Rugby Championship 2025 : South Africa v Australia Round 2

[Joe Blow]

Complete disaster? Not quite and our own lineout has been very strong in recent times
No point taking shots if you are not hitting them.

 

[Tomthumb]

Complete disaster? Not quite and our own lineout has been very strong in recent times
No point taking shots if you are not hitting them.

At this point in the game he haven’t missed any kicks yet though

 

[TSR]

At Super Rugby level, yes. At international level a fit Kellaway and maybe Jorggo. At least Toole raised his hands and now is a starter in my eyes. You don't have to concern about the #11 jersey.

My pick:
11- Toole 15- Kellaway 14- Jorgensen

Donaldson would be a fall back choice, but he has won a man of the match playing 15 for Australia.

 

[Hogan]

Complete disaster? Not quite and our own lineout has been very strong in recent times
No point taking shots if you are not hitting them.

Missed conversions and penalties have cost us a Lions series and a clean sweep in South Africa. And O’Connor’s line kicking was average to say the least. Very little distance which limited our lineout maul.

I think Kellaway will fill the 15 role now that Wright is injured. Mac Grealy might be an option to come into the squad. Donaldson is a 10 who can fill in at 15 but best to give the position to a specialist fullback.

 

[Brumby Runner]

1st south Africa test Wilson took 8 lineouts (at least one of them was steal to eventually setup his first try), equal most for the match with Frost. Wilson has otherwise been out 2nd target this year behind Frost, and before this game I don't believe Hooper took a lineout for the wallabies this year.

I think with Valetini missing, Hooper was in the backline for most lineouts in the first test so that he could hit it up in centre field.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Big issue with nobody screaming to be included.

How soon Charlie Cale is forgotten. He'll need a big year again in SR26, but I've no doubt he can do it. Remember he was a starting No 8 in tests a year or so ago.

 

[Tomthumb]

How soon Charlie Cale is forgotten. He'll need a big year again in SR26, but I've no doubt he can do it. Remember he was a starting No 8 in tests a year or so ago.

He's not forgotten, but he's played about 4 games of Rugby since his one test appearance 14 months ago. He needs to get back and prove his health before anyone can put him into contention for anything

I'd also say his weight is a concern at Test level

 

[barbarian]

Missed conversions and penalties have cost us a Lions series and a clean sweep in South Africa.

Now there's a wild sweeping statement if ever I heard one.

 

[Ignoto]

How soon Charlie Cale is forgotten. He'll need a big year again in SR26, but I've no doubt he can do it. Remember he was a starting No 8 in tests a year or so ago.

With how little Rugby Cale has played over the last few months, Brial has leapfrogged Cale in terms of a showing a "body of work' and being the next non-squad member to be included.

 

[Braveheart81]

Did you see the tackle on him by Van Strat just before? Held and twisted his leg as he moved away and Wright was pinned down by two other Boks. That as where it happened.

That didn't look good but I don't think this is where Wright got injured. He got straight up and kept playing.

I think the injury was a non-contact injury when he ran the ball across field after catching a kick and then changed directions after Sua'ali'i dropped his pass.

As soon as the trainer did the Lachman test on his knee and he came straight off it was over .

 

[Rugby Head]

We have got to be one of the only tier one nations without an accurate goal kicker.

Might be worth giving JAS a go, he was nailing them when at the roosters. Maybe get Lonergan in for Nic White although hasn't been kicking well as late.

 

[Uh huh]

I'd also say his weight is a concern at Test level

I totally get why you think that, and I suspect it's a majority view, but I just think it's a lot less important than it's made out to be. Players just need to be the right size and the right weight for their frame, their style and their role. That's going to vary from player to player, and Cale has always struck me as a player who better suits a lighter playing weight.

Ardie Savea is <100kg and any coach on the planet would crawl through broken glass to have him at 8.

 

[Uh huh]

We have got to be one of the only tier one nations without an accurate goal kicker.

Might be worth giving JAS a go, he was nailing them when at the roosters. Maybe get Lonergan in for Nic White although hasn't been kicking well as late.

If Lonergan was picked, IMHO he gets the tee, but it's not a good enough reason to pick him.

 

[Pfitzy]

Now there's a wild sweeping statement if ever I heard one.

Welcome to GAGR. The toilets are on your right.

 

[Tomthumb]

We have got to be one of the only tier one nations without an accurate goal kicker.

Might be worth giving JAS a go, he was nailing them when at the roosters. Maybe get Lonergan in for Nic White although hasn't been kicking well as late.

Comes with the territory when you don't have an experienced 10. I'd say the fact our Super Teams don't really take penalty kicks doesn't help

 

[Spamnoodle]

So it was McReight who chose kick to the touch over kick to the posts???

If you were watching you'd know it was a leadership group decision.

 

[Tomthumb]

I totally get why you think that, and I suspect it's a majority view, but I just think it's a lot less important than it's made out to be. Players just need to be the right size and the right weight for their frame, their style and their role. That's going to vary from player to player, and Cale has always struck me as a player who better suits a lighter playing weight.

Ardie Savea is <100kg and any coach on the planet would crawl through broken glass to have him at 8.

Yeah maybe, but Savea is really an anomaly at this level, and even then having him makes the make up of the rest of the back row seem really clunky for the AB's

Don't think his size is a death knell, but I think this year has proven physical presence matters. I'd point to Tom Hoopers assentation coinciding with him really growing into his frame and his increased physical presence

 

[Major Tom]

Comes with the territory when you don't have an experienced 10. I'd say the fact our Super Teams don't really take penalty kicks doesn't help

Either way, seems backwards that we just expect our 10's to take the kicks. IMO it should be whoever the best kicker is but maybe JOC (James O'Connor) had been flushing them at training. I'm not sure why Edmed didn't take over, JOC (James O'Connor) looked like he was struggling. All hindsight I guess.

 

[Slim 293]

If Lonergan was picked, IMHO he gets the tee, but it's not a good enough reason to pick him.

But he's also not kicking at the same success rate he was five or so years ago...

 

[Agent]

How soon Charlie Cale is forgotten. He'll need a big year again in SR26, but I've no doubt he can do it. Remember he was a starting No 8 in tests a year or so ago.

I agree with what a couple of others have said in that he has played very little footy in the past 12 months or so and needs to prove himself again and throwing him into the fire again the AB's and the Puma's would not be a wise move. We have depth in his position at the moment with Wilson, Valetini, Gleeson, Hooper, NCDC etc. Cale will need to get some match fitness and Super Rugby Aus would be a fantastic place to do it. I hope he 'shoots the lights out' there and reminds everyone of his potential.