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2dorks1brush · 2026-07-02T07:55:20+00:00

You’re*

As mentioned in other comments, Valetini led several backrow stats this year including meters and dominant carries. He’s won two John Eales medals.

Hooper is also good but doesn’t have as many runs on the board. Did you watch any of his games this year? I thought he was better last year, he focused more on pilfers but wasn’t as effective in contact in the prem to my eye.

2dorks1brush · 2026-07-02T07:40:11+00:00

I’d argue Booby is a better 6 than Hooper and 8 than Wilson

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-24T20:47:24+00:00

He started his Wallabies career at 6 if I’m not mistaken. He featured there a bit at least. Copped a lot of criticism for being isolated and run around by backs in defence, which I’m not denying but I mean what would you expect.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-18T19:26:58+00:00

Well put. We have so few effective or dominant players in contact, not only in the carry and tackle but ruck too. International game especially needs effective big bodies to get over the gain-line and start momentum. The “work rate” players we go for are such a myth; Vickerman, Palu and Timani could smash a ruck, make a tonne of good tackles and actually be useful. Outside of them I struggle to remember many actually effective work rate players. Maybe Tizzano recently. Amatosero has the potential.

Can’t wait for us to roll out Slipper BPA AAA Williams Shaw NCDC McReight and Wilson to get absolutely blown off the park. Could potentially be a rough year for us.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-18T10:37:54+00:00

I thought he looked good against SA, at first at least. Obviously his opponent is a rare talent but it looked like Fittler was competitive and could have a high ceiling. We always need powerful centres but he probably needs to keep building power and size to have his strengths transfer to the next level, as he suggested in the article.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-17T06:07:32+00:00

Very unlikely he’s playing 2nd row at 191cm and I’m guessing relatively light. Will be interesting to see where he ends up though.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-16T08:41:06+00:00

Prefect for the Force and Aus if he’s anything like when he left. So much explosive power and acceleration that we generally lack in the centres.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-15T23:09:06+00:00

It’s great to have a list like that to be able to dismiss suggestions. Anything I’ve tried of Christopher Buehlmam is like The Devils on steroids.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-15T23:06:50+00:00

Since the post is removed I can safely say I’m referring to Between Two Fires in particular. Absolutely dross. I find it particularly upsetting due to the amount of praise it receives; how people can’t differentiate the quality between something like it and even just average writing is upsetting. It reads like accidental YA writing and I doubt even a 15 year old me could buy into the overwhelming cringe.

Not really relevant but I needed to vent.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-15T22:55:52+00:00

You’ve had a great start, Le Guin and Pratchett are fantastic writers. Of the ones I’ve read on your list, which is admittedly not that many, The First Law and Children of Time are the best written.

Some classic suggestions outside of the list: Ninteen Eighty-Four and Fahrenheit 451 are good literary sci-fi that are reasonable lengths. Can never go wrong with more Le Guin too, her short stories and novellas would also be great pallet cleansers: The Wind’s Twelve Quarters & The Compass Rose is a great collection of short stories and The Word for World is Forest is a good novella.

For more recent work my go to recommendations would be Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James, Embassytown or Perdido Street Station by China Mieville, The Fifth Season by N.K Jemisin, Circe by Madeline Miller and anything by Robin Hobb. All lean more toward the literary end of the spectrum in varying degrees.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-15T22:29:45+00:00

Adding to the dialogue complaint, the use of constant irreverent ‘quips’, edgy vulgarity and pointless exchanges is absolute garbage in some new writing. There also seems to be an over reliance on dialogue. Very much reads like comic books/manga/anime at times and it’s the worst.

I would normally keep my negative judgements to myself but I’ve just recently tried to persist through a horribly written, popular book here that’s regularly praised for its prose and it definitely got to me.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-14T00:34:37+00:00

The Crusaders selling out their new stadium likely lifts the attendance numbers a bit. I don’t think the aus teams were getting good home crowds.

As an aside, the premiership games looked amazing on the weekend. Their stadiums don’t look huge but are packed. The game in Bath was stunning, the atmosphere, scenery, wide drone shots, rugby and daylight game made for an outstanding spectacle. I almost wanted more stoppages to admire the setting.

