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Wallabies 2026

Major Tom

Major Tom

Peter Fenwicke (45)
The Ghost of Raelene said:
I know you've done it as of right now but there are flaws in the group we've all seen. The Prop group can be very strong at the top but falls away quickly. Nonggorr hasn't quite kicked on like a lot thought he might. Still young so plenty of scope to grow. Robertson is undersized and whilst all effort he is a liability come games v the big sides. Don't know if there are many prospects to push into the group? Schoupp?

In the backs I don't see Kellaway making it. I think with the availability of Nawaqanitawase and Petaia he can be pushed out. I also think there's a strong chance a guy like Pakeho pushes Paisami out. He's a more rounded player and will have another couple of years of physical growth on him.
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Yeah, jury is still out on Nonggorr but he definitely showed more this year at test level. Robertson doesn't cut it at the next level. I think Ross should leapfrog him with his scrummaging ability. Hopefully Schoupp and Kaliea can go to the next level. Blake needs to stay on the park and Kailea needs to improve dark arts wise.
Agree that we need to move past Kellaway. Petaia and Nawaqanitawase immediately improve our chances in the air. Lomax too if he is good enough.

Edit: I think Ieli is the Smokey.
 
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The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Tim Horan (67)
Wilson said:
De Lutiis is the one who I think could rocket into contention on the tight head side over the next two years. It depends a bit on him getting good game time this next year to stake his claim, but he has the time (and importantly the scrummaging strength) if he can stay on the field. Behind him guys like Van Nek and Botha look solid but limited at this level. Possibly Johnson-Holmes could be a bolter, but he has to get back on the park first.

Loose head is trickier to find one guy that really looks up to it, Schoupp looks solid but with a low ceiling and a troubling injury record, Ross is good but unspectacular, and I'm very unconvinced by Robertson at this level, especially when he's playing tight head in super. Kailea and Lambert should get a real opportunity to press their case this year with Bell gone. Ieli and Pearce both have a bit to like about them, but I'm not sure either will be ready until after the world cup.

There is a good crop coming through after the world cup though - Ieli, Pearce, Amone and Alatini are the main ones who'll start coming through then, but there is a good younger group coming through headlined by Uys.
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Yeah, the group post 27 feels very strong when it will be led by the likes of Bell who will be 31 at the 2031 WC. Uys, De Lutiis, Alatini, Langi, Goddard I expect all filter through to starting a lot of games of Super Rugby by 27/28.

De Lutiis needs game time and to stay injury free. Seems he's picked up a few early on but that's not too unsurprising given the position and age. It will settle. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is possibly the only slower Prop than AA and doesn't bring the same power. I hope he can just improve the Force and think it would be pushing it to ask for more. It leaves Nonggoor in a good position selection wise.

Kailea I forgot about. The most likely IMO. Lambert has good skill and energy but is he a bit undersized for Test level? Botha looks to have beefed up which can only help.

Either way I think the Wallabies are going to be stretching the Prop to the max at 27.
 
U

Upthemaroon!

Larry Dwyer (12)
The Ghost of Raelene said:
I know you've done it as of right now but there are flaws in the group we've all seen. The Prop group can be very strong at the top but falls away quickly. Nonggorr hasn't quite kicked on like a lot thought he might. Still young so plenty of scope to grow. Robertson is undersized and whilst all effort he is a liability come games v the big sides. Don't know if there are many prospects to push into the group? Schoupp?

In the backs I don't see Kellaway making it. I think with the availability of Nawaqanitawase and Petaia he can be pushed out. I also think there's a strong chance a guy like Pakeho pushes Paisami out. He's a more rounded player and will have another couple of years of physical growth on him.
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Pakeho had such a great Super Season, would love to see him link up with Henry this season for the Reds. If he has another great season I could see him get a spot, obviously not as a starter, but someone that can plug a hole if necessary.
 
Major Tom

Major Tom

Peter Fenwicke (45)
The Ghost of Raelene said:
Yeah, the group post 27 feels very strong when it will be led by the likes of Bell who will be 31 at the 2031 WC. Uys, De Lutiis, Alatini, Langi, Goddard I expect all filter through to starting a lot of games of Super Rugby by 27/28.

De Lutiis needs game time and to stay injury free. Seems he's picked up a few early on but that's not too unsurprising given the position and age. It will settle. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is possibly the only slower Prop than AA and doesn't bring the same power. I hope he can just improve the Force and think it would be pushing it to ask for more. It leaves Nonggoor in a good position selection wise.

Kailea I forgot about. The most likely IMO. Lambert has good skill and energy but is he a bit undersized for Test level? Botha looks to have beefed up which can only help.

Either way I think the Wallabies are going to be stretching the Prop to the max at 27.
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Hoppo leoto is the other one that should get a look in 2031. And King, already looks massive!
 
Major Tom

Major Tom

Peter Fenwicke (45)
Wilson said:
De Lutiis is the one who I think could rocket into contention on the tight head side over the next two years. It depends a bit on him getting good game time this next year to stake his claim, but he has the time (and importantly the scrummaging strength) if he can stay on the field. Behind him guys like Van Nek and Botha look solid but limited at this level. Possibly Johnson-Holmes could be a bolter, but he has to get back on the park first.

Loose head is trickier to find one guy that really looks up to it, Schoupp looks solid but with a low ceiling and a troubling injury record, Ross is good but unspectacular, and I'm very unconvinced by Robertson at this level, especially when he's playing tight head in super. Kailea and Lambert should get a real opportunity to press their case this year with Bell gone. Ieli and Pearce both have a bit to like about them, but I'm not sure either will be ready until after the world cup.

