Wallabies 2025
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TSR
Steve Williams (59)
My read of that is that if Skelton is fit Wilson may not start. Wilson is being effective as a line out option but Hooper is that bit stronger as an option. Maybe I’m overthinking it but the only way it makes sense to me is either that or that Schmidt’s strong preference is Gordon and he is holding off to see if he is passed fit.
If that is the case Wilson may miss out altogether if Valetini is also fit as I assume Schmidt will be keen to continue using Valetini/Gleeson as a 1-2 punch. He could play a 6-2 bench or even use Hooper as starting 6/replacement lock but I’m not sure that will be an option he’d go to.
In that note, if Valetini doesn’t get passes fit it will be a loss, no doubt, but Gleeson has really progressed in the last 12 months and I don’t think it’ll be the catastrophe that it would’ve been 12 months ago. Still makes it tougher when we really need to be able to play as many aces as we possibly can, but at least Gleeson is now providing work rate to match his impact. I wonder if Champion de Crespigny may come well into the reckoning then as a potential replacement destructive forward.
I do agree but it’d be nice for some balanced articles for once. Flogging the same narrative is tiresome.
drewprint
Desmond Connor (43)
This is it. I’ve seen him throw around plenty of petty insults and rubbish in the comments. If that’s the standard the editor sets, it’s to be expected that the quality of writing takes a sharp nosedive too.
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
I called out Harry Jones a few months back after he wrote some analysis of a player based on Opta stats, except that poor Harry took the numbers from the wrong column and it completely debunked his entire premise.
He acknowledged the error, but the article remains unchanged… which is just bad journalism.
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Reds Rick
Chris McKivat (8)
Don’t know if this has been covered but this article reads as if Skelton and Valetini are definitely good to go https://www.rugby.com.au/news/schmi...ns-call-gives-positive-fitness-update-2025711
Tomikin
Michael Lynagh (62)
Like TSR said above it's because Wilson probably not starting if everyone's fit, its really the only reason that Wilson wasn't named captain at the start of Fiji camp and why his holding off now.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
That Doran article was utter garbage. Mate do you even like the fucking sport?
waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
Still needs to be grounded is some sort of reality though...
Some of the complaints are so trivial I wonder if his real target is RA and/ or Waugh. Any history there?
LeCheese
Geoff Shaw (53)
I felt the same - especially after reading the below. Feels like there may be some sour grapes involved here.
Linerunner2023
Billy Sheehan (19)
Fiji just beat Scotland 29 to 14 which leaps us over Scotland into 7th
Scotland missing a handful of lions
if Argentina loose to England we should land in 6th place
Scotland missing a handful of lions
if Argentina loose to England we should land in 6th place
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
"
Anything else is just overthinking things
His only target is engagement. 360 comments so far on this article which is the most for weeks.
Anything else is just overthinking things
Tomthumb
Ken Catchpole (46)
Then don’t name Wilson, name someone else. But name someone. At this point he hasn’t given anyone confidence to lead this team and it’s coming off as if he doesn’t think any of them are good enough leaders
Reds Rick
Chris McKivat (8)
Probably pissed he didn’t get the scoop
The Ghost of Raelene
Rod McCall (65)
Bang on.
He's desperate for relevancy and attention with the amount of swing and misses he's had during the Schmidt era. Seems like someone who is very much on the outside of the goss and salty about it.
Engagement is good and well but you have to be careful to not become the guy who is immediately dismissed.
waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
Also have to be careful not to go too deep into the rabbit hole(s), a bloke could get lost down there...
TSR
Steve Williams (59)
Probably not as easy if it sounds with Gordon under an injury cloud. I’m sure Ala'alatoa would get consideration but I get why front rowers aren’t ideal and I can also see he may consider starting Tupou and finishing with Ala'alatoa.
Porecki - injury cloud, may not start and same deal as Ala'alatoa
Slipper - as above
Skelton - not always available
Williams - not a gauranteed starter
Frost - can’t see it, possibly not gauranteed starter
McReight - maybe
Valetini - injury cloud & doesn’t strike me as likely
McDermott - probably not a starter if Gordon is fit
Ikitau - maybe
Wright - too far from the action and let’s let him focus on playing well
The rest are either to new or too unsure of their position (and are backs - so points off for that).
I’d hope he’s at least keeping Wilson informed of the thought process as he is the one it has the most chance of impacting mentally. Otherwise I can’t imagine it’s a big issue within the playing group. And for us it’s really a ‘nice to know’ rather than ‘must know’.
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