France vs Australie (Paris)

[Joker's Wild]

:lol: If you say so...

Yeah I do dickface

I noticed you offered nothing to prove me wrong though..hmmmm

 

[simmo1]

Yeah I do dickface

I noticed you offered nothing to prove me wrong though..hmmmm

lol, you offered nothing to begin with...

But we can start with him being a ball hog and not passing to unmarked players and go from there...

 

[Joker's Wild]

lol, you offered nothing to begin with...

But we can start with him being a ball hog and not passing to unmarked players and go from there...

I assume you're refering to the hospital pass that he didn't throw to Brett Morris in the 1st half

Yeah, as I thought, you have nothing

 

[mxlegend99]

Exactly why Hodges will be picked. Same as in Origin, Jennings was found out a bit defensively!

The only problem with that reasoning is that Justin Hodges is a terrible defender. He has only made 18 tackles in his first 2 games, but somehow managed to miss 7. :sarcasm:

When he came out and bagged Michael Jennings for his defence before Origin 1 someone came out with statistics that showed that Jennings was a better defender and that Hodges was infact among the worst defensive centres in the competition. If you need video evidence just go and watch the Raiders Under 20's players carving him up. :lol: If he is picked for defence that will be even worse then having Kurt Gidley in the side for his "utility" value.

 

[lockyno1]

The only problem with that reasoning is that Justin Hodges is a terrible defender. He has only made 18 tackles in his first 2 games, but somehow managed to miss 7. :sarcasm:

When he came out and bagged Michael Jennings for his defence before Origin 1 someone came out with statistics that showed that Jennings was a better defender and that Hodges was infact among the worst defensive centres in the competition. If you need video evidence just go and watch the Raiders Under 20's players carving him up. :lol: If he is picked for defence that will be even worse then having Kurt Gidley in the side for his "utility" value.

Hodges will be picked for many reasons, defence is one- he is a bigger body for starters. Then he has combinations with his QLD teammates, and they won't stuff that up. There is a reason they gave him, Inglis and Slater a rest- tehy are all certainties to play. When the heat is on, Hodges is more likely to produce. Did Jennings produce when the heat was on in Origin? Nope. One for the future definately, but Hodges is well ahead of Jennings this year.

 

[Noa]

Surely people arent suggesting Hodges should make way for Jennings.

At this stage of there career's Hodgo is twice the player Jennings.

BTW I thought Hayne was going to shine now he didnt have Hodges inside him sucking away all his brilliance.

 

[Mr Angry]

Well my team would be the same as it was against the English except the bench.

I reckon Tim will be the same.

White
Shillington
Lewis
Cronk

 

[mxlegend99]

Hodges will be picked for many reasons, defence is one- he is a bigger body for starters. Then he has combinations with his QLD teammates,

You mean like his combination with Darren Lockyer that has resulted in him scoring no tries and setting none up at all? Meanwhile Michael Jennings has linked up with Darren Lockyer to score 2 tries in his first game with Lockyer.

That combination has been absolutely invaluable for Australia. :roll:

There is a reason they gave him, Inglis and Slater a rest- tehy are all certainties to play.

Inglis and Slater are certainties... they've atleast done something for Australia. What has Hodges done to be a certainty? He has done absolutely nothing at all.

When the heat is on, Hodges is more likely to produce.

Yet he hasn't produced anything in the 2 games he has played. Michael Jennings has produced a hat trick and set up a try in one game.

Did Jennings produce when the heat was on in Origin? Nope.

He rarely saw the ball and was injured for the majority of his playing time. Despite that he was still solid and always looking dangerous. He didn't do anything bad when the heat was on either... which is enough for that to be a good debut.

One for the future definately, but Hodges is well ahead of Jennings this year.

He might be ahead in the selectors minds, but he hasn't done a fraction of what Michael Jennings has done this season. Last night Michael Jennings scored as many tries as Justin Hodges did in his entire season in the NRL.

 

[lockyno1]

Agreed Angry

 

[Mr Angry]

don't feed to the troll mx.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't know how locky is trolling.

 

[mxlegend99]

don't feed to the troll mx.

Pretty sure he was being serious.

At any rate it's hard to believe that anyone could seriously suggest that Justin Hodges has been anywhere near the form that earned him rep jumpers in the past.

