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Lack of pace out wide the only concern for Wallabies fans

Reece Hodge. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Michael Cheika has named his first Wallabies side of the year, as they take on the Springboks in Johannesburg this weekend. 

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By and large the squad is as strong as the Wallabies can field with the injuries that they have, and fans on social media seem fairly upbeat. 

After a monumental season with the Reds, Samu Kerevi starts at 12 in a powerful centre partnership with Tevita Kurindrani, which is exciting a number of fans. 

Isi Naisarani has been rewarded for his good form with the Rebels this season with his first cap, as has the Brumbies’ Tom Banks, who will earn his fourth cap full-back, with Kurtley Beale on the bench. 

However, the one concern that many fans have is the apparent lack of pace out wide, with Reece Hodge and Dane Haylett-Petty on the wings. 

(Continue reading below…)

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Not only did both players’ form drop towards the back end of the Super Rugby season for the Rebels, but they are not necessarily in their strongest position. 

While both have played on the wing before at international level, Haylett-Petty is perhaps better suited to full-back, as he is dependable under the high ball and positionally astute. 

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His rugby brain and skill set compensate for his lack of pace, which means he is still capable of playing on the wing, but does not pose as much danger as a player like Marika Koroibete (who has flown home after the birth of his child). 

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Likewise, Hodge offers a huge amount to the team, particularly his cannon-like boot, but his running lines perhaps suit that of a centre. While he will still do a good job on the wing, it possibly prevents him from showcasing his true potential. 

Lining up against South Africa’s S’bu Nkosi and Makazole Mapimpi, this lack of pace out wide may be exposed. But there is no denying that Hodge and Haylett-Petty both have their own strengths as well. This is what has been said: 

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Rassie Erasmus has fielded a weakened Springboks side, meaning the Wallabies stand a good chance of winning their first match at Ellis Park for 56 years. 

Despite the few concerns from the fans, this is a strong side, which will provide a stern contest for South Africa. 

WATCH: Episode three of the RugbyPass Rugby Explorer series where Jim Hamilton takes a trek through South African rugby

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Tom 6 hours ago
Will Bristol's daredevil 'Bears-ball' deliver the trophy they crave?

Also a Bristol fan and echo your sentiments.


I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.


I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.


Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.


“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”

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