dru
Tim Horan (67)
GET THE MALLETS READY.
Wallabies 2023
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
GET THE MALLETS READY.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
First, the good things about the squad.
Six props is a great start. I think one or two of the squads already announced only have 5, and certainly there have been calls here to only take 5, but 6 is a necessity to get through the rigours of a RWC.
Three hookers again is a necessity.
Three halfbacks is a necessity.
Tall timber in the second row is good.
A backup squad to be conveniently located and match fit is a great idea.
Now the head scratchers.
Will Skelton as captain and Tate McDermott as Vice captain is odd. Both are likely starters in the big matches but unlikely to see out the whole game. Who takes over when both are off the ground?
Jordan Uelese's continued selection. He is currently injured, and has a history of injuries. In my eyes he is also a suspect pea heart. Twice this Super Rugby season he, along with Mafi, left the Rebels without a hooker on the field yet was fit enough to play the next week. Something fishy there imo.
Dropping Ryan Lonergan from the squad when he was there all year but didn't get a game. I have no beef about IFL being included as I think he is most like Tate in the way he plays and is probably even more of a threat than Tate with his running game. But that change should have been made much earlier in the RC campaign.
Only one specialist No 10 who is an out and out rookie and right now suspect at this level and kicking goals. No 10 resources are scarce but probably Quade should have been retained after again being in the squad and playing this year.
A lack of specialist cover in the back three. Vunivalu is not playing at this level and covers only one spot, so not even a suitable bench option. Jorgenson has potential written all over him, but hasn't played for about three quarters of the year and is not yet over his injury. Shades of Rory Arnold? If he hasn't been playing, why would Eddie pick him?
The two utility players raise a number of issues. Donaldson had a very ordinary Super season where he couldn't even cement a spot at 15 or 10 for a poorly performing Tahs side. He has little to no claims to be in a RWC squad imo. A better performing No 10 who can also cover 12 and 15 would be Jack Debreczini, but he never got a look in with Eddie. Kemeny again looks to have potential, but as a backrower. It makes little sense to me to claim he is versatile enough to play in the backline. As a backrower, he would probably miss out to Pete Samu.
Anyway, it is what it is. I hope they go well, and my expectation is that they should top their pool and make the Quarters. If they go on to the semis or higher, that would be a sensational result. If they miss the Quarters, Eddie's appointment will have been a massive failure and he won't be around in 2025/27.
Six props is a great start. I think one or two of the squads already announced only have 5, and certainly there have been calls here to only take 5, but 6 is a necessity to get through the rigours of a RWC.
Three hookers again is a necessity.
Three halfbacks is a necessity.
Tall timber in the second row is good.
A backup squad to be conveniently located and match fit is a great idea.
Now the head scratchers.
Will Skelton as captain and Tate McDermott as Vice captain is odd. Both are likely starters in the big matches but unlikely to see out the whole game. Who takes over when both are off the ground?
Jordan Uelese's continued selection. He is currently injured, and has a history of injuries. In my eyes he is also a suspect pea heart. Twice this Super Rugby season he, along with Mafi, left the Rebels without a hooker on the field yet was fit enough to play the next week. Something fishy there imo.
Dropping Ryan Lonergan from the squad when he was there all year but didn't get a game. I have no beef about IFL being included as I think he is most like Tate in the way he plays and is probably even more of a threat than Tate with his running game. But that change should have been made much earlier in the RC campaign.
Only one specialist No 10 who is an out and out rookie and right now suspect at this level and kicking goals. No 10 resources are scarce but probably Quade should have been retained after again being in the squad and playing this year.
A lack of specialist cover in the back three. Vunivalu is not playing at this level and covers only one spot, so not even a suitable bench option. Jorgenson has potential written all over him, but hasn't played for about three quarters of the year and is not yet over his injury. Shades of Rory Arnold? If he hasn't been playing, why would Eddie pick him?
The two utility players raise a number of issues. Donaldson had a very ordinary Super season where he couldn't even cement a spot at 15 or 10 for a poorly performing Tahs side. He has little to no claims to be in a RWC squad imo. A better performing No 10 who can also cover 12 and 15 would be Jack Debreczini, but he never got a look in with Eddie. Kemeny again looks to have potential, but as a backrower. It makes little sense to me to claim he is versatile enough to play in the backline. As a backrower, he would probably miss out to Pete Samu.
Anyway, it is what it is. I hope they go well, and my expectation is that they should top their pool and make the Quarters. If they go on to the semis or higher, that would be a sensational result. If they miss the Quarters, Eddie's appointment will have been a massive failure and he won't be around in 2025/27.
