Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Rumour is he retired because Eddie is back coaching. Cleary great players like Giteau don’t want to play under him.
Wallabies 2023
- Thread starter RugbyReg
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John Thornett (49)
Anyone else find this just a little strange, I love the bloke but smell a bit of "me time"
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Rodda would easily have to be the best lineout lock we have, and his presence would provide us with better flexibility in that area re: Skelton and the backrow…
As long as his form doesn’t drop off this year, I’d easily pick him over Philip and Swain, and partner him with either Frost or Skelton with the other on the bench.
As long as his form doesn’t drop off this year, I’d easily pick him over Philip and Swain, and partner him with either Frost or Skelton with the other on the bench.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
????? Odd comment Fatprop.
Rodda & Arnold have played plenty of tests together over the last 4 yrs. Rodda’s been consistently better. I do think Arnold was given a bit of a rough deal by Cheika but he’s had his opportunities. He’s had his good tests, but that’s about it.
Skelton has obviously had less opportunities but up until the most recent EOYT he’s been no better than so-so at test level. I thought he was very good on EOYT and, further to Slim’s point above I think there’ll be at least some temptation to play Skelton and Rodda together at lock & Frost at 6.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
2019 Rodda and Arnold was probably the best locking combo the Wallabies had for some time...
They were a highlight in an otherwise forgettable year.
Arnold's recent test cameos haven't been as impressive, which is unfortunate as he's obviously been carving it up in France.
Anyways... Rodda's absence certainly didn't do him any harm.
Again, he's the best lineout lock we've got, and he does a lot of good work in tight.
Philip is great in attack, and pretty good in the lineout but defensively probably the weakest of the group and doesn't really provide much physicality.
Swain capped off a couple of good years by completely losing his head, and is going to have to put in a lot of good work to shake off his new reputation.
Neville may have peaked in 2020-2021, and I felt his Brumby teammates eclipsed him last year.
They were a highlight in an otherwise forgettable year.
Arnold's recent test cameos haven't been as impressive, which is unfortunate as he's obviously been carving it up in France.
Anyways... Rodda's absence certainly didn't do him any harm.
Again, he's the best lineout lock we've got, and he does a lot of good work in tight.
Philip is great in attack, and pretty good in the lineout but defensively probably the weakest of the group and doesn't really provide much physicality.
Swain capped off a couple of good years by completely losing his head, and is going to have to put in a lot of good work to shake off his new reputation.
Neville may have peaked in 2020-2021, and I felt his Brumby teammates eclipsed him last year.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Yeah - but Swain is young. He has every chance to pull his head in and settle down and just play good rugby. He is certainly capable. I thought he was very good for rookie in 2021.
Again - personal opinion but I thought Phillip was overhyped prior to last season to be honest. Never afraid to throw himself in, but generally stopped at the gain line. Arnold is a big man - but he isn’t really a charge and barge player. He physical at the lineout and does his work around the field. Agree he’s been a bit underwhelming at test level but, for me, Phillip has been too.
I’ll repeat though that I thought Phillip really kicked on last year and it’s very disappointing that he is going to miss most/all of Super rugby this year. If we only get 3 OS players then his value is way up.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Brumbies certainly have an enviable group of locks Slim and it’ll be interesting how the year plays out. Of course injury and player testing will have a role but Hooper is going to be there or thereabouts as well.
Not sure what that’ll mean for Neville, but I guess it is worth noting he’s also in the Test mix and, if he can hold his place at the Brumbies then you’d think he’ll be in with a shot at Test level. Particularly if fitness and availability impact other options.
Edit: with regards to 2019, the other shining light that year was Latu. Other than that his relevance to the Wallabies conversation is very minimal IMO, but if he can re-capture that form he’ll rocket into calculations.
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stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
There is always an element of having a leap of faith in these assessments Stillmissit. But Rodda & Skelton are both at the time in their careers when they should be peaking and Frost just seems to have that level of class about him. We could conceivable put our best locking combination in the park for 15 odd years.
Still need a 2, 10 & a 15 though (I’m confident one way or another we’ll have someone good at 6).
Still need a 2, 10 & a 15 though (I’m confident one way or another we’ll have someone good at 6).
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
I'm staunchly of the belief that the Eddie Jones blowtorch is going to melt some established players and temper some emerging guys. Love the chat about past form but I'm genuinely excited to see who folds and who firms in the next few seasons.
Everything's up for grabs imo.
Everything's up for grabs imo.
Really?
He may return the his previous form, I hope he does.
But that was a few years ago, at the moment he has everything to prove, the others mentioned have done something worthy of call up (even if it was last fit man standing)
He has a Super Rugby season to demonstrate his worthiness of a squad call up
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Rodda played a season of Super Rugby last year, and would've been a certainty for the Wallabies if not for injury...
Anyways, it's a new coach so all positions up for grabs... but I still favour him and Frost over the other domestic candidates.
I think the ponies locks were the best we had last season (despite the dumb brain farts) but as I stated earlier, it is one of the roles that, to me, is completely open and I hope they are all fit and firing come June
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
A locking trio (incl. bench of course) of Frost, Rodda and Skelton sounds pretty damn good to me.
I have to say I'm warming to the idea of Frost at 6 too.
Confucius Say
Colin Windon (37)
Lucky we are not selecting and coaching
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
It doesnt seem that lucky. Actually, i think the odds of one us being professionally involved with the Wallabies is quite low.