Waratahs v British & Irish Lions - Saturday, 5 July @ SFS

[Braveheart81]

So Tupou, Philip and Lancaster have been released for the game.

Potentially we could see something like:

1. Lambert
2. Dobbins
3. Tupou
4. Philip
5. Lee-Warner
6. Leota
7. Gamble
8. Talataina
9. Wilson
10. Edmed
11. Lancaster
12. Walton
13. O'Donnell
14. Reilly
15. Creighton

16. Heaven 17. Kailea 18. Botha 19. Amatasero 20. Adamson 21. Grant 22. Foketi 23. Bowen

 

[Wilson]

Interestingly Edmed and Kailea were not mentioned as released from the wider squad when Philip and Lancaster were. I don't think that's too meaningful for Kailea, beyond the fact that he'll likely be on the bench which was already likely, but for Edmed I really doubt he starts. Bowen and Creighton were preferred by the end of the season and with Edmed's departure I don't see that changing, especially if he hasn't been available to train. He probably still gets released and ends up on the bench, but with Lynagh carrying a finger injury there's a chance they hold him as emergency cover, probably depending on how Donaldson pulls up form the Force game.

 

[Braveheart81]

I wonder if it's just one more training session waiting for the Force players to return to camp and be ready to train?

 

[Qwertyrick]

How the hell is Lancaster even anywhere near the wallabies squad?

 

[Braveheart81]

He wasn't in the Wallabies squad. He was there as one of several additional players to make up the numbers at training while other players are released to their Super Rugby teams.

 

[Wilson]

I wonder if it's just one more training session waiting for the Force players to return to camp and be ready to train?

I think that's probably the case for Kailea (and he may have already been released given there was talk Leli Ieli from the Brumbies was called in) but just the fact that Lancaster and Phillip were released and that Lynagh is under a minor injury cloud does not help Edmed's chances of starting this game. It'd be a bit of a different story if he had been the preferred 10 all season and was signed for next year, but given he's not and he hasn't been training with the tahs makes it hard to see him being elevated into the role off of short prep. He probably still makes it onto the bench given who is left though. There's probably also an outside chance he ends up on the bench against Fiji instead.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Wilson, the young LHPs name is Ieli. It does look awkward starting with an I but I think we should get it right. He is going to make a big mark on the game the way he's going.

 

[Wilson]

Oh my bad, I've mostly only heard it said and must've just assumed I was seeing lower case Ls when it was written

 

[Heavyd]

So the Wallabies are warehousing 2 of either dangunu (FFS it's Daugunu!), Potter, Jorgo and Kellaway? I would've thought he would release at least one of the NSW wingers who are in massive need of game time.

 

[Wilson]

Potentially only one of those guys is "warehoused" assuming Toole gets a release. I assume Jorgenson will be set to play against Fiji for game time and if Kellaway is seen as the emergency cover than there's a decent chance he is released late in the piece, like Donaldson was.

 

[Heavyd]

Let's hope for his and the Tahs he is released. They also have Peachie in the squad,

 

[Dctarget]

Kellaway released to play, very needed for the Tahs.

 

[Wilson]

I imagine Kellaway slots straight into 15 with Creighton at 10. Will be between Bowen and Edmed for that bench spot.

 

[Wilson]

Edmed also released (along with the rest of the wider training squad) so he is at least with the team to push for a spot now.

 

[Heavyd]

TBH I think announcing Nella departing in isolation and then dropping a media release at 7.00am the next day releasing a few more could of been handled better. Given his well known offfield struggles wouldn't it have been better to bundle them all together rather than have him released in isolation only to release a few more 16 hours later?

 

[Braveheart81]

I assume it was just accurate reporting of what happened. I think the alternative is worse that it gets reported by the media that Tupou has left he camp despite no announcements from Rugby Australia whereas there were announcements each time players were released from camp previously.