Rugby Championship 2025 : Wallabies v Argentina Rnd 2

[TSR]

I am really enjoying watching this team grow but also appreciate the fact they seem to be grounded.

Out first 20 - 30 minutes remains a significant work on. I hope to see improvement there.

I don’t really mind who gets picked - but I say that in the confidence that the coaching staff are seem to be very set on consistency - which is a good thing. I do note that whilst they have been very consistent with selections most players have got time out of the squad through injury. Off the top of my head Frost, McReight, Ikitau, Sua’ali’i and Jorgenson probably the exceptions in the starting team. With the Bledisloe still to come and quality replacements behind them I wonder if Schmidt will decide now is the right time to give McReight & Frost a chance to freshen up and look to Salakai-Loto and Tizzano to maintain the rage. Maybe/maybe not - but I can see some merit in it.

Who knows. Maybe this is Donaldson’s time too.

Here is my pick - acknowledging up front there could be quite a few wrong -

Robertson
Pollard
Tupou
Williams
Hooper
Valetini
Tizzano
Wilson
White
Donaldson
Toole
Ikitau
Sua’ali’i
Jorgenson
Kellaway

Paenga-Amosa
Bell
Ala'alatoa
Salakai-Loto
De Crespigny
McDermott
O’Connor
Daugunu

 

[notdeadyet]

if MR Ala'alatoa is available i would like him in the starting 15. apart from scrummaging did mr tupou do enough; made a few errors
mr Williams is a bench replacement. Frost & McReight having a rest makes good sense. i personally really appreciate Tizzano's work
go Aus (even though i back against them often)

 

[TSR]

I did consider starting Ala'alatoa - just thought Schmidt won’t want to make too many changes.

 

[Adam84]

if MR Ala'alatoa is available i would like him in the starting 15. apart from scrummaging did mr tupou do enough; made a few errors
mr Williams is a bench replacement. Frost & McReight having a rest makes good sense. i personally really appreciate Tizzano's work
go Aus (even though i back against them often)

Do they really need to rest players, there is a gap of two weeks following this test match, and then after the Bledisloe matches there is a 3 week break again.

 

[TSR]

Maybe not. I won’t be surprised or disappointed if I am wrong. But I also won’t be surprised if they do.

3 Lions tests, 2 South African tests in SA (including one at altitude) and a game in Townsville in hotter than normal conditions is a pretty big load.

 

[rugbyAU]

Frost may need a break

 

[Adam84]

what does the cryptic ‘1 more time’ message from JOC (James O'Connor) mean?
White retiring again? Slipper retiring? JOC (James O'Connor) won’t stay for rest of TRC? Nothing?

 

[rugbyAU]

what does the cryptic ‘1 more time’ message from JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) mean?
White retiring again? Slipper retiring? JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) won’t stay for rest of TRC? Nothing?
View attachment 23335

White I reckon

 

[Sword of Justice]

what does the cryptic ‘1 more time’ message from JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) mean?
White retiring again? Slipper retiring? JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) won’t stay for rest of TRC? Nothing?
View attachment 23335

I think it could be more than just one retirement from that group this year but with the Bled still to come I’d be surprised if it’s more than White this week given Gordon is back. ‘Old boys dinner’ could mean something specific.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I'd be keeping the same team, unless some of our big dogs like 7A's are available. One of the reasons we're improving is because of consistency in selection. There are enough rest periods through the RC to accommodate recovery IMHO.

Pick our best 23 and go get 'em boys.

 

[Joe Blow]

Agree. Nick Frost has been central to our pack. Maybe try and give him a spell in the second half if possible.
I would like to see AAA and Slipper come back in if fit. The scrum could be a point of difference. If they are fit, start with them and then bring on TT and Bell early in the second.