on the brink of greatness. Everyone had a chuckle that a tighthead prop who had just gradually come out on top of a gritty Rebels scrum should even dare think about running that inside line in the 76th minute at Suncorp on Saturday night, let alone do it, let alone set up his winger with a pass that needed to be pinpoint accurate and was. Laugh we might, but what other prop in the world does that, has the skills and the motor to pull it off?
  
  If Australia does achieve a world’s best player any time soon, he will be it. Jordan Petaia looks like being the second. The form he showed for the Wallabies at the World Cup gave the world a startling sample of what he is capable of. And while it may be that there would be a couple of All Blacks and Springboks centres who may rank ahead of him at the moment, he surely will overtake them if he maintains his current rate of improvement.
  
  The other contender is McReight. He is one of the 16 uncapped players named in the Wallabies squad and is utterly unproven at Test level. But there is no question he has already played a significant role in the Reds getting through to the Super Rugby AU grand final. Unlike Hooper he is a classic seven, as hard on the ball as ever Dave Pocock was. And unlikely Pocock, who had to work hard to develop this area of his game, he is a fluent ballrunner and a natural link man.
  
  Australia hasn’t had an uncapped captain since Ken Catchpole, against Fiji at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds back in 1961. But right now, McReight shapes as the man who will lead Australia to the World Cup in France in 2023.
  
  That’s pure conjecture, of course, but when Rennie named 16 rookies in his squad of 44, with another 13 players who have played 10 Tests or less, he was signalling nothing less than a new dawn for Australian rugby.
  
  Hooper will be heading to Japan for his sabbatical in the first six months of next year but, meanwhile, he has an important role to play in the transition to a new captain.
  
  Let’s get to it.
  
  https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/ ... a546dde38b

Wayne Smith

What in the fudge?

Maybe this journo knows Fraser McReight, and Fraser McReight is wise and inspiring way beyond his 21 years ... but I'm not sure he'll even be in the matchday 23, let alone the captain! The back-row is the one area where we actually have a lot of depth, and we already have a great short, fetchy openside in Hooper (although McReight is a better fetcher, Hooper is a more valuable addition to the squad).

I also don't see any great need to have two captains or co-captains or handfuls of vice captains. Just select a captain and get on with it. Hooper may not even want the job, he didn't with the Waratahs after all.

Seems pretty out of left field, but I guess it's his jobs to get attention and clicks.

It's Wayne Smith

Zakar wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:36 am Yes, it's a surprise, particularly with the bang average Swinton selected.

Apropos of nothing, I realised we can nearly put out a full XV of pro indigenous background players, I just can't think of a 6 .

1. C Walker
2. R Abel
3. C Abel
4. Arnold
5. Arnold
6. ??
7. C Faainga
8. J Goddard (semi pro)
9. Sorovi
10. Beale
11. Porch
12. A Faainga
13. Chambers
14. Muirhead
15. Longbottom

Of the above, I reckon the most likely to receive a new cap would be Sorovi - he's impressed me the last few games.

Jim Williams could still go alright

Hooper won’t hold out McReight until the next World Cup. He’s barely holding him out now.

So, if you’re the new Wallaby coach do you:
- drop your captain now for a bloke 95% as good; or
- drop your captain 1 or 2 years out from a World Cup; or
- keep your captain until he says he’s finished, even though he’s obviously not the best option?

towny wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:26 pm Hooper won’t hold out McReight until the next World Cup. He’s barely holding him out now.

So, if you’re the new Wallaby coach do you:
- drop your captain now for a bloke 95% as good; or
- drop your captain 1 or 2 years out from a World Cup; or
- keep your captain until he says he’s finished, even though he’s obviously not the best option?

Pretty fair point. I dunno. The question though, is it between Hooper and McReight? Is McReight even a sure thing for the 23, let alone the only other option for captain?

Why should it be McReight? He was the captain of the U20 Wallabies I believe, which is a tick in the box. But surely there are other options to consider?

