Wallabies 2025

[PhilClinton]

Strange, because JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)'s agent told Christy Doran that Schmidt had lost the playing group...

Yeh - and I am in the camp that I think JOC (James O'Connor) has been fucked around with too much. I am not surprised word from his camp would be negative.

 

[Major Tom]

Where there's smoke there's fire. I'd say they'd be slightly disgruntled rather the whole dressing room being lost. It would be a combo of, the team is not winning, we're not playing an attractive game style and Joe is on the way out. Just going through the motions atm.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I want to be the first to call this, however i am going all in on Angus Grover being part of the World Cup squad in 27 and expect him to be taken to the Northern Hemisphere next Autumn tour.

Watched him for years and he's talented but this is a hot hot hot take. Commended on having a swing but i'd rather be slightly more conservative and say he'll be the starting 9 come 2031.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

How did that happen? The data behind the Wallabies’ dramatic slide

It has been a year of two halves for the Wallabies, who began with a bang but have ended with a whimper. Another loss on Sunday will be an unprecedented 10th Test defeat in a calendar year.

www.smh.com.au

- Another loss would leave the Wallabies with just five wins from 15 Tests this year, a 33 per cent win rate. That would not be the worst on record – disturbingly, 2018 (31%), 2020 (17%) and 2023 (22%) were all lower. But there is an ignominious place in history the 2025 team could still claim: it would be the first time the Wallabies have lost 10 Tests in a calendar year.

- The win percentage and points tallies paint a basic but clear picture of the Wallabies’ demise. From scoring an average of almost 26 points in the opening eight Tests, they’ve only posted 17 points a game since. The Wallabies haven’t scored more than 19 points in a Test since racking up 24 against New Zealand in Auckland in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash.

- The points conceded has also blown out by an average of four a game, leaving an average losing margin of 10 points a game. With a struggling attack, tries have dried up, falling from 3.6 a Test to 1.7, and they’re also conceding an average of one more per Test.

- In the opening eight Tests, the Wallabies averaged 8.5 penalties a game. But in the six Tests since, that has grown to 11.5 a game, and double-figure counts in four of six games.

 

[fatprop]

Kiss has been with the touring group

 

[rugbyAU]

How did that happen? The data behind the Wallabies’ dramatic slide

It has been a year of two halves for the Wallabies, who began with a bang but have ended with a whimper. Another loss on Sunday will be an unprecedented 10th Test defeat in a calendar year.

www.smh.com.au

- Another loss would leave the Wallabies with just five wins from 15 Tests this year, a 33 per cent win rate. That would not be the worst on record – disturbingly, 2018 (31%), 2020 (17%) and 2023 (22%) were all lower. But there is an ignominious place in history the 2025 team could still claim: it would be the first time the Wallabies have lost 10 Tests in a calendar year.

A loss this weekend would confirm our second worst year on record then, two years after our worst, not sure if people can argue great improvement has been made under Schimidt on the facts

 

[fatprop]

There is also some comments from donno as to why he ain't there @ PR

Snubbed fly-half reveals the two reasons he was dropped by Wallabies

Should he have been included?

www.planetrugby.com

Donaldson explained that head coach Joe Schmidt had been happy with the fly-halves who were playing during his recent injury, so there was no reason to change things around. He did admit that he was given a couple of pointers to work on, however.

“One, just consistency. I think my game style – the way I play – I like to try things and express myself and move the ball, and sometimes that comes with errors. Obviously, as a 10, you’re going to touch the ball; you’re going to have a lot of errors. But I think just my consistency hasn’t been great, whether it’s in Super or for the Wallabies, that’s one thing.

“And then just what Joe’s told me around the contact area, my defence, my physicality, and then just the high ball as well. Obviously, the high ball is a massive part of the game, and the Wallabies are probably struggling the most out of anyone.

“So yeah, just those things I can keep working on, and that’s what I’ll be working on when I get back to pre-season.”

 

[Slim 293]

A loss this weekend would confirm our second worst year on record then, two years after our worst, not sure if people can argue great improvement has been made under Schimidt on the facts

They probably can, starting with the simple concept that if this is indeed the "second worst year on record," then by definition it is an improvement from our worst year on record...

 

[Red Runner]

A loss this weekend would confirm our second worst year on record then, two years after our worst, not sure if people can argue great improvement has been made under Schimidt on the facts

well other than 1899, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 2018 and 2020

Of course it would be the same as the years 1910, 1913, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1955, 1961, 1964, 1982 and 1989

 

[Slim 293]

Again, it's almost as if things went downhill for the Wallabies after they lost numerous key players...

The fact is we have a slim field of depth, and we haven't been able to replace that talent on the back of a tough season with the Lions tour.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

There is also some comments from donno as to why he ain't there @ PR

Snubbed fly-half reveals the two reasons he was dropped by Wallabies

Should he have been included?

www.planetrugby.com

Hopefully being so open about those points he's showing he's coach-able which is one of the biggest assets any athlete can have.

 

[Spamnoodle]

Recognise that it’s subjective. But Pollock absolutely shouldn’t be winning this. He’s played 3 tests, all off the bench. Great that he’s been recognised but the sample size is too for him to win this. I win, end of story.

Don't worry about it. One of the 3 Saffas nominated will get the gong anyway.

 

[rugbyAU]

well other than 1899, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 2018 and 2020

Of course it would be the same as the years 1910, 1913, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1955, 1961, 1964, 1982 and 1989

first ever year with 10 defeats, about all of those years bar 2018 had very few matches, add in the first winless 4 game EOYT since 1958, record loss to Ireland by nearly double the next biggest and a loss to Italy

and losing the Lions series, Mandela Plate, Bledisloe, Puma Trophy, TRC, Ella Mobs cup, Landsowne Cup and likely the Bicentenaries Trophy

 

[John S]

Don't worry about it. One of the 3 Saffas nominated will get the gong anyway.

I think you're confusing mens player of the year and breakout player of the year

 

[rugbyAU]

They probably can, starting with the simple concept that if this is indeed the "second worst year on record," then by definition it is an improvement from our worst year on record...

based off 2024 and throughout this year we have gotten worse each game since Joburg