Wallabies 2025

[TSR]

Based on form if Kerevi was deemed not to standard that Daugunu would be next picked centre if anything were to happen to Ikitau or Sua’ali’i. And I’d be very comfortable with that. His form in the 13 jersey has been excellent for the last 2 yrs.

 

[Yoda]

'cause I'm trying to waste that final 30 minutes of work on a Friday: which team is better? Our predicted 2025 one for Lions match 1 or our 2013 one?

My combined team would be:
1. Bell 2. Moore 3. Ala'alatoa 4. Williams 5. Horwill (c) 6. Valetini 7. Hooper 8. Palu 9. Genia 10. Lolesio (yeah that's right) 11. Ioane 12. Ikitau 13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 14. Sua'ali'i 15. Wright 16. Fez 17. Slipper (fuck yeah) 18. Kepu 19. Skelton 20. McReight 21. White 22. JO'C 23. Folau (Folau's debut right? I'd trust Joseph in his 2nd season over Izzy on debut).

2025: 8/15 starters and 3/7 bench, so 11/22.

 

[Yoda]

You should have kept working! You wasted 30 minutes!

 

[Wilson]

'cause I'm trying to waste that final 30 minutes of work on a Friday: which team is better? Our predicted 2025 one for Lions match 1 or our 2013 one?

My combined team would be:
1. Bell 2. Moore 3. Ala'alatoa 4. Williams 5. Horwill (c) 6. Valetini 7. Hooper 8. Palu 9. Genia 10. Lolesio (yeah that's right) 11. Ioane 12. Ikitau 13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 14. Sua'ali'i 15. Wright 16. Fez 17. Slipper (fuck yeah) 18. Kepu 19. Skelton 20. McReight 21. White 22. JO'C 23. Folau (Folau's debut right? I'd trust Joseph in his 2nd season over Izzy on debut).

2025: 8/15 starters and 3/7 bench, so 11/22.

If we're talking about the player as they were then vs the players as they are now then it's Valetini, McReight and Wilson over Mowen, Hooper and Palu. Valetini > Palu (at least the 2013 model) an established McReight over a near debutant Hooper and an established Wilson absolute beats out a debutant Mowen for mine.

On the flipside I think I'd probably take 2013 Douglas over Williams (but that might change pretty soon).

 

[The Marketing Pigeon]

I think the mcreight v tizzano debate is crazy considering the repeat seasons of test match performances mcreight has put it - it’s mcreight then daylight and his ceiling is much higher than what we had for the last decade from hooper due to his support play

 

[Derpus]

I think the mcreight v tizzano debate is crazy considering the repeat seasons of test match performances mcreight has put it - it’s mcreight then daylight and his ceiling is much higher than what we had for the last decade from hooper due to his support play

Yeah right. McReight hasn't even come close to Hooper's best.

 

[A mutterer]

It's crazy to debate Wright not being a starter at this point. JAS may pressure him by 2027 but right now that jersey is his and our lack of Centres means JAS is best served there OR at a stretch the Wing as a target.

Locks in the Backline right now should only be:

10.
11.
12. Ikitau
13.
14.
15. Wright

Players like JAS, Daugunu, Jorgo, Potter, Loloseio, Donaldson, Lynagh are going to be wearing gold but yet to be seen where exactly.

I think you've missed a beat there ghost by excluding potter as a lock-in. If jorgo was fit I'd have him as the only other lock in.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Yeah right. McReight hasn't even come close to Hooper's best.

Thank you guys for opening this can of worms. Long overdue. Didn’t have much on this weekend anyway.

 

[Major Tom]

Yeah right. McReight hasn't even come close to Hooper's best.

His best games are just as good if not better than hooper’s. Hooper’s just played more atm.

 

[HogansHeros]

Im yet to see McReight have the same individual impact that Hooper had at international level. Hopefully we see it.

 

[Strewthcobber]

His best games are just as good if not better than hooper’s. Hooper’s just played more atm.

Which do you think McReight's best games at test level have been so far in his career?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Im yet to see McReight have the same individual impact that Hooper had at international level. Hopefully we see it.

I don’t really care about comparing guys from different sides though. McReight is the best right now. He hasn’t had game breaking moments in test footy like Hooper did (yet).

I think you've missed a beat there ghost by excluding potter as a lock-in. If jorgo was fit I'd have him as the only other lock in.

is he a lay down though? I mean guys that it’s not even questioned. At Wing we do have multiple options. Len ain’t up for debate.

I do think Potter should be on a Wing personally. Jorgo on the bench for some magic when the game gets a bit tired. No last 10 mins stuff get him on with 25 mins to go.

 

[Tomthumb]

Have people already forgotten how brilliant prime Hooper was? I like McReight but c’mon

 

[tig]

I'd still like to see JAS at inside centre, but I suppose it is too late for experimentation.

Quade Cooper in this morning's paper suggesting JAS for inside centre because Itikau is our best outside centre, so why move him?

 

[wamberal99]

Is Lolesio okay?

 

[Major Tom]

Which do you think McReight's best games at test level have been so far in his career?

Probably any of the games he played last year. He nearly won the John EALES medal even after missing games with a broken thumb. Bled in Wellington and Sydney and the loss to Ireland spring to mind.
I was never a massive hooper fan. I would have preferred Pocock or Gill. But I like my open side getting on the ball. Just my opinion though understand it’s not popular.

 

[Wilson]

Is Lolesio okay?

Failed HIA, hopefully just the standard 12 day stand down, but he has had a few recently I think. It's becoming a bit of a worrying trend amongst our 10s.

 

[Braveheart81]

Probably any of the games he played last year. He nearly won the John EALES medal even after missing games with a broken thumb. Bled in Wellington and Sydney and the loss to Ireland spring to mind.
I was never a massive hooper fan. I would have preferred Pocock or Gill. But I like my open side getting on the ball. Just my opinion though understand it’s not popular.

So you're saying that if he'd been available for the whole test season he would have won the JEM?

Kind of like Hooper who almost never missed time through injury and won it four times?

How about we let McReight win a few John Eales Medals and get a couple of nominations for World Rugby Player of the Year before we continue this discussion?

McReight is an exceptional player but suggesting he's had better test matches than Michael Hooper consistently had across more than a decade is pretty laughable.

 

[Tomikin]

Well 2013 a George Smith ripped in that season... But Hooper was special. McReight ain't there yet... Which for fuck sake is a pretty high bar

 

[Major Tom]

So you're saying that if he'd been available for the whole test season he would have won the JEM?

Kind of like Hooper who almost never missed time through injury and won it four times?

How about we let McReight win a few John Eales Medals and get a couple of nominations for World Rugby Player of the Year before we continue this discussion?

McReight is an exceptional player but suggesting he's had better test matches than Michael Hooper consistently had across more than a decade is pretty laughable.

Well I was responding to the comment that McReight hadn’t even gotten close to Hooper’s best. I think he’s had games where he’s as good or even performed better. I acknowledge Hooper’s exceptional durability and that McReight has a lot of catching up to do.