Rugby Championship 2025: Wallabies v Argentina

[Joe Blow]

I think they rest Lynagh this week anyway due to the head knock, even if he has passed the protocols. Start JOC (James O'Connor) with Donaldson on the bench if fit.
Lynagh brings the most structure. His kicking is generally very good(better than the other options) although he has missed a couple of clutch kicks for line. He is young, very young. If he can avoid more head knocks then his future is bright and he will only get better.

 

[KOB1987]

Donaldson isn't in the squad for these games but I guess he will be called in if Lynagh is ruled out. But....Joe's MO is that a player needs to get a full week of training in once rejoining the squad, so it will be JOC (James O'Connor) + Edmed

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think they rest Lynagh this week anyway due to the head knock, even if he has passed the protocols. Start JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) with Donaldson on the bench if fit.
Lynagh brings the most structure. His kicking is generally very good(better than the other options) although he has missed a couple of clutch kicks for line. He is young, very young. If he can avoid more head knocks then his future is bright and he will only get better.

TBH his kicking game is all reputation and no substance. For example, his first penalty kick for touch made about 15m, much the same as JOC (James O'Connor)'s for which he has been criticised on here. Later in the first half another penalty kick for touch from inside our 22m made about 25m, reaching the 40m line but should have had us at least to halfway. I don’t recall any one kick in general play that gained us good territory. One such kick from around our 22m line was misdirected away from the area most of our defence was located finding an unmarked Argentina player on the full under no pressure who returned favour and the resulting stuff up between him and Kellaway saw the Pumas collect 3 points from a penalty.

His kicking game in this match was simply subpar, and it seems to me to be consistent with most of his games. His reputation far exceeds his performances.

 

[Adam84]

TBH his kicking game is all reputation and no substance. For example, his first penalty kick for touch made about 15m, much the same as JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)'s for which he has been criticised on here. Later in the first half another penalty kick for touch from inside our 22m made about 25m, reaching the 40m line but should have had us at least to halfway. I don’t recall any one kick in general play that gained us good territory. One such kick from around our 22m line was misdirected away from the area most of our defence was located finding an unmarked Argentina player on the full under no pressure who returned favour and the resulting stuff up between him and Kellaway saw the Pumas collect 3 points from a penalty.

His kicking game in this match was simply subpar, and it seems to me to be consistent with most of his games. His reputation far exceeds his performances.

Most of his games?
I know we won't agree because he isn't a Brumbies player, but his kicking throughout Super Rugby was quite good. It certainly hasn't translated to test rugby this year, or at the very most a mixed bag, but to say it's consistently subpar or his kicking game is without substance is a stretch and ignores what he has done at Super Rugby level.

I''m not defending his test selection, i've said multiple times i don't think he should be the starting 5/8(Donaldson & Lolesio were my choice) but this thread seems all a bit over the top for someone playing their 4th test match, and is only there because there's been multiple injuries to the preferred starter.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Adam, we are into the RC test match season, and my comment was made in that context. It is essentially immaterial how he performed months ago at a lower level.

However, if we want to look at Super Rugby form, the standout kicking No 10 was a Queenslander, just not Tom L.

 

[HogansHeros]

We seemed to struggle with gaining kick meters with Lolesio at 10 aswell. Surely Wright or even Wilson can have a go at kicking for touch, doesnt have to be the 10.

 

[Adam84]

Adam, we are into the RC test match season, and my comment was made in that context. It is essentially immaterial how he performed months ago at a lower level.

Cool, so not consistent with most of his games then, only the past 4 by your opinion. Important point to clarify if you're pushing test selection for players like Declan Meredith, whose only metric to assess them against and his peers is Super Rugby. Unless we're going to deem that form inconsequential/immaterial to future discussions also.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Cool, so not consistent with most of his games then, only the past 4 by your opinion. Important point to clarify if you're pushing test selection for players like Declan Meredith, whose only metric to assess them against and his peers is Super Rugby. Unless we're going to deem that form inconsequential/immaterial to future discussions also.

From how DC has been given only limited time at the Brumbies it would appear that at least the Brumbies coaching staff thought form was inconsequential/immaterial, I agree.

 

[Dctarget]

How good were McReight's turnovers? On that, Rugbypass stats don't have him with any turnovers, I distinctly remember two and one to Hooper too.

