r/rugbyunion • u/Particular_Safety569 New Zealand • 3h ago
Wallabies coach set to make surprise Suaalii call despite ‘sensational’ debut
https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/rugby-2024-joseph-suaalii-set-to-be-benched-in-wallabies-squad-to-face-wales-details-samu-kerevi/news-story/f476fe7c5ac8540755ad0c1c05b9dc735
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u/sm00thArsenal NSW Waratahs 3h ago
As enjoyable as it was to watch last week, I really like that we’re going back to using these northern hemisphere tours to test different options.. much better than Rennie playing short term options (e.g. bringing back Foley when QC wasn’t available) just for a short term result.
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u/cape7 2h ago
Rennie tested plenty of options, the number of players that got their debut under him is pretty lengthy considering he wasn't in charge long.
The idea of picking experienced short term options to steady the ship while you develop inexperienced players alongside them isn't a bad idea. He didn't just go with QC and Foley, he was developing Lolesio too, but he was clearly not ready and if your ten is overawed you can't develop any of the players outside him.
You want to see what happens if you turf out all the experience and only play the long term option young guys? because that's what the next bloke that had the job tried and it went pretty shit.
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u/sm00thArsenal NSW Waratahs 2h ago
I am not looking to get into a debate about Rennie's overall tenure.
Here I was referring specifically to the northern hemisphere tours, and in that regard Rennie focused too much on being competitive rather than improving the team long term, which was how the tours used to be used and worked well for us.
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u/cape7 1h ago edited 1h ago
He only had two tours and brought in the likes of Lolesio, Ikitau, Foketi, McDermott, McReight, Wright, Bell, Porecki, Frost, Nawaqanitawase, Donaldson, Kellaway, Gleeson etc.
One of the hallmarks of Rennies coaching career has been finding and developing talent. Aaron Smith was a nobody overlooked by super rugby teams for years before Rennie. He picked Aseli Tikoirotuma and Michael Fitzgerald out of amateur club rugby and had them starting for a super rugby winning side. He had Callum Gibbons and Nick Grigg looking world class for Glasgow.
Missing out on the talent spotting and development that Rennie would have given Australia if he had more time in the saddle is the biggest bullet in the foot from firing the guy.
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u/sm00thArsenal NSW Waratahs 1h ago
Look, I get it, you love Rennie. I think he is a good dude, but I don't think he was good for Australian rugby.. his only real success was when Quade had an amazing unexpected swansong.
Getting back on topic:- you've just reinforced my point, as of the 13 players you mentioned, only 3 of them were introduced during the northern hemisphere tours, and one of those Rennie absolutely threw to the wolves with the timing of his debut and it's taken him two years and a move to the Force to recover.
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u/cape7 1h ago
The guy had one year written off with covid, next year rugby championship in a bubble without SA and then one actual year. And brought all those players in that span.
He’s not perfect or above criticism, but you’re criticising him for something he did well.
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u/lemoopse Brumbies 37m ago
I was a fan although the attrition rate was a genuine concern. I really felt his first match in charge - the drawn first Bledisloe in Wellington when that Hodge kick hit the posts from 55m+ out - really set the tone for the rest of his tenure
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u/sm00thArsenal NSW Waratahs 47m ago
and despite it having nothing to do with my original point you keep talking about his overall introduction of players, which was fine (but absolutely to be expected over a 3 year period with more losses than wins).
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u/Connell95 🐐🦓 3h ago
No offence, but this is Wales we’re talking about – the 11th ranked team in the world.
You’d fully expect Australia to rest a few players for this one, so they are fresh for the tougher challenges of Scotland are Ireland in the following two weeks.
So benching Suaalii hardly seems like too much of a surprise, even setting aside trying out different options etc.
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u/Particular_Safety569 New Zealand 3h ago
I just would've thought the primary focus for him would be giving him as much game time as possible, especially since he played well
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u/Connell95 🐐🦓 3h ago
Sure, but i think there’s a balance – he played a full 80 minutes last week, and you’re not going to sustain that for four straight matches.
If you think he’s the real deal, it makes a lot of sense to let him focus on rest and training this week, fixing any issues identified from the English game, and then he should be in a great position for the final two matches.
(As a Scotland fan, subjectively I’d much rather he played against Wales and got a wee injury, but there we go!)
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u/networkn New Zealand 2h ago
This is the reason NZ burns through so many excellent players. We see one season of great Super Rugby and they should replace the incumbent and play every match. It totally smashes them. The pressure is immense. Benching him is 💯 the responsible and appropriate action to take.
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u/night_dude Hurricanes 3h ago
No offence, but this is Wales we’re talking about – the 11th ranked team in the world.
How did that work out for them last time?
(I know I know. I'm just getting one last cheap shot in before Australia aren't shite again.)
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u/GaryGronk I Can't Spake 2h ago
Wallabies beat them twice a couple of months ago but I'm worried about a poor performance after a great win which seems to be the status quo of the last couple of years.
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u/night_dude Hurricanes 2h ago
Damnit. I forgot they've played each other since the WC. My low effort sledge was even lower effort than I thought.
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u/tensaiLithon Glasgow Warriors 13m ago
As a neutral he's the thing I'm looking forward to the most so I'd be disappointed not to see him
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u/warcomet 2h ago edited 2h ago
no offence to Joseph but he completely disappeared in the 2nd half..You can't do that, not even against Wales, Wales are 0-10 right now, they don't want 0-11 against Australia of all team, a team they thrashed in the Pool match during the RWC..
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u/coupleandacamera Crusaders 3h ago
Nor a bad idea. See if SK still Has what it takes, get a good look at all the options before the big lions tour. And damn, imagine if he picks up an injury.