qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Vunivalu was the better league winger, it doesn’t look a terrible deal without hindsight.
Wallabies 2023
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Tomthumb
Chilla Wilson (44)
As opposed tot he rest of the team that played a blinder...
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
So the decision was made by apparatchiks, eh, not the best rugby brains in the land? Can you name names?
Wallaby Man
Nev Cottrell (35)
Let’s also not forget people were slamming Koroibete for a number of years.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
I admit that I thought it was crazy to put money into a winger for the Rebels, when at the time they were really understrength in the second row.
Always liked what I saw with Wright - looks the (potential) goods; hope he has a big year.
agree, was watching some old super rugby games he played and had forgotten how good he was. Hope he gets back to that form.
Rob42
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Love it.
'I bleed blue ... I support the Wallabies': Charlie Gamble is all in on Australian rugby
New Zealand-born Waratahs star Charlie Gamble says he owes everything to NSW rugby, declaring himself a bona-fide Australian supporter who has officially set his sights on a Wallabies call-up in 2023.www.espn.com.au
The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
Not mad about this quote at all.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
No 8 is a potential game-changing problem area. One long term injury to Valetini and on current strength in the position we are up shit creek.
The standout alternative is probably Isi Naisarani but under the present Giteau Law he is ineligible. If anything, eligibility looks like being tightened up rather than relaxed.
Harry Wilson has his admirers, not all in Red. But it is becoming clear that Dave Rennie isn't one. Personally, Harry reminds me a lot of Melon Finegan, and based on how he played at the U20s Championships a couple of years ago and his present skill strengths, I for one think he would be better suited at 6 than at 8. And contrary to some opinions expressed here, Harry really looks to me to hit hard in defence, if a little late on occasions.
Langi Gleeson seems to be the next most popular option. In truth, he has tremendous potential but is very inexperienced and probably a bit undersized for test match battle atm.
Pete Samu is the alternative at the Brumbies and has shown on numerous occasions he has the footwork that Rennie is looking for in a No 8. He tends to play wider that Rob Valetini and that might count against him in terms of potentially being a starting No 8. He is also in some views a more natural No 7 in the way the game is played internationally today, and has carved out a role for himself as essentially a must have bench cover for the whole backrow.
Will Harris is the other logical option. Played No 8 in the U20s team that included Harry Wilson at 6. Has better footwork than Harry but isn't as physical in contact as Harry. I think Will runs the risk of not meeting Rennie's ideal No 8 just as Wilson seems to be in that boat, but for different reasons. And to further complicate matters, Will and Gleeson will be competing for the same spot at the Tahs in SRP23.
So, ideally Naisarani can be enticed to sign with a Super Rugby side for 2024 (assuming he is available) and therefore become test eligible. As others have observed, I think the whole backrow becomes unbalanced if Samu plays 8 while Hooper owns the 7 spot. But really we have no other alternative type of 7 other than Samu if Hooper's style of play is determined to be not what is needed. McReight is too much alike to Hooper if the coaches want to go in another direction, as most of the world seems to be doing now. So failing Naisarani, it will be up to Rennie and his Assistants to make a decision between Wilson and Harris where neither is entirely what they seem to want. Anyway, that's how it all appears to me.
The standout alternative is probably Isi Naisarani but under the present Giteau Law he is ineligible. If anything, eligibility looks like being tightened up rather than relaxed.
Harry Wilson has his admirers, not all in Red. But it is becoming clear that Dave Rennie isn't one. Personally, Harry reminds me a lot of Melon Finegan, and based on how he played at the U20s Championships a couple of years ago and his present skill strengths, I for one think he would be better suited at 6 than at 8. And contrary to some opinions expressed here, Harry really looks to me to hit hard in defence, if a little late on occasions.
Langi Gleeson seems to be the next most popular option. In truth, he has tremendous potential but is very inexperienced and probably a bit undersized for test match battle atm.
Pete Samu is the alternative at the Brumbies and has shown on numerous occasions he has the footwork that Rennie is looking for in a No 8. He tends to play wider that Rob Valetini and that might count against him in terms of potentially being a starting No 8. He is also in some views a more natural No 7 in the way the game is played internationally today, and has carved out a role for himself as essentially a must have bench cover for the whole backrow.
Will Harris is the other logical option. Played No 8 in the U20s team that included Harry Wilson at 6. Has better footwork than Harry but isn't as physical in contact as Harry. I think Will runs the risk of not meeting Rennie's ideal No 8 just as Wilson seems to be in that boat, but for different reasons. And to further complicate matters, Will and Gleeson will be competing for the same spot at the Tahs in SRP23.
