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Wallabies 2024

rugbyAU

Nev Cottrell (35)
I don’t think Toole is out of it. Keep scoring tries and he’ll be in squads.

I think we may have seen the end of Nic White, AAA, Kerevi, Porecki, Arnold

Tom Wright is a Winger at Test level. He has great skills but you can’t trust him at Fullback. I think Pollard can go past Lonergan if he stays fit. Has the frame to hold more size and can be a beast around the field.

The Halfback job is completely up for grabs IMO even though I’ve written White off. McDermott is most likely but hasn’t set the world on fire and IFL was a bolter.

Backrow will be made up of Valetini, Leota, Gleeson, Wright, Hooper. McReight and Swinton could feature. I think Eddie might like Swinton if he can be fit and keep his head.
AAA gone? I don’t think we’ve seen the end of him he’s signed till 27’ and he’s got experience and leadership
Don’t forget Ryan Lonergan for reasons above and goal kicking
Agree the others are gone at test level
 

Tomikin

Simon Poidevin (60)
I don’t think Toole is out of it. Keep scoring tries and he’ll be in squads.

I think we may have seen the end of Nic White, AAA, Kerevi, Porecki, Arnold

Tom Wright is a Winger at Test level. He has great skills but you can’t trust him at Fullback. I think Pollard can go past Lonergan if he stays fit. Has the frame to hold more size and can be a beast around the field.

The Halfback job is completely up for grabs IMO even though I’ve written White off. McDermott is most likely but hasn’t set the world on fire and IFL was a bolter.

Backrow will be made up of Valetini, Leota, Gleeson, Wright, Hooper. McReight and Swinton could feature. I think Eddie might like Swinton if he can be fit and keep his head.
I agree with Toole if he keeps just doing what his doing, then I think he will be there or there about. I don't think you can toss AAA aside just yet his 29 and still a bloody good player, but will all depend on how he comes back from injury, he may have ended up as Captian for the RWC if not injured.

You are right about Tom Wright, he could have been on the bench in front of Suli, I think his a better winger and could have covered fullback... but he shot himself in the foot for this world cup only himself to blame.

Halfback will be interesting, but I think it be Tate/Lonergan and one other maybe depending on who wins the start in the West.. I'd probably go ILF as he would be for the future. Don't get me wrong I think White is better than all 3 of them but it is time to move on.

Backrow you got pretty much right, It be good to see how some of the others go, e.g. Gamble in the 7 jersey,
 

Joe Blow

Peter Sullivan (51)
AAA gone? I don’t think we’ve seen the end of him he’s signed till 27’ and he’s got experience and leadership
Don’t forget Ryan Lonergan for reasons above and goal kicking
Agree the others are gone at test level
It sure would have been nice to have him in the last couple of weeks. We need him when Tupou gets a rest or is injured. Its a big step down after that.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Andrew Slack (58)
Personally I don’t see him do all that much in Tests to warrant an automatic gig. He won’t be past it and silver lining to an injury like his is the time off the rest of body to freshen up.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Andrew Slack (58)
AAA gone? I don’t think we’ve seen the end of him he’s signed till 27’ and he’s got experience and leadership
Don’t forget Ryan Lonergan for reasons above and goal kicking
Agree the others are gone at test level
I thought Lonergan should have been in the RWC squad ahead of IFL.

He’ll benefit from getting the full starting job with White gone.
 

Linerunner2023

Fred Wood (13)
I don’t think Toole is out of it. Keep scoring tries and he’ll be in squads.

I think we may have seen the end of Nic White, AAA, Kerevi, Porecki, Arnold

Tom Wright is a Winger at Test level. He has great skills but you can’t trust him at Fullback. I think Pollard can go past Lonergan if he stays fit. Has the frame to hold more size and can be a beast around the field.

The Halfback job is completely up for grabs IMO even though I’ve written White off. McDermott is most likely but hasn’t set the world on fire and IFL was a bolter.

