Wallabies 2023

[KOB1987]

He shouldn't be completely written off as a winger, but his decision making at full-back is costing us.

I am happy if Eddie drops him to make a statement but agree I would rather keep him in the squad as a winger over Vunivalu. There is no justification for keeping Vunivalu in the squad.

I would be in this camp as well. I gave him a ribbing after the game but there is no doubt he has talent.

 

[Marce]

I am happy if Eddie drops him to make a statement but agree I would rather keep him in the squad as a winger over Vunivalu. There is no justification for keeping Vunivalu in the squad.

There's no backup ATM so he will stay on the squad

Banks - injured
Kellaway - unfit
Petaia - unfit
Hodge - A completely disaster in Pretoria
Campbell - Not good enough in Tonga
Donaldson ???
QC (Quade Cooper)???
Carter Gordon??

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Pietsch, Toole, Flook would all offer more to the group IMO.

Mark & Marika have got first dibs on the Wing currently.

 

[KOB1987]

There's no backup ATM so he will stay on the squad

Banks - injured
Kellaway - unfit
Petaia - unfit
Hodge - A completely disaster in Pretoria
Campbell - Not good enough in Tonga
Donaldson ???
QC (Quade Cooper) (Quade Cooper)???
Carter Gordon??

I'm not sure that the 'status' you have arbitrarily assigned everyone is necessarily correct there, but I do wonder if a fix for the first Bledisloe is to start Carter Gordon at fullback and then bring Kellaway on later. Or using the BR philosophy perhaps even start Kellaway until he knocks up and have both Gordon and Petaia on the bench assuming the latter is fit, otherwise Hodge. I have a fear Ben Donaldson will get the gig though.

 

[LeCheese]

There's no backup ATM so he will stay on the squad

Banks - injured
Kellaway - unfit
Petaia - unfit
Hodge - A completely disaster in Pretoria
Campbell - Not good enough in Tonga
Donaldson ???
QC (Quade Cooper) (Quade Cooper)???
Carter Gordon??

From the Wright article:

Who replaces him remains to be seen, but the fit-again Andrew Kellaway looks set to return after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in training last month.

He’s not the only back likely to return to the selection frame, with Jordan Petaia building his way back from wrist surgery.

But given both players are underdone, it would be a huge ask to throw either player in against the All Blacks.

Whether specialist fullback Jock Campbell receives a call-up remains to be seen, while Ben Donaldson as well as Suliasi Vunivalu are set to keep their spots in the wider squad.

 

[Ignoto]

Tbf Reiko is probably licking is lips at the potential of Perese or a slow Kerevi.

Honestly, a cocky Reiko works in our favour. Knowing him, he'll showboat before putting the ball down for a try and drop it.

 

[Tomthumb]

You can't be serious. One team faced the current WBs and the other faced the raising motherf*ckers ABs. SA A would have look better against a lower opposition

You seem to be the un-serious one calling that team a "B" team. Wasn't aware PSDT was a backup level player

 

[Marce]

From the Wright article:

But given both players are underdone, it would be a huge ask to throw either player in against the All Blacks.

There is no need to rush them with so little time left for the RWC

I'd prefer to pick Campbell or Wright 100% fit

 

[Tomthumb]

There is no need to rush them with so little time left for the RWC

Umm, normally the act of rushing occurs when there is, indeed, a time constraint

 

[wamberal]

What's the betting that Donaldson sneaks into the squad?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

What's the betting that Donaldson sneaks into the squad?

 

[LeCheese]

But given both players are underdone, it would be a huge ask to throw either player in against the All Blacks.

There is no need to rush them with so little time left for the RWC

I'd prefer to pick Campbell or Wright 100% fit

Yes, but the article suggests they are fit (or very soon to be), which is at odds with your assessment. Both of them are likely to come into the squad, and one will replace Wright in the team, they just may not start this week.

 

[Dctarget]

Wright has been left out of the squad along with Brumbies teammate Pete Samu and Rebel Reece Hodge.

Josh Kemeny and Matt Gibbon along with Reds prop Zane Nonggorr have also made way, with Pone Fa'amausili and Blake Schoupp retaining their place in the squad after they were late inclusions for the Sydney Test.

