Rugby Championship 2025: South Africa v Australia

[Major Tom]

Isn't everybody's? I really have no idea. I was using that prediction simply to illustrate that we usually don't know or appreciate what we have until someone else shows us what we missed out on.

He had a season where he played to a game plan designed around Noah's particular abilities and he did at least equally as good as Noah. In my opinion, better because he had a much more effective kicking game outdistancing Noah's penalty kicks for touch by a good 20 odd metres on average. He was levels ahead of Noah when kicking for touch close to the try line. His running game, when the plan allowed it, was better and pacier than Noah's too. I believe he had better connection with Tom Wright also, able to play inside or outside him in backline play. In all other respects, played to the plan at least as effectively as Noah.

My fervent hope is that Bernie allows him to play his natural, more attacking off the cuff style next year and gives him the opportunities he deserves to showcase his talents. He is better than his contemporary competitors for the 10 spot now but has not had the favourable and visible development pathway through age competitions that the likes of Ben D, Tane Edmed and Jack Bowen have had over the years.

For intgerest, here is an excerpt from a bio on him from Rugby.com.

"Playing for Wests Lions in the John I Dent Cup competition, he cemented himself as an integral part of their club, earning the coveted MacDougall medal for the JIDC player of the year in 2023.

During his dominant season for Wests, Meredith earned a promotion to the senior Brumbies squad in the 2023 season, debuting against the Crusaders in the same year. He is relatively versatile, with the ability to play at both fly-half and fullback, while he has fantastic speed and a precise boot."

Yeah I liked what he brought this year. Field kicking was a big improvement on Noah’s. It’s just a bit of a stretch saying that he’s been held back or that if he leaves he’ll flourish immediately in another system.

 

[Tomthumb]

James O'Connor has started 1 game of Rugby this year, and looked bad in that game in a loss to Moana Pasifika. He had no involvement in the Lions series at at all and now is starting at 10 vs the World Champions at Ellis Park

It goes against everything Schmidt has been going on about with backing the young 10's since he took the job. We really need to be getting game time into guys that are actually going to be around for the World Cup. And if O'Connor goes down in the 1st minute, how do we expect Donaldson to perform confidence wise considering his coach has shown him though actions that essentially every 10 with an Australian passport is a better player than him

 

[KOB1987]

Every time there has been an odd selection under the Schmidt reign there has been something come out subsequent to the team release that explains it so I'm going to wait until later today before putting the boot in too much.

 

[rugbyAU]

Team announced at 10pm

 

[rugbyAU]

James O'Connor has started 1 game of Rugby this year, and looked bad in that game in a loss to Moana Pasifika. He had no involvement in the Lions series at at all and now is starting at 10 vs the World Champions at Ellis Park

It goes against everything Schmidt has been going on about with backing the young 10's since he took the job. We really need to be getting game time into guys that are actually going to be around for the World Cup. And if O'Connor goes down in the 1st minute, how do we expect Donaldson to perform confidence wise considering his coach has shown him though actions that essentially every 10 with an Australian passport is a better player than him

Yep and its wasting opportunities to get prepared for 2027 by not giving your second 10 two tough opportunities to start while the others injured

 

[Strewthcobber]

Team announced at 10pm

The grand Australian rugby tradition of generating as little interest before an away test match as possible

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

Maybe giving JOC (James O'Connor) a farewell test as White received too?

Or Donaldson is too good a bench option that he covers 10 and 15 so opens up chances for more movement.

I also think that he may be protecting Donaldson.. are we going to win at Ellis park?

No.

Maybe not playing him for this game is to support the backlash from that potential loss.

Donaldson would be pretty disappointed though I hope Joe has been clear about what is happening- if he hasn’t- there is plenty of money in Japan worth building your life around for the next ten years.

 

[Major Tom]

The grand Australian rugby tradition of generating as little interest before an away test match as possible

I dunno. There’s been a spike in interest with JOC (James O'Connor) being a reported shock starter. It was mentioned on the radio in Brisbane this morning (1 of 2 sports stories).

 

[Tomthumb]

Maybe giving JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) a farewell test as White received too?

Or Donaldson is too good a bench option that he covers 10 and 15 so opens up chances for more movement.

I also think that he may be protecting Donaldson.. are we going to win at Ellis park?

No.

Maybe not playing him for this game is to support the backlash from that potential loss.

Donaldson would be pretty disappointed though I hope Joe has been clear about what is happening- if he hasn’t- there is plenty of money in Japan worth building your life around for the next ten years.

