Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Think I prefer the "training good" bullshit.
Alternative Headline:
Designated Messiah Watch: Joseph Sua'ali'i
- Thread starter Dismal Pillock
- Start date
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
It's great fun. Think back to Wendell moving to the Tahs even. It's good stuff and stuff that is clipable for social media which is way more influential than traditional media now. Hurts some people to hear that but people watching clips are the ones that can drive the sport for the next 40 years not the people upset that Ch7 didn't show Rugby on the 6pm news.
Goosestep
Jim Clark (26)
He’s a sold piece of the puzzle to having a great wallaby side … our front row and back row now have some world class players… (now we just need a 10 
)
JS will be an excellent outside back no doubt . You can tell he brings a lot of confidence to the side with his defence.. And he will learn to enjoy the “freedom” that union offers a outside back in attack … But he needs to work on his ball retention - he has a lot of bad habit's from playing NRL.
)JS will be an excellent outside back no doubt . You can tell he brings a lot of confidence to the side with his defence.. And he will learn to enjoy the “freedom” that union offers a outside back in attack … But he needs to work on his ball retention - he has a lot of bad habit's from playing NRL.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
When fit.
We haven't yet got the top level depth behind the best starting XV.
10 is a bigger conversation and will be based on a lot of opinion with the guys around Aus atm. None are world class but we probably have a few that are bang on average. The fact Noah has been the first choice all season would tell me he's the guy for the Lions which is good for consistency if I'm going to chose the positive way to frame it. If someone kills it in Super Rugby it will be interesting to see what they do.
We haven't yet got the top level depth behind the best starting XV.
10 is a bigger conversation and will be based on a lot of opinion with the guys around Aus atm. None are world class but we probably have a few that are bang on average. The fact Noah has been the first choice all season would tell me he's the guy for the Lions which is good for consistency if I'm going to chose the positive way to frame it. If someone kills it in Super Rugby it will be interesting to see what they do.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
With only one prospective test before the first Lions test, I'd assume whoever kills it in Super Rugby will get to start and play half a game against Fiji (if it goes ahead) and Noah will play the second half. The better performer will probably get the first Lions test.
If there's no test inbetween, then Noah will play the first Lions test.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
The talk of one of our mediocre No 10s "killing it" in Super Rugby next year is interesting.
It looks quite likely that the group of No10s will be essentially the same as this year, but with Lynagh playing more at the Reds in Creighton's absence (perhaps Creighton will share with Edmed at the Tahs?). Very little change in personnel, so any improvements in their performances will probably come from improvements either in their outside backs or in the halfback performances.
So, where are those improvements likely to occur?
If Sua'ali'i rises to the heights some are predicting, then we can expect quite a large improvement in the backline attack from the Tahs. Also gained Lancaster, but lost Pietsch, so a net loss there. Kellaway at 15 or on a wing with Jorgensen at 15? That will be an improvement. Jake Gordon is a constant at No 9 but Teddy Wilson will be expected to show improvement over his first season. The Tahs' No 10 whomever that might be, could step up in 25.
At the Reds the loss of Creighton and O'Connor will be felt with the 10 spot next year being shared primarily between two novices in Lynagh and HMP. The backline has lost Petaia (who didn't play much this year), a couple of their development players and Vunivalu (hardly a loss) and gained Daugunu and Anderson but will be relying on a few players who are injury prone, Paisami, Flook and Henry. At No 9, they will have consistent performers in McDermott and Thomas, and an improver in Werchon, but not much change from this year. I don't see the Reds providing the outstanding No 10 we are wanting for the Wallabies next year.
Donaldson probably has a mortgage on the Force No 10 spot. Others who can play there are Stewart, Passitoa and Kuenzle. Stewart crossed the Nullabor in the hope of playing 10, but I don't think he has ever suited up there for the Force. If he has, he hasn't made it his permanent spot. The others are more likely to be further out in the backline when fit, and truly I wouldn't mind seeing a centre combination of Passitoa at 12 and Kuenzle at 13. Pietsch and Potter on the wings will be a significant improvement. Little change would be expected in the halfback spot, with Lines-Leleiwasa and White sharing the spot again. But given the backline prospects, there should be opportunity for Donaldson to put in a strong performance next year.
