Wallabies 2023

[rugboy]

Interesting read from Rugby Pass on their Wallabies Player Ratings from the full test season.

Tight Five

Wallabies player ratings: Tight five struggled to excel during tough year

After a tough international campaign, not many players in Australia's tight five stood out - but that doesn't mean there are no positive ahead of a World Cup. Here's how the Wallabies' props, hookers and locks rated this year.

www.rugbypass.com

Loose Forwards

Wallabies player ratings: No. 8 locks down jersey as loosie combination takes shape

The Wallabies didn't win as many Test matches as they deserved this year, but that doesn't players didn't stand out. Here's how the loose forwards rated this year.

www.rugbypass.com

Halfbacks and 10s

Wallabies player ratings: Clear first-choice halfback emerges during average year for halves

This week, RugbyPass is rating the Wallabies players' performances from the year that was. Today, we take a look at the halves.

www.rugbypass.com

Centres

Wallabies player ratings: Ikitau impresses during mixed year for Australian centres

Injuries plagued the Wallabies throughout a tough 2022 season, and this was felt in their midfield. But while players were ruled out, a rising star showed his class.

www.rugbypass.com

Outside Backs

Wallabies player ratings: Two outside back stars shine as World Cup bolter emerges

This week, RugbyPass will be reviewing and rating the Wallabies players’ performances throughout the 2022 campaign. First up, we take a look at how the outside backs performed this year.

www.rugbypass.com

 

[rodha]

Some potential insight into why there's so many injuries...

Raw Wallabies side could leave Dave Rennie on the brink

A win against Wales this weekend is essential but it is hard to remember a Wallabies side so callow being asked to perform such a difficult task.

www.smh.com.au

Where is Australia compared to when he took over? Most yellow carded and penalized team this year, a massive injury list and pretty minimal player development in most positions. Yes they have played well at times but also terribly, often as well. Add to that him saying the red against NZ in a potentially career ending injury wasn't even a yellow in his eyes and I've lost a fair bit of respect for him, his appalling comment on that horrible "clean out" on Quinn Tupea, I mean wtf? That was the worst thuggery I have seen in years mate.

And while it's expected that a percentage of injuries are part of having a team full of full collision athletes, the current state is far beyond that. There is a training, culture, or safety element to it certainly (ala Eddie Jones and England a few years back).

The impression I get is Dave Rennie really emanates the real old school loves the Thugby-type coach, and that usually, in my opinion, translates to lots of full-contact training with loads of aggression. You inevitably pay the price for that approach, it's not sustainable.

 

[rodha]

The only natural leader is McReight and he is far from a guaranteed starter. I see him in the games he plays firing the guys up and I never saw him talk back or argue with refs as U20's capt.
There is nobody obvious as a starter as we have so few starters to choose from.

McReight looks concerningly lightweight at test level, like a young Hooper - just a lot more ineffective.

Gamble is bigger, offers more physicality & could quite possibly be taking Fraser's place in the squad in 2024.

 

[Wilson]

McReight looks concerningly lightweight at test level, like a young Hooper - just a lot more ineffective.

Gamble is bigger, offers more physicality & could quite possibly be taking Fraser's place in the squad in 2024.

Honestly Gamble isn't much bigger than McReight, we clearly need real size there - Pone Fa'amausili or Will Skelton

 

[Derpus]

Gambles Mo is a 16th player.

 

[John S]

Wilson, Ikitau, Tupou look overseas as Rugby Australia eyes Jones

The sudden availability of Eddie Jones will add further intrigue to the decisions of a small handful of key players.

www.smh.com.au

Word on the street that Ikitau, Wilson and Tongan Thor possibly looking overseas

 

[PhilClinton]

McReight looks concerningly lightweight at test level, like a young Hooper - just a lot more ineffective.

Gamble is bigger, offers more physicality & could quite possibly be taking Fraser's place in the squad in 2024.

Gamble is also 4 years older than Fraser.

If coaches want Fraser to put more size on, he’s got the frame and is the right age to still pack on some weight. We don’t need him losing mobility though, he’s scored more than a few tries at both Super Rugby and international level by having the gas to be around for the last pass.