 

[Wilson]

How good were McReight's turnovers? On that, Rugbypass stats don't have him with any turnovers, I distinctly remember two and one to Hooper too.

They don't credit penalties won at the ruck as turnovers in a lot situations, even though they are very much earned by that ruck work. There was also Tupou's no arms tackle getting the play called back and overruling the early one.

 

[Strewthcobber]

How good were McReight's turnovers? On that, Rugbypass stats don't have him with any turnovers, I distinctly remember two and one to Hooper too.

I see more than that, but yeah, a ruck turnover is often called as a penalty conceded (ie penalised for holding on) not credited to the player who was over the ball

 

[Adam84]

From how DC has been given only limited time at the Brumbies it would appear that at least the Brumbies coaching staff thought form was inconsequential/immaterial, I agree.

Cool, i'll be interested to see you stick with the argument that Super Rugby performances will no longer come into discussion for Wallabies players. Bit rough that Lonergan, Van Nek etc shouldn't be discussed for a call up to the starting team because their form from 3 months ago at a lower level is immaterial, but good for you BR.

 

[Dctarget]

They don't credit penalties won at the ruck as turnovers in a lot situations, even though they are very much earned by that ruck work. There was also Tupou's no arms tackle getting the play called back and overruling the early one.

Lame, how much do subscriptions to professional rugby data services cost? Am I rugby nuff enough to subscribe?

 

[Wilson]

Lame, how much do subscriptions to professional rugby data services cost? Am I rugby nuff enough to subscribe?

Not sure, but the Opta stats are available (if not necessarily advertised) on the Super Rugby site. Here's this games:

https://super.rugby/therugbychampionship/match-centre/match-packs/round-3-post-match-australia-v-argentina-townsville/

Not sure if these are any different from Rugby Pass though, they may well be using Opta in the back end.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think you're right DCT, but one of Fraser's was overturned for a prior transgression by TT I think. On the subject of TT, on second viewing he was fairly harshly treated by Williams (the ref) in that first half. He was in fact the target of two no arms tackles and it is arguable that there was no tackle in the first incident he was penalised. Certainly he dived at the No 9's legs, but being a nimble halfback he used TT's body to leverage himself out of reach so that really there was no tackle at all.

 

[Rob42]

I think you're right DCT, but one of Fraser's was overturned for a prior transgression by TT I think. On the subject of TT, on second viewing he was fairly harshly treated by Williams (the ref) in that first half. He was in fact the target of two no arms tackles and it is arguable that there was no tackle in the first incident he was penalised. Certainly he dived at the No 9's legs, but being a nimble halfback he used TT's body to leverage himself out of reach so that really there was no tackle at all.

Yes. I told my TV exactly that, quite loudly, at the time.

 

[Dctarget]

We got 26 tackle breaks to Argies' 16. Led by Miracle Max on 5, then Captain Wilson, Ikitau and Sua'ali'i all on 4 each. Pretty amazing.

Harry only carried the ball 8 times (compared to Len's 16 or Frost's 10) but managed to offload twice, beat 4 defenders and make a game high 11 tackles for the Wallabies. Doubly impressive with those stats is every third run he gets folded like a deck chair and driven back 3m. Perseverant lad.

Credit to Kremer too who tackled 30 times.

 

[Rob42]

I feel like the reign of Schmidt has shown us that we don't need to rush players into the team in order to be ready for the Next Big Thing (RWC 2027). Toole is a perfect example who's had to wait, playing well and improving at the label below, and now looks like a ready-made Test player. Maybe it would be OK to give JOC (James O'Connor) the reins for the rest of the year, and maybe even some of 2026, and let the younger candidates build their resume a bit further.

 

[TSR]

Schmidt also didn’t pick Wilson straight away, or Hooper for that matter. I remember Wilson being quoted as saying Schmidt had spoke to him about what he needed from him and one of those things was higher workrate. He appears to have taken it on board.

 

[rugbyAU]

Donaldson isn't in the squad for these games but I guess he will be called in if Lynagh is ruled out. But....Joe's MO is that a player needs to get a full week of training in once rejoining the squad, so it will be JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) + Edmed

Donaldson joined the squad yesterday afternoon