Wallabies 2026

[rugbyAU]

 

[John S]

View attachment 23681

Given our performance this year, unless there's a massive increase, we can probably discount the finals week

 

[kiap]

Given our performance this year, unless there's a massive increase, we can probably discount the finals week

Every child wins a prize:

Fri 27 Nov 2026:
6th Place NH vs 6th Place SH
5th Place NH vs 5th Place SH

Sat 28 Nov 2026:
4th Place NH vs 4th Place SH
3rd Place NH vs 3rd Place SH

Sun 29th Nov 2026:
2nd Place NH vs 2nd Place SH
1st Place NH vs 1st Place SH

 

[Strewthcobber]

Is it confirmed that the finals weekend is actually in the November test window or will we have to play that without any os players?

 

[Yoda]

Yeah I just genuinely think he shouldn't be coaching Super next year, and 100% of his focus should be on the Wallabies from right now. The Reds have a coach that has one eye on his next job (even subconsciously) and the Wallabies get a coach without any runway to prepare properly for the task

But that aside, I am really interested in his assistants. I hope he gets to pick his own and I hope he gets to finalize them asap

Totally agree. The assistant coaches to any coach are massive. Just ask Eddie when Jason Ryles was his 'attack coach' with no rugby experience! That was insane.

 

[Wilson]

Is it confirmed that the finals weekend is actually in the November test window or will we have to play that without any os players?

I'm not sure they have amended the regulations yet, though I'm also not sure if we'd ever see anything official publicly beforehand - this year's November window was actually on non-standard dates based on the way the regulation is written, but I don't think there was any official public announcement of the World Rugby Council's decision to shift it.

I do think they'll have to add to the regulations for this one, rather than just deciding on a one off shift, I expect it'll be another clause stating that all Nations Championship/Cup weeks are part of release windows, superseding the July and November windows in those years.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I think the World Rugby Council is actually meeting around now. Maybe the regulation changes need to be ratified by them

 

[rugbyAU]

Yes the window is extended to four weeks to cover the finals

 

[John S]

The 8/9 combo team were cynically suggesting that because the opener is a week after the French Top14 final, France will send out a "C" team to play NZ which will no doubt annoy the Kiwis

 

[rugbyAU]

The 8/9 combo team were cynically suggesting that because the opener is a week after the French Top14 final, France will send out a "C" team to play NZ which will no doubt annoy the Kiwis

they'll just kill their chances of making the 1st place playoff

 

[Strewthcobber]

The 8/9 combo team were cynically suggesting that because the opener is a week after the French Top14 final, France will send out a "C" team to play NZ which will no doubt annoy the Kiwis

The answer to solving this is "move the Top 14 final", but on player welfare grounds France shouldn't be selecting them, and players shouldn't be flying half way around the world to play a test match 7 days after the GF.

 

[Wilson]

I think the World Rugby Council is actually meeting around now. Maybe the regulation changes need to be ratified by them

Yeah, they will need to ratify it , and if it's an amendment to the regulations it'll need a full vote with 3/4 approval:

Any amendment of the World Rugby's bye-laws, regulations or the laws of the game requires approval of three-quarters of the World Rugby Council.

Governance | About World Rugby

Information about the governance of World Rugby, the international governing body for rugby union.

www.world.rugby

It'll probably go straight through without issue given all the big boys stand to benefit, along with everyone in that Nations Cup comp, but it would be peak world rugby to set all of this up and then screw up that pretty crucial piece after the fact.

 

[Dctarget]

My very uninformed reading of the French mood is that they'll shorten the T14 season soon. T14 calling the shots works when things are rosy but if they keep underperforming, like they have this EOYT and potentially come 2nd or even 3rd in the 6N, then the knives will come out. They have by far the worst injury list of any T1 country and even their depth can't cover it.

 

[Major Tom]

The answer to solving this is "move the Top 14 final", but on player welfare grounds France shouldn't be selecting them, and players shouldn't be flying half way around the world to play a test match 7 days after the GF.

The answer should be to reduce the Top 14 season. 26 rounds with breaks is bloody ridiculous! All we hear is Super Rugby is a sprint unlike the slog of the top 14 and blah blah blah. At least the Kiwis and Wallabies aren't regularly sending C strength team.

 

[Strewthcobber]

My very uninformed reading of the French mood is that they'll shorten the T14 season soon. T14 calling the shots works when things are rosy but if they keep underperforming, like they have this EOYT and potentially come 2nd or even 3rd in the 6N, then the knives will come out. They have by far the worst injury list of any T1 country and even their depth can't cover it.

How much influence does FFR have in deciding how long the Top 14 goes for?

It's run by a separate organisation isn't it?