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So what did we make of Feliti Kaitu'u's 17 minute Test debut? His lineouts were accurate, good work rate in general and part of that very vital scrum penalty near the end. Fainga'a was below his best after an early injury and his discipline was poor many times before he copped a yellow. IMO Feliti has mounted a pretty strong case more opportunities.
Very solid debut for Feleti, especially given the high pressure circumstances he came into. All his throws were solid (although to the front from memory, and not contested by SA, so not the most difficult), instrumental in the last 2 big scrums where the wallabies should've won penalties IMO and some very good involvements around the park including an instrumental role in holding up one of their mauls. Don't think you could ask for much more from him really
I imagine BPA will likely come back in for the next came and be starting and Feleti will be retained on the bench. Hopefully Rennie will give him a good 30 minutes now that he's shown he should be up for this level. With a few more performances like that, he'll be in the box seat for the number 2 jersey when BPA heads offshore, as all of the other options haven't put in strong showings....except for Uelese, who was dropped out of the squad for who knows what reason.
Would be fantastic to see a reserve Front Row of Robertson, Kaitu'u, Holmes this year.
The good news is that you will see that front row playing for the Force in a few months time,Quote:
Originally Posted by Transiting
I thought Feleti did well, no glaring errors, which certainly means he should be in the hunt. BPA would likely resume his starting role, but I can't see any reason why Feleti wouldn't return to the bench.
I am completely bemused as to why Robbo is being snubbed. I don't think any of the looseheads in the squad are really doing the job at scrum time and there's only so long you can eat scrum weakness in favour of on-field dynamism, especially since that dynamism isn't really being produced.
Wallabies team to play South Africa at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Saturday 18 September, 5:05pm AEST
1. James Slipper (107 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (18 Tests)
3. Taniela Tupou (32Tests)
4. Izack Rodda (27 Tests)
5. Matt Philip (16 Tests)
6. Lachlan Swinton (5 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (112 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (11 Tests)
9. Nic White (40 Tests)
10. Quade Cooper (71 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (40 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (35 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (6 Tests)
14. Andrew Kellaway (6 Tests)
15. Tom Banks (18 Tests)
Replacements
16. Feleti Kaitu’u (1 Test)
17. Angus Bell (9 Tests)
18. Tom Robertson (24 Tests)
19. Darcy Swain (6 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (12 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (9 Tests)
22. Reece Hodge (50 Tests)
23. Jordan Petaia (11 Tests)
Stoked for Tom as he has put in the hard yards this year, and again good having Feleti and Izaak in
Echo taz's post
Now is the time for Robbo to prove his worth, hell likely only get one, unlike boneheads faingaa and Swinton
I will be watching this one with interest
watching a Wallabies Test???Quote:
Originally Posted by GIGS20
You have changed man.
I haven't changed, the wallabies have changedQuote:
Originally Posted by .X.
Hate to say it, but that is not a bench that gives me confidence in winning scrums. They'd be great at multiple phase attack, which would tire the lumbering Bok forwards, but they are a little on the lean side. From the get got, I reckon we'd want to risk moving the ball a phase or two on some preplanned moves (to ensure effective clean-out) before we go to the box kick and hope we can round around them at the 60 minute mark. That multi phase attack that died with Hodge is the kind I'm thinking of. Only, you know, where we actually score a try.
I was a big fan of Hodge - and on numerous occasions, I thought he was the answer to our problem at 10.
However, last weekend changed that. With the last penalty of the match - It looked like Hooper wanted Hodge to take the kick for the Wallabies to win the game. Hodge literally ran away.
Winners want the ball.
Winners want to take that kick.
Hodge didn't.
He and Banks are a waste of space in the current Wallabies line-up.
I'd drop Hodge purely because of that hopeless mid field bomb before the last penalty. It was the kind of kick you'd expect from a bald person.
Interesting that Robbo has been listed as the reserve tighthead. Believe he started his career there, but he's primarily been a loosehead for quite a while now. Somewhat surprising that Holmes didn't get that spot instead.
Hope Tom hasn't been set up to fail here, and then won't get another chance for a long time....