Noah will be the starting No 10 at the Brumbies, possibly with Declan Meredith as the backup. I personally think, on the evidence of a few Super Rugby appearances and other matches, Meredith has the potential to be the best of the 10s in the country. He has to get the opportunities next year to show his capabilities. But otherwise, the Brumbies have lost Tamati Tua from the backline and gained Feliuai from the Rebels. Probably a marginal loss. Lonergan will start most games at No 9 and by years' end perhaps Klaytonm Thorn will have established himself as backup halfback. All in all, there seems to be less change at the Brumbies and probably less opportunity for improvement.
In summary the Brumbies had the best performing Aussie side in Super Rugby 24 and the other sides will need to chase and overtake them in 25 to change the order of things.
Maybe better for this post to be moved to the Lions or a Wallabies 25 thhread to be discussed.
It looks quite likely that the group of No10s will be essentially the same as this year, but with Lynagh playing more at the Reds in Creighton's absence (perhaps Creighton will share with Edmed at the Tahs?). Very little change in personnel, so any improvements in their performances will probably come from improvements either in their outside backs or in the halfback performances.
So, where are those improvements likely to occur?
If Sua'ali'i rises to the heights some are predicting, then we can expect quite a large improvement in the backline attack from the Tahs. Also gained Lancaster, but lost Pietsch, so a net loss there. Kellaway at 15 or on a wing with Jorgensen at 15? That will be an improvement. Jake Gordon is a constant at No 9 but Teddy Wilson will be expected to show improvement over his first season. The Tahs' No 10 whomever that might be, could step up in 25.
At the Reds the loss of Creighton and O'Connor will be felt with the 10 spot next year being shared primarily between two novices in Lynagh and HMP. The backline has lost Petaia (who didn't play much this year), a couple of their development players and Vunivalu (hardly a loss) and gained Daugunu and Anderson but will be relying on a few players who are injury prone, Paisami, Flook and Henry. At No 9, they will have consistent performers in McDermott and Thomas, and an improver in Werchon, but not much change from this year. I don't see the Reds providing the outstanding No 10 we are wanting for the Wallabies next year.
Donaldson probably has a mortgage on the Force No 10 spot. Others who can play there are Stewart, Passitoa and Kuenzle. Stewart crossed the Nullabor in the hope of playing 10, but I don't think he has ever suited up there for the Force. If he has, he hasn't made it his permanent spot. The others are more likely to be further out in the backline when fit, and truly I wouldn't mind seeing a centre combination of Passitoa at 12 and Kuenzle at 13. Pietsch and Potter on the wings will be a significant improvement. Little change would be expected in the halfback spot, with Lines-Leleiwasa and White sharing the spot again. But given the backline prospects, there should be opportunity for Donaldson to put in a strong performance next year.
Noah will be the starting No 10 at the Brumbies, possibly with Declan Meredith as the backup. I personally think, on the evidence of a few Super Rugby appearances and other matches, Meredith has the potential to be the best of the 10s in the country. He has to get the opportunities next year to show his capabilities. But otherwise, the Brumbies have lost Tamati Tua from the backline and gained Feliuai from the Rebels. Probably a marginal loss. Lonergan will start most games at No 9 and by years' end perhaps Klaytonm Thorn will have established himself as backup halfback. All in all, there seems to be less change at the Brumbies and probably less opportunity for improvement.
In summary the Brumbies had the best performing Aussie side in Super Rugby 24 and the other sides will need to chase and overtake them in 25 to change the order of things.
Maybe better for this post to be moved to the Lions or a Wallabies 25 thhread to be discussed.