So, ideally Naisarani can be enticed to sign with a Super Rugby side for 2024 (assuming he is available) and therefore become test eligible. As others have observed, I think the whole backrow becomes unbalanced if Samu plays 8 while Hooper owns the 7 spot. But really we have no other alternative type of 7 other than Samu if Hooper's style of play is determined to be not what is needed. McReight is too much alike to Hooper if the coaches want to go in another direction, as most of the world seems to be doing now. So failing Naisarani, it will be up to Rennie and his Assistants to make a decision between Wilson and Harris where neither is entirely what they seem to want. Anyway, that's how it all appears to me.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
What are your thoughts on a Samu 8 and Gamble 7 combo?
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Gamble could well be the best No 7 at the Tahs in 23 but is unlikely to win enough game time to make the spot his at the Wallabies.
Rob Leota is another player who plays close to what Valetini offers, but I understand he will be out injured for all or most of the SRP23 season. If he's available he could come into contention for either 6 or 8 depending on how our first choices, Holloway and Valetini, are holding up come RWC time.
Rob Leota is another player who plays close to what Valetini offers, but I understand he will be out injured for all or most of the SRP23 season. If he's available he could come into contention for either 6 or 8 depending on how our first choices, Holloway and Valetini, are holding up come RWC time.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Ikitau is in the 23 V Wales.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
'I bleed blue ... I support the Wallabies': Charlie Gamble is all in on Australian rugby
New Zealand-born Waratahs star Charlie Gamble says he owes everything to NSW rugby, declaring himself a bona-fide Australian supporter who has officially set his sights on a Wallabies call-up in 2023.
Love this from Charlie. I want to see him pushing hard for selection. He had an excellent season for the Tahs this year.
Clubhouse coach
Sydney Middleton (9)
Would like to see Harry given an extended run in the wallabies either at six or eight, any player that plays his first four tests against the all blacks and holds his own before he turned twenty one has some ability.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Yeah - sorry, meant to say if anything happened to Valetini. If he’s fit agree that Harris is not in the picture.
Sir Arthur Higgins
Dick Tooth (41)
Gordon because there hasn’t been a clear pick ahead of him for the back up 9 role.
Rate probably now but we Didn’t know that till recently.
Paisami has previously been quite good so not sure if lump him in there. He fell off a bit this tour and foketi stepped up when available. I don’t think anyone expects Paisami to start when len and Samu are available.
Difference with Harry is there’s pretty clearly people ahead of him to start and then you’d even say very stiff competition for the reserve spot between swinton, leota, samu etc.
Second row and back row are very competitive. I’d say forward pack in general with some genuinely good players in there. You really need to shine in the back row to be amongst it. I just don’t think he’s done that yet.
The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
All of this is being written with the fact Valetini is the Wallaby no.8 whenever fit
I like Harris. I think he's been one of the Tahs most consistent in a team that was performing badly and injured. He was probably starting before he should have been if the Tahs could recruit/retain talent in the previous years. He's listed as 194cm 107kg and he's 22. No reason he won't end up comfortably moving around at 110kg. He is a genuine 8 with ball running ability. - Game time probably the thing to hold him back leading into this WC
Gleeson & Samu I have put together as I think offer a similar package at this point (leg speed, tackling) in time with Gleeson having scope for more physical maturity over the next couple of years. I don't think either would be our 1st choice no.8 but would be my first name put down on the bench for their ability to cover all backrow positions.
Harry Wilson: Genuine 8 that needs refinement in his game to take it beyond being a boom rookie. If he has a full year at the Reds at 8 he could be in the RWC squad, but he could just as easily miss out if they are treading water.
The idea of Naisarani could be a good one but will only be looked at if we have a few injuries and dependant on other overseas picks unless he signs with an Australian side which I find hard to see since it would be post RWC.
I like Harris. I think he's been one of the Tahs most consistent in a team that was performing badly and injured. He was probably starting before he should have been if the Tahs could recruit/retain talent in the previous years. He's listed as 194cm 107kg and he's 22. No reason he won't end up comfortably moving around at 110kg. He is a genuine 8 with ball running ability. - Game time probably the thing to hold him back leading into this WC
Gleeson & Samu I have put together as I think offer a similar package at this point (leg speed, tackling) in time with Gleeson having scope for more physical maturity over the next couple of years. I don't think either would be our 1st choice no.8 but would be my first name put down on the bench for their ability to cover all backrow positions.
Harry Wilson: Genuine 8 that needs refinement in his game to take it beyond being a boom rookie. If he has a full year at the Reds at 8 he could be in the RWC squad, but he could just as easily miss out if they are treading water.
The idea of Naisarani could be a good one but will only be looked at if we have a few injuries and dependant on other overseas picks unless he signs with an Australian side which I find hard to see since it would be post RWC.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Angus Bell, Rob Leota, Alan Ala'alatoa, Fraser McReight & Tate McDermott all to re-sign through to the Lions tour.
Exclusive: Wallabies signing bonanza looms with key men locked down as RA's new contracting model stalls
Some of the Wallabies’ biggest headline acts will put pen to paper over the coming days, as Rugby Australia puts their proposed contracting model…
www.theroar.com.au