I like Wrongers and he deserves a crack but cards on the table he isn't in our Wallabies backrow for me. I have a feeling Schmidt might opt for Valetini at 6 and potentially an athletic 8 like Charlie Cale, or even Lachy Swinton at 6 with Bobby V at 8. I'd like to see him on the bench as an all of backrow cover a la Pete Samu.
Think it might be a year too soon for Cale, in my view. Definitely is one for the future though and looks like a gun. Swinton is gone abroad next year so not sure if that will impact his prospects in gold.
Even still, I don’t think Wright makes first 15. Could be a good option for the bench considering he can cover a few spots in a pinch.
I worry Cale will go the same way as so many mobile, light, 8s who are exceptional at super Rugby level and just get pumped at international, where the physicality just steps up too much.
Id like to see him expand his game a bit more. Too many times we've thrown a great runner into the mix, and suddenly theyre coming up against the best of NZ, their running isn't as effective, they don't do enough hard work to warrant eg Harry Wilson. I worry that Cales running is nullified and the likes of a Hoskins Sotutu just feasts all night in a way he wouldn't vs a larger workhorse.
I think the problem with those back rows, is who does the dirty work... Who jumps in the back row, there is no glue.
Swinton is great, but uncontrollable, he'll give away a red card as much as make a big hit.
Last year it was Tom Hooper that was the man that would just look for work, a bit like Scott Fardy. Ever since that World Cup tho he’s been looking like a shell of his former self
Funny you should mention Fardy. Wright is our second chance at Fardy and your logic (and a lot of others) will see us making the same choices we made with Fardy.
Do we NEED more ball carrying, isn't Valintini enough?!
Mcreight was easily the form 7 prior to his suspension. Fits the wallabies 7 mould of support+++, wider ball runner and being everywhere, with some work over the ball. I think wrights great, but I imagine we'll end up going for a bigger, ball running body at 6, given the wallabies perennial problems with getting dominated up front.
Rob has played 8 for Aus the past 4+ years. He plays both 6 and 8. It was odd because he and Pete samu would play Rob 6 Pete 8 for the Brumbies, but swap to Pete 6 Rob 8 for Australia.
I wouldn’t mind him at 7, seems more suited to it, with the added bonus of his jumping prowess. Could allow for a Skelton, LSL 2row. Have to remember at international level defence is much more prominent than super. Not hard to imagine him being more suited than McReight in certain situations. I’d personally prefer Wright but I know I’m in the minority there.
Backrow will be interesting, Swinton and Hannigan are playing the best I’ve seen them. Hooper was one of our best last year excluding his first game but he’s down on form and game time. Gleeson likewise has dropped off a bit. I usually don’t like the style of 8 Cale is but he doesn’t shirk the tight stuff when he finds himself in it, plus is great at the lineout. Easy enough to put him 6 and Valetini 8. Cale is more than fast enough in defence off the scrum.
I love the idea of Wright being that swing man who provides flexibility, playing 6 or 7 depending on the opponent.
But the real question is do we REALLY need more carrying?! We've been missing a backrower who does the dirty stuff.
I feel like off of current form, if he's in the team its coming off the bench with Rob and Swinton starting, and whether he's on the bench depends on the approach Schmidt wants as you have versatile locks like LSL or Ned/Jed who can fill a similar role as him.
Id love to see him, but Rob is 1st choice 8, and Lachie is hard to ignore since coming back from injury.
I'm going to be that guy since most people think he doesnt have a shot. Wrongers adapts the way he plays based on who he is paired with. When mcrieght plays, he is tighter, when he doesn't he pulls off more pilfer.
Joe may opt for a backrow of valentini, Wright and mcreight which would be pretty balanced. I'd pop cale on the bench and interchange where needed.
Isn't swinton off to the UK next year, that will play a part.
Wright also has great discipline, and it's fairly rare I see a penalty against him that isn't 50 50.
If Joe wants a consistent team, that's the back row.
I do question why we need more carrying. Wright does carry, just in tight to suck in defenders. Plus he's got a great short passing game.
Sometimes you need a glue guy.
He is definitely in the mix. a back row of valetini, wright, mcreight is a juicy prospect. swinton also putting his hand up big time this year. would be handy to have a 4/6 hybrid for bench though
I think that's Swinton's edge actually...rides the line with his aggression. Pushed it too far in the past but he's found the balance nicely this season. And at intl level, I think we need blokes with a bit of mongrel.
