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Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions

I hope the Aussies can use this tour, the RWC etc to really up the popularity and participation of the Sport and become a force again. There isn't much more of a helping hand that can be given.

I was thinking about this the other day is the Australia squad better or worse than it was 12 years ago. On the whole maybe slightly weaker but not by much? The bulk of that squad went on to a RWC final not long after.
Our best 23 is okay but our depth is paper thin.

Rugby has lost the private schools to AFL and club rugby to NRL. The cash will keep it limping along for another decade but the battle is lost.
 
Our best 23 is okay but our depth is paper thin.

Rugby has lost the private schools to AFL and club rugby to NRL. The cash will keep it limping along for another decade but the battle is lost.
That's the impression I get from up North sadly. I try to listen to almost couple of Australian based pod casts and recall the AFL and NRL having so much pull in the schools.

Its a gamble putting so much cash into getting players to go the other way from NRL like Sua'ali'i. Not sure if playing internationally is a good enough hook.
 
Our best 23 is okay but our depth is paper thin.

Rugby has lost the private schools to AFL and club rugby to NRL. The cash will keep it limping along for another decade but the battle is lost.
AFL seems too working class supported for private schools to really like it so I am surprised to hear that.
 

Probably deserved in the end, his stats are always incredible, what was it 18 tackles, 8 carries, leading forward carries, 3 turnovers 2 penalties won...

But had a handling error the useless tosser lol.

Unfortunately for Morgan, I think he's best of the rest for test 1, O Keefe doesn't like tackling, there wasnt 1 turnover against the force when he reffed, so I think Beirne or Chessumare in line for 6, and VDF 7.

Morgan might make the bench,l ahead of Curry I think
 
The brackets comments are paraphrasing the article view on test starting.
Daly - 7/10. (Starting place might depend on injury)
Freeman - 9/10 ( Still Strong)
Jones - 7/10 (Battle between him and Ringeoas
Aki - 7/10 (Possibly ahead of Tuipulotu)
van der Merwe - 6/10 (Slipping away)
Russell - 8/10 (Certain if fit)
Gibson-Park - 7/10 (High chance)
Porter - 6/10 (Behind Genge)
Kelleher - 6/10 (Battling Sheehan for a bench spot)
Stuart - 5/10 (Today didn't help)
Itoje - 9/10 (Certain)
Chessum - 6/10 (Declining)
Curry - 6/10 (Still a possibility)
Morgan - 9/10 (In the Conversation but faces tough competition)
Conan - 8/10 (Probable)
Replacements - 7/10 (Earl could benefit if it's a 6/2 spilt).
Kelleher battling Sheehan for the bench spot? They think LCD is a certain starter?
 
Just finished watching. Few notes.

No one stood out in the front row for me. Scrum was a mess, lineout was okay. Don't think anyone really helped their cause. Having said that, I still think Schoemann and Furlong are at the bottom of the pecking order. Sheehan still starting, Genge probably still ahead of Porter and I think Bealham edging it, but definitely 1 and 3 are up for grabs as is the bench hooker.

Itoje was fantastic, Chessum was disappointing overall. Not his best game. Ryan didn't do too when he came on, he definitely needs a performance when he starts. I'd say Itoje and McCarthy are starting at the moment with Chessum and Beirne fighting out for the 6/bench spot depending on what Farrell wants.

Morgan was very good, personally I felt Itoje was MoTM as he had a larger impact on the game, Morgan had a large tackle count, but for me many were supporting tackles rather than the primary tackler. However, Morgan definitely raised his chances. Curry was pretty anonymous and had a poor game. Conan was good without being exceptional. I think he's ahead of Earl, but still a question mark over 8 as well as the bench with Pollock. At the moment, based on performances I don't think anyone is certain to start and next three games will be critical.

JGP and Russell both had good games, they are pretty certain to start. Mitchell should definitely be ahead of White barring a shocker. I think Fin is still ahead of Marcus, but definitely the door is open. I also think if Daly is out then Marcus's versatility increases in value as being in the 23.

Centres are a mixed bag. All have had good moments and bad. Aki made some good runs late, but then was poor in the first half. Jones also played well later on and wasn't as impactful at the start. I get the idea of starting country combinations, but this is a tour and meant to be a mix of players. Personally at the moment I go Tuipolotu and Ringrose with Aki on the bench.

Freeman had a great game. Van der Merwe showed he's a one trick pony, albeit very good at that one trick. Daly had another solid game and if he's out then him and Williams are so unlucky as they would both probably be in the 23. Personally only Freeman is starting. If Kinghorn brings his form then he will too. The last wing spot is still up for grabs.
 
AFL seems too working class supported for private schools to really like it so I am surprised to hear that.

Depends what state you're in, but most states AFL is the main sport irrespective of whether the school is private or public.

We are losing a lot of good union players to league. Top high school graduates are being offered $30k to join a Super team as a fringe player or $300k to go and play league...

We just don't have the players. A few injuries and the Wallabies will be calling up Quade Cooper from Japan.
 
That's the impression I get from up North sadly. I try to listen to almost couple of Australian based pod casts and recall the AFL and NRL having so much pull in the schools.

Its a gamble putting so much cash into getting players to go the other way from NRL like Sua'ali'i. Not sure if playing internationally is a good enough hook.
I never realised how many NRL players were actually union players in school. I think it really comes down to money for a lot of players though. If you're a fringe Super player in AU, you'll be on as low as 40k UK pounds. The average Western Force player is on about 70k pounds. Not a lot in this financial climate. So unless you're a star league player I don't see how union can attract league players over especially if they're not going to walk straight in to a Super XV side.
 
Another match you can’t read much into. Inferior team huff and puff admirably before class and power inevitably take over.

I’ve often been more lukewarm on Itoje than most, but I thought he was our best player by a mile - I watched the game on fast forward so based on instinct not analysis only thought might be in the line outs - was he targeted and was too much ball called to him?

Morgan put his hand right up and Conan showed up OK.

Stuart just seemed to have one of those days where everything goes wrong - they happen. I still think that he’ll have the starting test shirt provided he can put that behind him and convince in his next outing.

I’ve also been more lukewarm on T Curry than most although have been very complimentary over the last year as I’ve thought he’s been excellent. Maybe he’s actually Welsh and shrinks at the sight of a red shirt or perhaps injury or fatigue are kicking in but this tour isn’t going his way. Having fought so hard to come back that’s disappointing.

In the backs we know who the first choice half backs will be and probably the wingers too. 15 will be for Kinghorn to lose and then it’s probably whether to go with the Irish or Scottish centres.
 

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