Rugby Championship 2025: Wallabies v Argentina

[TSR]

Fuck it - let’s give them all a run. Chuck McLaughlin-Phillips in for a run. He hasn’t been given any chance to show what he can do. Joey Fowler too. Think of how much depth we’ll create.

 

[Yoda]

He hasn't been given the chance by Schmidt though lets be fair. He was rushed in by Rennie at the end of 2022 due to him not having developed any 10 depth and was only used by Eddie once it was proven Carter Gordon wasn't able to kick shots at goal to even a club standard

He played with a bunch of 2nd stringers vs Georgia last year and it was understandably clunky and he got the backline looking awesome early on vs Argentina, wasn't perfect but the collapse was largely after he went off

Tomthumb. This is what I don't understand. Everyone seems to be on the Lynagh bandwagon but Donaldson has yet to get a fair crack. It's not as though Noah, and now Tom are killing them. Everyone seems to think Lynagh is the one...be patient, give him time... he's tough. Noah had 30 Tests. Donno has been chopped and changed. From what I see of his best games he needs to be persevered with. Lynagh can be HIS bench player. Although Joe is coaching so what would I know.

 

[Tomthumb]

I don’t know where these quality test 10s are that are missing out though. Noah would be there if not do injury.

I’m all for Donaldson starting, I think he would be serviceable but I don’t think he is ‘quality test 5/8’, but he is the most experienced and physical. Not sure why Edmed keeps getting mentioned as a starter, he struggled to show himself a Super Rugby quality 5/8 this year and was benched behind Creighton. He has potential though so good for him to get experience off the bench.

5/8 is the wallabies weakest position by far.

Yeah and Noah never really showed it either

I guess I'm keen to see Donaldson get an extended shot because he's clearly the most naturally talented of the group and maybe time in the saddle would iron out some of his kinks

And the way Edmed absolutely cut up the entire NPC last year makes me a believer in his talent. It didn't feel like he was dropped by McKellar for purely rugby reasons so excited to see him get a chance with the Brumbies

It will be interesting to see how Kiss views the 10's. He seems a less pragmatic and more attacking coach than Schmidt so maybe he views the ability for a 10 to take the line on sometimes as a positive. Time will tell I guess

 

[Uh huh]

The flyhalf argument has become a huge waste of time, because there isn't an option who's suddenly going to scale the dizzying heights required for anyone to comprehensively dunk on his critics. They're all kind of good sometimes, people need to stop pretending there's a huge gaping dearth in quality between any two of them. Let's just move on.

 

[Brumby Runner]

This is a truly terrible way to build any sort of cohesion and consistency a year out from the world cup. Thankfully it's the coaches who have to get a measure of their respective abilities, not us, and they have more ways to do this then throwing them all to wolves on successive weekends.

Normally I'd agree Wilson but quite clearly there is a lot of disagreement in fan land about who the best option is or isn't (more to the point), and really that same level of uncertainty should also be shared by the coaching staff because the recent recall of yesterday's man, JOC (James O'Connor), has amply demonstrated their current choice is a long way off the required performance level for test match rugby.

There is another issue that also needs to be considered. If they continue with TL through 2026 to the omission of the others where do they go if/when he suffers that almost inevitable concussion that rules him out of the game? Just not good enough. In this instance they need to be casting the net over as wide a pond as possible in 26 so that they have certainty about the best option and an established pecking order all of whom will have had time in the saddle and the familiarity to step up if needed in 27.

 

[Slim 293]

It just really isn't fair unless every professional flyhalf in Australia has an equal amount of test match time, against the same level of opposition, partnered with the same playing group, at the same ground, with similar weather and ground conditions, at the same time and day of the week, to ensure that all factors are met to make a balanced assessment between all of the options...

 

[noscrumnolife]

JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) hasn't been doing anything flashy, just distributing well, kicking when needed and making his tackles.

I don't think its going to be a massive change to our success, based on who plays 10, as long as we can get some consistency there.

Good point. We are probably the easiest country in the world to play test rugby as a 10 for. Most of the playmaking is done off 9, we pick and drive a lot, you defend in the backfield and are tasked with keeping it simple and playing good heads up footy.

I do think we would be going pretty bloody well with Noah, and suspect the most likely and very obvious outcome is Noah and Donaldson (with his utility) being the RWC 10s. The last spot is up for grabs.

 

[Slim 293]

Yeah that loss against Argentina is a highlight for him. Especially because most the points were scored when he was subbed off for Lynagh at the 56th minute mark. 3 tries a piece when he was subbed at the 56th minuteView attachment 23318

The number '69' is actually greater than '56,' so the Argies had in fact scored 3 tries to 2 and were leading 24 - 20 prior to the substitution, and I doubt it had any effect on the try Argentina scored immediately afterwards...

