Wallabies 2025

[Strewthcobber]

Can players remain JIFF qualified if they start playing for another country?

Yep. JIFF and WR (World Rugby) eligibility are completely different things.

The way French clubs are using JIFF kind of skirts the FFR intent around eligibility, but the clubs have far too much power for the FFR to do anything about it now

 

[Mr Pilfer]

How about Bayley Kuenzle as a somewhat leftfield suggestion? Donaldson is an 80 minute player, so probably not worth keeping a dedicated 4th string 10 on the bench. Kuenzle is perfect for a 6-2 bench as he covers 10 to 15.

Good call, I can get around that. Take Donno and Edmed as the preferred 10's for the 2 tests with Meredith taken as a development player and then Keunzle also in the squad as a utility covering 10-15

 

[Blue]

“We’re pretty open, Joe’s got no impediment to select whoever he wants,” Horne told reporters.

“That’s always been the case. If he wants to select someone, he’s entitled. (No, it is not)

“The Giteau Law, that’s kind of redundant.

Pretty open and kind of...hmmmm.....that's hardly an emphatic statement.

This is not enough for players and their agents to negotiate contracts knowing that they can be selected and play for the Wallabies. It only helps short-term to enable the selection of the obvious incumbents, but if I am an Aus players overseas in the middle of contract talks this does not help me much.

But I guess this is good a start.

 

[JRugby2]

“We’re pretty open, Joe’s got no impediment to select whoever he wants,” Horne told reporters.

“That’s always been the case. If he wants to select someone, he’s entitled. (No, it is not)

“The Giteau Law, that’s kind of redundant.

Pretty open and kind of...hmmmm.....that's hardly an emphatic statement.

This is not enough for players and their agents to negotiate contracts knowing that they can be selected and play for the Wallabies. It only helps short-term to enable the selection of the obvious incumbents, but if I am an Aus players overseas in the middle of contract talks this does not help me much.

But I guess this is good a start.

You might be digging too deeply into the language of someone just answering questions in a casual manner.

 

[Slim 293]

After being contacted by this masthead and asked about Skelton’s availability, O’Gara responded by text message, “I think he will play the Rugby Championship.”

Skelton will be medically screened on Wednesday alongside his Wallabies teammates and he will still have to pass as fully fit to be named by coach Joe Schmidt for the Rugby Championship.

Skelton set for Rugby Championship return after Lions heroics

Will Skelton’s La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara described the second-rower as his best signing and thinks he will play in the Rugby Championship this year.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Joe Blow]

Pick initially from within Super Rugby and then players remain eligible when they go offshore if they have already been in the squad and represented. It expands our player base and brings continuity to the national setup.
It works very well for SA and Argentina and creates more professional slots at home with our Super Rugby sides.

 

[rugbyAU]

Dave Porecki has retired

 

[MarkJ]

Porecki has retired

David Porecki retires from professional rugby

wallabies.rugby

 

[Major Tom]

Faessler injured means Asiata or Dolly would have to come into RC squad you’d think.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Porecki has retired

David Porecki retires from professional rugby

wallabies.rugby

That’s a massive surprise no?

 

[Tazzmania]

Faessler injured means Asiata or Dolly would have to come into RC squad you’d think.

Dolly also injured, was wearing a knee brace at the Force V Lions match, I am not sure for how long he is out for.

 

[Ignoto]

Bugger, crap way to bow out of the game. I fully expected Dave to be around for the tail end of the RC or even the EOYT. Wonder what changed that as the latest injury was a superficial one?

 

[Ignoto]

Dolly also injured, was wearing a knee brace at the Force V Lions match, I am not sure for how long he is out for.

Sounds like its going to be Pollard, BPA, Asiata and either Nasser or L Lonergan.

In all honesty, Richie was in career best form this year and was playing better than Fez for the Reds.

 

[whitefalcon]

Sounds like its going to be Pollard, BPA, Asiata and either Nasser or L Lonergan.

In all honesty, Richie was in career best form this year and was playing better than Fez for the Reds.

Whats better then one Lonergan

Two Lonergans

To be fair though, Noss was just ok this year

 

[Brumby Runner]

Sounds like its going to be Pollard, BPA, Asiata and either Nasser or L Lonergan.

In all honesty, Richie was in career best form this year and was playing better than Fez for the Reds.

Lonergan out injured atm.

 

[Major Tom]

Lonergan out injured atm.

Yeah ACL I’m pretty sure.

 

[Raytah]

Exactly, so I could see RA maybe help players to sign for clubs in France just to get them playing Union instead of being snapped up by the NRL.

1000%. For the top 10% talent, we have to be creative to keep them in gold. Realistically, super rugby clubs don't have the cash and they will be better prepared for international rugny playing Top 14 anyway.

RA boasted about retaining all but ~3 of our U18s last year, but they failed to mention we missed the 3 most likely to become Wallabies (in Lemoto, Bassingthwaite & Makasini).

If playing in France is the price to pay the retain them, we should take that arrangement (also means we don't have to pay them).

 

[Wilson]

Is Faessler injured long term? My understanding is it was only a 'calf tweak' that ruled him out of the last test, I'd expect he's good to travel with the squad.

I would probably be looking at a 4th hooker (alongside Faessler, Pollard and BPA) for safety sake though, sounds like it's down to Nasser or Asiata. Asiata is the form option, but Nasser has been with the side before. Asiata is also off with Benneton at the moment - it doesn't block Schmidt from calling him up, but it might give him pause if he doesn't expect to use him outside of emergency.

 

[Major Tom]

1000%. For the top 10% talent, we have to be creative to keep them in gold. Realistically, super rugby clubs don't have the cash and they will be better prepared for international rugny playing Top 14 anyway.

RA boasted about retaining all but ~3 of our U18s last year, but they failed to mention we missed the 3 most likely to become Wallabies (in Lemoto, Bassingthwaite & Makasini).

If playing in France is the price to pay the retain them, we should take that arrangement (also means we don't have to pay them).

Lemoto is the one we really want. Jackalling and ball carrying ability is a combo we desperately need. The other 2 I was happy to not get into a bidding war with because they don't really move the needle.
The next few years will tell us if letting these kids go to France is the way to go. They get signed to 3-year deals. A 2-year deal extension on that and they can play for France by the time they're 22.

 

[Major Tom]

Is Faessler injured long term? My understanding is it was only a 'calf tweak' that ruled him out of the last test, I'd expect he's good to travel with the squad.

I would probably be looking at a 4th hooker (alongside Faessler, Pollard and BPA) for safety sake though, sounds like it's down to Nasser or Asiata. Asiata is the form option, but Nasser has been with the side before. Asiata is also off with Benneton at the moment - it doesn't block Schmidt from calling him up, but it might give him pause if he doesn't expect to use him outside of emergency.

I'd say it wouldn't really improve when having to travel. Reckon they'd just try to get through the 2 weeks of SA and then get him in for the next leg of the championship.
I had forgotten about Nasser. He seems the obvious one to bring in as cover.