rugbyAU
Nev Cottrell (35)
This squad was a fucking disgrace, Eddie this is how you do it
Props - Bell, Slipper, Sio, Tupou, Pone, Talakai (Zane will get monstered at the scrum)
Hookers - BPA, Porecki, Faesslar
Second Row - Skelton, Frost, Phillip, Rory Arnold
Backrow - Samu, Tom Hooper, McReight, Valentini, Gleeson, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Scrumhalves - Lonergan, McDermott, Kerr-Barlow
Flyhalves - Gordon, Foley
Centres - Kerevi, Foketi, Perese
Outside Backs - Korobiete, Petaia, Kellaway, Nawaqanitawase, Wright
Utility - Hodge
*Foley is at least a very good goal kicker and a a lot more 'match-hardened' than Quade is
Props - Bell, Slipper, Sio, Tupou, Pone, Talakai (Zane will get monstered at the scrum)
Hookers - BPA, Porecki, Faesslar
Second Row - Skelton, Frost, Phillip, Rory Arnold
Backrow - Samu, Tom Hooper, McReight, Valentini, Gleeson, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Scrumhalves - Lonergan, McDermott, Kerr-Barlow
Flyhalves - Gordon, Foley
Centres - Kerevi, Foketi, Perese
Outside Backs - Korobiete, Petaia, Kellaway, Nawaqanitawase, Wright
Utility - Hodge
*Foley is at least a very good goal kicker and a a lot more 'match-hardened' than Quade is
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Viking
Mark Ella (57)
He gave Cooper the chance, he gave him time to get back to his best, he understood he is recovering from injury so he needed more time to find form and fitness. The gamble didn’t work, he didn’t find form in time. Time to go with plan B. Which I am totally all for.
Until that plan B is Donaldson…. That’s a head scratcher that one.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
If he’s backing youth why is White there but not Lonergan. White has been just as bad as Cooper. They have similar play styles but Longergan more youthful and fast paced and could be a match winner with his goal kicking.
I get why Fines is picked. He’s favouring running halves and is like for like with Tate. But Whites still there?
I get why Fines is picked. He’s favouring running halves and is like for like with Tate. But Whites still there?
Adam84
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Yep said it 6 months ago Cooper was always going to struggle to make the RWC given the nature of the injury. I’d be interested to see what speed, agility etc metrics he is pushing out in training also.
LeCheese
Peter Johnson (47)
Backing youth ≠ backing only youth
duckbill
Sydney Middleton (9)
Disagree - the game plan against the boks was completely wrong so that game doesn't even count - should have tried him with McDermott but persisted with pairing him with White - we saw how that worked... In the 2nd ABs game he keeps the game alive with a clutch kick and then drops a shit pass from White, the scrum gets pushed backwards and that's on him?
Dismal Pillock
Simon Poidevin (60)
Noah Lolesio at Wallabies World
Cup squad announcement.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
Well for most of the season…
except in the quarter (maybe semi?) final when it really mattered. Wright doing Wright things.
The front row that got destroyed by England in 2007
Joe Blow
Peter Sullivan (51)
Who is taking Coopers? Normally there would be two established 10s and a utility like Hodge. Donaldson has not played a test all year and will be thrust into every 23 in the RWC if fit.I love the squad, fuck the haters.
Jorgensen’s a gun, outplayed Wright this season.
Donaldson is not really taking Cooper’s position, he’s taking Hodge’s. Also think Donaldson would have the best starting record of any aus 10
Vuni is a head scratcher but watch him break the try record against Portugal. He’s like the 5th winger and 33rd man in the squad, nothing to get upset about.
the rest are lineball calls. Play on.
Cooper or Foley or Hodge should be there. Donaldson not so much
PhilClinton
Geoff Shaw (53)
Noah Lolesio at Wallabies World
Cup squad announcement.
It’s 8.30am here in Brisbane and you’ve won the internet for the day. I’m about to show this to anyone and everyone I know who watches rugby. Well done.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I would've picked Foley and it's absolutely shocking he hasn't gone with no Quade, I've been trying to think of why and given Foley never made TRC squad all I can think of from Eddie's perspective is back to his time as England coach against Aus, I'm guessing he did analysis on him and exploited him and doesn't rate him at all. Foley was the 10 for Eddie's 7-0 record against us up until 2022 wasn't he?
12 hours to digest the squad.
I like it!
My only reservations, Uelese and Vunivalu. It's like Eddie is still hoping they come good. They won't.
As for those who missed out:
Hooper - old man injury and very tricky manage. Unfortunately he's no Sam Kerr. Can't afford to carry him, and with the form of T Hooper and McWright, that probably sealed the deal.
Wright - Played himself out of selection. Rocks and diamonds
Cooper - Was probably on his last chance against NZ.
Time to back the team. Ain't here to fuck spiders.
I like it!
My only reservations, Uelese and Vunivalu. It's like Eddie is still hoping they come good. They won't.
As for those who missed out:
Hooper - old man injury and very tricky manage. Unfortunately he's no Sam Kerr. Can't afford to carry him, and with the form of T Hooper and McWright, that probably sealed the deal.
Wright - Played himself out of selection. Rocks and diamonds
Cooper - Was probably on his last chance against NZ.
Time to back the team. Ain't here to fuck spiders.
Joe Blow
Peter Sullivan (51)
Jones is vindictive and reactive. We have seen it with Wright and now with Cooper, not to mention with multiple headsets already this year. Notwithstanding that White could easily have been blamed for QCs dropped ball and that there are others who have had average games or made a similar mistake and they are still there.
We don’t have the resources for the coach to drop a player out of the squad on a whim because he is pissed off. We have little depth across the board.
I hope they go well but have little confidence in the Jones’ selection process.
We don’t have the resources for the coach to drop a player out of the squad on a whim because he is pissed off. We have little depth across the board.
I hope they go well but have little confidence in the Jones’ selection process.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Just checked, Foley went 0-6 v England whilst Eddie was their coach (1 match he played 12, To'omua @ 10)
Eddie wouldn't have forgotten that or played a big part in why he went 6-0 exploiting Foley.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
The "Carter Gordon who?" during the Rebels match is even funnier now.
Noah Lolesio at Wallabies World
Cup squad announcement.
