Wallabies 2025

[Strewthcobber]

Nothing like a poor tour for the sentiment to switch on a coach is there. This time last year every complaint was caveated. No more

 

[rugbyAU]

Have you personally assessed Jorgensen's health?

Valetini didn't start because his calf is still not at 100%, which was communicated prior to the match.

Who should have been doing the goal kicking and restarts?

It was clearly communicated why Lynagh is not on this tour...

Edmed is in the squad because we've lost Lolesio and Lynagh, and JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) is not a long term option.

I'm also not sure what impact JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) would've had on this game, aside from maybe converting the first try... and I don't know what Donaldson would've added when it's clear he's not any better than the above selections?

I would like to see Lonergan get more minutes, but I also don't think that would've made much of a difference and none of those points really address any of the real issues.

All reports were that Jorgensen was fine for the Italy week

Doran reported that Lynagh being left out wasn't to do with injury

I'd be much more confident with JOC (James O'Connor) coming on up 19-12 with 25 to go than Edmed

 

[Braveheart81]

All reports were that Jorgensen was fine for the Italy week

ESPN: "He is joined as a new face in the backline by Corey Toole, who replaces the ill Max Jorgensen."

 

[Strewthcobber]

All reports were that Jorgensen was fine for the Italy week

Doran reported that Lynagh being left out wasn't to do with injury

I'd be much more confident with JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) coming on up 19-12 with 25 to go than Edmed

From Doran's reporting

But after two years of being in and out of the squad, with his body and mind slowing his development, Schmidt has decided that now is the right time to take a “long-term view” with the rising playmaker bracketed as “unavailable” with a hamstring issue that has seen him struggle to train strongly in recent weeks.

“We’ve taken a long-term view with Tom Lynagh, who is still just 22-years-old,” Schmidt said in a statement.

“He has had a few injury frustrations since the third Test versus the Lions in early August and will follow an individualised program, guided by both Wallabies and Queensland staff, which will allow him to recover to full fitness.”

 

[Tomthumb]

ESPN: "He is joined as a new face in the backline by Corey Toole, who replaces the ill Max Jorgensen."

Again this is the nonsense ambiguity that Schmidt loves. Schmidt himself said he was “a bit off colour last week” but obviously not that much “off colour” as he played last week

Why can’t we just have an actual injury report with transparency? Instead we get rumours that Tizzano might or might not be injured and that Pietch might or might not be sick

 

[Yoda]

Schmidt himself said Jorgenson is fine, was a bit sick before the England game but mentioned nothing about him being sick this week

If Valetini is healthy enough to be on the bench he is healthy enough to start considering he could have been on in the 1st minute

Who should be kicking? Maybe someone that actually does it regularly

Lynagh has not been clearly communicated. Schmidt has implied without actually saying he's unavailable, but Kiss said it was a coaches decision to have him not go and have a full preseason. Is he cleared or not? we don't know

Edmed is not a short term/mid term/long term option either. The irony of dropping a guy that was actually involved in all our best wins under Schmidt in Donaldosn due to "work ons' and then picking a guy with infinitely more "works ons" makes absolutely no sense. We were up 19-12 when Edmed came on

Problem is Schmidt talks out of both sides of his mouth. Talks about how tired the players are yet barely uses his bench

Yep Tom Thumb. Doesn't seem to be telling the truth? "The irony of dropping a guy that was actually involved in all our best wins under Schmidt in Donaldson due to "work ons' and then picking a guy with infinitely more "works ons" makes absolutely no sense." Exactly. It has been his biggest mistake. No question. You could understand if Edmed was a gun. However that is definitely not the case.

 

[rugbyAU]

Doran said yesterday on the podcast he was fine for Italy

 

[rugbyAU]

Again this is the nonsense ambiguity that Schmidt loves. Schmidt himself said he was “a bit off colour last week” but obviously not that much “off colour” as he played last week

Why can’t we just have an actual injury report with transparency? Instead we get rumours that Tizzano might or might not be injured and that Pietch might or might not be sick

Exactly like NZ

 

[Yoda]

Wasn't he supposed to b

Doran said yesterday on the podcast he was fine for Italy

Wasn't he to be getting a good pre season in with the Reds? He was at the game!

