Wallabies 2023

[stillmissit]

Yes I am happy with Gleeson but was worried him and Samu might both miss out as Gleeson didn't get any game time either.

I still think you need Hodge. Just gives you the option of playing him at 10 against Portugal assuming we are safely into the QF's by that time.

As for centres I would be happy to see Foketi in the squad but not sure there is enough room for him unless they take 2 half backs

Not fussed about Gleeson yet so OK if he misses out. Samu has always brought something better than hard runs into traffic. He could be the difference to our finishers who looked a bit out of it in Dunedin.
Foketi must go or we are taking a big risk, I'm OK with Hodge although, contrary to many here would prefer Donaldson over Perese on the bench to cover 10/15 but understand he can't play OC. Nick White and Tate are fine as 9's don't think we need a 3rd as they are both injury free (famous last words).

 

[barbarian]

It's possible that even if fit his time is done and he won't be on the plane......

OK I'll bite. Why? What evidence has there been to suggest we should dispense with a man who just weeks ago was determined to be the captain of the team. Again. And who last night won the Waratahs Player of the Year award. Again.

I don't think he played well in South Africa, but he has earned far more than one bad outing. Fraser McReight was good against the Kiwis, but he wasn't 'oh wow let's drop Michael Hooper completely' good.

We can't just be turfing out 100+ cappers still playing well. I can accept that there's a world where he doesn't start at 7, but he can still offer plenty off the bench and in a squad that looks to be very inexperienced.

 

[stillmissit]

OK I'll bite. Why? What evidence has there been to suggest we should dispense with a man who just weeks ago was determined to be the captain of the team. Again. And who last night won the Waratahs Player of the Year award. Again.

I don't think he played well in South Africa, but he has earned far more than one bad outing. Fraser McReight was good against the Kiwis, but he wasn't 'oh wow let's drop Michael Hooper completely' good.

We can't just be turfing out 100+ cappers still playing well. I can accept that there's a world where he doesn't start at 7, but he can still offer plenty off the bench and in a squad that looks to be very inexperienced.

It's tricky, a fit and fast Hooper is one thing but carrying him with this niggling calf injury sounds more like a farewell present. McRight must go and I think it is OK if Eddie and RA say Hooper must go. In terms of putting our best team out there, the RWC is not a time for emotional decisions.
I fully agree with you regarding his experience in an inexperienced team - Let's see what the call is.

 

[stillmissit]

I am keeping my fingers crossed for Sam Talakai, I think he would add to our prop stocks and I have liked his Super Rugby performances this season.

If Tupoa goes down again he would do a good job for us at TH.

 

[Joe Blow]

Talaki is a good call. He is solid in the scrum and does his core duties. He is also busy around the park on both sides of the ball.

 

[Rusted]

Gibbon and Schoupp are both capable. Don't see the need to bring back an over the hill Sio

It's tighthead thats light at present

Ollie Hoskins could be an option?

 

[Rusted]

Not fussed about Gleeson yet so OK if he misses out.

Not fussed about Gleeson? Really? Agree Samu be selected.

 

[Tomthumb]

OK I'll bite. Why? What evidence has there been to suggest we should dispense with a man who just weeks ago was determined to be the captain of the team. Again. And who last night won the Waratahs Player of the Year award. Again.

I don't think he played well in South Africa, but he has earned far more than one bad outing. Fraser McReight was good against the Kiwis, but he wasn't 'oh wow let's drop Michael Hooper completely' good.

We can't just be turfing out 100+ cappers still playing well. I can accept that there's a world where he doesn't start at 7, but he can still offer plenty off the bench and in a squad that looks to be very inexperienced.

Eddie himself said a week ago he is looking to “regenerate” the team, and talked about how he’s learnt a lot more about players since the start of the rugby championship

McReight was clearly better than Hooper this year, he’s in the uptick of his career and looking to improve. Hooper was unsure whether he still wanted to play anymore mere months ago

Michael Hooper has no doubt been a great player. But he hasn’t won a World Cup, has never won the Bledisloe, won 1 rugby championship back in 2015, so to act as if he can teach this team to win is fanciful. Experience is valuable when it’s experience about winning

 

[Rugby Survivor]

Hearing that Hooper may not make the plane and the calf is a good excuse to not pick him.

 

[Ignoto]

OK I'll bite. Why? What evidence has there been to suggest we should dispense with a man who just weeks ago was determined to be the captain of the team. Again. And who last night won the Waratahs Player of the Year award. Again.

I don't think he played well in South Africa, but he has earned far more than one bad outing. Fraser McReight was good against the Kiwis, but he wasn't 'oh wow let's drop Michael Hooper completely' good.

We can't just be turfing out 100+ cappers still playing well. I can accept that there's a world where he doesn't start at 7, but he can still offer plenty off the bench and in a squad that looks to be very inexperienced.

I think you're right Barb that we'll see Hooper in the squad and with the C.

I will challenge you on the experience point. Think back on Hooper's career as a captain, I can't think of a time where I'd be pointing to and say his past works in his favour.

