Rugby Championship 2025 : South Africa v Australia Round 2

[rugbyAU]

Hearing it’s Toole time
He should be locked in for his debut on the left wing after a long wait in the squad

interesting to see how he goes against Kolbe if they match up

there hasn't been any news on the match day 23 yet?

 

[whitefalcon]

there hasn't been any news on the match day 23 yet?

Its been unusually quiet. Was Slipper the source?

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think you drop a back (Tane Edmed) to pick up LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) who can cover the second-row, allowing Williams to replace Valetini at 6 and Gleeson to replace Wilson (or de Crespigny depending on injury) at 8.
1. Ross --> Bell
2. Pollard --> BPA
3. TT --> Nonggorr
4. Frost
5. Skelton --> LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Valetini --> Williams
7. Mcreight
8. Wilson/de Crespigny --> Gleeson

Would you really drop Hooper altogether? If so, I suspect you would be alone in the world of rugby to do that. Or maybe you are Rassie?

 

[Wilson]

Doran and Payto both have Toole starting

Not too much detail otherwise - still a toss up between Robertson and Ross, Wilson cleared of structural damage but unlikely to be risked, Valetini due back, and Ikitau fit and available.

 

[Dctarget]

I think that means Toole will probably start with Kellaway keeping his supersub position with Tate (Kellaway/McDermott are a great bench pairing for a 6-2 split, but does Tate cover 10?).

Valetini straight swap with Wilson then, I'd have Ross in at 17 and I like the suggestion of 6/2 with Salakaia-Loto taking Edmed's bench position.

So three forced changes and one tactical, keeps largely the same team that rolled the Bokke:
- Ross in at 17
- Salakaia-Loto in at 20
- Valetini at 8
- Toole at 11

 

[rugbyAU]

Doran and Payto both have Toole starting

It’s not clear if he’s starting or on the bench but more likely the former

 

[rugbyAU]

I think that means Toole will probably start with Kellaway keeping his supersub position with Tate (Kellaway/McDermott are a great bench pairing for a 6-2 split, but does Tate cover 10?).

Valetini straight swap with Wilson then, I'd have Ross in at 17 and I like the suggestion of 6/2 with Salakaia-Loto taking Edmed's bench position.

So three forced changes and one tactical, keeps largely the same team that rolled the Bokke:
- Ross in at 17
- Salakaia-Loto in at 20
- Valetini at 8
- Toole at 11

I think it’ll be:

6 - Hooper
7 - McReight
8 - Valetini

and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) only if they go 6-2

 

[Rugby Head]

I think that means Toole will probably start with Kellaway keeping his supersub position with Tate (Kellaway/McDermott are a great bench pairing for a 6-2 split, but does Tate cover 10?).

Valetini straight swap with Wilson then, I'd have Ross in at 17 and I like the suggestion of 6/2 with Salakaia-Loto taking Edmed's bench position.

So three forced changes and one tactical, keeps largely the same team that rolled the Bokke:
- Ross in at 17
- Salakaia-Loto in at 20
- Valetini at 8
- Toole at 11

Tom Wright can cover 10.

 

[rugbyAU]

Tom Wright can cover 10.

I think they’ll go with Edmed on the bench still

 

[Rugby Head]

I think they’ll go with Edmed on the bench still

And not see the field?
We need all the fire power we can get in the forwards, where is Reece Hodge when you need him?

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Should've gone full back to the future with JOC (James O'Connor) and called up Kurtley too. the positional coverage!!

 

[Dctarget]

Should've gone full back to the future with JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and called up Kurtley too. the positional coverage!!

Does make me think what could've been if we stuck with Quade after the COVID wins. Very curious to know Joe's thoughts on Kerevi and why he's not worth it.

 

[Micheal]

Does make me think what could've been if we stuck with Quade after the COVID wins.

 

[Braveheart81]

And not see the field?
We need all the fire power we can get in the forwards, where is Reece Hodge when you need him?

Edmed couldn't take the field because we had already used 8 substitutions.

Ikitau returning to the field counted as an additional substitution because it was outside of the 15 minutes allowed for a blood injury.

 

[JRugby2]

Edmed couldn't take the field because we had already used 8 substitutions.

Ikitau returning to the field counted as an additional substitution because it was outside of the 15 minutes allowed for a blood injury.

If he goes longer than 15 he can’t return at all - he’s permanently off as an injury.

 

[Slim 293]

Considering it was a disaster the first time used, and McDermott has already filled in on the wing twice this year, I can't see Schmidt returning to a 6/2 bench...

 

[Adam84]

Looking forward to Toole debuting, his finishing ability has never been in doubt, it's the other areas of his game i'm interested to see if he can step up in. Big shoes to fill, Pietsch was playing some great rugby especially in defence.

 

[Dctarget]

Looking forward to Toole debuting, his finishing ability has never been in doubt, it's the other areas of his game i'm interested to see if he can step up in. Big shoes to fill, Pietsch was playing some great rugby especially in defence.

Agreed, Pietsch would be good for one or two momentum swinging tackles a game. His tackling with Hooper and McReight pilfering plugged our fairly porous defence. Not sure we can afford to miss him.

 

[whitefalcon]

Edmed couldn't take the field because we had already used 8 substitutions.

Ikitau returning to the field counted as an additional substitution because it was outside of the 15 minutes allowed for a blood injury.

I thought Joe said they didn't use him as they were concerned someone else might go down and they would have to play with 14

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

I thought Joe said they didn't use him as they were concerned someone else might go down and they would have to play with 14

You're both correct I believe. General rule of thumb is you always keep one substitution in the back pocket in case of injury, but the additional sub Joe would have used on Edmed (whilst keeping one spare) was used on getting Len back onto the field. Or maybe he was out of subs I actually have no idea