Wallabies 2024

[KOB1987]

I reckon until we work out who our best emerging 10 is, and that player then demands selection, we have to plonk Quade or Bernard there, with the young 'uns battling it out for the bench spot. It's test rugby not a development academy, none of the young fellas are better than either of those two currently.

 

[upthereds#!]

I think Kellaway plays more like a wing then Wright, his best games have all been on the wing (for Wallabies). He also isn't the play maker Wright is.

But I also think he'll likely be 15 as his probably our safest bet there..

I feel Kellaway has the better positional nous for test XV, over both Wright and Petaia. For me, Wright is more a 'give me the ball' type of FB, I think we need the nous moreso, more structured, assured. Covering kicks and defensive patterns more maturely, communication etc.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

I reckon until we work out who our best emerging 10 is, and that player then demands selection, we have to plonk Quade or Bernard there, with the young 'uns battling it out for the bench spot. It's test rugby not a development academy, none of the young fellas are better than either of those two currently.

When we don’t have the cattle it is a bit of a development academy.
I wouldn’t go back to either of those wells. Well past it. There is new talent at 10 it just needs to find its feet. I’d probably pick two of the best and rotate them a little bit to give them experience but not over burden them. I’d also be trying to get someone like giteau engaged to consult with them at super and test level.

 

[TSR]

I reckon until we work out who our best emerging 10 is, and that player then demands selection, we have to plonk Quade or Bernard there, with the young 'uns battling it out for the bench spot. It's test rugby not a development academy, none of the young fellas are better than either of those two currently.

Nor is it a retirement fund. Quade & Foley should have to demand selection too. If they do, then I’m fine to for them to be considered but I’d have to say that Foley’s last two periods in a Wallabies jersey have both been sub-par. Expecting him to be a better player now than he was two years ago is hopeful. It’s not like he was ever a top shelf international 10. He was a solid, but limited attacking player with a sub par kicking game. He had some very good moments, but he was really just a placeholder when you come down to it. Quade is 36 now. How is his body holding up? Big ask to expect him to step up to Test level again and his form at test level is two years ago now and coincided with a period when both Kerevi & Koroibete were in career best form. One of my favourite players to watch but not sure he is a likely solution for the Wallabies anymore.

The current group need to step up for sure, but I’d personally prefer we give them the opportunity then keep going back to the same old well.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I feel Kellaway has the better positional nous for test XV, over both Wright and Petaia. For me, Wright is more a 'give me the ball' type of FB, I think we need the nous moreso, more structured, assured. Covering kicks and defensive patterns more maturely, communication etc.

UTR, Wright just put in a really top class performance against the ladder leading Canes, consistent with his form all year. As good as Kellaway is, or can be, Tom is currently a stand out performer in the 15 slot.

 

[wamberal99]

I reckon until we work out who our best emerging 10 is, and that player then demands selection, we have to plonk Quade or Bernard there, with the young 'uns battling it out for the bench spot. It's test rugby not a development academy, none of the young fellas are better than either of those two currently.

Eh? The best emerging 10 has to audition for the job against two has-beens? How does that work, exactly? Are players like Lolesio and Donaldson emerging? One of them is the encumbent.

 

[KOB1987]

I think I just said that to see the reaction. I'm honestly not sure who or what our best option is.

 

[wamberal99]

I think I just said that to see the reaction. I'm honestly not sure who or what our best option is.

Only Schmidt knows that, and he won't tell us for a while!

 

[Brumby Runner]

We only got the win in one of the 5 Anzac games on the weekend, but with the performances of the Brumbies and the Reds, is there grounds for optimism in the upcoming test series? I had anticipated a lot of melancholy after this weekend, but both the Brumbies and Reds have proven again to be up with the best of the NZ sides, at least while playing at home.

One small caveat though. The influence of ex-NZ players now part of the Aussie teams was quite significant. Tamati Tua was MOTM against the Canes and overshadowed Jordie Barrett in the 12 jerseys, which is no mean feat. Ollie Sapsford was again one of the best performers on the wing in the Aussie sides, but thankfully, if required, he is Wallaby eligible. The Reds were extremely well served by each of Toomuga-Allen, Hodgeman and Ravai, but only Hodgeman is Wallaby eligible.

Nevertheless, there were some standout performances from the likes of Swain, Scott, Cale, and Wright for the Brumbies and Faessler, Wright, Wilson, Paisami, and Ryan for the Reds. Otherwise, Perese also had some very good touches when he came on for the Tahs. Great to see Allan Ala'alatoa make a successful return for half a match, while Len Ikitau was very good until he copped a head knock and was replaced.

We still have issues at 9 and 10 with Tate unavailable and all of our 10s seemingly needing a strong set piece to be able to show their wares.

 

[drewprint]

UTR, Wright just put in a really top class performance against the ladder leading Canes, consistent with his form all year. As good as Kellaway is, or can be, Tom is currently a stand out performer in the 15 slot.

As good as Wright has been, I’m still having Kellaway at 15 with Wright on the bench. We need that calm head and facilitation back there. Maybe Wright has gotten the brain explosions out of his game now - I really hope so - but I’d like for us to ease him in from the bench and show the growth from there first. And this isn’t an anti-Brumbies thing, I do like Wright and want him to do well as his ceiling is so high. He’s having a breakout season.

