Australia V France

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Wallabies plump for new halves combination for France Test Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio named to start in Brisbane. Australia to play France three times in 11 days

Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio will form a new Wallabies halves combination for the opening Test against France in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Gordon overcame a knee injury to win the battle with Tate McDermott to wear the vacant halfback jersey at Suncorp Stadium with regular starter Nic White sidelined.

With James O’Connor also injured, Brumbies young gun Lolesio gets his second start after making his Test debut at five-eighth last year against the All Blacks in an unhappy outing with the Wallabies pummelled 43-5.

Wallabies must heed Rennie’s call for ruthlessness in France Tests
While Queenslander McDermott impressed on home turf during the Super Rugby AU season, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie instead opted for the mature head of Gordon, who will turn 28 on game eve.
The NSW Waratahs captain injured his knee in the penultimate game of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, putting him in severe doubt for the three-Test France series. But the injury healed in time for him to earn his second Test start and sixth overall, after being in the XV to face Italy in Padua on Australia’s spring tour in 2018.

Veteran Matt Toomua will line up alongside 21-year-old Lolesio after recovering from a neck injury, joining Hunter Paisami in the centres. The front row sees Brumbies teammates James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa as the starting props, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa named at hooker.

Lock Matt Philip returns to the gold jersey after his stint playing in France and will partner Lukhan Salakaia-Loto while Brumbies bruiser Rob Valetini gets his first Test start at blindside flanker. Skipper Michael Hooper and No 8 Harry Wilson complete the backrow.

Rennie has named four potential Wallabies debutants on the bench in three Brumbies – hooker Lachlan Lonergan, lock Darcy Swain and centre Len Ikitau – and utility Rebels back Andrew Kellaway. Kellaway, 25, is the biggest surprise after only returning to Melbourne from Japan at the start of the trans-Tasman competition.

Rennie said the team had prepared well for the France series, which will be completed in just 11 days with the second Test in Melbourne on 13 July before the final Test in Brisbane again on 17 July.

“The whole squad has been training really hard over the past three weeks to prepare for what’s going to be an exciting, tough series against the French,” Rennie said. “We’ve always selected a side based on earning the right to wear the jersey and this team is no different.”

Wallabies: Tom Banks, Tom Wright, Hunter Paisami, Matt Toomua, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper (captain), Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper. Res: Lachlan Lonergan, Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Isi Naisarani, Tate McDermott, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway.

France
Newly promoted fullback Melvyn Jaminet is among seven uncapped players named by France head coach Fabien Galthie on Saturday to face Australia. Jaminet, 22, played an integral role in guiding Perpignan to promotion to the Top 14. Castres hooker Gaetan Barlot will also make his debut for Les Bleus on Wednesday in a team missing a host of first-choice players who played in last week's Top 14 final and would not have had time to complete Covid-19 quarantine after entering Australia.
Winger Damian Penaud, centre Arthur Vincent and stand-in captain Anthony Jelonch are amongst those from the last round of the Six Nations, a loss to Scotland in March. On the bench, forwards Anthony Etrillard, Quentin Walcker, Sipili Falatea and Florent Vanverberghe, as well as 30-year-old scrum-half Teddy Iribaren are poised to make their first international appearances.

“The players have everything to gain," French coach Fabien Galthié said.

"It is the opportunity for many to assert themselves, to reveal themselves, and to take a place in the XV of France two and a half years before the World Cup."

The 2023 Rugby World Cup hosts will complete the three-Test series against the Wallabies on July 13 and 17.

Next week's first Test was moved to Brisbane after Sydney was put into a two-week lockdown to contain an outbreak of the Covid-19 Delta variant.

FRANCE TEAM TO PLAY THE WALLABIES
FRANCE (15-1): Melvyn Jaminet; Damian Penaud, Arthur Vincent, Jonathan Danty, Gabin Villiere; Louis Carbonel, Baptiste Couilloud; Sekou Macalou, Anthony Jelonch (capt), Dylan Cretin; Romain Taofifenua, Killian Geraci; Demba Bamba, Gaetan Barlot, Jean-Baptiste Gros

Reserves: Anthony Etrillard, Quentin Walcker, Sipili Falatea, Florent Vanverberghe, Baptiste Pesenti, Cameron Woki, Teddy Iribaren, Anthony Bouthier

I'd have liked the citing officers to raise Jelonch's acting personally.

Soul Requiem wrote:

RDW wrote:I don't think it was even clear he made head contact in the first  place. And the  French player clearly dipped down just before contact so there is clear mitigation.

Such a poor decision.

If you're making direct contact to the head after a player dips down you're starting tackle height is too high and you're leaving yourself open for a red card, just start lower.

Not always that simple though, if you want to wrap the ball carrier ball and all the technique is different.

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

RDW wrote:I don't think it was even clear he made head contact in the first  place. And the  French player clearly dipped down just before contact so there is clear mitigation.

Such a poor decision.

If you're making direct contact to the head after a player dips down you're starting tackle height is too high and you're leaving yourself open for a red card, just start lower.

Not always that simple though, if you want to wrap the ball carrier ball and all the technique is different.

Then you run the risk of being carded, it really is that simple.

Soul Requiem wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

RDW wrote:I don't think it was even clear he made head contact in the first  place. And the  French player clearly dipped down just before contact so there is clear mitigation.

Such a poor decision.

If you're making direct contact to the head after a player dips down you're starting tackle height is too high and you're leaving yourself open for a red card, just start lower.

Not always that simple though, if you want to wrap the ball carrier ball and all the technique is different.