Why couldn't Tupou be captain for example? I don't know him from a bar of soap of course, he might be a moron, but assuming that is not the case, what reason would the best player in the side and the tighthead prop not be considered over a inexperienced bloke who might make the team? Because a huge bulldozing Tongan hasn't captained the Wallabies before (that I can remember)? Is he a moron or a trouble maker? Doesn't seem to be. In fact he seems to have a rugby brain and ability that extends way past the core duties of a tighthead. It would still seem weird to imagine Tupou as the captain for some reason. What about more experienced players like Toomua or JOC or White (if he were selected)?

Anyway, you get the point. Why should it be between those two? Does Hooper even want the job?

McReight is the one. I started the year as a skeptic. He’s a ridiculous player, a natural leader and extremely well spoken. He’s not your usual candidate.

Australia will love him.

Maybe Tupou would be awesome, but I’m not sure he’s done the job before so it seems pretty random.

Anyway, I jumped on the captain bandwagon when I bumped into this video. Not sure what it is, but this genuine bloke is who I feel will do a great job.

Watch it and tell me you disagree. https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/watch/?v=791893764972930

Regarding White - how long will he have the job for? Tate’s already a better player. JOC is good enough for now, but for how long?

towny wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:45 pm McReight is the one. I started the year as a skeptic. He’s a ridiculous player, a natural leader and extremely well spoken. He’s not your usual candidate.

Australia will love him.

Maybe Tupou would be awesome, but I’m not sure he’s done the job before so it seems pretty random.

Anyway, I jumped on the captain bandwagon when I bumped into this video. Not sure what it is, but this genuine bloke is who I feel will do a great job.

Watch it and tell me you disagree. https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/watch/?v=791893764972930

Regarding White - how long will he have the job for? Tate’s already a better player. JOC is good enough for now, but for how long?

Tate comes with a glaring flaw: his passing is average. He's an awesome player but it would be kind of like selecting a prop who was awesome running the ball but average in scrum. Its a core duty.

I would like to see Jake Gordon at 9, really. I wouldn't cry if it were White although I think both Tate and Gordon are probably better players anyway and they're also younger which better suites a rebuilding team. I'd actually be shocked if White were selected as the starting 9, I was just saying there are other conceivable options for capt
Okay ... ill watch the video now.

Edit: he seems like a level headed and sensible young bloke, definitely more than I was at that age, perhaps a future candidate for captain but tbh nothing in that video screams to me "make him captain!". Rugby guys are typically pretty well spoken. Maybe you're too used to watching leaguies getting interviewed where they seem they almost try and bung on the boganness just to fit into the culture.

Definitely not as articulate or as natural a public speaker but shows a good mentality and attitude even so: https://youtu.be/it2cjgb8BI4

(I am not dying on a hill to make Thoe captain! Lol. Its just an example to illustrate a point)

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:57 pm

towny wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:45 pm McReight is the one. I started the year as a skeptic. He’s a ridiculous player, a natural leader and extremely well spoken. He’s not your usual candidate.

Australia will love him.

Maybe Tupou would be awesome, but I’m not sure he’s done the job before so it seems pretty random.

Anyway, I jumped on the captain bandwagon when I bumped into this video. Not sure what it is, but this genuine bloke is who I feel will do a great job.

Watch it and tell me you disagree. https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/watch/?v=791893764972930

Regarding White - how long will he have the job for? Tate’s already a better player. JOC is good enough for now, but for how long?

Tate comes with a glaring flaw: his passing is average. He's an awesome player but it would be kind of like selecting a prop who was awesome running the ball but average in scrum. Its a core duty.

I would like to see Jake Gordon at 9, really. I wouldn't cry if it were White although I think both Tate and Gordon are probably better players anyway and they're also younger which better suites a rebuilding team. I'd actually be shocked if White were selected as the starting 9, I was just saying there are other conceivable options for capt
Okay ... ill watch the video now.

Edit: he seems like a level headed and sensible young bloke, definitely more than I was at that age, perhaps a future candidate for captain but tbh nothing in that video screams to me "make him captain!". Rugby guys are typically pretty well spoken. Maybe you're too used to watching leaguies getting interviewed where they seem they almost try and bung on the boganness just to fit into the culture.

Definitely not as articulate or as natural a public speaker but shows a good mentality and attitude even so: https://youtu.be/it2cjgb8BI4

(I am not dying on a hill to make Thoe captain! Lol. Its just an example to illustrate a point)

What is it about his passing you don’t like?