 

[Sword of Justice]

As good as Wright has been, I’m still having Kellaway at 15 with Wright on the bench. We need that calm head and facilitation back there. Maybe Wright has gotten the brain explosions out of his game now - I really hope so - but I’d like for us to ease him in from the bench and show the growth from there first. And this isn’t an anti-Brumbies thing, I do like Wright and want him to do well as his ceiling is so high. He’s having a breakout season.

I don’t think Wright is any where near getting the brain explosions out of his game. I’d love him for the Reds but against the Canes he chanced it and fucked up probably 5 times and the Canes didn’t make him pay once. Against a top 10 test team they would definitely have.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I don’t think Wright is any where near getting the brain explosions out of his game. I’d love him for the Reds but against the Canes he chanced it and fucked up probably 5 times and the Canes didn’t make him pay once. Against a top 10 test team they would definitely have.

LOL

 

[Sword of Justice]

LOL

BR, I'm not saying Wright played poorly yesterday at all. That level of risk taking was perfect for Super but will not translate to tests. I know this because he's played four consecutive years for the Wallabies and been dropped out of the squad four consecutive times.

 

[wamberal99]

BR, I'm not saying Wright played poorly yesterday at all. That level of risk taking was perfect for Super but will not translate to tests. I know this because he's played four consecutive years for the Wallabies and been dropped out of the squad four consecutive times.

He is maybe our most brilliant Wallaby ball carrier. At his best, he can be brilliant. On the other hand, he also has his worst.

 

[Slim 293]

BR, I'm not saying Wright played poorly yesterday at all. That level of risk taking was perfect for Super but will not translate to tests. I know this because he's played four consecutive years for the Wallabies and been dropped out of the squad four consecutive times.

I don’t believe he was…

Anyways, we must be watching different games - I don’t think yesterday was an example of Wright taking risks.

The only notable error I recall was throwing a poor pass late in the game that went behind the players and over the sideline… otherwise his decision making was pretty good.

Kicked smartly, carried strongly and linked up well.

 

[Tomikin]

I don’t believe he was…

Anyways, we must be watching different games - I don’t think yesterday was an example of Wright taking risks.

The only notable error I recall was throwing a poor pass late in the game that went behind the players and over the sideline… otherwise his decision making was pretty good.

Kicked smartly, carried strongly and linked up well.

He probably didn't watch the game... He was also good against the blues in a well beaten team. His added a massive clearance kick to his weapons as well seems to be getting well into the opposite half from inside the 22.

 

[Slim 293]

To Wright’s credit, where he’s usually at his worst is when things are going bad for the team, and if you look at the Brumbies’ losses this year he hasn’t been one of their poorer performers in those games and hasn’t been attempting those high risk Hail Mary moves that have backfired on him in the past…

If he keeps this up, then he’s definitely the kind of player you want somewhere in the back three for the Wallabies.

 

[Hogan]

We only got the win in one of the 5 Anzac games on the weekend, but with the performances of the Brumbies and the Reds, is there grounds for optimism in the upcoming test series? I had anticipated a lot of melancholy after this weekend, but both the Brumbies and Reds have proven again to be up with the best of the NZ sides, at least while playing at home.

One small caveat though. The influence of ex-NZ players now part of the Aussie teams was quite significant. Tamati Tua was MOTM against the Canes and overshadowed Jordie Barrett in the 12 jerseys, which is no mean feat. Ollie Sapsford was again one of the best performers on the wing in the Aussie sides, but thankfully, if required, he is Wallaby eligible. The Reds were extremely well served by each of Toomuga-Allen, Hodgeman and Ravai, but only Hodgeman is Wallaby eligible.

Nevertheless, there were some standout performances from the likes of Swain, Scott, Cale, and Wright for the Brumbies and Faessler, Wright, Wilson, Paisami, and Ryan for the Reds. Otherwise, Perese also had some very good touches when he came on for the Tahs. Great to see Allan Ala'alatoa make a successful return for half a match, while Len Ikitau was very good until he copped a head knock and was replaced.

We still have issues at 9 and 10 with Tate unavailable and all of our 10s seemingly needing a strong set piece to be able to show their wares.

“We still have issues at 9 and 10 with Tate unavailable and all of our 10s seemingly needing a strong set piece to be able to show their wares.”

It’s a very good point you make BR. Does Schmidt dismiss some of our 9’s and 10’s because they are playing behind a beaten pack or losing team, even though they may be performing well individually. Does he see enough in them to be confident that they have what it takes to get the job done for the Wallabies? By the time the initial squad is announced no doubt he would have seen enough of all of them to make the right calls.

 

[whitefalcon]

To Wright’s credit, where he’s usually at his worst is when things are going bad for the team, and if you look at the Brumbies’ losses this year he hasn’t been one of their poorer performers in those games and hasn’t been attempting those high risk Hail Mary moves that have backfired on him in the past…

If he keeps this up, then he’s definitely the kind of player you want somewhere in the back three for the Wallabies.

Wright is at his worst when the team he is playing in is chasing the game, usually by quite a lot.

His brain explosions are usually a risky play to try and make something out of absolutely nothing and they usually don't come off (the goal line against the Blues? in the finals last year comes to mind)

He has been excellent this year though and seems to have mostly killed the brain explosions

 

[Beattie]

NH average in 2024. Conversation piece.