2021 Wallabies
-
A few days ago, Antoine Dupont was named best player of the Top 14. Do you know who came second ? Will Skelton. He's been outstanding for La Rochelle. He and Rory Arnold were the best locks in the Top 14 in 2020. Both are much better than Philipp, Swain and Rodda.
-
@machpants said in 2021 Wallabies:
@tordah said in 2021 Wallabies:
Anyone know whether Skelton has improved up north? Last I remember was he was a useless lump of meat at the Waratahs, who couldn't utilise his large frame effectively.
Fucking massively. One of the best players in English Premiership
Much better once he lost two stone.
-
@tordah I think it's harsh to suggest he was a 'useless lump' before he left. He was a fairly important part of the title winning Waratah's side.
He struggled with mental health issues and moving to a more disciplined environment at Saracens apparently helped him sort his fitness out, become more effective in the lineout and reach another level.
He's since won a bunch of titles with Saracens and was a runner up in both France and Europe with La Rochelle.
-
-
@nta said in 2021 Wallabies:
@derpus said in 2021 Wallabies:
He struggled with mental health issues and moving
to a more disciplined environmentaway from KFCFixed.
I could be wildly wrong, but it seemed the Tahs were enamoured of his size and perhaps there wasn't the emphasis to get slimmer to be more mobile and have more involvements. 140kg is a hell of a lot to cart around a professional football field.
-
@antipodean said in 2021 Wallabies:
@nta said in 2021 Wallabies:
@derpus said in 2021 Wallabies:
He struggled with mental health issues and moving
to a more disciplined environmentaway from KFCFixed.
I could be wildly wrong, but it seemed the Tahs were enamoured of his size and perhaps there wasn't the emphasis to get slimmer to be more mobile and have more involvements. 140kg is a hell of a lot to cart around a professional football field.
I don't think you're wrong at all, but reckon it extends further: the Tahs were enamoured of not trying to actually achieve anything that couldn't be achieved by just sitting on their arses hoping everything would work out.
-
Plenty of players have been good/average in NZ environment to smashing out very successful careers in the NH where the approach is different. Skelton just another in a long line really.
A player like that was always going to need to be managed carefully to get the best out. Doesn't mean the NH system is better/worse, just that they are better suited to getting the best out of somebody like him.
-
@nta said in 2021 Wallabies:
@derpus said in 2021 Wallabies:
He struggled with mental health issues and moving
to a more disciplined environmentaway from KFCFixed.
You’re such a fat shamer.
….and that’s why I liked your post.
-
@nta said in 2021 Wallabies:
@antipodean said in 2021 Wallabies:
@nta said in 2021 Wallabies:
@derpus said in 2021 Wallabies:
He struggled with mental health issues and moving
to a more disciplined environmentaway from KFCFixed.
I could be wildly wrong, but it seemed the Tahs were enamoured of his size and perhaps there wasn't the emphasis to get slimmer to be more mobile and have more involvements. 140kg is a hell of a lot to cart around a professional football field.
I don't think you're wrong at all, but reckon it extends further: the Tahs were enamoured of not trying to actually achieve anything that couldn't be achieved by just sitting on their arses hoping everything would work out.
Well that would explain Sydney city planning...
-
It'd be good to see such innovations/targeted tactics that work from our stale coaching set up...
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/10/20/how-dave-rennies-wallabies-are-pushing-the-limits-in-contact/
-
@machpants said in 2021 Wallabies:
It'd be good to see such innovations/targeted tactics that work from our stale coaching set up...
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/10/20/how-dave-rennies-wallabies-are-pushing-the-limits-in-contact/
Good article but Rennie's 'innovations' only last as long as a complaint from a whinging team to WR (eg England after the Italy game.
It is quite obvious that the tactic of players in front of the ball at the ruck then moving forward and creating a split in the defence is only working because refs aren't looking for it. Those players are offside when the halfback plays the ball and should not move forward until placed onside.
The other good coaching at the breakdown shown is good coaching.
-
@crucial said in 2021 Wallabies:
@machpants said in 2021 Wallabies:
It'd be good to see such innovations/targeted tactics that work from our stale coaching set up...
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/10/20/how-dave-rennies-wallabies-are-pushing-the-limits-in-contact/
Good article but Rennie's 'innovations' only last as long as a complaint from a whinging team to WR (eg England after the Italy game.
It is quite obvious that the tactic of players in front of the ball at the ruck then moving forward and creating a split in the defence is only working because refs aren't looking for it. Those players are offside when the halfback plays the ball and should not move forward until placed onside.
The other good coaching at the breakdown shown is good coaching.
Totally ‘pushing the boundaries’ that’s how you win, it’s smart. If they got caught doing it and how the players react, maybe we’ll never know, then we see how smart the players are!
-
@machpants said in 2021 Wallabies:
@crucial said in 2021 Wallabies:
@machpants said in 2021 Wallabies:
It'd be good to see such innovations/targeted tactics that work from our stale coaching set up...
https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/10/20/how-dave-rennies-wallabies-are-pushing-the-limits-in-contact/
Good article but Rennie's 'innovations' only last as long as a complaint from a whinging team to WR (eg England after the Italy game.
It is quite obvious that the tactic of players in front of the ball at the ruck then moving forward and creating a split in the defence is only working because refs aren't looking for it. Those players are offside when the halfback plays the ball and should not move forward until placed onside.
The other good coaching at the breakdown shown is good coaching.
Totally ‘pushing the boundaries’ that’s how you win, it’s smart. If they got caught doing it and how the players react, maybe we’ll never know, then we see how smart the players are!
The trick is to start these boundary pushes closer to a RWC so the refs dont get instructions to stamp on it or law clarifications can't be put in place. That's the type of thing Eddie does.
Look at how long he got away with working outside 'the spirit of the game' with Itoje and co yelling and screaming over lineout calls. Only took a directive and refs to tell a few players to shut up and it went away.I agree with the article by the way. Rennie does focus on the breakdown as a place to build a good game. Something we could learn from at times.
EDIT: BTW the Saffas learned from Rennie's ploy of breakdown players in front of the halfback not being noticed by the refs. In the first test against us they used it to get a head start on the kick chase to get numbers into the landing zone.
-
@crucial said in 2021 Wallabies:
The trick is to start these boundary pushes closer to a RWC so the refs dont get instructions to stamp on it or law clarifications can't be put in place. That's the type of thing Eddie does.
On the other hand if it is very close, you might get a snap decision that fucks up the whole event e.g. red cards for lifting tackles in 2011 weren't necessarily bad, but they were a shock to the system.
-
@crucial That tactic would be an incredibly hard thing to referee effectively though. It's one thing to identify the tactic, it's another to work out when it is being put in use. A refs eyeline will follow the ball from the ruck, looking at the offside line, high tackles etc. If there is an inside ball or a runner around the ruck it would be difficult to determine what is obstruction and what is just general play.
It's similar to the tactic used by many teams (especially the ABs) using a line of forward blockers in front of the backline.
It's relatively easy to police via video but almost impossible in real time. Take the Izack Rodda cleanout used in that example - if Banks had cut through and scored it may have been brought back by the TMO. But I could never see a ref pinging that. The only times they do is when it is especially obvious, taking players 2-3m beyond the ruck.
