Wallabies 2025

[Homer]

The lions hookers are pretty mobile. If you want to fight fire with fire then Pollard is the best runner. Scrummaging though it is probably Porecki and BPA. Although BPA can get the yips with Lineouts.
The reserve hooker will need to be a top notch scrummager as the Lions will bring on a new Shit hot front row and our depth isnt the same in props, and an injury or two will severely test that by the third test.
I would start with Pollard or Porecki and finish with BPA.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I'm assuming Faessler will be fit by the Lions? Pollard and Faessler for me with Porecki and BPA behind them.

Asiata is the wildcard as he's been good and brings size. Could easily get the 3rd spot and push for a bench position.

As steady as Dolly has been I don't see him being effective v the Lions. He's neat but nothing spectacular.

 

[liquor box]

Very true. Can't forget that Porecki has captained the Wallabies before which would affect selection

Previously being captain should not have an impact, the last few years have seen quite a few players get the captaincy.

Does Liam Wright get a free pass into the squad when he is back from injury just because he has been a captain in the past?

 

[Strewthcobber]

We could probably select a team with 7 former named captains in it. Slipper, McDermott, AAA, Skelton, Poreki, Wright, Wilson, as well as at least one more who has been captain on-field/non-test match - Nic White,

 

[Derpus]

Locking Wright down for three years is massive. We haven't had a genuinely good fullback since Folau.

 

[Major Tom]

I'm assuming Faessler will be fit by the Lions? Pollard and Faessler for me with Porecki and BPA behind them.

Asiata is the wildcard as he's been good and brings size. Could easily get the 3rd spot and push for a bench position.

As steady as Dolly has been I don't see him being effective v the Lions. He's neat but nothing spectacular.

I like Faessler's footwork at the line. He's also a very solid lineout operator (throw and maul driver). I think you need to have BPA or Asiata in the 23 for that size when the scrum comes under pressure. Pollard does offer that burst with ball in hand but not sure about his scrummaging. I think Porecki is too injury prone (seems to get head knocks all the time). And Dolly probably doesn't offer much more than the others.

 

[Dctarget]

Fardy is leaving Connacht as defence coach. Wonder if he’s coming home, few coaching staff places available for the Wallabies.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think Pollard part of a good tight 5 is fine. He’s heavier than listed right now and would be 6’2 and 110kg

We don’t need to pick a side of monsters just because we assume the Lions are. If it takes away from any strength of our own why do it. Is Faz started and Pollard came on why can’t we raise the pace on the Lions and make them play us at our game? Seems silly to just enter the NH world of bash it up.

 

[Derpus]

I think Pollard part of a good tight 5 is fine. He’s heavier than listed right now and would be 6’2 and 110kg

We don’t need to pick a side of monsters just because we assume the Lions are. If it takes away from any strength of our own why do it. Is Faz started and Pollard came on why can’t we raise the pace on the Lions and make them play us at our game? Seems silly to just enter the NH world of bash it up.

I don't think the Lions actually are a big pack, are they? I thought they were carrying a smaller back 5.

 

[Mr. Speaker]

Fardy is leaving Connacht as defence coach. Wonder if he’s coming home, few coaching staff places available for the Wallabies.

I'd assume Kiss is not going to disrupt much of the Schmidt regime if he has the choice. Could do though.

 

[Major Tom]

I think Pollard part of a good tight 5 is fine. He’s heavier than listed right now and would be 6’2 and 110kg

We don’t need to pick a side of monsters just because we assume the Lions are. If it takes away from any strength of our own why do it. Is Faz started and Pollard came on why can’t we raise the pace on the Lions and make them play us at our game? Seems silly to just enter the NH world of bash it up.

Yeah fair. Still reckon BPA and Asiata with their weight offer something for them to worry about.

 

[Shiggins]

Lan

It was both a bad pass and in my view shouldn't have been thrown. I don't think Lancaster scores if he catches it, I think he gets comfortably bundled into touch.

Lancaster had a shocker tonight. Defence was non existent. I think the defensive pattern didn't help but he was always out of place and let in 30 odd points.

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

Jones is a wet cumsock and should never be spoken of except by Satan, when contemplating what new torture to inflict upon him in his endless damnation.

Language here is dreadful

 

[The Bulldozer]

Lan

Lancaster had a shocker tonight. Defence was non existent. I think the defensive pattern didn't help but he was always out of place and let in 30 odd points.

He had his cracking try but agree serious lapses in defense let easily defendable tries in

 

[Homer]

I don't think the Lions actually are a big pack, are they? I thought they were carrying a smaller back 5.

Chessum is 6,7 and 118kgs. Porter is 123kgs, Itoje 118kgs while the england and irish backrow are all 105 to 110kgs. So not the biggest pack but still very solid, especially if we play WIlliams and Fez.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Chessum is 6,7 and 118kgs. Porter is 123kgs, Itoje 118kgs while the england and irish backrow are all 105 to 110kgs. So not the biggest pack but still very solid, especially if we play WIlliams and Fez.

I have my doubts on those listed numbers. Every time we go on the end of year tour our pack is always 20-30kgs lighter on the tv graphic even when we have Tupou, Bell and Skelton.

Itoje especially is a much stringier and slightly shorter player than say Horwill but is apparently heavier.

 

[Derpus]

Language here is dreadful

 

[Dctarget]

So with all the injuries floating around, any Wallabies definitively ruled out for the Lions?

Jorgensen, Sua'ali'i, Faessler, De Lutiis, Ala'alatoa, Wilson should all be fit?

 

[Ignoto]

Jorgensen, Sua'ali'i, Faessler, De Lutiis, Ala'alatoa, Wilson should all be fit?

They should all be hit (maybe De Lutis won't be given its a dislocated wrist) but the question will be their conditioning. JAS and Alan will be pushing it as JAS's injury needs what, 4-6 weeks at minimum to heal and there's something like 7 - 8 weeks until the first Lions game.

 

[fatprop]

Chessum is 6,7 and 118kgs. Porter is 123kgs, Itoje 118kgs while the england and irish backrow are all 105 to 110kgs. So not the biggest pack but still very solid, especially if we play WIlliams and Fez.

As Squidge highlighted, they have picked a load of workrate focussed forwards who share one key criteria, they get off the arse fast, get back into play - rinse and repeat. And then they have the luxury of bringing on another world class units to continue

We are likely to run out of units as phases multiply