Wallabies 2023

[TSR]

Here's my attempt at reading the tea-leaves and guessing what Eddie will name as the squad:

LHP: Bell, Slipper, Schoupp
HK: Porecki, Ulese, Faesslar
THP: Tupou, Fa'amausili, Nongorr
Lock: Arnold, Frost, Skelton, Phillip
Backrow: T Hooper, McReight, M Hooper, Holloway, Gleeson
Half Back: McDermott, White, Lonergan
Fly Half: Gordon, Cooper
Inside: Kerevi, Foketi
Outside: Ikitau, Perese
Wing: Koroibete, Nawaqanitwase, Vunivalu
Fullback: Kellaway, Petaia

I'd swap out Schoupp for Sio (or Gibbon), Nongorr for Talakai, Vunivalu for Wright, Samu for Gleeson and Holloway for Wilson.

I can see Eddie taking a risk and only taking two halfbacks. In which case Lonergan drops out and Donaldson (sigh) comes in as 'utility'.

I assume you left Rob Valetini out by mistake

 

[Eddie's Eyebrows]

Why are so many squad predictions including Vunivalau he's consistently not reached his potential and underperformed in the ample opportunities he's had. Well down in the pecking order.

Because they're exactly that, predictions.

Eddie has shown his hand with Suli....

 

[cyclopath]

I assume you left Rob Valetini out by mistake

Nah, what's he ever done?

 

[Eddie's Eyebrows]

I assume you left Rob Valetini out by mistake

Yep, fixed it now.

 

[TSR]

I find it weird Tom Wright appears to be completely discarded. By all means drop him out of the 23 - don’t really have a problem with that. But if we have a couple of injuries I’d rather they bring him in then Pietsch or Donaldson. (Or Vunivalu for that matter but it seems like Eddie remains convinced he can get more out of Suli).

 

[Derpus]

Wallabies' PREDICTED World Cup squad: Jones faces defining choice as he locks in 33 for France

Eddie Jones spoke about the opportunity of Tate McDermott leading a “new era in Australian rugby” ahead of the Wallabies’ Bledisloe return fixture in…

www.theroar.com.au

Not sure if Christy has any inside knowledge on the squad, by I hope it doesn't look like this

No Foketi is just asking for trouble.

 

[Wilson]

I can see Petaia being repurposed into a 12 (a la J Barrett)

I wonder if Mosese Tuipolutu can leave his brother's shadow...

I think Eddie has mentioned he like the idea of Petaia at 12

 

[rugbyAU]

No Foketi is just asking for trouble.

yeah you can't carry only one inside centre in the whole squad, especially when Kerevi's coming back from a hand injury

 

[Brumby Runner]

who's the young inside centre coming through that can threaten Kerevi (who I'd be surprised lasts 2 more years).

Foketi? Only a year younger than Samu, but a very good player.

Vaihu? Paisami? Kuenzle?

Tuipoluto

 

[John S]

Gordon and Cooper feel very square pegs in round holes at the mo.

As in Jake Gordon? Because I see Carter Gordon fitting in ok based on the last game.

 

[TSR]

who's the young inside centre coming through that can threaten Kerevi (who I'd be surprised lasts 2 more years).

Foketi? Only a year younger than Samu, but a very good player.

Vaihu? Paisami? Kuenzle?

Interested on your thoughts as to whether you think Harry McLaughlin-Phillips might be a future option at 12 Reg. I’ve not seen much of him but, from what I’ve seen I thought he could be an option - bearing in mind Lynagh will hopefully be a long term option at 10 for the Reds.

Not in the next 2 yrs of course but maybe after that.

 

[SouthernX]

Interested on your thoughts as to whether you think Harry McLaughlin-Phillips might be a future option at 12 Reg. I’ve not seen much of him but, from what I’ve seen I thought he could be an option - bearing in mind Lynagh will hopefully be a long term option at 10 for the Reds.

Not in the next 2 yrs of course but maybe after that.

I think HMP is the better talent compared to Lynagh.

I wonder how fly halves feel about playing inside centre… i don’t imagine it’s well received (#10 = QB) … case point Hamish Stewart (leaves qld to play #10 but Cron has him back playing #12)

 

[Viking]

I can't see a good argument to shift him away from 13, it's usually been harder to find and develop good outside centres and our depth looks slimmer there overall.

What about Flook? He looks good too.

 

[Adam84]

I think HMP is the better talent compared to Lynagh.

I wonder how fly halves feel about playing inside centre… i don’t imagine it’s well received (#10 = QB) … case point Hamish Stewart (leaves qld to play #10 but Cron has him back playing #12)

I’m not sure he is better, he certainly has different strengths and attributes though which is a positive. HMP looks the better ball runner although Lynagh has look more composed at game control and the better kicker. Potentially for the Reds one of them could play the ball playing inside centre, although it leaves that 10-12 channel a little defensively frail.

For potential Wallabies consideration in 2024 It’ll be a game of attrition i think, whichever young fly-half copes better with the step up to professionalism and the rigours of playing against men each week, and Lynagh has one foot ahead there due to his exposure this season.

 

[SouthernX]

For potential Wallabies consideration in 2024 It’ll be a game of attrition i think, which ever young fly-half copes better with the step up to professionalism and the rigours of playing against men each week, and Lynagh has one foot ahead there due to his exposure this season.

I don’t see HMP sticking around to play inside centre for the Reds…. as there’s not a lot of/limited super rugby flyhalves positions available - I’d hate to lose him abroad

 

[Eddie's Eyebrows]

HMP looks more like a 15 than a 12 - from my limited viewing of the JRWC

 

[Eddie's Eyebrows]

I find it weird Tom Wright appears to be completely discarded. By all means drop him out of the 23 - don’t really have a problem with that. But if we have a couple of injuries I’d rather they bring him in then Pietsch or Donaldson. (Or Vunivalu for that matter but it seems like Eddie remains convinced he can get more out of Suli).

I do really wonder if it's an Eddie Jones jedi mind trick or if he really is on the WC scrapheap.

 

[Adam84]

I don’t see HMP sticking around to play inside centre for the Reds…. as there’s not a lot of/limited super rugby flyhalves positions available - I’d hate to lose him abroad

I think it’s really a bit early to call, Lynagh is 12months ahead in development so HMP should have opportunity in 2024 to show his case.

 

[scrans21]

who's the young inside centre coming through that can threaten Kerevi (who I'd be surprised lasts 2 more years).

Foketi? Only a year younger than Samu, but a very good player.

Vaihu? Paisami? Kuenzle?

Kerevi is 30 this year so realistically he should still be playing international rugby in 2 years. But if he is injured or unavailable then Foketi comes straight in for me. There really isn't anyone else I can think of. Paisami will hopefully have claimed the Reds 12 jersey again by then but he'll have Henry and Annan to contend with. Do the Brumbies even have a young 12? Stewart will probably still be at 12 for the Force but he just doesn't strike me as an international player. Sure he could make a fist of it but he doesn't really bring anything special apart from just really nailing down the basics.

Edit: really hoping Tuipulotu can kick on. Might have to leave the Waratahs though considering he is stuck behind Foketi.

 

[Drew]

Tuipolotu showed he could physically handle Super Rugby last year. Just needs games under his belt