Wallabies 2023

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Had a great yr but clearly 3rd behind MH & FM

Also with Gleeson, Samu and Kemeny in there it’s a stacked group in that position.

 

[Dctarget]

so when Kellaway, Kerevi & Petaia rejoin the group do Pietsch, Perese and Vunivalu get released?

 

[eastman]

Eddie's mates with Donaldson's Dad apparently. And he plays for Randwick.

Amazing to think that Donaldson can make the Wallabies squad but Jake Gordon can’t.

I know which one offers more to Waratahs and would prefer to have in my team.

 

[Wilson]

so when Kellaway, Kerevi & Petaia rejoin the group do Pietsch, Perese and Vunivalu get released?

Pietsch and Perese probably, who the other winger is will likely depend on the 15 Eddie names against South Africa. It could easily be Nawaqanitawase that drops out if Vunivalu gets first crack and delivers. Or all 3 don't come straight back in.

 

[swingpass]

no fa'umassilli

 

[Wilson]

So apparently the Giteau law dispensation was for 2 extra players only:

Arnold is one of five overseas players amongst the squad and rehab group, with Wallabies management receiving approval to select two further players under Rugby Australia’s (RA) Overseas Players Selection Policy.

The three selected under the policy are centre Samu Kerevi, winger Marika Koroibete and lock Will Skelton, with Arnold and flyhalf Quade Cooper the additional two players.

This helps explain the absence of Foley, who probably would've been there ahead of Donaldson if 6 picks were allowed. I think he'll probably have a pretty hard time cracking the squad without injury now though, those 5 picked all look like starters (maybe one of the locks on the bench), whereas Foley would be fighting for a spot on the bench only.

 

[Pone's Mullet]

I hope Carter gets the start in SA

 

[Highlander35]

So, including team rehab, but not including team "not considered"

Forwards
Hooker 3
Prop 6
Lock 4
Lock/Backrow 2
Backrow 7

Backs
Scrum Half 3
Fly Half 2
Center 4
Outside backs 6
Utility 3

The squad suggests EJ (Eddie Jones) knows what he want those halves and tight 5 players to look like, but the backrow and back 3 are still quite up in the air.

 

[Members Section]

I hope Carter gets the start in SA

Sold out Pretoria wow what a place to make your test debut

 

[Doubting Thomas]

so when Kellaway, Kerevi & Petaia rejoin the group do Pietsch, Perese and Vunivalu get released?

My thoughts on the Vunivalu selection - he’s negotiated a contract clause that includes selection in the Wallabies Squad.

 

[Slim 293]

My thoughts on the Vunivalu selection - he’s negotiated a contract clause that includes selection in the Wallabies Squad.

I highly doubt that’s a thing…

He also would not have the bargaining position.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

My thoughts on the Vunivalu selection - he’s negotiated a contract clause that includes selection in the Wallabies Squad.

Nah. Could be a different conversation about a push to have players on big top ups included as much as possible (Tiquiri towards the end) but not a contract clause.

 

[Wilson]

Not sure why there's so much surprise at Vunivalu, he finished the season very well in some big games against the Chiefs and Eddie has had big wraps on him from the start. It's not as though there's another winger outside the squad demanding his place either - Petaia, Kellaway, Toole and Daugunu are all injured.

 

[Highlander35]

This (28 player wtf) group were also named as train on players:

Forwards
Charlie Cale
Josh Canham
Pone Fa'amausili
Folau Fainga'a
Charlie Gamble
Ned Hanigan
Tom Lambert
Lachlan Lonergan
Cadeyrn Neville
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Blake Schoupp
Darcy Swain
Lachlan Swinton
Sam Talakai
Brad Wilkin
Harry Wilson

Backs
Lachlan Anderson
Jock Campbell
Filipo Daugunu
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
Josh Flook
Bernard Foley
Jake Gordon
James O'Connor
Hunter Paisami
James Tuttle
Joey Walton

“Utility”
Seru Uru

 

[Wilson]

This (28 player wtf) group were also named as train on players:

Forwards
Charlie Cale
Josh Canham
Pone Fa'amausili
Folau Fainga'a
Charlie Gamble
Ned Hanigan
Tom Lambert
Lachlan Lonergan
Cadeyrn Neville
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Blake Schoupp
Darcy Swain
Lachlan Swinton
Sam Talakai
Brad Wilkin
Harry Wilson

Backs
Lachlan Anderson
Jock Campbell
Filipo Daugunu
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
Josh Flook
Bernard Foley
Jake Gordon
James O'Connor
Hunter Paisami
James Tuttle
Joey Walton

“Utility”
Seru Uru

Probably the core of the Australia A squad. No Lolesio or Debreczeni is a surprise though.

 

[KiwiM]

Faessler is a very good pick. He really came on strong. Looks to have the frame for test footy too.

3 halfbacks in the train on squad is very odd. Debreczeni or Lolesio instead of one of those surely.

Donaldson selection is rather baffling. He did his best to play his way out of the squad.

 

[Alex Sharpe]

Im surprised Lachie Lonergan wasn’t named. I dont see much argument for Jordan Ulesese over him. Feel for Harry Wilson too

 

[liquor box]

Had a great yr but clearly 3rd behind MH & FM

I would say predictably behind Hooper and McReight, but not clearly based on actual performances.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Probably the core of the Australia A squad. No Lolesio or Debreczeni is a surprise though.

Noah looked checked out all year. I expect to hear about him leaving any day tbh.

Wish Reimer in that extended group though.

 

[Highlander35]

Im surprised Lachie Lonergan wasn’t named. I dont see much argument for Jordan Ulesese over him. Feel for Harry Wilson too

189cm and 118kg to 180 and 100.

I don't agree, but it's relatively apparent that there's some specific gameplan he's wanting to implement whereby (at least in his mind) selecting the players most capable of fitting those roles (particularly when it comes to size) will be more successful than selecting the best raw "performers".