If it was a farewell then why didn't he play the 3rd Lions Test?

If Donaldson is such a good bench option why was a halfback used in the back 3 over him and why didn't he even get off the bench in the 2nd Test?

He want's to protect Donaldson yet he just threw Tom Lynagh into his first Test start vs The Lions

An actual Joe Schmidt quote: “If we don’t invest in them now, it’ll be difficult for them. If you put them in and out, they don’t get continuity, they don’t build confidence.”

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

If it was a farewell then why didn't he play the 3rd Lions Test?

If Donaldson is such a good bench option why was a halfback used in the back 3 over him and why didn't he even get off the bench in the 2nd Test?

He want's to protect Donaldson yet he just threw Tom Lynagh into his first Test start vs The Lions

An actual Joe Schmidt quote: “If we don’t invest in them now, it’ll be difficult for them. If you put them in and out, they don’t get continuity, they don’t build confidence.”

Yeah maybe.
My advice to Donno - as someone that has advocated for his selection previously - suck it up, keep working hard and respond with his performance that demands selection when he gets a chance.

He is still in a lucky position to be getting paid to play rugby for a living.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I dunno. There’s been a spike in interest with JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) being a reported shock starter. It was mentioned on the radio in Brisbane this morning (1 of 2 sports stories).

Imagine if the reporters had more than a strategic leak to the Roar to work with

 

[Braveheart81]

It goes against everything Schmidt has been going on about with backing the young 10's since he took the job.

He's missing his first two choices and (in my view) is showing that he isn't overly interested in Donaldson as the starting 10.

It's also a brutal away game where the main hope if we're being realistic is that we don't get flogged.

I can certainly see this as not the time to go to your next guy in Edmed. Maybe Donaldson is being protected as well but I'm less convinced of that now based on recent selection decisions.

 

[Red Runner]

I wonder if Joe wants two 10s in the squad. If so, the reality is that Donaldson is far more versatile than O'Connor. People like to think James is the same player he was a decade ago and can cover every position in the backline except 9. That's just unreasonable. He's a 10 only perhaps a 12, but not the way the Wallabies play. As such, Donaldson as the bench option is far more versatile in covering more positions.

Makes sense to me.

 

[Tomthumb]

He's missing his first two choices and (in my view) is showing that he isn't overly interested in Donaldson as the starting 10.

It's also a brutal away game where the main hope if we're being realistic is that we don't get flogged.

I can certainly see this as not the time to go to your next guy in Edmed. Maybe Donaldson is being protected as well but I'm less convinced of that now based on recent selection decisions.

Then why was Donaldson in the 23 over O’Connor for all 3 Lions tests. If you are good enough to be on the Bench you are good enough to start as you could be on in the 1st minute

Makes you wonder why Aussie Rugby wasted Money re-signing Donaldson until the World Cup

And the protection stuff seems like nonsense to me. He didn’t worry about protecting Tom Lynagh or Nick Champion De Crespiny

 

[Tomthumb]

I wonder if Joe wants two 10s in the squad. If so, the reality is that Donaldson is far more versatile than O'Connor. People like to think James is the same player he was a decade ago and can cover every position in the backline except 9. That's just unreasonable. He's a 10 only perhaps a 12, but not the way the Wallabies play. As such, Donaldson as the bench option is far more versatile in covering more positions.

Makes sense to me.

He’s so versatile that Joe brought a halfback on to cover the back 3 over him and then proceeded to leave him on the bench the entire game…

 

[Yoda]

James O'Connor has started 1 game of Rugby this year, and looked bad in that game in a loss to Moana Pasifika. He had no involvement in the Lions series at at all and now is starting at 10 vs the World Champions at Ellis Park

It goes against everything Schmidt has been going on about with backing the young 10's since he took the job. We really need to be getting game time into guys that are actually going to be around for the World Cup. And if O'Connor goes down in the 1st minute, how do we expect Donaldson to perform confidence wise considering his coach has shown him though actions that essentially every 10 with an Australian passport is a better player than him

Tomthumb. It is pretty obvious that Schmidt has concerns about Donaldson's game. Whatever they are. Probably his consistency? As you have quoted Schmidt.."We really need to be getting game time into guys that are going to be actually around for the World Cup". Sure you are still part of the team but coming off the bench with 10 or 20 minutes to go is different to getting 60 or 70 minutes from the start. Especially as a 10. My only observation is that Donno has been selected by 3 different Wallaby coaches now. They obviously rate him. However he has not had any real serious crack at continuous starting time in the 10 jersey. Noah has been given ample opportunities and is average at best. Lynagh was thrown in the deep end against the Lions for 3 Tests in a row, and contrary to media and Stan commentary opinion was hardly great. In there for his kicking and consistency but did not show that. Surely now Donaldson is deserving of a run of starting Tests to see if he can grab the jersey. It is definitely still up for grabs. Maybe Joe plans to start him back in Australia, who knows. JOC (James O'Connor) is only a stop gap and I'm not an Edmed fan. He was lucky to start at the Tahs this year. As for his utility value, with Kellaway, Jorgo and Sua'ali'i all good 15 options, I see Donaldson as purely a 10, and a great attacking one. His defence has definitely improved this year too, plus more accurate off the tee.

