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Wallabies 2025

drewprint

drewprint

Bob Davidson (42)
Some controversial thoughts designed to spark debate because hey what the hell else are we doing:

Is our backline stronger with 12 Ikitau 13 JAS, or 12 Kerevi 13 Ikitau 11/14 JAS? Have we been playing a bit of ducks and drakes with him in the centres and we unleash his high ball game fully on the wing?

Is our pack better with 4 Frost/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), 5 Williams, 6 Valetini, 7 McReight, 8 Wilson, or 4 Skelton, 5 Williams, 6 Hooper, 7 McReight, 8 Valetini? I’m a fierce Reds fan but I’ve been a long time fan of Hooper and he’s been fantastic. Do we gain more from including him, being able to have Skelton start as we now have Hoopers additional lineout prowess, then bring Wilson on in the final 30? No idea who would captain in this scenario however which is a big consideration.
 
hammertimethere

hammertimethere

Trevor Allan (34)
drewprint said:
Some controversial thoughts designed to spark debate because hey what the hell else are we doing:

Is our backline stronger with 12 Ikitau 13 JAS, or 12 Kerevi 13 Ikitau 11/14 JAS? Have we been playing a bit of ducks and drakes with him in the centres and we unleash his high ball game fully on the wing?

Is our pack better with 4 Frost/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), 5 Williams, 6 Valetini, 7 McReight, 8 Wilson, or 4 Skelton, 5 Williams, 6 Hooper, 7 McReight, 8 Valetini? I’m a fierce Reds fan but I’ve been a long time fan of Hooper and he’s been fantastic. Do we gain more from including him, being able to have Skelton start as we now have Hoopers additional lineout prowess, then bring Wilson on in the final 30? No idea who would captain in this scenario however which is a big consideration.
Click to expand...
To answer question 1 - Maybe, but it's impossible to tell how close Samu is to being to perform at Test level anywhere near like he used to. But the reasoning is sound. Maybe it makes sense to go 12. Ikitau 13. JAS 14. Daugunu 22 Donaldson or JOC (James O'Connor) 23 Kerevi?

To answer question 2 - Also maybe, but I think Wilson has been in such good consistent form, done well with the captaincy etc. that the right thing to do is start him with Valetini and Mcreight (that unit has some runs on the board at the moment) and then support them with good jumpers in the row. I like Skelton off the bench (but as a 35 minute player, not 10) in which case you do need to have another bench forward to be lineout competent ideally e.g Uru, Hooper or CDC if you run a 5/3, or you could do Frost/Tizzano as a 6/2 and one of the starting locks has the option to go to 6 if required.
 
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The GroundsKeeper

The GroundsKeeper

Herbert Moran (7)
hammertimethere said:
To answer question 1 - Maybe, but it's impossible to tell how close Samu is to being to perform at Test level anywhere near like he used to. But the reasoning is sound. Maybe it makes sense to go 12. Ikitau 13. JAS 14. Daugunu 22 Donaldson or JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) 23 Kerevi?

To answer question 2 - Also maybe, but I think Wilson has been in such good consistent form, done well with the captaincy etc. that the right thing to do is start him with Valetini and Mcreight (that unit has some runs on the board at the moment) and then support them with good jumpers in the row. I like Skelton off the bench (but as a 35 minute player, not 10) in which case you do need to have another bench forward to be lineout competent ideally e.g Uru, Hooper or CDC if you run a 5/3, or you could do Frost/Tizzano as a 6/2 and one of the starting locks has the option to go to 6 if required.
Click to expand...
Could we see Schmidt potentially having a supposed bomb squad for a bench to have a solid 30 minute stint at the end of games with the likes of Skelton, CDC and a new front row as well as a back rower like Glesson or Tizzano
 
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dru

dru

David Wilson (68)
The GroundsKeeper said:
Could we see Schmidt potentially having a supposed bomb squad for a bench to have a solid 30 minute stint at the end of games with the likes of Skelton, CDC and a new front row as well as a back rower like Glesson or Tizzano
Click to expand...

The thing to balance that plan is the size of the back line. If we do I like a 6/2 bringing in Skelton with a back rower who can jump. I'm thinking Uru/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) or similar.
 
drewprint

drewprint

Bob Davidson (42)
dru said:
The thing to balance that plan is the size of the back line. If we do I like a 6/2 bringing in Skelton with a back rower who can jump. I'm thinking Uru/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) or similar.
Click to expand...
In a 6/2 scenario at 50 mins or so you could hypothetically have:
Slipper on for Bell
BPA on for Faessler
Tupou on for AAA
Skelton on for LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Hooper/Uru on for Wilson
Gleeson on for Valetini
With McDermott and Donaldson/JOC (James O'Connor) as the bench backs?

It’s pretty sexy.
 
rugbyAU

rugbyAU

Desmond Connor (43)
upthereds#! said:
In a 38 squad, Paisami still gets a seat on the room, as with the versatility of JAS and Daugunu, (With Daugunu probably a starting winger atm) you don't need a ton of outside backs.
17 backs for me
White Gordon Mcdermott
Lynagh Lolesio Donaldson (15) JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) (12)
Paisami Kerevi Ikitau Daugunu (11/14) JAS (15)
Jorgo Kellaway Potter Wright Pietsch
Click to expand...
I'd take:

Halfbacks - Gordon, McDermott, Lonergan
Flyhalves - Lolesio, Lynagh, Donaldson, O'Connor
Centres - Ikitau, Kerevi, Paisami
Outside Backs - Kellaway, Wright, Daungunu, Potter, Jorgensen, Pietsch, JAS
 
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