Wallabies 2023

[Ignoto]

Half the time I think it's outrageous to select a player who's a proper all black. Then I read about his commitments to Darwin Rugby and also think of the NH teams with their grubby little mitts on Dempsey, Hansen and Meafou and I think fuck it, go all out take anyone we can that'll make us better.

I mean, after all, we are a Tier 2 nation. I don't see it being any different than Folau, Lealiifano or Coleman playing for Tonga/Samoa. Hell, TKB is an Aussie by birth.

 

[Drew]

Just saw Hanigan, Foley and Kerevi on Coogee Bay Road. So there’s 3 members of Eddie’s initial squad.

 

[Dctarget]

Just saw Hanigan, Foley and Kerevi on Coogee Bay Road. So there’s 3 members of Eddie’s initial squad.

There's a bunch of players in Sydney right now training, don't think it means much yet.

 

[Slim 293]

Just saw Hanigan, Foley and Kerevi on Coogee Bay Road. So there’s 3 members of Eddie’s initial squad.

There's a bunch of players in Sydney right now training, don't think it means much yet.

Yep, it's a squad of 40... and doesn't include the Brumbies' players, or Skelton and Arnold.

 

[fatprop]

The we usually churn through players as the hospital ward grows, we will most likely use more than the 40

 

[Confucius Say]

View attachment 16542

My punt at the RC squad and the Aust A squad.

You lost me at Hodge and Hooper in the XXXIII. Neither going to win us a World Cup.

Let’s stop the Mr Fixit on the bench. It rarely works. Just have a player that can play anywhere like Petaia or Wright. Young, energetic and not tainted by the losingest era in our history. Leave Hodge at home.

And start with Pete Samu at 7 with McReight on after 50 as a finisher but rotate them depending on opposition. Leave M Hooper at home. He’s way off the pace.

 

[Braveheart81]

You lost me at Hodge and Hooper in the XXXIII. Neither going to win us a World Cup.

Let’s stop the Mr Fixit on the bench. It rarely works. Just have a player that can play anywhere like Petaia or Wright. Young, energetic and not tainted by the losingest era in our history. Leave Hodge at home.

Hodge will continue to be an option because if your 22 jersey is a replacement 10 you need someone covering 12 on the bench. I don't think Petaia is really a 13 option at test level let alone an option at 12. Ikitau is pretty exclusively a 13.

 

[Eddie's Eyebrows]

You lost me at Hodge and Hooper in the XXXIII. Neither going to win us a World Cup.

Let’s stop the Mr Fixit on the bench. It rarely works. Just have a player that can play anywhere like Petaia or Wright. Young, energetic and not tainted by the losingest era in our history. Leave Hodge at home.

And start with Pete Samu at 7 with McReight on after 50 as a finisher but rotate them depending on opposition. Leave M Hooper at home. He’s way off the pace.

Eddie's theory around the 33 man squad is to pick your best 23, then 5 squaddies, and a couple of utilities.

Hodge is the best utility we have. They become important when trying to pick a squad of 33.

 

[qwerty51]

Kerr-Barlow not coming.

Taking a week’s break after their seasons ended at the weekend, Brumbies players - and France-based locks Will Skelton and Richie Arnold - are the only missing pieces from the training group in Sydney.

So who isn’t there.

Prop updates

Ala'alatoa, who Hatley rates as one of the world’s best tightheads, is set to be fit for the Wallabies’ first Test in Pretoria on July 8, and Bell “is flying” after a foot injury that ruled him out of NSW’s entire season.

Hatley said the hope is for Tupou to also be available for selection for the Rugby Championship next month, after an impressive recovery from an Achilles’ tendon rupture last year.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Swinton and Lambert on the Instagram stories at the beach session.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Looked fucking awful.

 

[KOB1987]

Looked fucking awful.

Not the right mankinis for you?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Not the right mankinis for you?

Less is more.

 

[rugbyAU]

My go at Sunday's squad. This is chosen in light of Eddie's comments recently and also ability to call up players quickly in case of injury. I don't think the composition will be the same as the WC. This time he'll take 3 flyhalves, 3 scrumhalves. Also not sure about his rehab people. Bell & Tupou will probably be still rehab. Also, I think there'll be one or two players he's 70% sure he won't take to the RWC but wants a final look at.

Rehab
Tupou
Bell
Leota
Rodda/Philip
Feel like he can whack anyone in here as an exemption to the 33.

Props

James Slipper
Matt Gibbon
Allan Ala'alatoa
Sam Talakai
Pone Fa'amausili

Hookers

Dave Porecki
Lachlan Lonergan
Jordan Uelese

Second Rowers

Nick Frost
Will Skelton
Richie Arnold
Caderyn Neville

Backrowers

Rob Valetini
Jed Holloway
Michael Hooper
Fraser McReight
Harry Wilson
Langi Gleeson
Tom Hooper

Halfbacks

Nic White
Tate McDermott
Ryan Lonergan

Flyhalves

Quade Cooper
Bernard Foley
Carter Gordon

Centres

Samu Kerevi
Lalaki Foketi
Len Ikitau

Outside Backs

Reece Hodge
Jordon Petaia
Andrew Kellaway
Tom Wright
Marika Koroibete

I like it, but don't think we can have 7 back-rowers and think Tom Hooper's time will come next year, not sure Uelese deserves a spot

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Swinton and Lambert on the Instagram stories at the beach session.

I am surprised he didn’t call Sio up as well, surely he is better than some of the guys seen training with the team this week. I guess the hope is that all the injured guys are good to go so not needed

 

[TSR]

Apparently Foley is in the 'leadership group'.

If Foley is in the squad it makes sense for him to be in the leadership group.

 

[RugbyReg]

If Foley is in the squad it makes sense for him to be in the leadership group.

Yeah. Because of that nice calm decision making under pressure ….

 

[Wilson]

Yeah. Because of that nice calm decision making under pressure ….

Takes his time, doesn't rush his choices....

 

[dru]

We seem to have a narrow view of what the leadership group does.

 

[Confucius Say]

Eddie's theory around the 33 man squad is to pick your best 23, then 5 squaddies, and a couple of utilities.

Hodge is the best utility we have. They become important when trying to pick a squad of 33.

Yes but he’s past it pace wise and Petaia and Wright have youth, pace and utility.