And this article highlights a number of errors Donaldson made during his time in that game:

Why the rest of the rugby world is worried about Australia

As a Lions tour looms, concerns over the Wallabies' malaise are reverberating across the rugby world.

www.rugbypass.com

 

[Red Runner]

It just really isn't fair unless every professional flyhalf in Australia has an equal amount of test match time, against the same level of opposition, partnered with the same playing group, at the same ground, with similar weather and ground conditions, at the same time and day of the week, to ensure that all factors are met to make a balanced assessment between all of the options...

the Brumby bloc is crumbling….

 

[Tomthumb]

The flyhalf argument has become a huge waste of time, because there isn't an option who's suddenly going to scale the dizzying heights required for anyone to comprehensively dunk on his critics. They're all kind of good sometimes, people need to stop pretending there's a huge gaping dearth in quality between any two of them. Let's just move on.

View attachment 23325

I don't get this argument. So because none of them are Dan Carter we just shouldn't discuss it?

It's the only position we haven't improved in during the last 12 months so it's only natural that the players in those jerseys are questioned

 

[Slim 293]

the Brumby bloc is crumbling….

Was this supposed to be a reply to my post?

 

[Linerunner2023]

Question for the crowd - anyone else think Ikitau is quickly becoming a better 12 then he was a 13.

And to be really clear - that isn’t a knock on him at 13. He just seems to get so much more involved at 12.

I allways believed previously he could have made a very good 12 even better then a 13 with his size and natural ball playing skills
We now know we can certainly play both well
Potentially missing his d at 13 abit
I wouldn’t mind he and Sua'ali'i still rotating a little through the game to get Sua'ali'i more involved

the general crash plays should just get a bigger bodied Sua'ali'i to take the hit up and then allow Len to sit wider to then be able to distribute better to the wings
As we have struggled a little getting to the edge with Sua'ali'i not having quick hands and not just getting Lenny to smash it up and be abit more fresh

 

[Red Runner]

Question for the crowd - anyone else think Ikitau is quickly becoming a better 12 then he was a 13.

And to be really clear - that isn’t a knock on him at 13. He just seems to get so much more involved at 12.

Interesting that it became a bit of a switch for many of our great 12s. Jason Little first, Dan Herbert did too. Mortlock less but definitely played there. Pretty sure if Kuridrani did? I'm not sure if any, other than perhaps Little, did it as well as Len has so far.

 

[Mark Panga]

Is anyone going to have a go at naming the 23 for Saturday ? Bored with pages and pages of 10s talk.

 

[Slim 293]

Is anyone going to have a go at naming the 23 for Saturday ? Bored with pages and pages of 10s talk.

1. Creighton
2. Burey
3. Bowen
4. Debreczeni
5. Edmed
6. Pasitoa
7. Stewart
8. Harford
9. Meredith
10. Lynagh
11. Mclaughlin-Phillips
12. Stewart
13. Kuenzle
14. O'Connor
15. Donaldson

 

[Red Runner]

As if Edmed wouldn't be prop...

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Not giving Donaldson a crack here was a missed opportunity.

 

[Wilson]

1. Creighton
2. Burey
3. Bowen
4. Debreczeni
5. Edmed
6. Pasitoa
7. Stewart
8. Harford
9. Meredith
10. Lynagh
11. Mclaughlin-Phillips
12. Stewart
13. Kuenzle
14. O'Connor
15. Donaldson

Clearly Harry Wilson should be the 10, best kicking game in Australian Rugby.

 

[Red Runner]

1 Slipper
2 Pollard
3 Alalatoa
4 Frost
5 Hooper
6 Valetini
7 McReight
8 Wilson
9 White
10 O'Connor
11 Toole
12 Ikitau
13 Suiallii
14 Jorgensen
15 Kellaway

16 Paenga Amosa
17 Bell
18 Nonggorr
19 Salakai-Loto
20 Williams
21 Tizzano
22 McDermott
23 Donaldson

 

[rugbyAU]

1 Slipper
2 Pollard
3 Alalatoa
4 Frost
5 Hooper
6 Valetini
7 McReight
8 Wilson
9 White
10 O'Connor
11 Toole
12 Ikitau
13 Suiallii
14 Jorgensen
15 Kellaway

16 Paenga Amosa
17 Bell
18 Nonggorr
19 Salakai-Loto
20 Williams
21 Tizzano
22 McDermott
23 Donaldson

I'd be happy if that was the team selected