 

[Major Tom]

Then why was Donaldson in the 23 over O’Connor for all 3 Lions tests. If you are good enough to be on the Bench you are good enough to start as you could be on in the 1st minute

Makes you wonder why Aussie Rugby wasted Money re-signing Donaldson until the World Cup

And the protection stuff seems like nonsense to me. He didn’t worry about protecting Tom Lynagh or Nick Champion De Crespiny.

Donaldson doesn't organise the backline all that well. Go back and watch the last game, the backline didn't function nearly as well in the 2nd half when Donno was on. That's why Noah and then Tom and now JOC (James O'Connor) are being considered first choice. I wish we had someone younger than JOC (James O'Connor).
Donno is good off the bench when you need to either replace the fullback or get someone on to inject some pace. But if you're lookling for an organised backline from the get go, he is not your man IMO. However, he does have a big (albeit wayward at times) boot which could be pretty handy at altitude.

 

[Yoda]

Donaldson doesn't organise the backline all that well. Go back and watch the last game, the backline didn't function nearly as well in the 2nd half when Donno was on. That's why Noah and then Tom and now JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) are being considered first choice. I wish we had someone younger than JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor).
Donno is good off the bench when you need to either replace the fullback or get someone on to inject some pace. But if you're lookling for an organised backline from the get go, he is not your man IMO. However, he does have a big (albeit wayward at times) boot which could be pretty handy at altitude.

Disagree with all that.

 

[fatprop]

Tomthumb. It is pretty obvious that Schmidt has concerns about Donaldson's game. Whatever they are. Probably his consistency? As you have quoted Schmidt.."We really need to be getting game time into guys that are going to be actually around for the World Cup". Sure you are still part of the team but coming off the bench with 10 or 20 minutes to go is different to getting 60 or 70 minutes from the start. Especially as a 10. My only observation is that Donno has been selected by 3 different Wallaby coaches now. They obviously rate him. However he has not had any real serious crack at continuous starting time in the 10 jersey. Noah has been given ample opportunities and is average at best. Lynagh was thrown in the deep end against the Lions for 3 Tests in a row, and contrary to media and Stan commentary opinion was hardly great. In there for his kicking and consistency but did not show that. Surely now Donaldson is deserving of a run of starting Tests to see if he can grab the jersey. It is definitely still up for grabs. Maybe Joe plans to start him back in Australia, who knows. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) is only a stop gap and I'm not an Edmed fan. He was lucky to start at the Tahs this year. As for his utility value, with Kellaway, Jorgo and Sua'ali'i all good 15 options, I see Donaldson as purely a 10, and a great attacking one. His defence has definitely improved this year too, plus more accurate off the tee.

Not getting selected for this match may improve your reputation, this is a major step up from the Lions

The Boks are just brutal and ruthless and have added Tony Brown to provide more ability/nous to leverage that advantage in the backs

We continually ended up short outwide due to our compressed defensive structure against lessor pigs (the only time it did work was when the field was under 6 foot of water) on the dry fast tracks of the veld?

 

[Tomthumb]

Donaldson doesn't organise the backline all that well. Go back and watch the last game, the backline didn't function nearly as well in the 2nd half when Donno was on. That's why Noah and then Tom and now JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) are being considered first choice. I wish we had someone younger than JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor).
Donno is good off the bench when you need to either replace the fullback or get someone on to inject some pace. But if you're lookling for an organised backline from the get go, he is not your man IMO. However, he does have a big (albeit wayward at times) boot which could be pretty handy at altitude.

He played over half the game in the 3rd test, and they outscored the Lions in the minutes he played. Controlling the team takes time, which is why Lynagh was better in the 3rd test than the 1st. And if Pietch had have caught it he would have set up a great try with a different draw and pass

Again, you shouldn’t pick him at all if he’s that terrible. O’Connor could pull a hammy in the 1st minute and then what?