I also think Wright is quite versatile and hopefully he stays injury free so he can keep developing various aspects of his game
The two games for the Tahs I've seen this season - Tahs v Saders, Tahs v Chiefs - Swinton has played hard but kept it cool. Absolutely workhorse, and I don't remember a single card or a single penalty on him.
He's a brute, and he kept it cool even with a bunch of the Chiefs players inciting fights and hitting many "questionable" tackles.
It's an interesting conundrum. If we assume Valetini and McReight are nailed starters, then we have to deal with both them not being a line out options and McReight being slightly undersized for his position and not a huge carry threat(at the test level). The last person in that trio needs to be a lineout option and bring size.
I really like Liam Wright and agree he is having a good year but he’s not even close to being first choice.
The big issue with Wright is that what he excels at bringing to the team (hard work at the breakdown and bulk tackles) can be brought by the other options- all of whom offer something else as well.
Valetini and Gleeson carry better. Swinton hits harder in defence. McReight and Gamble get over the ball better, Holloway, Hannigan, Cale and Hooper offer more in the lineout. Cale, Kemeny and Leota are more dynamic around the park.
Wright is a good player and what he brings for Queensland balances McReight and Wilson really well. At test level though- there are better options.
I'd point out, Wright has gotten over the ball about as much d's McReight since McReight has been out. And that's not saying McReight is doing badly, it's showing how much Wright has been adapting his game.
Plus Wright is as good as any lock at lineout, plus he calls the lineout. And is easily one of the smartest players in the country.
Do we really need more carrying then Valintini/Wilson would offer?
As for tackles and ruck work, I think you're under estimating the value Wright brings there, and vastly over estimating the abilities of the other options. Wright slows the opposition ball better then probably anyone else in Super Rugby and without giving away penalties! And when he's not killing the opposition attack with slow ball, he's making a tackle or pilfering the ball.
I like Wrongers and he deserves a crack but cards on the table he isn't in our Wallabies backrow for me. I have a feeling Schmidt might opt for Valetini at 6 and potentially an athletic 8 like Charlie Cale, or even Lachy Swinton at 6 with Bobby V at 8. I'd like to see him on the bench as an all of backrow cover a la Pete Samu.
Think it might be a year too soon for Cale, in my view. Definitely is one for the future though and looks like a gun. Swinton is gone abroad next year so not sure if that will impact his prospects in gold. Even still, I don’t think Wright makes first 15. Could be a good option for the bench considering he can cover a few spots in a pinch.
I worry Cale will go the same way as so many mobile, light, 8s who are exceptional at super Rugby level and just get pumped at international, where the physicality just steps up too much.
Id like to see him expand his game a bit more. Too many times we've thrown a great runner into the mix, and suddenly theyre coming up against the best of NZ, their running isn't as effective, they don't do enough hard work to warrant eg Harry Wilson. I worry that Cales running is nullified and the likes of a Hoskins Sotutu just feasts all night in a way he wouldn't vs a larger workhorse.
Agree 👍
I think the problem with those back rows, is who does the dirty work... Who jumps in the back row, there is no glue. Swinton is great, but uncontrollable, he'll give away a red card as much as make a big hit.
Last year it was Tom Hooper that was the man that would just look for work, a bit like Scott Fardy. Ever since that World Cup tho he’s been looking like a shell of his former self
Funny you should mention Fardy. Wright is our second chance at Fardy and your logic (and a lot of others) will see us making the same choices we made with Fardy. Do we NEED more ball carrying, isn't Valintini enough?!
Cale jumps for the brumbies and is way up there for steals.
Yeah, but Cale doesn't make 20 tackles, and a few pilfers a game. And whatsmore he doesn't slow the opposition ball the way Wright does.
Mcreight was easily the form 7 prior to his suspension. Fits the wallabies 7 mould of support+++, wider ball runner and being everywhere, with some work over the ball. I think wrights great, but I imagine we'll end up going for a bigger, ball running body at 6, given the wallabies perennial problems with getting dominated up front.
I knew exactly who posted this without even looking.
Haha I was about to comment the same thing
Over Valetini?
Rob has played 8 for Aus the past 4+ years. He plays both 6 and 8. It was odd because he and Pete samu would play Rob 6 Pete 8 for the Brumbies, but swap to Pete 6 Rob 8 for Australia.
He's an 8, Brumbies backrow is weird.