He has been average for most of the season and like so many players in the past has only received jerseys off his reputation. At his peak he was without doubt the best centre in the game. Currently Greg Inglis is the only player capable of rivalling Justin Hodges at his peak... but on his 2009 performances there are numerous centres who could do a far better job then Justin Hodges has done.

He's certainly not past his best. He has just been in average form and really doesn't deserve his spot in the Australian side. Despite being a natural right hand centre, having a combination with Lockyer, Thurston etc. and getting the most ball against the Poms, he was still completely ineffective. It had nothing to do with the opposition because when he's in form the only centre with a chance at stopping him is Matt Cooper.

 

[ByRd]

I assume you're refering to the hospital pass that he didn't throw to Brett Morris in the 1st half

Yeah, as I thought, you have nothing

Hospital pass??? ummm what about the time where we had a 3 on 1 and he had an unmarked Josh Morris outside him and Gidley held the ball and went for it himself and ended up short, the guy is a good NRL player but a rep player he aint

 

[Big Pete]

I suggest you actually watch some Broncos games mx, towards the back end of the year Hodges was definately one of our better players.

Jennings made a good debut, but it was France. End of.

 

[Mr Angry]

Pretty sure he was being serious.

No question.

Jenning just ain't good looking enough.

 

[Pierced Soul]

Apparently it has... Justin Hodges just didn't do anything when he got the ball. Despite being a specialist right centre:


Michael Jennings didn't see much ball and was still able to look dangerous when he did. Despite being on the wrong side of the field and never having played with most of the team before... he linked up beautifully with Darren Lockyer just as Greg Inglis did last week. Why can't Hodges do that?

stats without context are useless. a LOT of hodges touches came from dummy half -hardly an opportunity to do anything or set anyone up. I think you'll find most of haynes touches have been the same.

against france australia actually played towards jennings side of the field and made plays fro him to use his speed, these shifts havent been used in the first two games. likewise hayne still struggled to get involved despite the ball being used a bit more. the right side attack has struggled and quite simply its been because no quality ball is getting out there

 

[jim_57]

With Toulouse in ESL it'll mean more Boscs and Duports and less Greenshields and Bentleys...

... and while we're at it we'll get less Civoniceva's in the Australian team!

FFS the Bentleys have been in France since they were young kids and grew up playing French RL! I know there is merit in getting as many French born and bred players as possible but including the Bentleys in that is pedantic. TBH I'm a big supporter of the French game and I can't say it bothers me if they have two or three "un-french" names. Shead and Wynne probably wouldn't be there if they were at full strength.

 

[watatank]

Shead and Wynne probably wouldn't be there if they were at full strength.

No, but Mogg and McGuire would be :lol:

 

[Coastbloke]

... and while we're at it we'll get less Civoniceva's in the Australian team!

FFS the Bentleys have been in France since they were young kids and grew up playing French RL! I know there is merit in getting as many French born and bred players as possible but including the Bentleys in that is pedantic. TBH I'm a big supporter of the French game and I can't say it bothers me if they have two or three "un-french" names. Shead and Wynne probably wouldn't be there if they were at full strength.

It bothers me in that the media don't clearly state the above and infer that yet again there is a International League team with Australians and NZers..

You may have a point with the Bentleys, but sorry bud, it's the perception that the media kicks on with and I'm jack of it..

Greenshields and Wynne should never be there and Mcguire and Mogg either if they had turned up...

In all the media publicity for this game, they all concentrated on Greenshields..Not Bosc..Not Duport..Not Raguiin or Ferriol or Elima..

That's bullsh!t..

 

[LeagueXIII]

Agree with you totally, the media always highlight the negatives it is so predictable.

People expected a full house after the team was beaten 62-12? If France start winning then we will see full houses, this is the beginning of the climb back for the French.

We should be highlighting the fact the tests were played in Toulouse (crowd was 15,000 if you include the freebees) and Paris. I can recall not long ago tests being played in front of 4-5,000 in Avignon and Carcassonne. There is talk of a Paris team coming into SL in 2015. This is all fantastic news for the game.

Compare the French performance to that of Italy in the 6nations when they started.

The key now is to consolidate on this and build so the team is competitive and when they play NZ in Toulouse in 2018 (or whenever) it is a tough contest for the full 80mins, the media will get on board then we will see a large crowd in Paris for a match against the Australians.