Wallabies 2025

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I do worry about Daugunu with the pace the Lions are playing at. I could see him getting caught out

Fair-ish but he's not slow and you also have to account for the fact the Lions then have to deal with his violent running and ability in close. We should be thinking about how to select a side they are uncomfortable with and not just how to handle them.

 

[Derpus]

Our lack of pace on the counter concerns me. That was the basis of the Pumas win.

 

[Tomthumb]

Fair-ish but he's not slow and you also have to account for the fact the Lions then have to deal with his violent running and ability in close. We should be thinking about how to select a side they are uncomfortable with and not just how to handle them.

No he's not slow but his acceleration isn't great and he can get caught on the hop because of it. Personally I think we are at our best when playing with pace. You're not running over Tuipolotu and Aki but you can beat them with footwork and pace. I'd prefer Pietsch and Potter in those roles tbh

 

[upthereds#!]

BPA, Koroibete & Samu added to AUNZ team. Joining Frizzel, Fakatava, Havilii, Laumape, Fusitua & Stevensen. I expect others will be waiting till after fiji test / lions squad announcement.


Hope to see LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Uru, JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen), Ross & Philip added to flesh out the forwards - in a dream world with sotutu and/or blackadder/papalii

 

[Brumby Runner]

Agree on Sione, Ringrose and Lowe. Not sure about Hansen with how Freeman and Duhan looked.

Hansen likely gets a shot v the Tahs to push for it.

Could be a good move to leave Hansen fresh for the Brumbies game. A nice welcome home.

 

[Brumby Runner]

For Wallabies I think only Pietsch and Paisami have made their case. Others were decent but not enough the crack the 23. Fez was quiet but hoping he can keep improving. Salakaia-Loto was good but still not enough to shift the current locks. Brial wouldn't look out of place on an EoYT. Genuine smokey could be Ross.

I agree on Pietsch. I think Pietsch and Filipo would make an excellent test pairing where size and physicality will be required. From the Reds game, I thought Faessler and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) both put in good shifts, and can see Faessler and Pollard being the two hookers. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) handled the physicality of his stoush with Itoje last night and could well be a bench option to keep the pressure on late in the game.

 

[Adam84]

not advocating for him, but interesting comment about Aidan Ross, the Chiefs/Reds LHP
Given the Walllabies depth(lack of) at LHP, it's not that out there that he could be called up at some point.

Ross is technically still ineligible for the Wallabies for another six days, having last played for the All Blacks in 2022 against Ireland.

'Exactly what we thought': Kiss of approval for new signing Ross as Wallabies eligible prop makes Lions push

www.rugby.com.au

 

[Dctarget]

I've gotta be consistent here and say I don't love Ross playing for the Wallabies. Not a good look and not what the system's intent is.

 

[Adam84]

I dont love it either..

But hard not to see him in the top 6 fit LHPs available in Australia.. Out of the LHPs used last year; Schoupp and Hodgman are out injured and Kailea is back playing SS. Even at Australia A level, Hoopert is out for the season too.

If Bell & Slipper were to go down injured, Tom Robertson will probably be asked to switch back to LHP a position he hasn't played all season. Behind that you have Fa'agase and Van Nek who has played a little at LHP as well.

 

[rugbyAU]

I've gotta be consistent here and say I don't love Ross playing for the Wallabies. Not a good look and not what the system's intent is.

But when we have such little depth there and you have a guy of that experience for a Lions series, especially with Hodgman and Blake out and Kailea not favoured at the Tahs I think you’ve got to pick him

 

[Dctarget]

But when we have such little depth there and you have a guy of that experience for a Lions series, I think you’ve got to pick him

Same goes for Scotland, their hands are tied. Without their imports they'd be so shit. System is broke.

Those French fuckers though, absolutely no need for them to go stealing players.

 

[Wilson]

But when we have such little depth there and you have a guy of that experience for a Lions series, especially with Hodgman and Blake out and Kailea not favoured at the Tahs I think you’ve got to pick him

If only we weren't already losing a bunch of props to New Zealand - Williams, Lomax and Norris either are or were Wallabies eligible

 

[Tazzmania]

Tom Robertson will probably be asked to switch back to LHP a position he hasn't played all season.

I think thats why Joe S got the Western Force to play him as LHP against the Lions. Had a decent hit out against strong opposition for a first up in a while.

 

[WoodysRFC]

If only we weren't already losing a bunch of props to New Zealand - Williams, Lomax and Norris either are or were Wallabies eligible

Ethan De Groot was also born in Australia. They're all kiwis though to be fair.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

I've gotta be consistent here and say I don't love Ross playing for the Wallabies. Not a good look and not what the system's intent is.

I don't think it was the system's intent for half the Lions' starting backs to be born and raised in the Southern Hemisphere but we do what we can under the rules we're given.