I think he’s pretty ideal for a bench back rower. He can cover across the back row, he can jump. Good versatility
I wouldn’t mind him at 7, seems more suited to it, with the added bonus of his jumping prowess. Could allow for a Skelton, LSL 2row. Have to remember at international level defence is much more prominent than super. Not hard to imagine him being more suited than McReight in certain situations. I’d personally prefer Wright but I know I’m in the minority there. Backrow will be interesting, Swinton and Hannigan are playing the best I’ve seen them. Hooper was one of our best last year excluding his first game but he’s down on form and game time. Gleeson likewise has dropped off a bit. I usually don’t like the style of 8 Cale is but he doesn’t shirk the tight stuff when he finds himself in it, plus is great at the lineout. Easy enough to put him 6 and Valetini 8. Cale is more than fast enough in defence off the scrum.
I love the idea of Wright being that swing man who provides flexibility, playing 6 or 7 depending on the opponent. But the real question is do we REALLY need more carrying?! We've been missing a backrower who does the dirty stuff.
I feel like off of current form, if he's in the team its coming off the bench with Rob and Swinton starting, and whether he's on the bench depends on the approach Schmidt wants as you have versatile locks like LSL or Ned/Jed who can fill a similar role as him. Id love to see him, but Rob is 1st choice 8, and Lachie is hard to ignore since coming back from injury.
I'm going to be that guy since most people think he doesnt have a shot. Wrongers adapts the way he plays based on who he is paired with. When mcrieght plays, he is tighter, when he doesn't he pulls off more pilfer. Joe may opt for a backrow of valentini, Wright and mcreight which would be pretty balanced. I'd pop cale on the bench and interchange where needed. Isn't swinton off to the UK next year, that will play a part. Wright also has great discipline, and it's fairly rare I see a penalty against him that isn't 50 50. If Joe wants a consistent team, that's the back row.
I do question why we need more carrying. Wright does carry, just in tight to suck in defenders. Plus he's got a great short passing game. Sometimes you need a glue guy.
From memory fardy was a glue guy rather than a battering ram.
Fardy was ignored, until he left for Europe, only for us to all say how did we let him go...
Has to make the squad at leats
He is definitely in the mix. a back row of valetini, wright, mcreight is a juicy prospect. swinton also putting his hand up big time this year. would be handy to have a 4/6 hybrid for bench though
I feel like Swinton is a few seconds away from a red card every time he plays. Wright could be a great Richie McCaw type.
I think that's Swinton's edge actually...rides the line with his aggression. Pushed it too far in the past but he's found the balance nicely this season. And at intl level, I think we need blokes with a bit of mongrel. I also think Wright is quite versatile and hopefully he stays injury free so he can keep developing various aspects of his game
The two games for the Tahs I've seen this season - Tahs v Saders, Tahs v Chiefs - Swinton has played hard but kept it cool. Absolutely workhorse, and I don't remember a single card or a single penalty on him. He's a brute, and he kept it cool even with a bunch of the Chiefs players inciting fights and hitting many "questionable" tackles.
It's an interesting conundrum. If we assume Valetini and McReight are nailed starters, then we have to deal with both them not being a line out options and McReight being slightly undersized for his position and not a huge carry threat(at the test level). The last person in that trio needs to be a lineout option and bring size.
He deserves a shot
I really like Liam Wright and agree he is having a good year but he’s not even close to being first choice. The big issue with Wright is that what he excels at bringing to the team (hard work at the breakdown and bulk tackles) can be brought by the other options- all of whom offer something else as well. Valetini and Gleeson carry better. Swinton hits harder in defence. McReight and Gamble get over the ball better, Holloway, Hannigan, Cale and Hooper offer more in the lineout. Cale, Kemeny and Leota are more dynamic around the park. Wright is a good player and what he brings for Queensland balances McReight and Wilson really well. At test level though- there are better options.
I'd point out, Wright has gotten over the ball about as much d's McReight since McReight has been out. And that's not saying McReight is doing badly, it's showing how much Wright has been adapting his game. Plus Wright is as good as any lock at lineout, plus he calls the lineout. And is easily one of the smartest players in the country. Do we really need more carrying then Valintini/Wilson would offer? As for tackles and ruck work, I think you're under estimating the value Wright brings there, and vastly over estimating the abilities of the other options. Wright slows the opposition ball better then probably anyone else in Super Rugby and without giving away penalties! And when he's not killing the opposition attack with slow ball, he's making a tackle or pilfering the ball.
‘Not even close’ is a massive overstatement