Apparently Joseph Sua'ali'i really is back this week.
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/on-th...r-waratahs-return-after-injury-layoff-2025325
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/on-th...r-waratahs-return-after-injury-layoff-2025325
Hurricanes vs Waratahs Super Rugby R7 2025 - Friday 28 March
- Thread starter Braveheart81
- Start date
HogansHeros
Dave Cowper (27)
Really really?
The link doesn't work because the forum is autocorrecting it. 
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Brings up another factor I hadn't really thought about for the tahs - Wallaby rest.
The article mentions Kellaway and Jorgensen are about due, but Bell, Tupou, Edmed and possibly Leota and Gleeson (if he is still in the frame) will also need a rest either this week or next. I wouldn't be amazed to see McKellar go hard here like the Force did against the crusaders, Moana the week after is much more of a "must win" game for the tahs.
The article mentions Kellaway and Jorgensen are about due, but Bell, Tupou, Edmed and possibly Leota and Gleeson (if he is still in the frame) will also need a rest either this week or next. I wouldn't be amazed to see McKellar go hard here like the Force did against the crusaders, Moana the week after is much more of a "must win" game for the tahs.
I wonder if Edmed requires resting given he's not really in the top couple of choices. It would seem a bit unreasonable given he's played about 40 minutes in the last three games.
Bell and Tupou will absolutely need to miss one of the next two games. I agree with you that it will be interesting whether McKellar rests them both for the same game.
I would definitely be resting Kellaway and Jorgensen in alternating weeks given the return of Sua'ali'i, Tristan Reilly playing well and Darby Lancaster available again.
After an important win against the Brumbies and a big game against the Hurricanes I would certainly be tempted to try and beat the Hurricanes by only resting Kellaway (with Sua'ali'i playing fullback) and then roll the dice against Moana resting Jorgo, Bell and Tupou.
Uncertain whether Gleeson would require resting (although seems reasonable that he would).
I don't think it would be reasonable to have to rest Leota given the length of time since he's played for the Wallabies.
Bell and Tupou will absolutely need to miss one of the next two games. I agree with you that it will be interesting whether McKellar rests them both for the same game.
I would definitely be resting Kellaway and Jorgensen in alternating weeks given the return of Sua'ali'i, Tristan Reilly playing well and Darby Lancaster available again.
After an important win against the Brumbies and a big game against the Hurricanes I would certainly be tempted to try and beat the Hurricanes by only resting Kellaway (with Sua'ali'i playing fullback) and then roll the dice against Moana resting Jorgo, Bell and Tupou.
Uncertain whether Gleeson would require resting (although seems reasonable that he would).
I don't think it would be reasonable to have to rest Leota given the length of time since he's played for the Wallabies.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Look, I don't love rest protocols but my understanding was no more then 6 games in a row, bench or starting. As far as players included goes, it appears to be a pretty wide net - Hamish Stewart and Ryan Smith have both been flagged as missing weeks on rest protocols, so I don't doubt Edmed qualifies on that measure. While I could see them arguing the bench role has been minimal, it's unreasonable to change the rules midway through the comp, after all the aus teams have agreed. Would depend on the specifics communicated to the teams at the start of the season.
Not sure length of time out previously matters for Leota, the rests are about load looking forward. It'll all come down to whether he was named in the group at the start of the season. If that's based off of the first camp he gets off without one, but Ryan Smith wasn't named in that either and his break this week was apparently rest protocols. I could easily see Leota included, given he was named as an unavailable due to injury in every squad last year. But it's not at all unreasonable for him to be included. Gleeson is a tricky one, but I guess it will be a pretty good indicator if he's still in the frame for the wallabies or not based on the rest he gets.
Not sure length of time out previously matters for Leota, the rests are about load looking forward. It'll all come down to whether he was named in the group at the start of the season. If that's based off of the first camp he gets off without one, but Ryan Smith wasn't named in that either and his break this week was apparently rest protocols. I could easily see Leota included, given he was named as an unavailable due to injury in every squad last year. But it's not at all unreasonable for him to be included. Gleeson is a tricky one, but I guess it will be a pretty good indicator if he's still in the frame for the wallabies or not based on the rest he gets.
By the sounds of things Edmed would be included then.
I think it would be far better if there was room for variation during the season to drop players out of enforced rest and add players into it.
