Wallabies 2025

[Adam84]

This is the problem with professional sports; they are a business who want to succeed today.

Why would a franchise have an inexperienced back up when they can have someone with experience? I think the Brumbies success is partly due to being able to put Jack Debreczeni on as a reserve.

The solution is a genuine third tier competition or some type of scholarship where RA helps them play overseas for a few years, but they are contracted to return to a franchise that RA chooses. This will never happen, but we have seen how NPC experience can help a young player improve.

I think what the Reds are doing with Bennetton is another example that can be orchestrated at the Super Rugby club level without RA intervention

 

[rugbyAU]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/09/...loe-cup-after-wallabies-veterans-epic-return/

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Doran reports that Waters Wet.

Wallabies need JOC (James O'Connor) for as long as he can play. He’s head and shoulders above any other candidate right now. Don’t care what he can’t do anymore, it’s what he can do right now.

He gets the ball moving at a much faster rate than the others and at his age understands his game which limits errors.

 

[Crashy]

Nick white on Rugby Heaven last night. ( and I paraphrase)

Cam Shepherd - 'are you happy about leaving and not getting to play the kiwis'
NW - look I love playing for my country and playing against the kiwis and would love to do it again, but my body is busted.

CS - can you elaborate?
NW - I need to get 2 knee reconstructions and my legs straightened. Oh yeah and I need to get my right shoulder completely replaced.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He might come back ball playing Lock when they straighten the pins out.

 

[Crashy]

you're not wrong. He looked pretty bow legged on sat when I was at the game.
A real servant of the game.

 

[Uh huh]

you're not wrong. He looked pretty bow legged on sat when I was at the game.
A real servant of the game.

To be fair I can remember his first season for the Brumbies and even then he looked like he'd just done the Perth away leg on a horse.

 

[Major Tom]

Anyone know what the injury for Tate was? Hamstring tear?

 

[rugbyAU]

Anyone know what the injury for Tate was? Hamstring tear?

Hamstring

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

So it’s basically an unknown at this stage…

EOYT you hope. At least Gordon is back fit with Lonergan. That 3rd guy though if Tates no good….IFL is capped but leaving and on the Force bench. Thomas would be my call up to the squad.

 

[Major Tom]

So it’s basically an unknown at this stage…

EOYT you hope. At least Gordon is back fit with Lonergan. That 3rd guy though if Tates no good….IFL is capped but leaving and on the Force bench. Thomas would be my call up to the squad.

Well I was hoping it wasn’t an ACL.
Wilson or Thomas included for me.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Thomas is just a bit more rounded and experienced for me at this stage. By the end of the next Super Rugby season they may be on the same page but right now Thomas got so much in his play during last seasons starts.

 

[TSR]

Nic White has come out of retirement again

 

[PhilClinton]

Honestly the entire flying in and out, retiring and then un-retiring stuff from the players is a very poor reflection on our squads.

Is it also confirmed JOC (James O'Connor) will be returning to the UK now? If so, that doesn't sit overly well with me. I get it, these guys are professionals and travel a lot. But what kind of message is it sending when we make him fly halfway around the world on short notice and then have him fly back there because we lost the game. Was the plan always for him to fly back regardless?

For all the moments of positivity this campaign, there have definitely been issues highlighted with our depth once again, almost to comical effect with the White retirement situation.

 

[TSR]

Teddy Wilson will be playing the Super AU final and needs to be able to focus on that but if they think at all Kalani Thomas could be a candidate for higher honours (and I’m not sure they would) then I feel like they should take him over too for experience.

After initially employing a pick and stick strategy the 10 position has become a revolving door again - largely forced by injuries to Lolesio & Lynagh. I’d be happy to see them put one of the young guys back in the hot seat again and revert to pick and stick for a while. JOC (James O'Connor) needed to do better to justify continuing with him IMO.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

There’s also not another candidate. Wallabies aren’t bringing in Klayton Thorn…

Would be good for his development to train with a higher calibre group and just get amongst it for a week.

 

[Dctarget]

Has White retired from Test rugby or all rugby?

 

[Tomikin]

Look, from what I can tell, Whitey is just joining the camp as a squaddy and will be there helping them prepare, and break glass fix if Gordon goes down. Seems pretty resenable to do considering he lives in Perth, his only 1 game removed, and it's the last test of the RC..

It would have been better if the Bledisloe was still alive and he kicked a long-range penalty to win it back.... But at least this week will be exciting for @Dismal Pillock one more week of dreaming of wacking off to Nic White in an AB vs Wobs game. Dream on, My Friend Dream on

 

[Braveheart81]

Brining Nic White back to be third string this week makes sense to me. The alternatives have never been in a Wallabies squad.

While it would be a debacle if we needed that third string player this week (whether it's White or someone else), you don't want to be spending time bringing a new player up to speed who isn't in your 23.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

It would have been better if the Bledisloe was still alive and he kicked a long-range penalty to win it back.... But at least this week will be exciting for @Dismal Pillock one more week of dreaming of wacking off to Nic White in an AB vs Wobs game. Dream on, My Friend Dream on