Wallabies 2025

[rugbyAU]

1 - Bell
2 - Faessler
3 - AA
4 - Williams
5 - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6 - Valetini
7 - McReight
8 - Wilson
9 - Gordon
10 - Lolesio
11 - Daungunu
12 - Ikitau
13 - Sua'ali'i'i
14 - Potter
15 - Wright
16 - BPA
17 - Slipper
18 - Tupou
19 - Skelton
20 - Gleeson
21 - McDermott
22 - Donaldson
23 - Kellaway

 

[drewprint]

1 - Bell
2 - Faessler
3 - AA
4 - Williams
5 - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6 - Valetini
7 - McReight
8 - Wilson
9 - Gordon
10 - Lolesio
11 - Daungunu
12 - Ikitau
13 - Sua'ali'i'i
14 - Potter
15 - Wright
16 - BPA
17 - Slipper
18 - Tupou
19 - Skelton
20 - Gleeson
21 - McDermott
22 - Donaldson
23 - Kellaway

I like it. Almost what I’d have. I’d have Jorgensen over Potter ( but happy either way really, Potter has been fantastic), and Skelton to start. But that constant conundrum appears with Skelton either way - do we need a strong jumping back row to pair with him? Does this mean Hooper or Uru shoot into the mix ahead of Gleeson? Or we go 6-2 and Kellaway drops out?

 

[Derpus]

I'm not sure I would pick two 7s even if we did go 6/2.

With a 6/2 split I'd be looking at picking two locks and a replacement for 6/8 as my three non front rowers.

The benefit of a seven is they are typically the most athletic player on the field and can compensate for less athletic, though perhaps bigger players around them. If you carry a replacement for your 7 you kind of waste that advantage.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I think it is a good sign that most people aren’t talking much about Skelton, Kerevi and Koribete as it shows we are pretty happy with the options available here, which was not the case 2-3 years ago.

I still feel they are worth including in a wider squad. If Ikitau was injured I think Kerevi would be the next best option. People quickly forget koribete was our best player for a long time and just had a bad year last year, so shouldn’t be written off.

Then, a lions series we know will be very physical and probably suits a Skelton but I just worry his selection has too much of a flow on impact with other areas of the team

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

So Parling is gone for the start of the Prem next season.

Leicester HC

 

[JRugby2]

Leicester sticking with the Australian connection and have signed Geoff Parling to take over from Cheika:

Geoff Parling appointed Head Coach

Geoff Parling has been appointed Leicester Tigers Head Coach on a long-term deal starting next season.

www.leicestertigers.com

Takes over after the Lions tour.

Good on him. Our forward pack has improved with his tenure and deserves the opportunity. Hopefully his success continues and he has fond memories of Australia in the future.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I know he's young in his Coaching career but I'd be in favour of a guy like Mowen being in the running as a replacement.

Don't need HC experience for these roles and it seems you get the international assistant jobs before your provincial HC applications. There's been real growth in players like Hooper, Pollard, Reimer under him and a spring in the step of AAA and Slipper at the Brums.

 

[fatprop]

I think it is a good sign that most people aren’t talking much about Skelton, Kerevi and Koribete as it shows we are pretty happy with the options available here, which was not the case 2-3 years ago.

I still feel they are worth including in a wider squad. If Ikitau was injured I think Kerevi would be the next best option. People quickly forget koribete was our best player for a long time and just had a bad year last year, so shouldn’t be written off.

Then, a lions series we know will be very physical and probably suits a Skelton but I just worry his selection has too much of a flow on impact with other areas of the team

It depends on his physical and mental doesn't it? The elderly can fall off a cliff quite quickly

 

[The Bulldozer]

Depends if Schmidt is going entirely of form or players who have been consistently good in the past. Kellaway has definetly proven himselft and is a very good rugby player who deserves Wallabies selection. I do think potter will find himself in the 23 as he has been red hot during super rugby and deserves his wallabies shot.

Potter proved himself as well suited in the green and gold against the Scotsmen last year. Kellaway's questionable tackling would also come into question I believe against a Lions team

 

[JRugby2]

Potter proved himself as well suited in the green and gold against the Scotsmen last year. Kellaway's questionable tackling would also come into question I believe against a Lions team

just can't realistically see them going for Potter over Kellaway in a straight shoot out. 1 test vs heaps in a Lions series will count against Potter.

