Wallabies 2023

[Misunderstood fan]

Wowsers. Not completely surprised but Vunivalu???? Tate needs a gee up. All the carry on about Wilson is overrated. I don’t like him as a player and others selected are far in front. Donaldson over JOC (James O'Connor) is strange and maybe another gee up. Good on Flook. Carter Gordon and Jorgensen.

 

[Doritos Day]

Wilson just needs to get faster and stronger, start blowing players away in attack and defense, until that happens I don’t think he will play another test. Work rate is an expectation rather than a quality.

Great comment and agree. There were some stats posted a few pages back in his favor but just watching games I don't think he's looked consistently threatening like Gleeson and Valetini have

He can be good but ultimately that means nothing if your competition has been great.

 

[Rugbyman2023]

There is some surprises but then again if you look back at Eddie in his England time, he consistently favoured players that win contact. Always got the impression that he wanted players that he can dictate how the game is going to be played instead of players that negate other teams strengths.

Tate is the only surprise omission for me, but if this a replica of a WC squad then even that doesn’t surprise me. He’s such a brilliant player but his core passing and kicking is close to the worst of all Super Rugby no.9s. But he’s just soon good at the rest that he makes it work. Wilson just needs to get faster and stronger, start blowing players away in attack and defense, until that happens I don’t think he will play another test. Work rate is an expectation rather than a quality.

Uelese maybe the luckiest man in the squad but he’s the only one that could be world class based on attributes but his application is ordinary. Maybe Eddie thinks he can get that out of him.

Yes Eddie did mention with 60% of super rugby being pasifika / islander instead of working with the running game use the players and overpower teams, potentially why smaller wingers like Toole and muirhead were not conserved compared to Marika, suli, Mark N (Nawaqanitawase), and bigger bodies like kellaway and Wright then the brumbies wingers

only issue for Wilson is I don’t think you can coach they, I think he is like the old school 8, tough and ruggered with big work rate but like you mentioned compared to valetini and Gleeson does not shift bodies and have footwork in contact - makes him an easy target to hit

come to say it now Noah as well, just a solid 10 and not a game breaker so potentially looking elsewhere

hooker is the worry with no stand out, I was hoping latu was going to be the saving grace but he has not done a lot, uelese I have always thought had huge potential so hopefully he can stay fit and we can see it

I still think this squad has several top players in the world in positions including Tupou, valetini, hooper, Quade, kerevi and marika

 

[KOB1987]

not quite, there was a press release (the rebels shared it) with

Wallabies Camp
Rehab Group : Bell. TT. Leota
Overseas Players
Not considered due to inj : FF (Folau Fainga'a) (Folau Fainga'a), Tom Lynagh, Mafi, Paisami, Philip, Rodda

That’s what I was referring to?

 

[Rugbyman2023]

That’s what I was referring to?

Yes I think these 3 players are certainties providing they are injury free hence why they are included, the other 6 or 7 are potential but not certain and will need game time to prove a spot

 

[KOB1987]

Yes I think these 3 players are certainties providing they are injury free hence why they are included, the other 6 or 7 are potential but not certain and will need game time to prove a spot

That was my read on it as well

 

[footy1>31]

throw the cash at matt burton. only players in aus that could hit that fg are him and cleary. maybe adam ashley cooper in his prime v the reds.

 

[qwerty51]

So I wonder if this was real or not?

Lots of names there in the squad but Lolesio gone from #10 to nada.

 

[Ignoto]

There is some surprises but then again if you look back at Eddie in his England time, he consistently favoured players that win contact. Always got the impression that he wanted players that he can dictate how the game is going to be played instead of players that negate other teams strengths.

Ah yes, I forgot that Lachy Lonergan, Ned Hanigan and Neville are known for winning the contact battle!

 

[qwerty51]

it is Richie.

There was no typo with the 2.08m Arnold brothers, with Jones saying he’d picked Richie after being impressed with his form for Toulouse in France’s Top 14. Richie, 32, played 17 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies and the Force before moving north in 2018. The more high-profile twin, Rory Arnold, was overlooked after electing to stay with Japanese club Hino Red Dolphins, even with the club withdrawing from the Top League over a bar scandal.

“I think he is working on the factory line at Hino, isn’t he?” Jones said. “He is making those trucks. Because he is not playing rugby at the moment. To get selected you have to play rugby. We don’t pick blokes who make Hino trucks.”

Jones, who called for Australian players in most of Australia’s underperforming Super Rugby sides to lift their game, said he’d spoken to about 15 players left out and told them what they had to do to force their way in.

 

[griffins]

Ah yes, I forgot that Lachy Lonergan, Ned Hanigan and Neville are known for winning the contact battle!

Lonergan wins plenty of contacts on the back of fast feet and explosive (for a hooker) pace. Also very handy over the ball. Set piece a big concern though.

 

[qwerty51]

Well then. looks like BPA has just done his ACL against Exeter

 

[Derpus]

Well then. looks like BPA has just done his ACL against Exeter

Shame for the bloke. Always rated him our best hooker in recent years. Probably put in the best couple of performances since Moore/TPN.

 

[Fireworks]

Wilson deciding to go to France must be almost a certainty now.

 

[Slim 293]

Eddie on Uelese:

Off-field issues as much as on-field struggles are as much to blame as anything for not playing since 2021.

...

“Last time he was in the Wallabies he got into a bit of strife which is one of the reasons he hasn’t featured for a while.

“So we’re going to give him the opportunity to show he’s grown up a bit. He’s certainly got all the attributes.”

Wallabies winners and losers: Eddie has gone away from Rennie's 'form' principle and backed his eye

Thirty-three players have been given an opportunity to pump up their tyres at this month’s Wallabies training camp. Now those players must ensure they…

www.theroar.com.au

I can't say I recall him getting into any trouble back then?

 

[cyclopath]

Ah yes, I forgot that Lachy Lonergan, Ned Hanigan and Neville are known for winning the contact battle!

True, but I doubt Eddie's template is as one-dimensional as was stated in the previous post. Hanigan, as an example, has certainly bulked up and is showing more effect on attacking and defensive contact, but he'll always be more workhorse than battering-ram. I'd say the other 2 mentioned have pretty good work-rates too. The loss of Bell and Tupou hurts the impact numbers somewhat. Makes Kerevi even more key, if that's possible.

 

[Derpus]

Wilson deciding to go to France must be almost a certainty now.

Be a real shame if he goes this early in his career. He's only 23 and has 12 caps. Does he only want to stay if he's first choice 8? Because with guys like Gleeson and Valetini around it's hard to see him being the first picked.

 

[eastman]

He's also only played 1 position for the last 3 years, Hodge has played 10-15 including beating the ab's at 10. He is the perfect 23 can slot in any where with out a re shuffle at all & sides around the half way mark have to play ultra defensively because of his range. Our game name is a true 23 person sport especially at test level, just look at the boks at the last rwc

Don’t start this shit again.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Be a real shame if he goes this early in his career. He's only 23 and has 12 caps. Does he only want to stay if he's first choice 8? Because with guys like Gleeson and Valetini around it's hard to see him being the first picked.

I agree
It would be a shame but I don’t really get his griping. He is 23 and an 8 which is a young age for a test 8 typically.
He seems to frankly be getting pretty consistent feedback from coaches to
Improve his footwork so maybe do that? France would be an unlikely place to improve that skillset I would suggest.

 

[KOB1987]

Wilson deciding to go to France must be almost a certainty now.

I think it would depend on what message Eddie has conveyed to him directly and how far off the squad he is - you would think he is literally one back row injury/suspension away.