Wallabies 2025

[Major Tom]

Yeah, I'm not stating he should or shouldn't be picked. Just stating he comes off the bench in super rugby and his last test game was fuckin horrendous. They are things to consider. It's been mentioned that he was carrying an injury with his last test appearance, but as far as I'm concerned he was picked to perform and he didn't. Also, you want him to play the last 20 to close out games but that's in a perfect world. Need players prepared to play for longer than that.

 

[LeCheese]

A third of his appearances have been >30min for the Crusaders.

Regardless, I think it says a lot about both him and the Wallabies when we've had three and a half pages of why JOC (James O'Connor) should(n't) be in the squad. What year is it?

 

[Derpus]

It is a little ominous considering the Lions will be choosing between guys like Smith, Russell and Prendergast...

 

[Sword of Justice]

James O’Connor has exactly 300 pro games according to Wikipedia including 64 test caps for the team this thread is dedicated to. 304 if you include Aus development teams. He’s scored over 1,200 professional points.

I wish I was as bad at rugby as some posters are implying JOC (James O'Connor) is. Players with that level of experience just don’t really exist, especially not for Australia in the backs. More than the caps is the maturity and life experience he has. He’s made mistakes in his career and he’s still here because he wants to be and he worked for it.

If there aren’t at least three 10s who are clearly better than him running around then I think he’s definitely in the squad and I’d be very comfortable with him on the bench covering 10 and 12. If we go 6-2 he’d be the perfect player for that bench role.

 

[Major Tom]

All 10s in contention have flaws. It’ll come down game style that Schmidt wants. And he’ll lean more on cohesion than wallaby caps number. JOC (James O'Connor)’s main competition is Donno imo as he’s seen as the wallabies utility. Competition and debate is only a good thing.

 

[Sword of Justice]

I think other than Lolesio there isn’t a 10 who can make a serious claim about cohesion. Donaldson has had a few combinations start to develop but an additional 200 caps would definitely make a difference to evidence how one player reacts to change.

 

[Major Tom]

By cohesion I mean with how Schmidt run things. Noah, Lynagh and Donaldson all having experience with Schmidt. Lynagh plays with Tate. Donno plays with White. Noah has played with all those halves.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'd pick him in the squad, but I don't think Schmidt will.

Speaking of JOC (James O'Connor) at #10, couple of quiz questions.....

How many test matches has JOC (James O'Connor) started as #10 and Australia won?

And, when was the last time this happened?

 

[dru]

Here you may well be right. But I don't think this really cuts to what is being said.


On the whole the suggestion has been squad member, target #22, and adequate back up to #10 if it became necessary.

 

[TSR]

It is a little ominous considering the Lions will be choosing between guys like Smith, Russell and Prendergast...

I dunno - all of those guys have had their issues this year. The fact none of them are a clear favourite speaks very directly to the fact none of them have really become the player everyone thought the would. Not yet anyway.

It seems typical of all of Australian rugby that we are critical of our own players but don’t appear to recognise that the opposition have a lot of the same issues.

 

[Major Tom]

Or that the comp is tight?

 

[TSR]

I didn’t watch enough 6 nations to make an informed judgement myself - I am only going off what I read. Based on that all three of the above had there issues. I did listen to a podcast by a couple of former England players and I was struck by the fact that they talked in a lot more glowing terms about our players than we often do.
(Yes - very vague, I know)

 

[Major Tom]

Nah my bad I thought we were talking about our 10s.

 

[wamberal99]

No matter what our opinions are, it is undoubtedly true that without a very good 10 we will lose the series. I would start with Lynagh.

 

[A mutterer]

The elevation of the #10's importance to victory is reaching mythic proportions now.

Bell, JAS, and a couple of other hanger on players like mcreight, bobby v, and maybe that other guy Wright surely is more than enough for a win.

 

[TSR]

Against the Lions?

I’m not sure I agree with your statement in general. Maybe your 10 becomes less important if you have a really good and dominant 9, but otherwise I think the strength of the halves as a unit is as important as the forward pack.

Against the Lions we need quality across rhe park is needed. IMO we definitely need more from our 9s & 10s then we have been getting for the last couple of years.

 

[Major Tom]

Wallabies backline should have more cohesion though. Need front foot ball to capitalize on that.

 

[TSR]

I love bagging the halves as much as the next front rower. But I must admit I’m surprised at the lack of value some of you are putting on them.

Valuing a good set of halves doesn’t in anyway diminish the importance of the forward platform or the players outside but likewise a strong backline and a great forward pack want a good set of halves to provide the glue & direction around the field.

It’s not really an either/or situation if we want to return to being a top 5 team and/or beat a team like the Lions.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I am assuming it is still a long time until the squad is selected so performance in the business end of the super rugby season will be crucial, especially if some of these players step up under finals pressure, not to mention injuries as well. So it is great to speculate but I would like to see JOC (James O'Connor) string together another 3-4 positive games

 

[dru]

Ditto this for 22 other players, the whole squad really.