 

[The GroundsKeeper]

Don't think Darby Lancaster can be overlooked in some of the games coming up. Has had a great year for the Beasties as well as the tahs and starred in a dominant win over the Marlins scoring 5
Could Schmidt find a spot for him even on the bench?

 

[Slim 293]

Don't think Darby Lancaster can be overlooked in some of the games coming up. Has had a great year for the Beasties as well as the tahs and starred in a dominant win over the Marlins scoring 5
Could Schmidt find a spot for him even on the bench?

Who are these Super Rugby Pacific teams?

 

[Braveheart81]

Don't think Darby Lancaster can be overlooked in some of the games coming up. Has had a great year for the Beasties as well as the tahs and starred in a dominant win over the Marlins scoring 5
Could Schmidt find a spot for him even on the bench?

He definitely deserves another crack for the Waratahs. Triston Reilly got found out for lack of pace against the Reds and Darby is playing well.

He's a very incomplete player though and isn't going to be anywhere the Wallabies this year based on his 2025 season. Arguably it is questionable why he was there last season.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He's a bit rough right now but well worth the investment of game time as the upside could be huge. He's genuinely quick having comparable times with Toole when in the 7s program but he's also be 6'2 and 95kg. He hasn't earnt a spot for the Wallabies this year but there's no reason he wont be competing for a spot come 27.

 

[hawko07]

Don't think Darby Lancaster can be overlooked in some of the games coming up. Has had a great year for the Beasties as well as the tahs and starred in a dominant win over the Marlins scoring 5
Could Schmidt find a spot for him even on the bench?

No

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I know he's young in his Coaching career but I'd be in favour of a guy like Mowen being in the running as a replacement.

Don't need HC experience for these roles and it seems you get the international assistant jobs before your provincial HC applications. There's been real growth in players like Hooper, Pollard, Reimer under him and a spring in the step of AAA and Slipper at the Brums.

Jeremy Thrush could be another option. Force lineout in particular seems to be going very well.

whoops, just realised Thrush is academy coach. Tom Donnelly (former all black) looks like the one responsible for Force lineout

 

[upthereds#!]

I know he's young in his Coaching career but I'd be in favour of a guy like Mowen being in the running as a replacement.

Don't need HC experience for these roles and it seems you get the international assistant jobs before your provincial HC applications. There's been real growth in players like Hooper, Pollard, Reimer under him and a spring in the step of AAA and Slipper at the Brums.

Maybe interim, but it will end up as Les's man at the Reds - Hilton. He is the guy UNLESS he goes to Reds HC.

 

[Wilson]

Maybe interim, but it will end up as Les's man at the Reds - Hilton. He is the guy UNLESS he goes to Reds HC.

Les Kiss coming in is going to have an influence, even if it's only limiting the initial contract term, but I wouldn't think Hilton was a lock for this role - he's the Reds forwards coach, rather than lineout specifically (that's more Fischer's domain as I understand, though it is somewhat shared), but the Reds lineout this year is hardly a ringing endorsement of the two of them in that specific role. That's not to discount Hilton as or Fischer's involvement going forward, but if they're looking for a lineout specialist it might not be either of them straight up.

 

[TSR]

I think it is a good sign that most people aren’t talking much about Skelton, Kerevi and Koribete as it shows we are pretty happy with the options available here, which was not the case 2-3 years ago.

I still feel they are worth including in a wider squad. If Ikitau was injured I think Kerevi would be the next best option. People quickly forget koribete was our best player for a long time and just had a bad year last year, so shouldn’t be written off.

Then, a lions series we know will be very physical and probably suits a Skelton but I just worry his selection has too much of a flow on impact with other areas of the team

Agree on most counts.

It seems to me we are going to be able to name our strongest team in a long long time - although I do still have concerns around prop, the halves and general cohesion.

On the EOYT I thought Kerevi showed that, if fit, he could still be a good option right up until he got carded. Would give us some depth at centre.

I have similiar concerns around Skelton’s impact on the team balance but the opinions of those in the know seems almost overwhelmingly positive. Happy to defer to them.

Koriobete I’m not convinced on. He looked very much like he’d fallen off the cliff last year and with guys like Potter, Daugunu, Kellaway and hopefully Jorgenson available he would need to be in red hot form.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Kerevi and Skelton I could see coming into the squad, though in Skelton's case it will really depend on the type of game plan Joe has (he's not a typical lock in many ways). We're thin at 12 and if Kerevi is fit and playing well I'd like to see him in the wider group at the very least.