Then you run the risk of being carded, it really is that simple.

Yeah, but again, as shown in this example, referees net to catch a wake up, players trying to “buy” a red card must be shown up, players dipping into the tackler must be considered as extenuating circumstances

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/marika-koroibete-cleared-to-play-bledisloe-as-red-card-is-upheld-2021719

His ban has been struck off - the disciplinary committee deemed it to be shoulder contact so not worthy of a red.

I'm a bit surprised at that as all the direction now is to take a hard stance in these things. Which for me just reinforces that it wasn't a red card incident.

Although these committees aren't exactly renowned for their consistency...!

I think Koroibete got very lucky there. There might just about have been some initial shoulder to shoulder contact, but there was no way that the line he took was going to end in anything other than neck or head contact.

Have you seen the actual statements? Rather odd hearing.

Koroibete had accepted that he committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card but the 3 officers said it was shoulder to shoulder initially and neck contact was incidental.

Have to say that this isn't how head contact has been governed in the NH that I've seen.

Well, inconsistency is the name of the game.

However I have another opinion on this, the Aussies made one hell of a thing about this, so I suspect placating the Aussies could be part of the decision making process.

Reminds of Bruce Lawrence nailing the Aussies at the breakdown vs Ireland in the 2011 RWC, only to have him give them free reign in the QF, ARU threw up such a storm after the Ireland match, it influenced Bryce Lawrence

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

RDW wrote:I don't think it was even clear he made head contact in the first  place. And the  French player clearly dipped down just before contact so there is clear mitigation.

Such a poor decision.

If you're making direct contact to the head after a player dips down you're starting tackle height is too high and you're leaving yourself open for a red card, just start lower.

Not always that simple though, if you want to wrap the ball carrier ball and all the technique is different.

Then you run the risk of being carded, it really is that simple.

Yeah, but again, as shown in this example, referees net to catch a wake up, players trying to “buy” a red card must be shown up, players dipping into the tackler must be considered as extenuating circumstances

Dipping into the tackler is not an extenuating circumstance, it is on the tackler to ensure they don't go high. If after a dip they're making contact with the neck or head their starting position for the tackle is too high. I'd personally consider dipping and dropping into contact two different situations, with the latter allowing a degree of mitigation.

Soul Requiem wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

RDW wrote:I don't think it was even clear he made head contact in the first  place. And the  French player clearly dipped down just before contact so there is clear mitigation.

Such a poor decision.

If you're making direct contact to the head after a player dips down you're starting tackle height is too high and you're leaving yourself open for a red card, just start lower.

Not always that simple though, if you want to wrap the ball carrier ball and all the technique is different.

Then you run the risk of being carded, it really is that simple.

Yeah, but again, as shown in this example, referees net to catch a wake up, players trying to “buy” a red card must be shown up, players dipping into the tackler must be considered as extenuating circumstances

Dipping into the tackler is not an extenuating circumstance, it is on the tackler to ensure they don't go high. If after a dip they're making contact with the neck or head their starting position for the tackle is too high. I'd personally consider dipping and dropping into contact two different situations, with the latter allowing a degree of mitigation.

I will not accept that the tackler is the only one contributing to the contact.

Rugby is a contact sport. Contact cannot and should not be attributed to only the tackler

Soul Requiem wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

RDW wrote:I don't think it was even clear he made head contact in the first  place. And the  French player clearly dipped down just before contact so there is clear mitigation.

Such a poor decision.

If you're making direct contact to the head after a player dips down you're starting tackle height is too high and you're leaving yourself open for a red card, just start lower.

Not always that simple though, if you want to wrap the ball carrier ball and all the technique is different.

Then you run the risk of being carded, it really is that simple.

Yeah, but again, as shown in this example, referees net to catch a wake up, players trying to “buy” a red card must be shown up, players dipping into the tackler must be considered as extenuating circumstances

Dipping into the tackler is not an extenuating circumstance, it is on the tackler to ensure they don't go high. If after a dip they're making contact with the neck or head their starting position for the tackle is too high. I'd personally consider dipping and dropping into contact two different situations, with the latter allowing a degree of mitigation.

There is mitigation for dipping into the tackle but needs to be sudden and significant (https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugby/document/2021/03/10/e597c9c8-e852-4e19-875f-18e02e7f7e24/Head_Contact_Process_EN_v1.pdf)

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

RDW wrote:I don't think it was even clear he made head contact in the first  place. And the  French player clearly dipped down just before contact so there is clear mitigation.

Such a poor decision.

If you're making direct contact to the head after a player dips down you're starting tackle height is too high and you're leaving yourself open for a red card, just start lower.

Not always that simple though, if you want to wrap the ball carrier ball and all the technique is different.

Then you run the risk of being carded, it really is that simple.

Yeah, but again, as shown in this example, referees net to catch a wake up, players trying to “buy” a red card must be shown up, players dipping into the tackler must be considered as extenuating circumstances

Dipping into the tackler is not an extenuating circumstance, it is on the tackler to ensure they don't go high. If after a dip they're making contact with the neck or head their starting position for the tackle is too high. I'd personally consider dipping and dropping into contact two different situations, with the latter allowing a degree of mitigation.

There is mitigation for dipping into the tackle but needs to be sudden and significant (https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugby/document/2021/03/10/e597c9c8-e852-4e19-875f-18e02e7f7e24/Head_Contact_Process_EN_v1.pdf)

That's what I mean by the difference in dipping and dropping, in my view they purvey different situations.