Rugby Championship 2025: South Africa v Australia

[Red Runner]

Are they the win/loss ratios for the Force and Tahs respectively in Super Rugby this year?

If so, it makes a compelling case for Declan Meredith to be in the squad and probably vying for a spot in the XXIII. Twelve games for the Brumbies this year, including 4 starts, for 8 wins and 4 losses. Overall in the past 3 years, 23 games for 17 wins. Who else even comes near those stats? On an individual basis, scored 3 tries, 2 penalty goals and 8 conversions for a total points of 37.

yes, I hear Andy Muirhead's win-loss ratio is also very good which must mean he should be in the side above both Jorgensen and Pietsch

 

[noscrumnolife]

Are they the win/loss ratios for the Force and Tahs respectively in Super Rugby this year?

If so, it makes a compelling case for Declan Meredith to be in the squad and probably vying for a spot in the XXIII. Twelve games for the Brumbies this year, including 4 starts, for 8 wins and 4 losses. Overall in the past 3 years, 23 games for 17 wins. Who else even comes near those stats? On an individual basis, scored 3 tries, 2 penalty goals and 8 conversions for a total points of 37.

On the one hand, lol.
On the other hand, I can laugh at Brumby Runner...and then I observe Edmed in the squad.

 

[HogansHeros]

Edmed is a brumby isnt it?

 

[Red Runner]

Are they the win/loss ratios for the Force and Tahs respectively in Super Rugby this year?

If so, it makes a compelling case for Declan Meredith to be in the squad and probably vying for a spot in the XXIII. Twelve games for the Brumbies this year, including 4 starts, for 8 wins and 4 losses. Overall in the past 3 years, 23 games for 17 wins. Who else even comes near those stats? On an individual basis, scored 3 tries, 2 penalty goals and 8 conversions for a total points of 37.

Those four starts, which are really the most crucial if your are picking him for the Wallabies.

- loss to the Force with Donaldson at 10
- loss to the Chiefs
- win v the Blues
- win v the Reds

50% as a starting 10? Is that the best stats?

 

[noscrumnolife]

Edmed is a brumby isnt it?

How could I forget...double lol.
Will be seeing some sing a different tune soon enough then.

 

[Yoda]

Donaldson's last two seasons at the helm for the Force. Winning plays a huge part.

Garbage. Put Lolesio, JOC (James O'Connor) or Lynagh there and the results wouldn't be any different.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Meredith is probably one more good year from being included in Wallabies squads. If he runs it and they maintain the wins he will get a look in. He probably suffers from being judged as keeping Noah's seat warm over the last couple of years when he got in.

The train will probably have left the station by then Ghost. Declan is 26yo now. Given his talent it will be a travesty if he doesn't get a chance at the higher level in a time when our No 10 stocks are the lowest in living memory.

 

[Braveheart81]

I genuinely can't tell if this is a bit or not.

 

[Tomthumb]

Good to see Schmidt sticking to backing the young guys like he always talked about…

At this point the only question is why Donaldson has been involved at all considering Schmidt obviously believes he’s a complete loser

 

[Major Tom]

The train will probably have left the station by then Ghost. Declan is 26yo now. Given his talent it will be a travesty if he doesn't get a chance at the higher level in a time when our No 10 stocks are the lowest in living memory.

BR he will be 27 with another season under his belt. I don’t know why you’re riding him off. HMP had the same year and he also can wait his turn.

 

[whitefalcon]

Meredith is probably one more good year from being included in Wallabies squads. If he runs it and they maintain the wins he will get a look in. He probably suffers from being judged as keeping Noah's seat warm over the last couple of years when he got in.

Will he even be the starter next year though? I hope he is but there is a chance Edmed becomes the starting 10

 

[Blue]

Cheapest tickets at $170 would be difficult to swallow for any average Australian earner let alone if their income was a divided by four. How the hell has that happened?

SARU completely f#ckedjed this up. Greed. fluffybunnys.

 

[fatprop]

I do wonder what Donaldson has to do?

JOC (James O'Connor) will often end up standing near the 15 when the big monsters start a rushing

 

[Brumby Runner]

BR he will be 27 with another season under his belt. I don’t know why you’re riding him off. HMP had the same year and he also can wait his turn.

At his age, the more likely scenario is that Declan will go overseas at the end of his current contract and in worst case come back playing test matches for Ireland in similar fashion to Mack Hansen. HMP has, what, 5 years in hand to wait for his time to come.

 

[Hogan]

Will he even be the starter next year though? I hope he is but there is a chance Edmed becomes the starting 10

If Meredith can perform next year like he did in season 2025, he’ll start every game. He offers much more in attack than Edmed who is a bit of a shoveller like Lolesio.

 

[TSR]

Meredith is probably one more good year from being included in Wallabies squads. If he runs it and they maintain the wins he will get a look in. He probably suffers from being judged as keeping Noah's seat warm over the last couple of years when he got in.

One good year or two more injuries.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Schmidt looking around, seeking a scapegoat to take on the World Champions at altitude, while no-one in Australia is watching. His eyes get a sudden sparkle, and he says "James"......

 

[Major Tom]

At his age, the more likely scenario is that Declan will go overseas at the end of his current contract and in worst case come back playing test matches for Ireland in similar fashion to Mack Hansen. HMP has, what, 5 years in hand to wait for his time to come.

He had a decent season. But I think you’re overstating his talent and ability. If he runs out for Ireland in the next few years I will be absolutely shocked! I take it his parents/grandparents are Irish?

 

[Brumby Runner]

He had a decent season. But I think you’re overstating his talent and ability. If he runs out for Ireland in the next few years I will be absolutely shocked! I take it his parents/grandparents are Irish?

Isn't everybody's? I really have no idea. I was using that prediction simply to illustrate that we usually don't know or appreciate what we have until someone else shows us what we missed out on.

He had a season where he played to a game plan designed around Noah's particular abilities and he did at least equally as good as Noah. In my opinion, better because he had a much more effective kicking game outdistancing Noah's penalty kicks for touch by a good 20 odd metres on average. He was levels ahead of Noah when kicking for touch close to the try line. His running game, when the plan allowed it, was better and pacier than Noah's too. I believe he had better connection with Tom Wright also, able to play inside or outside him in backline play. In all other respects, played to the plan at least as effectively as Noah.

My fervent hope is that Bernie allows him to play his natural, more attacking off the cuff style next year and gives him the opportunities he deserves to showcase his talents. He is better than his contemporary competitors for the 10 spot now but has not had the favourable and visible development pathway through age competitions that the likes of Ben D, Tane Edmed and Jack Bowen have had over the years.

For intgerest, here is an excerpt from a bio on him from Rugby.com.

"Playing for Wests Lions in the John I Dent Cup competition, he cemented himself as an integral part of their club, earning the coveted MacDougall medal for the JIDC player of the year in 2023.

During his dominant season for Wests, Meredith earned a promotion to the senior Brumbies squad in the 2023 season, debuting against the Crusaders in the same year. He is relatively versatile, with the ability to play at both fly-half and fullback, while he has fantastic speed and a precise boot."

 

[Froggy]

Not sure how you group Bowen with that group. Donaldson and Meredith are both 26, Edmed 24, whereas Bowen is 21 and at a completely different stage of his development to the others.