Rugby Championship 2025: Wallabies v Argentina

[liquor box]

One thing I'm sure of is that JAS does not have a suitable kicking game to play 15.

Sometimes a player is good enough to overcome their weakness. Israel Folau was not much of a kicker but did alright at 15.

JAS when available was 15 for NSW so he should have a bit of an idea about the position, I would have him at 15, he will then have a year of Super Rugby and test matches at 15 while Wright recuperates and then they can battle it out for the jersey.

I think Kellaway is best saved for the bench as he is currently able to play multiple positions at a proven high standard if required.

 

[Backintheolddays]

Len and JAS our best centre combo hands down. Kidding yourselves if you think that will get changed up. Yes Len can play 13 and JAS 15, but none stack up as a suitable 12 alternative. Kidding if you suggest Flook, Kerevei, Stewart et al. Total gap in skill set, capability, and potential.
Attacking skill of Wright will be missed but 15 is generally an easier role to replace. I like Kellaway as a bench option but he’s probably best place to step up. JOC (James O'Connor) not a bad fallback for 23.

 

[Linerunner2023]

Len and JAS our best centre combo hands down. Kidding yourselves if you think that will get changed up. Yes Len can play 13 and JAS 15, but none stack up as a suitable 12 alternative. Kidding if you suggest Flook, Kerevei, Stewart et al. Total gap in skill set, capability, and potential.
Attacking skill of Wright will be missed but 15 is generally an easier role to replace. I like Kellaway as a bench option but he’s probably best place to step up. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) not a bad fallback for 23.

Kerevi is easily a better centre then Sua'ali'i
Still one of the best centres around
Sua'ali'i is really left in defence at 13 and only offers a crash ball at the moment and isn’t really getting utilised at all
Just reasons he isn’t getting picked apparently

 

[Linerunner2023]

Sometimes a player is good enough to overcome their weakness. Israel Folau was not much of a kicker but did alright at 15.

JAS when available was 15 for NSW so he should have a bit of an idea about the position, I would have him at 15, he will then have a year of Super Rugby and test matches at 15 while Wright recuperates and then they can battle it out for the jersey.

I think Kellaway is best saved for the bench as he is currently able to play multiple positions at a proven high standard if required.

Correct Folau didn’t have a kicking game and was a great 15
And Sua'ali'i did well at the tahs at 15
At 13 seems to struggle to make an impact

 

[BDA]

JP was one of the most promising players of the time when he first came into Super Rugby. I well remember, as a 19yo, he scored a try on his first touch of the ball against the Brumbies. Over the course of his Super Rugby and test careers to date, he has had his ups and downs but really never achieved the promise he showed early on. May have started 30 tests or more but never reached the position where he was a locked on starter, nor did he establish a singular position which he called his own. Even now, I daresay there would be argument about where his best position would be. I think it is just dreaming to suggest he would now be in contention for a Wallaby callup despite us looking lean at fullback right now. Given the strength of options now available in the outside backs he would need to prove himself with a season or more at a Super Rugby side before seriously being considered.

Honestly its hard to argue with any of this. All that said, i still wouldnt mind having him as an option. At his best, he's world class. Fingers crossed he can get past the injuries and find some form in europe. If he really tears it up for Perpignan i could see their being call to include him on the end of year tour in 2026. Unlikely perhaps but possible

 

[Hogan]

Len and JAS our best centre combo hands down. Kidding yourselves if you think that will get changed up. Yes Len can play 13 and JAS 15, but none stack up as a suitable 12 alternative. Kidding if you suggest Flook, Kerevei, Stewart et al. Total gap in skill set, capability, and potential.
Attacking skill of Wright will be missed but 15 is generally an easier role to replace. I like Kellaway as a bench option but he’s probably best place to step up. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) not a bad fallback for 23.

Why would JOC (James O'Connor) be on the bench? Both he and Edmed deserve to be retained for the first Argies Test. Lynagh will need to earn his stripes at training. His form was patchy during the Lions series and O’Connor has proved the benefit of experience in the playmaking role.

 

[Ignoto]

There's a lot of similarities between Jordan and Matt To'omua outside of the school they both went to.

AI tells me the following for Jordan and Matt's first 7 seasons

To’omua seven-season estimate (Brumbies 2008–2014)
• 2012: Confirmed season-ending knee (torn cruciate) after three games, implying roughly 13 regular-season matches missed in a 16-game format. This is the single largest block of absences.
• 2013: Hamstring ended campaign two games early per season retrospectives, adding approximately 2 misses; other short spells include an ankle issue noted around late-season/return timing references. Combined minor absences add an estimated 3–5 matches across 2010–2014.
• Early career 2008–2011: Low appearance totals were largely selection depth rather than injuries; injury-attributed absences from this phase are comparatively small and folded into the 3–5 match estimate above. Summing the confirmed 2012 block with documented/flagged minor layoffs yields about 34–36 missed through injury across 2008–2014.

Petaia seven-season estimate (Reds 2018–2024)
• 2019: Lisfranc foot rupture in round three ruled him out for the season, implying about 14 missed regular-season games in Super Rugby’s 16-game era.
• 2020: Dislocated shoulder and reconstruction in February; contemporary coverage treated his Super Rugby season as effectively over, implying roughly 6–8 missed fixtures in the COVID-disrupted campaign before the domestic switch.
• 2021–2024: Recurring soft-tissue and concussion interruptions are documented in profile notes; while he generally returned for parts of these seasons, intermittent absences likely add a further 6–7 matches across the period, producing an estimated cumulative total of about 26–29 missed games in his first seven Reds seasons.

