Tomthumb
Peter Johnson (47)
I’d say the Crusaders putting the 3rd string 10 in ahead of him when Kemara went down and that they didn’t trust him to play in the final would suggest otherwise
Rugby Championship 2025: South Africa v Australia
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Tomthumb
Peter Johnson (47)
If it’s not the end of the world then we should be giving Donaldson the chance, right?
Can anyone point to these vintage performances at 10 that O’Connor has produced at test level? His last test was so bad that Dave Rennie dropped him out of the entire squad right after the game
Spamnoodle
Ted Thorn (20)
You should look at your glass as half full sometime. It's liberating.
Tomthumb
Peter Johnson (47)
Is that Joes pep talk to Ben Donaldson?
Yoda
Colin Windon (37)
I'm with you, although Joe is the coach.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
You two have been calling for Donaldson to start over both Lolesio and Lynagh, but his form has not commanded it and obviously the coaches have felt he is not the one to start right now. Further confirmed by this selection. No coach is infallible but Joe Schmidt knows what he is doing. I think most will agree on that?
Tomthumb
Peter Johnson (47)
Yes but Joe also picked Champion De Crespiny over Tom Hooper and Harry Potter over Dylan Pietch so he has recent form of bad selections
He’s a great coach no doubt about it, but coaching and selecting are two different skills
Yoda
Colin Windon (37)
Joe is a great coach definitely. Although just didn't understand him starting a novice Lynagh who hardly grabbed the jersey. Farrell must have thought he'd won lotto. "Smash the little bloke"... and that's exactly what they did. Would have helped Tommy though if his team backed him up. Anyway, I look forward to James proving me wrong and having a fairytale like Whitey last week! When the game kicks off, I'm cheering them all on as hard as anyone. Go you good things!
Spamnoodle
Ted Thorn (20)
I'm sure Donaldson also knows his role and what he has to do.
Any speculation is your domain.
Spamnoodle
Ted Thorn (20)
He's not the sole selector, but you already knew that....
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
I don’t necessarily think we have an issue with the pipeline. We produce a very stock standard type 10 right now. Every 18s and 20s have the same prototype guy.
I’ve said it before but Rugby needs to look at its current players that may be able to transition to the job like Foley did from 15 up to 10 and Larkham. Still, for the next 2-3 years we have to work with the current group. Lynaghs age should tell us he will improve and he seems like a kid that will put in every effort to get better and not rest on his laurels.
I see a kid like Sid Harvey in the 20s and think he has the natural skill set to be a first receiver even though he has played Fullback and Wing.
noscrumnolife
Darby Loudon (17)
Ewen McKenzie was making a similar point on recent podcast with he-who-shall-not-be-named and the fart-sniffer Pemby. Need to be able to identify inherent talent and be willing to think creatively about it. Takes brains though.
FWIW I think Tom Wright is such a player. His own development was disrupted a bit by time in mungo-ball, and he's too far down the road at fullback at age 28 + maybe a bit too rocks and diamonds for it. But in another world he's a gun 10, not a fullback.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Manly saw him as a five eighth in League… they also value athleticism over a lot of other things which he has shit tons of.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
True. Both replacements have faired better behind a stronger performance all around. Pietsch missing out was odd. Both selections were pretty close I imagine? There is a reason why he keeps going away from Donaldson starting. Fiji perhaps? I don’t know.
BDA
Jim Lenehan (48)
My thoughts on the 10 selection, definitely harsh on donaldson who, to be fair to him, has largely done his job when called on. But kinda of just reinforces what we already knew - schidt doesnt see him as a starting wallabies 10.
Say what you want about lynagh (who had the unenviable task of essentially debuting at 10 against the B&I Lions) but the guy's a starting 10... the guy finds/creates line breaks, executes set moves, and for the most part kicks accurately... donaldson's more than a good hand but his skill set / style of play doesnt scream wallabies 10 to me.
Who knows, maybe he'll become Australia's Stephen Donald and comes off the bench to win us a world cup, forcing me to eat my hat.
Say what you want about lynagh (who had the unenviable task of essentially debuting at 10 against the B&I Lions) but the guy's a starting 10... the guy finds/creates line breaks, executes set moves, and for the most part kicks accurately... donaldson's more than a good hand but his skill set / style of play doesnt scream wallabies 10 to me.
Who knows, maybe he'll become Australia's Stephen Donald and comes off the bench to win us a world cup, forcing me to eat my hat.
Blue
Andrew Slack (58)
No JOC (James O'Connor) at all would be even more entertaining.
whitefalcon
Phil Hardcastle (33)
just on this, fuck i love the "rugby unity" podcast basically being an outlet for the three of them to shit on aussie rugby.
I don't know why i watch it, but it reeks of "the Australian style" bullshit
Linerunner2023
Ted Thorn (20)
That’s a blow with no valetini back
Also no Lukhan on the bench
Still like the 6-2 split though over 3 bench backs
No Donaldson for back up 10 is a concern. Can White or Tate play 10?
Also no Lukhan on the bench
Still like the 6-2 split though over 3 bench backs
No Donaldson for back up 10 is a concern. Can White or Tate play 10?