 

[Yoda]

Exactly like NZ

That JOC (James O'Connor) debacle was total Bullsh.t!!

 

[rugbyAU]

That JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) debacle was total Bullsh.t!!

As in be transparent with injuries like NZ are

 

[Dctarget]

We saw Jorgensen have an undercooked game for England because of illness. It's not crazy for him to be dropped for a player who's 100% fit.

Kellaway kicking for sticks is pretty self-explanatory. If you want the upsides of C. Gordon you need to cover his deficiencies. Is Gordon + Kellaway's kicking better than Edmed + Edmed's kicking? Probably.

I remember Andrew kicked for posts and from kick off, did he also do for touch? I can't remember.

Not to run cover for Joe but this season was always going to be tough for us with the Lions, we've had the classic Post-RWC retirement dip/rebuild but in 2025, no other team has to manage that. Coupled with losing some old heads is a few injuries/Reg 9 shenanigans and our woeful depth is exposed.

We can and should beat Italy without any handicaps and can go head to head with the top 6. But the stars have to align sadly.

 

[Slim 293]

Second half in Johannesburg.... in Sydney v Argies after Edmed shocker... The complete balls up of him not wanted v NZ and then wanted after flying all the way to England. Obviously didn't help preparing for the All Blacks. Heard that was because Waugh stepped in on that. Schmidt didn't want him to play. That was a farce. He's a far greater 10 that Edmed. Let's see if he gets in the 23 v Ireland? Carter starts now he's fit. James off bench for the last 20.

Was the second half in Johannesburg down to JOC (James O'Connor)'s "attacking spark?"

I think JOC (James O'Connor) has been the more reliable option since Lolesio went down, but his form has also been quite mixed.

Harvey stated above that had JOC (James O'Connor) come on the second half against Italy his "attacking spark" would've won the Wallabies the game, but from what I've seen so far this year he doesn't really possess those credentials, nor the game changing influence of Stephen Larkham to turn everything around... and would've had no affect on the performance of our forwards.

 

[Slim 293]

Wasn't he to be getting a good pre season in with the Reds? He was at the game!

Geez... I wonder why he may have attended this game?

 

[Tomthumb]

Geez... I wonder why he may have attended this game?

He also attended the England game last week...

 

[Slim 293]

He also attended the England game last week...

Italy... and England?

Shocking.

 

[Slim 293]

From Doran's reporting

I'm not even sure why Lynagh is being brought up again when it was explained pretty clearly why he wasn't touring with the squad...

 

[wamberal99]

I hope they are desperate enough to win against the odds. The playing group has shown some real ability this year, a long tough year.

Two out of two has to be the goal, no excuses.

 

[Tomthumb]

I hope they are desperate enough to win against the odds. The playing group has shown some real ability this year, a long tough year.

Two out of two has to be the goal, no excuses.

But they are tired and trying really hard

 

[Major Tom]

I’d ring the changes, for the last 2 games of the season.
Tizzano onto the bench. Mcreight has had a huge workload and needs help.
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to start with either Williams or Frost. Or have Canham start if ribs still no good. But suggest they’re ok because swain has been sent home. Desperately need a bigger THL.
I’d start lonergan with Thomas coming off the bench (no point taking him if you’re not gonna play him). Pretty comfortable both those guys can handle the job and desperately want a pass off the deck to the 10.
Would love Carter there to start but his quad didn’t look great. So if no good play edmed, with JOC (James O'Connor) coming off the bench.
Pietch for Toole.
Jorgo for kellaway

Bench
Ross (unless bell injured, which I’d start him and have Robertson on the bench). Drop Faesler to the bench and start pollard.
Nongorr instead of AAA because I think he could do with a rest unless we absolutely need him.
Williams on the bench. Covering back row and lock.
Tizzano covers back row.
Thomas to ideally come on for the last 10mins. JOC (James O'Connor) to come on whenever. Daungunu to round for the final back.

I’d keep Wilson. I think the criticism has been harsh. He has given away a few penalties (one was harsh for the rolling maul last week as I thought he sacked the catcher not the lifters as the AR called) but I think he’s a symptom of a fwd group not working hard / accurately enough around the ruck. Valetini doesn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders and isn’t providing the impact to warrant selection IMO.