Backrow will be made up of Valetini, Leota, Gleeson, Wright, Hooper. McReight and Swinton could feature. I think Eddie might like Swinton if he can be fit and keep his head.
Agree but I think AAA will be back
Interesting to see how Robertson, rodda come back from injuries
I think Kerevi will be back - if he gets back to his best he will be one of the first players picked with marika
 

Linerunner2023

Fred Wood (13)
I would much rather lose to Ireland and France by 1 point , than the results we have now.
Yes loosing to France and Ireland over there with our Australia A side with the squad missing up to 15 to 20 players through injury and ineligible overseas players I’d take that over a first ever RWC pool exit, 40 point drubbing to wales and loosing to Fiji
Jones is 0 from 7 against rhe big Guys so hasn’t even got off the board! 3 out of the 7 were floggings
On that Rennie is 36% better coach then jones
 

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
I don’t think Toole is out of it. Keep scoring tries and he’ll be in squads.

I think we may have seen the end of Nic White, AAA, Kerevi, Porecki, Arnold

Tom Wright is a Winger at Test level. He has great skills but you can’t trust him at Fullback. I think Pollard can go past Lonergan if he stays fit. Has the frame to hold more size and can be a beast around the field.

The Halfback job is completely up for grabs IMO even though I’ve written White off. McDermott is most likely but hasn’t set the world on fire and IFL was a bolter.

Backrow will be made up of Valetini, Leota, Gleeson, Wright, Hooper. McReight and Swinton could feature. I think Eddie might like Swinton if he can be fit and keep his head.
Leaving Lonergan behind was pretty dumb. He's not huge, it's true. But he's consistent in the set piece and pretty useful around the park. Uelese on the other hand, is useless at just about everything.
 

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Leaving Lonergan behind was pretty dumb. He's not huge, it's true. But he's consistent in the set piece and pretty useful around the park. Uelese on the other hand, is useless at just about everything.

Despite his size he's pretty good at bending the line, and is an added presence at the breakdown... packing down with Bell and Tupou either side of you doesn't hurt either.
 

noscrumnolife

Jimmy Flynn (14)
Giving a 5 yr contract is ludicrous.
Start with two years with KPIs attached to be met to be eligible for another two year extension. Why would you do anything else?
This is a key point for me. For better or for worse, Eddie has always been a coach who will coach to his contract. When England Rugby kept giving him extensions post 2019 with the sole ambition of winning in 2023, I think many of his decisions (cycling through lots of players, not having to keep assistants on) were made with that in mind. 2020-2022 didn't matter as long as it benefited 2023.

And I think something similar has happened here. His contract is about 2025 and 2027 (I'd pray to god there are some performance incentives for the Lions series) so he doesn't care about 2023. That's not me launching a defence of Eddie btw and suggesting "he has a masterplan we must trust him". I think there's plenty of debate about whether his strategy has been the right one over this year. And I think there's a strong argument given the overall ambition of his appointment is to revive the Wallabies he has significantly harmed that revival. But I do think if you give him a contract with carte blanche, he will take up all the leeway in it to ensure the final goal is reached. Which is an administrative failing IMO, not one of Eddie's - should give him a more rigid, structured contract.
 

Linerunner2023

Fred Wood (13)
My biggest hope is Jorgenson continues to develop and the Wallabies may have found a genuine 15.