If a player has fallen down the pecking order (i.e. Edmed) then it makes less sense to enforce rest and they should be removed from the list. For others like potentially Filipo Daugunu who hasn't been a regular Wallaby for a long time but is likely to be right in the frame now then it would make sense to add them to the list because you want them fresher for the Lions series.
Likewise someone like Nic Dolly who as a new player probably isn't on the list but could firmly be in calculations now based on his 2025 form.
I think it would be far better if there was room for variation during the season to drop players out of enforced rest and add players into it.
If a player has fallen down the pecking order (i.e. Edmed) then it makes less sense to enforce rest and they should be removed from the list. For others like potentially Filipo Daugunu who hasn't been a regular Wallaby for a long time but is likely to be right in the frame now then it would make sense to add them to the list because you want them fresher for the Lions series.
Likewise someone like Nic Dolly who as a new player probably isn't on the list but could firmly be in calculations now based on his 2025 form.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Daugunu will almost certainly be included in the protocol, he was selected whenever fit last year. Every indication is that they've cast a fairly wide net, if Ryan Smith's inclusion is accurate then you can expect everyone listed in a wallabies squad or as unavailable due to injury in Schmidt's tenure to be included. I wouldn't be amazed if Dolly has been included from the jump either.
As far as how it should operate goes? I don't agree with rest protocols in principal, I think they devalue the competition as whole. If they are going to do them though I don't think there's much room for variation in season, the teams need to operate on a level playing field. Dropping players in or out of consideration is difficult to account for and increases the disruption. The idea that a young player could come into good form and then be forced to sit on the sideline would not wash with fans, particularly if it meant an under performing one at another team got to play an extra week as a result. Either way I certainly don't think there's anything to suggest Tane's place in the pecking order has really changed much, he's not playing any worse than he did last year.
Ideally, if we have to have rests, Australia and New Zealand would come together and set a standard of x games in a row max (6 is what we're currently working with for example) and structure the competition such that no team had more than 6 games in a row before each bye. If it's a player safety measure it really shouldn't matter whether or not these players are test match players as to whether or not it's safe for them to play more games in a row. Just structure the competition in a way that protects all players, not just the test ones, and doesn't hurt the spectacle to do it.
As far as how it should operate goes? I don't agree with rest protocols in principal, I think they devalue the competition as whole. If they are going to do them though I don't think there's much room for variation in season, the teams need to operate on a level playing field. Dropping players in or out of consideration is difficult to account for and increases the disruption. The idea that a young player could come into good form and then be forced to sit on the sideline would not wash with fans, particularly if it meant an under performing one at another team got to play an extra week as a result. Either way I certainly don't think there's anything to suggest Tane's place in the pecking order has really changed much, he's not playing any worse than he did last year.
Ideally, if we have to have rests, Australia and New Zealand would come together and set a standard of x games in a row max (6 is what we're currently working with for example) and structure the competition such that no team had more than 6 games in a row before each bye. If it's a player safety measure it really shouldn't matter whether or not these players are test match players as to whether or not it's safe for them to play more games in a row. Just structure the competition in a way that protects all players, not just the test ones, and doesn't hurt the spectacle to do it.
A mutterer
Chilla Wilson (44)
JAS is the new Kaiser Soze
The limp is now gone.
Qwertyrick
Bob McCowan (2)
JAS to fullback, just play Kellaway, more game time the better.
Lancaster was available last week, but played in the A team. Only see him getting back in the team if someone is injured or really underperforming.
Lancaster was available last week, but played in the A team. Only see him getting back in the team if someone is injured or really underperforming.
Qwertyrick
Bob McCowan (2)
What a joke lol
Qwertyrick
Bob McCowan (2)
Look how many games NRL players play, 27 normal season games, origin, then Australia.
They play well over 30 games also, and it’s a lot faster then Rugby
They play well over 30 games also, and it’s a lot faster then Rugby
Yeah, except the Origin players miss an NRL game before each Origin game.
"Faster" doesn't mean harder etc. They're different sports that have different physical requirements.
The NRL team is also the primary employer of each player. For a lot of the core Wallabies that is reasonably different.
Could the players play all the Super Rugby games and tests? Sure. Are they likely to be in better condition for the most important tests of the year if their workloads are managed slightly? Almost certainly.
"Faster" doesn't mean harder etc. They're different sports that have different physical requirements.
The NRL team is also the primary employer of each player. For a lot of the core Wallabies that is reasonably different.
Could the players play all the Super Rugby games and tests? Sure. Are they likely to be in better condition for the most important tests of the year if their workloads are managed slightly? Almost certainly.