Jumping_jack
Ted Fahey (11)
Absolutely - his sycophants will twist themselves in knots before they even begin to accept it.
Rugby Championship 2025: Wallabies v Argentina
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Jumping_jack
Ted Fahey (11)
So anyone that disagrees with you is a child?
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
I feel this conversation needs to be moved to a higher shelf where some of you can't reach...
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Probably time to get back to class kids.
Tomthumb
Peter Johnson (47)
He hasn't been given the chance by Schmidt though lets be fair. He was rushed in by Rennie at the end of 2022 due to him not having developed any 10 depth and was only used by Eddie once it was proven Carter Gordon wasn't able to kick shots at goal to even a club standard
He played with a bunch of 2nd stringers vs Georgia last year and it was understandably clunky and he got the backline looking awesome early on vs Argentina, wasn't perfect but the collapse was largely after he went off
Tomthumb
Peter Johnson (47)
Which would be more understandable if either of the guys Schmidt has backed ever looked the part
Ffs Donaldson has been injured and was unavailable.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Fair point but with the sides momentum shift over the last 18 months I tend to side with whatever Schmidt thinks is the right selection policy. He's putting players in positions to help each other. Can't tell me he always saw Ikitau as a 12. He saw how the team will benefit from him at 12 to get JAS in at 13.
I bet he wishes one of the 10s would just come out and grab a game by the neck but I also havent seen any of these 10s ever do that at Super Rugby level either. We have neat distributors and Donaldson probably the best athlete of the 10s but also has the most potential of being unpredictable. The rest of the Wobs backline is the current weapon so just get the ball out there and don't be a hero seems to be the current path.
I bet he wishes one of the 10s would just come out and grab a game by the neck but I also havent seen any of these 10s ever do that at Super Rugby level either. We have neat distributors and Donaldson probably the best athlete of the 10s but also has the most potential of being unpredictable. The rest of the Wobs backline is the current weapon so just get the ball out there and don't be a hero seems to be the current path.
Tomthumb
Peter Johnson (47)
He was usurped by Lynagh and O'Connor prior to his injury
It's understandable because there's also something to be gained by picking who you think is your best option and continuing to get them more experience.
Schmidt see the players in training that we don't have access to. He presumably thinks he is picking the better option and doesn't see an overly convincing reason to change that.
Tomthumb
Peter Johnson (47)
Yeah and he's been right about most things selection wise. I've just yet to see anything that he's shown in a game to say he's got it in him to be a quality test 10
Adam84
Tim Horan (67)
I don’t know where these quality test 10s are that are missing out though. Noah would be there if not do injury.
I’m all for Donaldson starting, I think he would be serviceable but I don’t think he is ‘quality test 5/8’, but he is the most experienced and physical. Not sure why Edmed keeps getting mentioned as a starter, he struggled to show himself a Super Rugby quality 5/8 this year and was benched behind Creighton. He has potential though so good for him to get experience off the bench.
5/8 is the wallabies weakest position by far.
I’m all for Donaldson starting, I think he would be serviceable but I don’t think he is ‘quality test 5/8’, but he is the most experienced and physical. Not sure why Edmed keeps getting mentioned as a starter, he struggled to show himself a Super Rugby quality 5/8 this year and was benched behind Creighton. He has potential though so good for him to get experience off the bench.
5/8 is the wallabies weakest position by far.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
First up, Edmed is much more physically robust, and seems to attack the line more effectively than TL. I think both Edmed and Donaldson deserve some time coming off the bench behind JOC (James O'Connor) over the remainder of this year, while all options should get about equal time starting next year when world rankings are no longer an issue. That's the only way we can get a measure of their respective abilities against top level opposition.
Is this likely to happen though?
I tend to think almost all coaches are going to make their picks and stick with them as much as possible.
I highly doubt 2026 will be used as a series of trials heading towards the Rugby World Cup. It's far more likely that Kiss will follow a similar process to Schmidt, pick who he thinks are his best options and select them in the 23 as often as possible.
Wilson
Tim Horan (67)
This is a truly terrible way to build any sort of cohesion and consistency a year out from the world cup. Thankfully it's the coaches who have to get a measure of their respective abilities, not us, and they have more ways to do this then throwing them all to wolves on successive weekends.
HogansHeros
Vay Wilson (31)
All we need is any of the 10s to stay injury free and get time in the seat. They just need to do the basics right and get some time working with the team, nothing flash. We have plenty of attacking options in the backline.
JOC (James O'Connor) hasn't been doing anything flashy, just distributing well, kicking when needed and making his tackles.
I don't think its going to be a massive change to our success, based on who plays 10, as long as we can get some consistency there.
JOC (James O'Connor) hasn't been doing anything flashy, just distributing well, kicking when needed and making his tackles.
I don't think its going to be a massive change to our success, based on who plays 10, as long as we can get some consistency there.