It comes as a host of players return from injury, headlined by Rebel Andrew Kellaway.

Kellaway is joined by backrower Langi Gleeson and outside back Jordan Petaia for the Tests in Melbourne and Dunedin.

Prop Taniela Tupou has also been confirmed to return after coming back via Australia A last week in Tonga.

 

[Dctarget]

WALLABIES SQUAD FOR BLEDISLOE CUP​

Forwards

Allan Ala'alatoa (29, ACT Brumbies, 66 Tests)

Richie Arnold (33, Stade Toulousain, 2 Tests)

Angus Bell (22, NSW Waratahs, 21 Tests)

Pone Fa’amausili (26, Melbourne Rebels, 4 Tests)

Matt Faessler (24, Queensland Reds, uncapped)

Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 10 Tests)

Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Jed Holloway (30, NSW Waratahs, 11 Tests)

Tom Hooper (22, ACT Brumbies, 1 Test)

Rob Leota (26, Melbourne Rebels, 14 Tests)

Fraser McReight (24, Queensland Reds, 11 Tests)

Matt Philip (29, Melbourne Rebels, 28 Tests)

David Porecki (30, NSW Waratahs, 12 Tests)

Will Skelton (31, La Rochelle, 26 Tests)

Blake Schoupp (23, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

James Slipper (co-captain) (34, ACT Brumbies, 129 Tests)

Taniela Tupou (27, Queensland Reds, 47 Tests)

Jordan Uelese (26, Melbourne Rebels, 17 Tests)

Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 32 Tests)

Backs

Quade Cooper (35, Kintetsu Liners, 78 Tests)

Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)

Carter Gordon (22, Melbourne Rebels, 2 Tests)

Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 21 Tests)

Samu Kerevi (29, Urayasu D-Rocks, 43 Tests)

Marika Koroibete (30, Saitama Wild Knights, 53 Tests)

Ryan Lonergan (25, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

Tate McDermott (24, Queensland Reds, 23 Tests)

Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, 4 Tests)

Izaia Perese (26, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Jordan Petaia (23, Queensland Reds, 25 Tests)

Suliasi Vunivalu (27, Queensland Reds, 2 Tests)

Nic White (33, ACT Brumbies, 61 Tests)

Utility

Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)

Dylan Pietsch (25, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)

Rehab Group

Michael Hooper (co-captain) (31, NSW Waratahs, 125 Tests)

Not considered for selection due to injury

Len Ikitau

Max Jorgensen

Tom Robertson

Izack Rodda

 

[Adam84]

So Petaia, Perese and Kellaway all fit again for selection?

 

[Dctarget]

Pretty brutal from Eddie. Tom Wright starting fullback twice dropped from the entire squad. Guess with Kellaway and Petaia coming back he's certain he doesn't need Wright or Hodge.

Tough on Gibbon who I thought went well but Schoupp is a good prospect.

Really tough on Samu who's a pretty useful player. Surprised by that one, he's a reassuring bench presence for me.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

 

[Wallaby Man]

This will be pretty close to the RWC squad.

Someone needs to drop out for Hooper, which id think will be one of our no.6. Most likely Tom Hooper

And someone needs to drop out for Ikitau. Which I’d say would be Vunivalu. Perese to cover 13 and wing

Still think we will only take 2 scrum half’s. So Ryan Lonergan to get some time in these 2 games to compete with Tate.

That would bring squad to 33

 

[stillmissit]

One thing I do not want is C. Gordon chucked into a starting position to solve a problem. I prefer QC (Quade Cooper) to start with Gordon coming on from the bench.
My reasoning is clear, the most important issue we face is a top quality 10 and we haven't had one for a fair while. Cooper, given enough quick ball won't let us down. It is up to the forwards to up their level of aggression and involvement in the ruck to ensure our 9/10's get enough quick ball to make a difference.

I would also bring on Tate early if Nic White is not delivering that quick ball we need.

 

[Bullrush]

Man....how Pete Samu is not an automatic selection and starter I really don't know.