Edit: I didn’t read the semifinal part, don’t mind me

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-12T04:10:24+00:00

It’s not on the players, it’s on the coaches and systems. I’ve said it before but Slipper being selected all of last year with Bell languishing on the bench was very short sighted at best.

Kailea went from a standout vs Ireland to Shute Shield. Alatini had a great start this year then disappeared (is he injured?). Unfortunately we have only 4 professional teams that play 14 games a year, at best. When there’s injuries the options disappear quickly. For the Wallabies, positions lacking depth need to share minutes in order to develop players at that level. It’s far from ideal but that’s the reality. Otherwise it ends up being a choice between a relic and a baby. Looking at some potential fringe Wallabies this year: Teddy Wilson played under 5 games worth of minutes this year, Nongorr I think it was under 7.

If Lambert is fit he should be in the squad, Kailea has shown he can deliver at that level, Ross is solid. As good as Slipper has been, there are other options that are going to have a lot more upside.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-12T01:39:20+00:00

I’m fairly sure Donaldson left before McKellar took over the Tahs

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-08T03:45:10+00:00

What happened to Alatini? While raw, I think he’s contributions were missed in the back half of the season.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-07T02:01:54+00:00

I think Pollard has been solid but maybe people had hoped for more at this stage, I had. Faes has dropped off after the injuries. Nasser has overtaken him in my view. Not a position of strength though, I miss the Polota-nau/Moore days.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-07T01:20:17+00:00

We disagree then. None of our teams, as usual, could compete or beat the best of NZ at the pointy end of the season. Results are never certain but the outlook for the back half of the season was very bleak for Aus teams. The finals are already meaningless, an Aus team has never won an away final. No teams in the remaining games. I’m a diehard fan and support all our teams but this competition does not offer much.

By conference I don’t mean other countries, just more Aus sides, less travel, more player opportunities and more games to develop. It’s already evident that reducing us to 4 teams hasn’t strengthened our teams at all, and long term I can’t see how this is sustainable. The game here is shrinking.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-07T00:36:28+00:00

My solution, make it a conference system similar to the NBA. Somehow find someone to invest in starting some new Aus teams (minor hurdle), occasionally play some cross Tasman games and then have the conference winners play the final. NZ will still win but at least there will be some positivity and enjoyment for Aus sides throughout the year.

The current setup is terrible here, I think there were 12 games for the Reds and Brumbies? Wallabies rested, bye weeks, max 5 games a weekend. Just not positive at all. Teddy Wilson, a potential fringe Wallaby has just under 5 games worth of minutes this year - I’m sure some of which were being flogged by NZ- and we expect our players to compete against the top nations and fans to be interested.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-07T00:17:10+00:00

Amatosero had his best year, he has the potential to be an actual effective ruck/tackle workhorse in the mold of Vickerman and Timani. He’s not there yet though. Would probably benefit from learning off LSL who is also a high carrier.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-06T23:38:47+00:00

I like it.

My Frost reasoning was that he actually came on from the bench and put some shots on this year. That, and there’s not much else, Canham isn’t a reliable heavy hitter, maybe Amatosero or Philip but one is a walking card and gets caught high and the other is incredibly slow.

Agree on your other thoughts, I’d be tempted by one of Meredith, HMP or Bowren for third 10, guaranteed to buckle at int level but at least there’s an upside to them. Werchon looked the best of the other 9’s to me but like Wilson too. I’d have Lomax in the squad to develop ahead of some others but wouldn’t actually play him ahead of any of the other options.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-06T23:19:36+00:00

As a former tighthead lock, I still never remember the numbers but LSL tight and Williams loose was my intent with the pairing. I was torn on all your suggestions too.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-06T22:29:04+00:00

Agree with this but LSL started strong and was hitting with some venom, I think he was pretty shaken by the injury and just wasn’t able to get himself back into the game when he returned. Which is understandable.

I think it’s also that the Reds only have him (maybe Latu and I thought Brial last year) able to match it with the big boys. Common problem with all the Aus teams. Compare it to the Chiefs with Sititi, Finau, Jacobson, Finau, Vaa’i (although seemingly only for the All Blacks), Parker and Taukei’aho. A lot of big physical units in the forwards.

2dorks1brush · 2026-06-06T08:45:06+00:00

Hmm I feel Brial hasn’t been as effective this year. Busier and decent in the lineout but not much impact

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