Australia A - Back on the Cards

[Slim 293]

Squad by position...

Props (5)

Matt Gibbon, Melbourne Rebels – 5 caps

Harry Johnson-Holmes, NSW Waratahs – 1 cap

Tom Lambert, NSW Waratahs – 0 caps

Sam Talakai, Melbourne Rebels – 1 cap

Rhys van Nek, ACT Brumbies – 0 caps

Hookers (2)

Folau Fainga’a, Western Force – 38 caps

Lachlan Lonergan, ACT Brumbies – 8 caps

Locks (3)

Josh Canham, Melbourne Rebels – 0 caps

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Melbourne Rebels – 30 caps

Darcy Swain, ACT Brumbies – 17 caps

Back Row (5)

Ned Hanigan, NSW Waratahs – 28 caps

Pete Samu, ACT Brumbies – 33 caps

Lachlan Swinton, NSW Waratahs – 4 caps

Seru Uru, QLD Reds – 0 caps

Brad Wilkin, Melbourne Rebels – 0 caps

Scrum-halves (2)

Ryan Lonergan, ACT Brumbies – 0 caps

James Tuttle, Melbourne Rebels – 0 caps

Fly-halves (1)

Bernard Foley, Japan – 76 caps

Centres (4)

Filipo Daugunu*, QLD Reds – 7 caps

Josh Flook, QLD Reds – 0 caps

James O’Connor, QLD Reds – 72 caps

Hunter Paisami, QLD Reds – 24 caps

Outside Backs (4)

Lachlan Anderson, Melbourne Rebels – 0 caps

Dylan Pietsch, NSW Waratahs – 0 caps

Corey Toole, ACT Brumbies – 0 caps

Tom Wright, ACT Brumbies – 23 caps

*pending fitness - Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs) is on standby

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Yes and Holloway. You would've thought Jed would be the first off the blocks if Leota or Gleeson went down.

No Harry Wilson

 

[Slim 293]

No Cadeyrn Neville either...

 

[Wilson]

I'm telling you, Eddie is a fan of Brothers - leaves Wilson, Creighton and Stewart there and calls Gibbon and Canham away from bond and Uru, Paisami and Daugunu away from Wests. Clearing the path for the filth to get up.

 

[Derpus]

Is there a group of reserves that act as first call up for potentially injured players in the Wallabies separate to Australia A or is it just the Wallabies squad and this squad?

There are some weird omissions.

 

[LeCheese]

The Wilson decision boggles the mind

 

[Members Section]

I like Tuttle as a Super Rugby team 21 but I reckon Teddy Wilson should have been give some exposure here.

 

[Highlander35]

No Cadeyrn Neville either...

That one (alongside the Holloway non-selection) is very much in line with the remolding for 25/27 that Eddie appears to be looking at. Add Rodha to that group we have there and that's a quality group of 5 domestic locks (Frost, Swain, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Canham and Rodha) plus Skelton & T Hooper to build around.

 

[Slim 293]

Is there a group of reserves that act as first call up for potentially injured players in the Wallabies separate to Australia A or is it just the Wallabies squad and this squad?

There are some weird omissions.

The latter... although from memory there's still the Aus Barbarians squad to be announced for their French trip.

According to Doran...

Hooper has been left out due to his calf...

Jed Holloway opted out to possibly spend time with family...

Cooper had a tantrum after not being selected for the Wallabies and will be sitting on the couch instead.

 

[Wilson]

I like Tuttle as a Super Rugby team 21 but I reckon Teddy Wilson should have been give some exposure here.

I think for this one they went with guys they could call straight up to world cup if need be, more so than future development. I think Tuttle fits that better than Teddy Wilson

 

[SouthernX]

The Wilson decision boggles the mind

If gleeson/valentini gets injured they not rushing in Wilson.

They’ll bring in a back rower/lock

 

[Dctarget]

That one (alongside the Holloway non-selection) is very much in line with the remolding for 25/27 that Eddie appears to be looking at. Add Rodha to that group we have there and that's a quality group of 5 domestic locks (Frost, Swain, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Canham and Rodha) plus Skelton & T Hooper to build around.

I think Neville has just been straight up snubbed. Doesn't look like this squad is anymore focused on '27 than '23. Holloway said no, they have Pete Samu, Foley, O'Connor, Talakai, Fainga'a who all won't be here next cycle.

Seems to be ready to go plug ins for the 23 RWC squad.

 

[Dctarget]

Experienced inside back James O’Connor, who travelled to Darwin with the Wallabies as one of three additional players including Folau Fainga’a and Tom Lambert, has also been selected.

 

[Members Section]

I think for this one they went with guys they could call straight up to world cup if need be, more so than future development. I think Tuttle fits that better than Teddy Wilson

I'd argue that Teddy is already ahead of Tuttle

 

[Dctarget]

Cooper, it is understood, will instead travel overseas and put his feet up.

It’s believed he was left furious about not being selected.

Quade's a bit of a prima donna then, with only Gordon selected at 10, there's a very large chance we call up an extra fly half. This way he's taken his chance of appearing at the RWC from ~35% to 0.

 

[Wilson]

I'd argue that Teddy is already ahead of Tuttle

Nowhere near enough exposure to the pro game for mine.

 

[LeCheese]

If gleeson/valentini gets injured they not rushing in Wilson.

They’ll bring in a back rower/lock

The purpose of the squad isn't just to provide coverage for the Wobs though - if they can take 5 back rowers, surely one of them can be a pure 8

 

[SouthernX]

Quade's a bit of a prima donna then, with only Gordon selected at 10, there's a very large chance we call up an extra fly half. This way he's taken his chance of appearing at the RWC from ~35% to 0.

That’s how I feel about Quade…

And then ppl defending him like he’s been hard done by…

If that’s your attitude - your not mentally built for test rugby and the adversity that comes with playing for wallabies

 

[Braveheart81]

History suggests that at least a couple of these players will ultimately be part of the RWC squad.

I wonder if France will be gun-shy going into the final warm up match against the Wallabies? They might rest their whole squad given the loss of two key players already.

 

[SouthernX]

The purpose of the squad isn't just to provide coverage for the Wobs though - if they can take 5 back rowers, surely one of them can be a pure 8

I think in RWC year you want your most available players on standby - Uru is no8 who plays flanker and second row…