Matt then went on to have a pretty handy 2015 campaign for the Wallabies if memory serves me correctly.

 

[TSR]

I don’t mind them moving Jorgo to fullback. He has played the position plenty and he’ll get more touches there. We have other options for the wing - including Kellaway. With Wright out for such a long time I feel like we should look for a long term option, not a stop gap and I’m not sure that’s Kellaway anymore.

With regards to Petaia - I’ve always been huge fan and I disagree with some of the comments that suggest he’s never delivered in his promise. At times he’s been exceptional at wing and fullback. He hasn’t though, IMO, ever delivered in his promise at 13 which is always the spot I thought he was best suited (but which doesn’t appear the case) and his run with injuries has been horrid. At this time I’m just happy to see him back in rugby and hopeful we might see him back at the Reds after his current stint in France. Most importantly, hopeful he can get his body right. Everything else can come after that.

 

[Backintheolddays]

Why would JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) be on the bench? Both he and Edmed deserve to be retained for the first Argies Test. Lynagh will need to earn his stripes at training. His form was patchy during the Lions series and O’Connor has proved the benefit of experience in the playmaking role.

I think JOC (James O'Connor) has been okay but now is when Joe will be looking to cement the ‘27 5/8. I really struggle to see that as JOC (James O'Connor) but he’d be an excellent utility on the bench if still running around.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think it's a big call to think Tom Lynagh is established as the No 10 for 27 at this stage. More important to continue to get wins for world ranking purposes, and our best chance of that imo is probably with JOC (James O'Connor).

 

[BDA]

Lynagh is a better pure 10 than JOC (James O'Connor) and a better goal kicker (see our last game). Schidt will select him to start if he's 100%, no doubt in my mind. If lynagh's on the bench it would only be because they are trying to ease him back after the head-knock imo... moving forward though JOC (James O'Connor) looks like a great bench option for us

 

[Joe Blow]

To carry out a structured game plan Lynagh would be first choice(not including Lolesio). JOC (James O'Connor) will be perfect on the bench to do what he does at the Saders.

 

[Slim 293]

Sometimes a player is good enough to overcome their weakness. Israel Folau was not much of a kicker but did alright at 15.

JAS when available was 15 for NSW so he should have a bit of an idea about the position, I would have him at 15, he will then have a year of Super Rugby and test matches at 15 while Wright recuperates and then they can battle it out for the jersey.

I think Kellaway is best saved for the bench as he is currently able to play multiple positions at a proven high standard if required.

Nah, that just compounds the issue…

Then who replaces JAS in the centres?

Don’t solve one problem by creating another bigger one.

 

[Red Runner]

Nah, that just compounds the issue…

Then who replaces JAS in the centres?

Don’t solve one problem by creating another bigger one.

Hudson Creighton or Ollie Sapsford obviously

 

[Brumby Runner]

Lynagh is a better pure 10 than JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and a better goal kicker (see our last game). Schidt will select him to start if he's 100%, no doubt in my mind. If lynagh's on the bench it would only be because they are trying to ease him back after the head-knock imo... moving forward though JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) looks like a great bench option for us

But JOC (James O'Connor) is the far better footballer and more likely to provide the opportunities to win games. That will do me.

 

[Slim 293]

Hudson Creighton or Ollie Sapsford obviously

Sure…

 

[Yoda]

Lynagh is a better pure 10 than JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and a better goal kicker (see our last game). Schidt will select him to start if he's 100%, no doubt in my mind. If lynagh's on the bench it would only be because they are trying to ease him back after the head-knock imo... moving forward though JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) looks like a great bench option for us

"And a better goal kicker"..... well, there was the Lions series? JOC (James O'Connor) should stay with Edmed off the bench. Lynagh and Donaldson should be back v All Blacks.

 

[Hogan]

But JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) is the far better footballer and more likely to provide the opportunities to win games. That will do me.

Spot on BR. You want a 10 who can put doubt in the defenders minds and create space and attacking opportunities for his outside backs. JOC (James O'Connor), Edmed and Donaldson do that best.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

Lynagh is a better pure 10 than JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and a better goal kicker (see our last game). Schidt will select him to start if he's 100%, no doubt in my mind. If lynagh's on the bench it would only be because they are trying to ease him back after the head-knock imo... moving forward though JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) looks like a great bench option for us

Man.. lynagh is not a better ‘pure’ 10 than anyone of the other options we have. He is still a baby, and could be great- can we stop with the Hyperbole until he has played more than a handful of games at some competent level (read he has not done so yet).

 

[Backintheolddays]

None of the 10s are shooting the lights out unfortunately. I do like JOCs strength as a ball carrier compared to his peers and he attracts more defenders as a result. I’m not a fan of Loleiso and his unfortunate injury has been timely to test the alternatives two years out from the WC. We now need to balance world rankings (stay in top 6) vs preparing our team for the WC which requires an element of pick and stick.
All the 10s have different strengths and weaknesses. I’d like someone with a decent boot and that can get the outside backs some front foot ball in space. Not that hard is it (clarying irony which doesn’t translate in typeset)