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Wallabies 2023

Rugby Head

Watty Friend (18)
With minimal opportunty within Australia to play rugby after the super rugby season, good to see some names popping up over in the Bunnings NPC. This will be great for their development. Names I have recognised so far:

Connor Vest
Jackson Pugh
Isoa Nasilasila (Think he played for Southern Districts and now Drua)
Joey Walton
Campbell Parata

Not sure if I've missed anyone.
 

Members Section

John Thornett (49)
With minimal opportunty within Australia to play rugby after the super rugby season, good to see some names popping up over in the Bunnings NPC. This will be great for their development. Names I have recognised so far:

Connor Vest
Jackson Pugh
Isoa Nasilasila (Think he played for Southern Districts and now Drua)
Joey Walton
Campbell Parata

Not sure if I've missed anyone.

That's a great move for Connor Vest
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Mark Ella (57)
With minimal opportunty within Australia to play rugby after the super rugby season, good to see some names popping up over in the Bunnings NPC. This will be great for their development. Names I have recognised so far:

Connor Vest
Jackson Pugh
Isoa Nasilasila (Think he played for Southern Districts and now Drua)
Joey Walton
Campbell Parata

Not sure if I've missed anyone.
Excited for Joey Walton.

Missed this season with the Knee injury right in the middle of his development years. No better way to get back up to speed. With Perese injured I'm sure DC is hoping he goes well so the Tahs have more options. Bet Gordon wish they had him though leading into the Shute Shield finals.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Mark Ella (57)
On the back of missing last season with a serious ankle injury.

He was a bright spot in the Tahs' 2020 season. Has a lot of promise.
Ankle was it? Don't know why I thought knee.

Genuine Centres don't pop up all the time. We have an abundance of 1 dimensional schoolboy prodigies that don't develop.
 

Jimmy_Crouch

Ken Catchpole (46)
Exciting for him but geez it's early. 1 start this year and limited minutes all year. I know it's injury cover but the way we have been going there is every chance he gets a debut over there,

I do think he and Lonergan have A LOT of Tests ahead of them.
I think Pollard will leapfrog Lonergan.
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
With minimal opportunty within Australia to play rugby after the super rugby season, good to see some names popping up over in the Bunnings NPC. This will be great for their development. Names I have recognised so far:

Connor Vest
Jackson Pugh
Isoa Nasilasila (Think he played for Southern Districts and now Drua)
Joey Walton
Campbell Parata

Not sure if I've missed anyone.

It's also a money saving tool for the state sides as the NPC teams take over their salary payments
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Ankle was it? Don't know why I thought knee.

Genuine Centres don't pop up all the time. We have an abundance of 1 dimensional schoolboy prodigies that don't develop.

He did his ankle in 2021 in (I think) the opening round against the Reds and missed the whole season.

He then did his knee during preseason training this year and needed an ACL reconstruction.

So he's basically missed two years of rugby.
 

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
With Hoops stepping back for the moment and probably more so after RWC23. What’s our captain hierarchy looking like?

Slipper is a great stop gap but not long term.
We don’t really have any bolt on starters that are captain material or are based in Aus (which should be a criteria).

Can Bobby V captain?
Our props are close, I like Allan and Bell could be a roughie, lock him in for 10 years like Hooper. But a prop is a prop.
 

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
With Hoops stepping back for the moment and probably more so after RWC23. What’s our captain hierarchy looking like?

Slipper is a great stop gap but not long term.
We don’t really have any bolt on starters that are captain material or are based in Aus (which should be a criteria).

Can Bobby V captain?
Our props are close, I like Allan and Bell could be a roughie, lock him in for 10 years like Hooper. But a prop is a prop.
Yeah fair point, McReight, Phillip, Holloway, McDermott all options if they continue to start
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
With Hoops stepping back for the moment and probably more so after RWC23. What’s our captain hierarchy looking like?

Slipper is a great stop gap but not long term.
We don’t really have any bolt on starters that are captain material or are based in Aus (which should be a criteria).

Can Bobby V captain?
Our props are close, I like Allan and Bell could be a roughie, lock him in for 10 years like Hooper. But a prop is a prop.
Valetini doesn't strike me as a captaincy candidate and I don't think it'd be a great idea to heap a bunch of extra pressure on him right now. Best just to let him build consistency on the form he's been showing.

I think Slipper will be the option for the next two tests at least, particularly with Bell and Sio out. They might try out another option in the vice role, given slipper won't be playing 80, but that's a bit tricky given it needs to be someone playing 80 or on the bench. White is the name thrown up a lot but I'm not sure he's a great option for captain. Not sure who else though, too many of the senior players are either not signed in Australia (Cooper, Kerevi) or outside the nailed on 15 right now (Ala'alatoa, O'Connor) so it's really not clear who they'll go with. Phillip could be a smokey if he has a good couple of tests in Argentina, particularly if Rodda is out long term.

I won't be surprised if Hooper doesn't resume the captaincy when he does return to the side, so it probably makes sense to stick with Slipper until they know who they want long term. I won't hate it if they go with a job share arrangement between him and another 1 or 2 guys all the way through to the world cup.
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
Yeah fair point, McReight, Phillip, Holloway, McDermott all options if they continue to start
Outside of Phillip I think all those guys are good future candidates, but probably post world cup. Maybe Holloway could sooner, but he'll need to really lock down his spot in Argentina first and it's a lot to hand to guy with only a few tests to his name. Porecki in a very similar boat, looks like a good option as captain, but I don't know you want to burden him with it just yet.
 

Dismal Pillock

Simon Poidevin (60)
White is the name thrown up a lot but I'm not sure he's a great option for captain.
He never stops yapping to the poor ref, pick who you like as captain, in Nic's head he's the de facto captain anyway

giphy.gif

"You better f****** believe it c***".
 

LeCheese

Ken Catchpole (46)
With Hoops stepping back for the moment and probably more so after RWC23. What’s our captain hierarchy looking like?

Slipper is a great stop gap but not long term.
We don’t really have any bolt on starters that are captain material or are based in Aus (which should be a criteria).

Can Bobby V captain?
Our props are close, I like Allan and Bell could be a roughie, lock him in for 10 years like Hooper. But a prop is a prop.
For a few years there it seemed McReight was very much being prepared as the longer-term heir - if he can perform while Hooper's out, you'd think he would have to be towards the top of the pile.
 
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