Wallabies 2023

[rugbyAU]

So we'll play Argentina most likely in the QF's or even Samoa, should be an easy one, they were awful against one off the worst English teams of recent memory, having a man advantage for much of the game, England missing their big guns, should be sweet for the QF. England will probably make a semi, and we'll get to play them in the 3rd place playoff

 

[rugbyAU]

For Fiji

1 - Bell
2 - Porecki
3 - Tupou
4 - Arnold
5 - Skelton
6 - Hooper
7 - McReight
8 - Valentini Valetini
9 - IFL
10 - Gordon
11 - Korobiete Koroibete
12 - Kerevi
13 - Petaia
14 - Nawaqanitawase
15 - Donaldson

16 - Uelese
17 - Slipper
18 - Fa'amausili
19 - Frost
20 - Leota
21 - White
22 - Vunivalau
23 - Kellaway

 

[KOB1987]

For Fiji

1 - Bell
2 - Porecki
3 - Tupou
4 - Arnold
5 - Skelton
6 - Hooper
7 - McReight
8 - Valentini
9 - IFL
10 - Gordon
11 - Korobiete
12 - Kerevi
13 - Petaia
14 - Nawaqanitawase
15 - Donaldson

16 - Uelese
17 - Slipper
18 - Fa'amausili
19 - Frost
20 - Leota
21 - White
22 - Vunivalau
23 - Kellaway

Suspect that will be about it, but I’d like to see Frost given a start. Arnold does the grunt work well but makes too many errors.

 

[rugbyAU]

Suspect that will be about it, but I’d like to see Frost given a start. Arnold does the grunt work well but makes too many errors.

Agree, but he's building a solid combination with Skelton, good at the maul and offers good height at the line out and good at the maul, Frosts 1 v 1 defence needs work

 

[qwerty51]

Bell keeps going down during matches and comes off looking ginger.

I'd start Slipper and Pone and give Bell & Tupou the last 30 minutes. They'll be both fresher v Wales for it and then we give them 2 weeks off before the quarters.

They're our 2 most important players.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Tupou got through an impressive amount of work in the heat. I’d give him a rest from the start as well. Don’t test those calves.

 

[The Chairman]

Just a general question, I was scrolling through Instagram and saw that someone had listed the top 10 players in the world right now. Dupont, Etzebeth etc. were up the top, and Will Skelton was listed at 6? Is he really that good?

 

[qwerty51]

You watch him, what do you think?

 

[The Chairman]

You watch him, what do you think?

I think so. His development over the last few years since coming back into the side has been immense. Definitely an impact player. Just wanted to hear the general consensus about it.

 

[qwerty51]

Should we start Gleeson next week? Now I am not even talking about him @ 7 this time but he has 20 mins total in gold this year.

Seems like Eddie is only giving him 10 mins a game but is that good prep if Valetini gets injured and he needs to start? Same with Leota at 6.

Who is our backup 7? If any of Hooper, McReight, Valetini get injured we haven't prepared well.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Not a bad idea. Even to take the brunt of the physicality of Fiji.

 

[KOB1987]

Should we start Gleeson next week? Now I am not even talking about him @ 7 this time but he has 20 mins total in gold this year.

Seems like Eddie is only giving him 10 mins a game but is that good prep if Valetini gets injured and he needs to start? Same with Leota at 6.

Who is our backup 7? If any of Hooper, McReight, Valetini get injured we haven't prepared well.

I’m not sure who has been training there but I think we only took one specialist 7 because we are in the process of transitioning to big flankers, likely Hooper and Leota.

 

[rugbyAU]

Should we start Gleeson next week? Now I am not even talking about him @ 7 this time but he has 20 mins total in gold this year.

Seems like Eddie is only giving him 10 mins a game but is that good prep if Valetini gets injured and he needs to start? Same with Leota at 6.

Who is our backup 7? If any of Hooper, McReight, Valetini get injured we haven't prepared well.

Yes, probably at 8 and bring on Valentini to bring some punch off the bench

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I don’t think we can risk not playing our best team against Fiji from the start, will know more after watching them tonight.
I definitely would have liked to see him give gleeson more time last night though

McReight didn’t do a lot from what I saw, M Hooper would have played better

 

[qwerty51]

Not that McReight was any good but no Hooper would not have done better, they both suffer from the same issue. It’s crucial Eddie tests a bigger body soon, prefabably against Wales.

 

[Froggy]

I would be really keen to see if Gleeson can bring to test level what he does at Super level. Someone on the match thread said he was disappointing against Georgia, a pretty tough call I reckon considering he came on with 9 minutes to go.

 

[Derpus]

Just a general question, I was scrolling through Instagram and saw that someone had listed the top 10 players in the world right now. Dupont, Etzebeth etc. were up the top, and Will Skelton was listed at 6? Is he really that good?

If he has a team geared towards his strengths he could be and he's playing pretty well so far. I think there are quite a few locks around that I would take over him still though.

 

[dusk]

I would be really keen to see if Gleeson can bring to test level what he does at Super level. Someone on the match thread said he was disappointing against Georgia, a pretty tough call I reckon considering he came on with 9 minutes to go.

I saw this comment actually, which mentioned that he was "unnoticeable", pretty reasonable when you're playing in the last 9 minutes...

 

[Members Section]

I saw this comment actually, which mentioned that he was "unnoticeable", pretty reasonable when you're playing in the last 9 minutes...

hmmm I wonder sometimes if Harry Wilson would come under the same criticism as some other 8’s on this forum from some ppl

 

[Drew]

Who is our backup 7? If any of Hooper, McReight, Valetini get injured we haven't prepared well.

Kemeny is the backup 7 I’d imagine.