From a results perspective, the teams under his captaincy rarely won or came from behind to win. When he was absent, the Wallabies didn't play better or worse. Additionally, his ref management has always been under question.

I don't know if Tate is a better captain than Hooper. I'd probably lean on the fact that Michael being picked by so many coaches as captain probably suggests he's a good person for captain though. I just question whether his experience in those 100+ caps is really that big of a deal.

 

[KOB1987]

Eddie himself said a week ago he is looking to “regenerate” the team, and talked about how he’s learnt a lot more about players since the start of the rugby championship

McReight was clearly better than Hooper this year, he’s in the uptick of his career and looking to improve. Hooper was unsure whether he still wanted to play anymore mere months ago

Michael Hooper has no doubt been a great player. But he hasn’t won a World Cup, has never won the Bledisloe, won 1 rugby championship back in 2015, so to act as if he can teach this team to win is fanciful. Experience is valuable when it’s experience about winning

OK I’m calling it, John Eales to be called into the squad. Still looks half fit.

 

[SouthernX]

[

Michael Hooper has no doubt been a great player. But he hasn’t won a World Cup, has never won the Bledisloe, won 1 rugby championship back in 2015, so to act as if he can teach this team to win is fanciful. Experience is valuable when it’s experience about winning

It’s amazing how many picks are based on nostalgia when it comes to “veterans” and those veterans haven’t won shit.

Give me the young player with raw talent over the older head who might know a thing or two but specialises in losing.

 

[dillyboy]

OK I'll bite. Why? What evidence has there been to suggest we should dispense with a man who just weeks ago was determined to be the captain of the team. Again. And who last night won the Waratahs Player of the Year award. Again.

I don't think he played well in South Africa, but he has earned far more than one bad outing. Fraser McReight was good against the Kiwis, but he wasn't 'oh wow let's drop Michael Hooper completely' good.

We can't just be turfing out 100+ cappers still playing well. I can accept that there's a world where he doesn't start at 7, but he can still offer plenty off the bench and in a squad that looks to be very inexperienced.

As others have said due to his no longer being the preferred option in his position. The main reason people mention for picking him is his experience & leadership but with him we've won F all so may as well give the new guy a shot.

I'm an out and out Quade fan but I've also come to the realisation that even at his best day he's a shadow of what he was at his peak - if we had another viable option I'd say he likely wouldn't be on the plane either......

 

[Brumby Runner]

The players in the present aquad who are most at risk of missing the cut for France are those who haven't yet played a game or who have had very little game time.

So, Schoupp, Philip (maybe), M Hooper (is he even in the squad?), Gleeson, R Lonergan, Pietsch, Donaldson, Vunivalu and Perese might be most likely to miss out. I think three have to go to make the cut at 33 anyway, but that might mean another 6 are in severe doubt and could be replaced.

On the basis that Philip will make the squad and three halfbacks probably saves Lonergan, I'd think the following replacements would be under consideration :

Gibbon for Schoupp;
No replacement for M Hooper as there are sufficient Backrowers already;
Samu for Gleeson;
Foketi (unsure about his current status in the squad) for Perese;
Wright for Vunivalu;
O'Connor for Donaldson; and
Hodge or Flook for Pietsch.

Quite a few left fielders there still for Eddie to throw around.

 

[KOB1987]

[

It’s amazing how many picks are based on nostalgia when it comes to “veterans” and those veterans haven’t won shit.

Give me the young player with raw talent over the older head who might know a thing or two but specialises in losing.

Who is someone you would select in the Wallabies squad on the basis they are experienced at winning shit? Will Skelton maybe?

 

[Derpus]

Hooper is more or less the most successful Wallaby still playing, outside maybe Skelton? Or am I missing something. Quade also won Super Rugby but didn't take a significant part in the 2015 finals run or shortened RC win.

Not sure not winning the Bledisloe means much.

Anyway, he doesn't deserve to be starting on form but it'd be a very big call to leave him behind entirely if fit.

 

[dusk]

Hooper is more or less the most successful Wallaby still playing, outside maybe Skelton? Or am I missing something. Quade also won Super Rugby but didn't take a significant part in the 2015 finals run or shortened RC win.

Not sure not winning the Bledisloe means much.

Anyway, he doesn't deserve to be starting on form but it'd be a very big call to leave him behind entirely if fit.

Well then lets take Foley as well!

 

[Derpus]

Well then lets take Foley as well!

Foley isn't the next best available 10. Hooper is the next best available behind McReight.

Could conceivably just carry the one open side I suppose.

 

[KOB1987]

I was curious to see who was in the 2015 squad that is still in contention:

Hooper
Cooper - I don't recall him being in the squad, but he's in the announcement
Slipper
Sio
Skelton
Foley at a stretch

and who is Toby Smith??

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup-2015-wallabies-world-cup-31man-squad-announced/news-story/fce50ec77cec1287034f7a306749fad0

 

[dusk]

Foley isn't the next best available 10. Hooper is the next best available behind McReight.

Could conceivably just carry the one open side I suppose.

Hooper should definitely be in the squad, it's just the issue with both Slipper and Hooper being captain as you can definitely argue for better players in both positions.