2025 Bledisloe Cup Series

[rugbyAU]

Yep if we end up losing a close game at Eden Park and then win in Perth without Skelton and JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) everyone will be left wondering what could have been

Anyway we definitely haven’t gone into a bledisloe series for a long time with this kind of momentum;

- beat England at twickenham
- beat lions in a test
- best Springboks away
- NZ first ever loss to Argentina away
- NZ largest ever loss

time to start believing, this is the year!

Yes, but this year's Super Rugby results were again very poor and we're coming off two poor performances ourself

 

[Spamnoodle]

Yes, but this year's Super Rugby results were again very poor and we're coming off two poor performances ourself

I don't have the numbers at hand.

But the win\loss ratio with Kiwi sides has definitely been improving, with some losses being very close.
Certainly not very poor.

 

[Red Runner]

Why would RA pay for him to fly to England?
It's a requirement of his workplace to do the medical checkup. If they want him to do it, then they should be paying (like any workplace would be expected to do).
Bloody hell are they gonna bill RA for the medical too?

I hope the QRU aren't paying the flights of the QLD Wallabies returning from Perth!

 

[Spamnoodle]

I think that’s my point - the press write the story to get maximum clicks and/or to appeal to their audience.

They are necessarily reporting, or even privy to, what is actually happening. But O’Connor was quoted as saying he was happy to make a quick turn around to play Bledisloe and I’m pretty sure that quote was at least 3-4 days ago. I thought I also recall Schmidt saying last week he was looking into options to have O’Connor involved. I don’t think these apparent last minute changes of mind being reported necessarily reflect what’s actually being planned out.

At least the scribes are writing about it again.

 

[KOB1987]

Occam's Razzor re JOC (James O'Connor).

I'd say likely he had to meet certain requirements with Leicester and he made bookings some time ago that fitted in with that, allowed him to relocate himself, Bridget and the dog, and was also in a non-playing window in the RC on the off chance that he got selected. He probably could have sent Bridget over by herself too.....

Media beat up.

 

[Yoda]

I don't understand why Joe didn't come out and say that JOC (James O'Connor) is going to play in the Bledisloe from the outset? My guess is Rugby Australia have leant on Joe to make it happen? It makes no sense at all with this cloak and dagger stuff. Especially since the Leicester coach said that James was clear to play for the Bledisloe series, so no actual need for him to fly over to England. It's quite bizarre. Then Donno dropping further down the 10 rankings, now behind both Tom and Tane. Ridiculous. Hopefully now JOC (James O'Connor) starts to give us our best chance. The All Blacks will relish the chance at Eden Park to run over Tommy or Tane if Joe starts them. Surely not? Does James stick around if we lose at Eden Park? Stupid question I know! We aren't!

 

[rugbyAU]

I don't have the numbers at hand.

But the win\loss ratio with Kiwi sides has definitely been improving, with some losses being very close.
Certainly not very poor.

4 out of 19 against the Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes - in a lot of those games it wasn’t close

excluding the Highlanders as last years EOYT they only had 4/69 All blacks and NZ XV players

 

[Slim 293]

I don't understand why Joe didn't come out and say that JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) is going to play in the Bledisloe from the outset? My guess is Rugby Australia have leant on Joe to make it happen? It makes no sense at all with this cloak and dagger stuff. Especially since the Leicester coach said that James was clear to play for the Bledisloe series, so no actual need for him to fly over to England. It's quite bizarre.

Wow, this post has EVERYTHING...

 

[John S]

Wow, this post has EVERYTHING...

Everyone get your tin foil hats out

 

[Spamnoodle]

4 out of 19 against the Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes - in a lot of those games it wasn’t close

excluding the Highlanders as last years EOYT they only had 4/69 All blacks and NZ XV players

If you're going to exclude one of the Kiwi teams because they're a bit shit you should exclude the Waratahs to...
We're in a lot better place thank most recent years.
It's the vibe man! Stop being Debbie Downer.

 

[Yoda]

Everyone get your tin foil hats out

Tell me why Joe told everyone James wasn't needed then does an about face after he lands in England?

 

[Slim 293]

Tell me why Joe told everyone James wasn't needed then does an about face after he lands in England?

Is that what you think happened?

 

[Slim 293]

WALLABIES SQUAD FOR TESTS AGAINST NEW ZEALAND (Wallaby number, first Australian Rugby club, Super Rugby Pacific club, Test caps)

Forwards (19)

Allan Ala'alatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 83)

Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 43)

Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 1)

Nick Champion De Crespigny (#991, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 2)

Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions, ACT Brumbies, 32)

Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs, ACT Brumbies, 17)

Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 33)

Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 7)

Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 16)

Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts, Western Force, 24)

Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 14)

Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos, Western Force, 35)

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick, Queensland Reds, 42)

James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates, ACT Brumbies, 149)

Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 10)

Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), NSW Waratahs, 63)

Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 56)

Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 18)

Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 29)

Backs (15)

Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Bulldogs, Queensland Reds, 13)

Tane Edmed (#990, West Harbour Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 3)

Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 31)

Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 46)

Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 15)

Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 45)

Ryan Lonergan (uncapped, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 0)

Tom Lynagh (#977, University of Queensland, Queensland Reds, 7)

Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 49)

James O’Connor (#832, St Joseph’s College, Nudgee, Leicester (England), 68)

Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 32)

Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, Western Force, 5)

Hamish Stewart (#986, Toowoomba Bears, Western Force, 2)

Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 12)

Corey Toole (#992, Wagga Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, 3)


Unavailable for selection due to injury

Charlie Cale

Langi Gleeson

Noah Lolesio

Dylan Pietsch

Tom Wright

 

[Slim 293]

As expected with White's second retirement coming with Gordon's return, and Donaldson overlooked for Edmed, Lynagh and JOC (James O'Connor)...

 

[Ignoto]

Occam's Razzor re JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor).

I'd say likely he had to meet certain requirements with Leicester and he made bookings some time ago that fitted in with that, allowed him to relocate himself, Bridget and the dog, and was also in a non-playing window in the RC on the off chance that he got selected. He probably could have sent Bridget over by herself too.....

Media beat up.

Yeap agreed - it could be as simple as, James didn't want to be a shit bloke and make his partner travel across the globe by herself to unpack the house.

 

[rugbyAU]

Still no Gleeson or Faessler…

 

[rugbyAU]

If you're going to exclude one of the Kiwi teams because they're a bit shit you should exclude the Waratahs to...
We're in a lot better place thank most recent years.
It's the vibe man! Stop being Debbie Downer.

It’s excluding them because they don’t have the talent, that’s widely known as only 6% of combined All black and NZ XV players are from the Highlanders, it’s heavily concentrated in the top 4 sides

The Waratahs had 5 starting players in the Wallabies side last game plus our best prop (Bell) and the injured Gordon, Gleeson

The reality is still only one Aus side has been able to make a semi and none a final since 2014

 

[Red Runner]

Still no Gleeson or Faessler…

Joe has personally listed Gleeson as injured in the press release he wrote.

He also failed to write Faessler's name in the injured list of his press release. You can only assume that Joe doesn't rate him because of this.

Reality though is that game time a big factor surely. If he's fit, you'd like to think he features for the Reds next week

 

[Tomthumb]

Donaldson going from 2nd 10 to 5th 10 in the squad while not doing anything wrong is pretty hilarious

 

[Joe Blow]

Maybe Schmitty has decided on Lynagh and JOC (James O'Connor) so better for Donaldson to get some running in his legs in SRAU?
I have to say, Tom Fury was the best 10 last week in that comp by a mile. Donno might be on the bench!