We have too many questions around our 2,9,10,15 which you need to be any chance consistently.
Yes who’s your pick to get these spots or any potential bolters?
2 - I had hopes for latu to be good out of desperation however he wasn’t, Alex mafi or pollard maybe?
9 - hopefully between McDermott / LFL and Lonergan and maybe Wilson in a couple of years he may have this covered
10- who knows hopes for carter gorden. I’d like to see pasitoa get a full super season! Any candidate this year may be burnt like gorden and Donaldson
15 - need a Beale kind of player. Quick but also with a kicking game! Kellaway maybe still best next year and Wright only an international winger so Jorgensen hopefully in a few years
 

Linerunner2023

Fred Wood (13)
Despite his size he's pretty good at bending the line, and is an added presence at the breakdown... packing down with Bell and Tupou either side of you doesn't hurt either.
Yes if Lonergan is surrounded by behemoths in bell , tupou, AAA, Skelton, valetini etc you can have your smaller hooker in there with the rest of the pack having the size
 

Agent

Bill Watson (15)
agreed lets focus on Wallabies 2024... which players currently in the RWC squad might fall out next year, and who has missed out that might come back in.

As I watched the Brumbies, I feel from them Wright to have a big year, both young hookers and Lonergan. I'd love to see Toole given a shot, but don't think Eddie likes small wingers, but the turn of pace is so electric that his going to be there or there abouts

I thought both Lonergan's and Wright were very unlucky to miss out on the RWC squad so I agree that they will be about next year. Toole I'm not as sold on - nothing against him but I think we have plenty of stock in the outside backs. I hope Lolesio continues to develop - not sure if he is our long term answer but his growth has to be good for Aussie rugby.

I hope a few from the Tahs continue to kick on next year - Jorgenson, Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase), Foketi (who I thought might have got more of a run at the WC considering Kerevi has been a bit quiet), Gamble, and Gleeson etc. Suúalii is another 12 months off but I hope he transitions well. From QLD I think Josh Flook is on the rise, and hopefully Harry Wilson and Lynagh can build, to name a few.

Very few are going to come out of the RWC disaster smelling like roses and I think there will be a few victims. If I had to list a couple (and I can) I'd say the chances for the likes of Uelese, Arnold, White, and Vunivalu could be severely affected and even the likes of Slipper, Leota, Gordon / Donaldson, Kerevi, Perese, Koribete, Poreki, and Pone. It's up to them to stand up and be counted next year. Now is a good time to pull the broom out in terms of future Wallaby prospects but I suppose that will be up to the coach and selectors but hopefully we can start afresh next year and rebuild from the rubble.
 
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The Ghost of Raelene

Andrew Slack (58)
Yes who’s your pick to get these spots or any potential bolters?
2 - I had hopes for latu to be good out of desperation however he wasn’t, Alex mafi or pollard maybe?
9 - hopefully between McDermott / LFL and Lonergan and maybe Wilson in a couple of years he may have this covered
10- who knows hopes for carter gorden. I’d like to see pasitoa get a full super season! Any candidate this year may be burnt like gorden and Donaldson
15 - need a Beale kind of player. Quick but also with a kicking game! Kellaway maybe still best next year and Wright only an international winger so Jorgensen hopefully in a few years
2. BPA
9. McDermott
10. Gordon
15. Jorgenson

Kellaway maybe to get the first start at 15 and bring Jorgenson through. Nobody is pushing Gordon out of the jersey so why not let a kid keep developing. Noah is probably still the next best 10.
 

Agent

Bill Watson (15)
Yes who’s your pick to get these spots or any potential bolters?
2 - I had hopes for latu to be good out of desperation however he wasn’t, Alex mafi or pollard maybe?
9 - hopefully between McDermott / LFL and Lonergan and maybe Wilson in a couple of years he may have this covered
10- who knows hopes for carter gorden. I’d like to see pasitoa get a full super season! Any candidate this year may be burnt like gorden and Donaldson
15 - need a Beale kind of player. Quick but also with a kicking game! Kellaway maybe still best next year and Wright only an international winger so Jorgensen hopefully in a few years

2 - I like Lonergan and I'd love to see Pollard develop.
9 - I think you have named to 4 best prospects
10 - God knows! Lots of developing options as long as we move forward without Quade / Foley / O'Çonnor post RWC.
15 - Agree. Kellaway for now and continue to develop Jorgenson.
 
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