There is a good crop coming through after the world cup though - Ieli, Pearce, Amone and Alatini are the main ones who'll start coming through then, but there is a good younger group coming through headlined by Uys.
Click to expand...

I think what potentially accelerates De Luttis and Ieli’s chances is that they’ve got blokes ahead of them that they can learn from. Slipper has so much experience that he can be passing onto Lington and De Luttis has JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) and Nongorr to help drive him. Slipper and JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) basically doubling as coaches IMO.
 
W

Wobblies2027

Frank Row (1)
Yoda said:
Welcome to the brethren of rugby tragics here on Green and Gold who throw their heart and views out to be read, disagreed with and rejoiced occasionally even.

Massive post with some great points. Agree with your view on Fraser taking over the captaincy. Bobby V is our best 8, and Wilson off the bench.

Moving Sua'ali'i to 15 is something that I would look at too. He played there at the Tahs. As you say, Ikitau is better at 13. Jake Gordon has his many critics here but people don't realise Schmidt is telling him to play that way. He does have the best pass but he is fast too and needs to look to run more. Tate is the king off the bench.

Flyhalf. Very much debated. We obviously have not had anyone claim the jersey as their own. Definitely don't think we need to go to league. Too late for that anyway. Unless they were playing all next year at least. We are stuck with Lolesio, Lynagh, Gordon, Donaldson, Edmed or possibly JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor). I'd like to see a backline with Donaldson at 10 and Gordon at 12. Obviously depends on next year's form and where Kiss chooses to play Gordon at the Red's, being the most versatile between him and Lynagh? Noah has had the most opportunity but not a must pick. Lynagh is too small and his HIAs too prevalent for Test footy. Edmed showed nothing on the tour. Gordon and Donaldson are the most potent in attack and both have good speed too. We would likely see the ball get out to our strike backs far more.

I also agree that Angus Creighton could have been a solution at 12. Great junior rugby player and obviously outstanding at the Roosters.

Rugby not being on free to air tv is not great. Not everyone wants to pay for Stan so no young kids see rugby. The public schools and junior clubs are where Rugby Australia needs to support more.

So not sure about Wobblies 2027. I do think we have a great group of young men who are talented. It's up to Les Kiss to build and grow this group. Hope he moves away from Schmidt's attack strategy though as that's what killed us. The game you mentioned with the ridiculous number of pick and drives only to be held up over the line was poor. The wallabies need to play off 10 and create space out wide along with keeping it in tight. We were far too predictable.

As all rugby tragics, looking forward to 2026 with hope and optimism.
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Yep agree re Jake Gordon - also believe much of the criticism is deserved notwithstanding that only since coming into the Wallabies has he found himself with a somewhat dominant / competant forwardpack (i.e. Skelton + Valetini) in front of him and has played very well (BIL game 2) in those games.

I've gotta disagree on Donaldson. He goes into the same bucket as Edmed for mine. I honestly could not understand the praise he recieved throughout the super rugby season with the force. Recommend rewatching the game vs Georgia last year where he had a solid forward pack infront of him and looked so out of his depth.

Flyhalves ranked on form:
1. JOC (James O'Connor) (not sure why RA didn't push for Tahs to sign him)
2. Noah (consistently sound)
3. Carter (watching him play for Rebels in '23 he was hands down the most exciting prospect I've seen in years but was poorly managed by Jones, taken to a world cup with no experience around him (Giteau had Larkham, Quade had Giteau, Foley had Quade - a circus of To'omua, Hodge, JOC (James O'Connor), Lealiifano followed) - chance to rectify this cycle by running him off the bench.
 
dru

dru

Jason Little (69)
Sully said:
Nongoor seems to have improved every year. I don't think he'll ever be spectacular, but he will be quite good. At least I think he will.
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A good prop is like fine wine. I'm enjoying watching Nonggorr developing, slowly, consistently, constantly refining. He'll be nudging into Wallaby colours from here. I don't see any really necessity to declare a ceiling, let's see this wine develop.
 
Yoda

Yoda

Dick Tooth (41)
Wobblies2027 said:
Yep agree re Jake Gordon - also believe much of the criticism is deserved notwithstanding that only since coming into the Wallabies has he found himself with a somewhat dominant / competant forwardpack (i.e. Skelton + Valetini) in front of him and has played very well (BIL game 2) in those games.

I've gotta disagree on Donaldson. He goes into the same bucket as Edmed for mine. I honestly could not understand the praise he recieved throughout the super rugby season with the force. Recommend rewatching the game vs Georgia last year where he had a solid forward pack infront of him and looked so out of his depth.

Flyhalves ranked on form:
1. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) (not sure why RA didn't push for Tahs to sign him)
2. Noah (consistently sound)
3. Carter (watching him play for Rebels in '23 he was hands down the most exciting prospect I've seen in years but was poorly managed by Jones, taken to a world cup with no experience around him (Giteau had Larkham, Quade had Giteau, Foley had Quade - a circus of To'omua, Hodge, JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor), Lealiifano followed) - chance to rectify this cycle by running him off the bench.
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Fair enough. Disagree on Donno. Georgia was only one Test.

"Noah (consistently sound"... disagree with this. He's had some 30 Tests... 30... and plenty of shockers.

Schmidt's treatment of JOC (James O'Connor) was bizarre quite frankly.

Carter Gordon is a great player and hoping Kiss plays him at 10 to get maximum game time. Hopefully his kicking is good.
 
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