Its not as snappy nor accurate as what you want from a scrumhalf. Its not horrible but its not his strength, and as a scrummie, it should be.

Hes so good in other facets that it arguably makes up for it but its like selecting an okay scrummaging prop or an okay throwing hooker because they're great at other stuff. It could be okay, I dunno, but you sort of want guys to be better than okay at the core duties no matter their other talents.

I'd have Jake Gordon and Tate as a utility backup. I definitely think he should be in the match day team, he's too good to leave out and probably (maybe) the long term future at scrum half. But Gordon is still relatively young and has deserved a way better shot than he's got so far.

I'd stick with Hooper this year. McReight might be the captain in 3 years time, but it's insane to want him to captain on debut versus the f**king ABs.

1/2 not locked in
3 is Tupou, never been a captain before. Don't usually have prop captains, but he's an 80min player so fair enough.
4/5 only LSL stands out, Simmons and Phillip going to Europe.
6/7/8 only Hooper jumps out as guaranteed starter...and the pack is chasing him.
9 - no obvious starter
10 - JOC could be a good shout
12 - ditto Toomua
13 - Jordy too young, not lead before
11/14/15 - no interest in a back three captain.

The other point about Hooper is that he hasn’t really been playing as an openside

He’s being playing as the hooker/centre that we didn’t seem to have. The guy who could scoot out and break the line, get some go forward.

When was the last time the WBs had a dynamic ball-runni g hooker? Let alone centre

(Don’t answer that, it was rhetorical)

His spot is safe until one of these young guns gets a few caps under his belt.

PS: Hooper is an amazing athlete. If he had switched to hooker at a young age, I’m fairly convinced he’d have gone down as one of Australia’s best ever.

And that’s even without seeing him throw to the lineout.

FWIW Arnold and Skelton went head to head on the weekend, Toulouse v LaRochelle.

Arnold played 55mins, Skelton 74.

Toulouse won thanks to some Kolbe magic.

Actually JOC might be a great shout- he's likely to play for the next 3 years, even if that's not at 10. He seems to be a genuine leader now, and yeah hes into some weird mindfulness, but just think about the redemption ark and press coverage

towny wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:45 pm McReight is the one. I started the year as a skeptic. He’s a ridiculous player, a natural leader and extremely well spoken. He’s not your usual candidate.

Australia will love him.

Maybe Tupou would be awesome, but I’m not sure he’s done the job before so it seems pretty random.

Anyway, I jumped on the captain bandwagon when I bumped into this video. Not sure what it is, but this genuine bloke is who I feel will do a great job.

Watch it and tell me you disagree. https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/watch/?v=791893764972930

Regarding White - how long will he have the job for? Tate’s already a better player. JOC is good enough for now, but for how long?

Plays for the filth? 1/10, WNMC.

KB got a red for a high shot in the T14, so I'm guessing he'll get a few weeks off.

That tends to negate any chance of him being picked in the RC squad if match fitness is required.

Video- https://www.theroar.com.au/rugby-union/ ... e-1092741/

And, in typical fashion the selfish French clubs are trying to evade releasing players for the various test schedules yet again.

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/09/0 ... orld-rugby

So don't count on selecting Arnold and Skelton just yet.

Zakar wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:56 am Actually JOC might be a great shout- he's likely to play for the next 3 years, even if that's not at 10. He seems to be a genuine leader now, and yeah hes into some weird mindfulness, but just think about the redemption ark and press coverage

What do you mean? Like meditation and yoga and shit?

I don't think it's weird, I hear it's really good from multiple people I respect and has solid science backing it. I keep meaning to start a regular practice but I'm lazy.

If Hooper doesn't want it, JOC or Toomua are most likely candidates I'd guess. But now that I've floated it, I want to see a Tupou bolter from out of nowhere. Chance of that happening is close to zero, but it would be awesome and amusing.

Ellafan wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:00 am KB got a red for a high shot in the T14, so I'm guessing he'll get a few weeks off.

That tends to negate any chance of him being picked in the RC squad if match fitness is required.

Video- https://www.theroar.com.au/rugby-union/ ... e-1092741/

There was no chance he was going to get a call.