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Wallabies 2025

Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Tomthumb said:
But to spend the money to bring someone over on short notice they better be worth it, and right now Sio isn’t clearly better than any of the local guys. And I don’t think we should be taking guys on the spring tour that won’t factor into the home tests in 2026 unless they are Will Skelton level good
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Aidan Ross is 29 and was generally a bench player for the Chiefs this season. I want to see how he goes too but I certainly wouldn't be banking on him as the solution to James Slipper retiring.

I would be interested in seeing Sio involved in the EOYT because I think it's entirely likely he's our second or third best LHP currently and there's a strong chance he'll still be at that level in 2027.
 
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Linerunner2023

Johnnie Wallace (23)
Dctarget said:
Koch is 35 and Bongo at hooker is 34. Then the rest of the Springbok props are all 30/31.

Uini Antonio and Slimani are 35. Baille and Aldegheri are 32.

Rory Sutherland and Bealham are 33. Cian Healy is 38 lol. Furlong is 32. Dan Cole just retired and he's 38.

George Bower, Tu'unga'fasi are 33. Codie Taylor is 34.

Point is Sio is 33 and is younger than most of those blokes I just listed who are all quality test front rowers that I would love for Aus.

I'm very skeptical Ieli in 2 years time will be more reliable than Sio.
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I agree
The boks had a squad in RWC 2023 with 18-20 blokes over 30 and few mid 30s
ABs had something like 12-13 and also few in their mid 30s
Can’t beat experience - which is what the wallabies are missing - but you also still need to be up for test match footy
Sio was a gun in his prime with mobility and scrummaging was great - I remember around 21 the bomb squad if he, tupou and maybe latu came of the bench against SA and absolutely murdered the boks bomb squad
 
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Linerunner2023

Johnnie Wallace (23)
Tbh would have like to see Kerevi at 12 and ikatau at 13
ATM Sua'ali'i offering nothing, but they are also not using him well and at least trying
Will be interesting to see how long he plays test footy for or do the coach and RA stop picking him if he isn’t up to it?
can’t work out his best position but at 13 has little space and no creativity for guys outside him
 
Dctarget

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
Linerunner2023 said:
Tbh would have like to see Kerevi at 12 and ikatau at 13
ATM Sua'ali'i offering nothing, but they are also not using him well and at least trying
Will be interesting to see how long he plays test footy for or do the coach and RA stop picking him if he isn’t up to it?
can’t work out his best position but at 13 has little space and no creativity for guys outside him
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Sua'ali'i offering nothing? He has definite issues in defence which our system has to shoulder a bit of the blame for but he's had some amazing attacking runs. His recent try with 3 players hanging off him was something else.
 
Red Runner

Red Runner

Jimmy Flynn (14)
Strewthcobber said:
JAS has the most tries in the comp, and is leading all centres for metres run, post contact metres and line-breaks.

I don't think you should be suprised that the inside centre and outside centre have different roles in the attack plan
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yeah but besides all that, what has he ever done for us?
 

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dru

dru

Jason Little (69)
Dctarget said:
Sua'ali'i offering nothing? He has definite issues in defence which our system has to shoulder a bit of the blame for but he's had some amazing attacking runs. His recent try with 3 players hanging off him was something else.
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JAS undoubtedly has athleticism that is somewhat unique. Some of this work has been breathtaking. That however does not mean that #13 is necessarily his position. I think Ikitau is a better #13 and JAS would pretty much have managed the same sort of performances from #11 or #15.
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I think it is clear that when we have a full strength side we have better options on the wing to keep Ikitau and JAS in the centres compared to picking Paisami at 12.

With the current injuries that is less clear (we've moved our best winger to fullback and have Pietsch and Kellaway unavailable). I would generally prefer less shuffling of combinations though. I don't think moving Ikitau and JAS each time we don't have a first choice wing available is the ideal option.

There's absolutely nothing I've seen to suggest we shouldn't be continuing to develop them as our first choice centre pairing.
 
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bomber06

Sydney Middleton (9)
Keep Ikitau at 12 and JAS at 13.

Paisami isn't the guy. And, Kerevi? Please.

I do think one thing that is affecting the balance and shape of the backline, and in turn hurting us getting the ball more to JAS, Jorgo etc is Ikitaus "busy-ness". Its great his level of involvement and desire to pick and go etc., but really on balance I think he is doing it too often.

He needs to strive for better balance and keep his alignment in the backline more regular.

JAS will be a gun 13, let's not forget he is still a baby in that role. Give him time to master it.

What also absolutely needs to happen is Dan McKellar needs to be told in no uncertain terms by his employer RA that JAS will 1000% be at 13 for the Tahs next season.
 
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