 

[PhilClinton]

Wilson, Ikitau, Tupou look overseas as Rugby Australia eyes Jones

The sudden availability of Eddie Jones will add further intrigue to the decisions of a small handful of key players.

www.smh.com.au

Word on the street that Ikitau, Wilson and Tongan Thor possibly looking overseas

Nothing surprising. Taniela openly stated months ago he wanted to look overseas and was looking for a hybrid deal to play in Super Rugby and Japan.

What will be interesting is how much this injury setback changes his value. He had a pretty rough 2022 in terms of form and injury. So I agree with the article that his negotiating position is probably lowered, but that may simply force him overseas instead of into a hybrid deal.

 

[Derpus]

Ikitau would he a colossal loss

 

[PhilClinton]

Ikitau would he a colossal loss

I don't think he would be lost to the Wallabies.

It would probably spell the death march of Australia Super Rugby if we lost a couple of key guys like Ikitau, Tupou and a few more to overseas contracts. Which makes the commitment to the current format a bit interesting.

But I think RA will have to come to the party and allow more than 3 international selections if we were to lose key blokes who would be making up the bulk of our 2027 RWC squad.

 

[John S]

Ikitau would he a colossal loss

Yeah, I think of those three, that's the biggest loss

 

[Froggy]

According to official stats, Gamble only 1cm taller and 3kg heavier than McReight, both bigger than Hooper!
Hooper 182cm, 101kg, McReight 184cm, 102kg, Gamble 185cm, 105kg.

 

[Dctarget]

Could do Wilson some good to go north. He's young and clearly stalling at the Reds under Thorn. Valetini starts ahead of him at '23 RWC and '27 if he doesn't shake things up.

Also let Tupou go north where maybe a better paid strength and conditioning coach can manage him better.

Ikitau is a shame, he's only 24 and in his second year of national rugby.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

tough for wilson. samu and Valetini clearly better than him and halloway and others have more versatility.
personally i haven't seen anything at test level from Wilson that warrants being ahead of those 2-3 and if you're not ahead of them its pretty hard to get into the squad the way the numbers break down.

he comes across to me as an old school bash and crash number 8 so frankly i understand the footwork comment a bit.

ikitau is someone you give a 3 year contract and he can go overseas to japan one year and still be selected. NZ style contract.

Thor is a tough one. he needs a lower workload year and for that reason i think france would be the wrong place for him to go. hybrid aus and japan would be good too!

 

[Slim 293]

ikitau is someone you give a 3 year contract and he can go overseas to japan one year and still be selected. NZ style contract.

Yep... take some of the money they'll save on Tupou and give Ikitau a a decent contract with a sabbatical.

 

[stillmissit]

Just read some detail on the talks between McLennan and Eddie Jones. There is an idea that he will be here to assist Rennie with the RWC.
He revealed he is ‘up for a scrap’ and ready for an immediate return - with a return home to Sydney having the potential to send fear down the corridors of power at Twickenham.

EXCLUSIVE: Rugby Australia line up a sensational swoop for Eddie Jones

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: Having failed to put a non-compete clause in Jones's severance deal when his contract was terminated on Tuesday, the Australian is free to join another team.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Derpus]

Youd think with all of the upcoming action with Lions and RWC wed have enough cash to at least keep the core squad guys like Ikitau and Tupou around.

I personally think it was stupid to leave Wilson behind and dont blame him for wanting to leave. Particularly when its obvious Samu isnt a viable replacement at 8 and Gleeson got a start.

 

[Doritos Day]

Could do Wilson some good to go north. He's young and clearly stalling at the Reds under Thorn. Valetini starts ahead of him at '23 RWC and '27 if he doesn't shake things up.

If Wilson left Aus it's hard to see him coming back.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Youd think with all of the upcoming action with Lions and RWC wed have enough cash to at least keep the core squad guys like Ikitau and Tupou around.

I personally think it was stupid to leave Wilson behind and dont blame him for wanting to leave. Particularly when its obvious Samu isnt a viable replacement at 8 and Gleeson got a start.

The kid is 23 and he’s unhappy he’s not there after not exactly lighting it on fire in his opportunities?

 

[PhilClinton]

Is luring Eddie back for a push at the RWC23 a bit of pissing money against the wall?

I'm not sure we have the players settled in key positions to really make a claim.

Our 9 and 10 combo probably won't be decided until late in the year, no standout hookers, thin at centre. The list goes on...