Jimmyjam
Watty Friend (18)
Kerevi was playing 13 and didn't get many touches unfortunately, different story as a 12 I'd think.
Wallabies 2023
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Apparently he is only going to miss the two match tour of Argentina through Comm games commitments, but agree gives us a chance to give solid game time to the likes of Paisami or Foketi
Derpus
George Gregan (70)
Tupou, Hooper and potentially Kerevi. I think there are better players around than the rest. And I say that with Aussie bias.
There are many locks I'd pick ahead of Arnold for a world 15.
Bell and Valetini have potential but nothing like the runs on the board needed be considered best in the world.
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would we pick him in the Com Games team? Our squad is pretty damn good at the moment. I know he stood out on Tokyo but this is a whole new squad.
Members Section
John Thornett (49)
I think he would add value to either the XV or 7's squads
Dctarget
John Eales (66)
Y'all sleeping on Koroibete. Best wing in the world. I think Tupou has slid down the rankings in the past year. Too injured/liability/forcing it. Probably behind Tadgh Furlong at least. I would have Hooper & Koroibete start. Kerevi, Skelton & Tupou on the bench.
Also on the Kerevi playing comm games exemption thing. Surely it doesn't matter? The coach does want he wants, doesn't need to play tiddlywinks to get players in or not.
Also on the Kerevi playing comm games exemption thing. Surely it doesn't matter? The coach does want he wants, doesn't need to play tiddlywinks to get players in or not.
PhilClinton
Geoff Shaw (53)
I agree with you - but as far as the optics are concerned, Australia has a foreign selection policy.
I am not sure they'll bend that too much this year considering they just announced the changes to it. I don't expect it to be enforced when push comes to shove before the RWC though.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
TBF, Tupou hasn't always been the Wallabies first choice TH prop the past couple of years...
Derpus
George Gregan (70)
Fair point.
wrongly
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
It was certainly partly that, and partly because the impact he did provide did not make up for his lack of workrate in a number of tests...
I probably would've had him start against Scotland to set the tone in the scrums though.
He had an early year where he struggled to balance test level scrummaging and work rate, but that was ages ago and now he is the dogs bollocks
dru
Tim Horan (67)
Surely we would add him to the squad of available??
RebelYell
Arch Winning (36)
Wallabies:
Bell, Fainga'a Tupou, Rodda, Swain, Leota, Hooper, Valetini, White, JOC (James O'Connor), Kerevi, Ikitau, Koroibete, Kellaway, Banks.
Porecki, Slipper, Allan, Holloway McReight, Tate, Quade, Petaia.
Reserves (with team): Kaitu'u, Sio, Philip, Samu, Gordon, Hodge, Wright, Paisami.
Australia A:
HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Lonergan, Eloff, Frost, Neville, Hanigan, Wright, Wilson, Lonergan, Lolesio, Vunivalu, Foketi, Perese, Daugunu, Campbell.
Pollard, Robertson, Pone, R.Smith, Harris, Tuttle, Pasitoa, Muirhead
Reserves (with team): McInerney, Gibbon, Hooper, Uru, Fines, Gordon, Donaldson, Stewart, Pietsch
Bell, Fainga'a Tupou, Rodda, Swain, Leota, Hooper, Valetini, White, JOC (James O'Connor), Kerevi, Ikitau, Koroibete, Kellaway, Banks.
Porecki, Slipper, Allan, Holloway McReight, Tate, Quade, Petaia.
Reserves (with team): Kaitu'u, Sio, Philip, Samu, Gordon, Hodge, Wright, Paisami.
Australia A:
HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Lonergan, Eloff, Frost, Neville, Hanigan, Wright, Wilson, Lonergan, Lolesio, Vunivalu, Foketi, Perese, Daugunu, Campbell.
Pollard, Robertson, Pone, R.Smith, Harris, Tuttle, Pasitoa, Muirhead
Reserves (with team): McInerney, Gibbon, Hooper, Uru, Fines, Gordon, Donaldson, Stewart, Pietsch
Marce
John Thornett (49)
You don't have a second option without Kerevi. Perese could be but not at the same level and Paisami is a good Super Rugby player, not test level yet, he's too small to play at 12 at international level.
Last year when Kerevi couldn't play the team was very different
I thought I might as well have a go
Thoughts?
Keep Tate & JOC (James O'Connor) together for their combination finishing a test
Let Bell finish to provide some dynamism as Topou finishes
Porecki is our best lineout unit, so he starts
Wilson over Leota is about dynamism and mobility
Petaia is a hope and a prayer - immense talent, but flawed
Slipper,
Porecki
Tupou,
Rodda,
Philip
Valetini
Hooper,
Wilson
White,
Quade
Koroibete,
Kerevi,
Ikitau,
Kellaway,
Petaia
Fainga'a
Bell,
AAA,
Swain
Leota,
Tate,
JOC (James O'Connor).
Perese.
Thoughts?
Keep Tate & JOC (James O'Connor) together for their combination finishing a test
Let Bell finish to provide some dynamism as Topou finishes
Porecki is our best lineout unit, so he starts
Wilson over Leota is about dynamism and mobility
Petaia is a hope and a prayer - immense talent, but flawed
Slipper,
Porecki
Tupou,
Rodda,
Philip
Valetini
Hooper,
Wilson
White,
Quade
Koroibete,
Kerevi,
Ikitau,
Kellaway,
Petaia
Fainga'a
Bell,
AAA,
Swain
Leota,
Tate,
JOC (James O'Connor).
Perese.
makes a lot of sense that team. I'd probably have Swain start because I think he's our best option at countering the Poms at the lineout and maul. I don't think Philip is up to it at test level. Works hard in attack but with Valetini, Wilson, Hooper and Tupou there we don't need that. Bench at best for me.
dru
Tim Horan (67)
Got to agree here, the thinking is good FP. I might expand the combination thinking and consider Paisami ahead of Perese but there are plenty of reasons not to. How solid is that back three for kicking? I can't recall Kellaway's ability under stress with the boot. Maybe not Paisami/Perese at 23 but someone like Hodge. Yeah I know dodgy, but it's good to have a 23 who is strong in the centres and wing and can kick. 10 is not an issue with JOC (James O'Connor) on the pine. I guess JOC (James O'Connor) covers 15. and the centres. So back to Perese at 23.
Also probably worth considering a 6/2 alternative against the POMS. Reserve backs remain Tate and JOC (James O'Connor) but which forward makes the cut?
Also probably worth considering a 6/2 alternative against the POMS. Reserve backs remain Tate and JOC (James O'Connor) but which forward makes the cut?
Wallaby Man
Trevor Allan (34)
Wilson is more mobile than Leota but not more Dynamic. He’s considerably more likely to bounce a defender. If we are looking for a work rate forward it’ll be Wilson but if Rennie is looking for someone to dominate the contact zone it will be Leota. Personally happy with either option.
Might come down to who is picked at lock, if it’s Rodda/Swain it might lean towards Leota, if it’s Rodda/Philip it might lean towards Wilson.