Wallabies 2023

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Lolesio. Eddie won't tolerate 10's who can't manage a game. Eddie he has a history of wanting proper game managers, players with a lot of game understanding and intelligence at 10. Edmed ticks all the boxes that Lolesio doesn't.

Eddie picked Marcus Smith because he had X factor. Don’t think Lolesio has it… don’t think Edmed has it… did you watch Australia A this year? Cooper has X factor but will he be ready in time? … Donaldson looked good in patches… would like to see him more starting at 10 along with Tate.. that would be good to see.

 

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Smith is an out-&-out 10 though, Lolesio is more of a centre playing at 10. White and Simone did most of the playmaking for the Brumbies.

I can't see Eddie picking him, in the recent podcast Edmed & Donaldson were mentioned but not Lolesio, I guess we'll find out later whether that was an indication of anything.

I actually did notice he never mentioned Noah but I just passed it off as Eddie throwing out names, could more too it. Only prob is Donaldson & Edmed are both so raw & we want to win a rwc now. Noah is better than both of them right now & between them up to this point they both have 10 min of test footy combined. Honestly can anyone see Either of them in 8 months leading us around France?

 

[Lightblue]

I actually did notice he never mentioned Noah but I just passed it off as Eddie throwing out names, could more too it. Only prob is Donaldson & Edmed are both so raw & we want to win a rwc now. Noah is better than both of them right now & between them up to this point they both have 10 min of test footy combined. Honestly can anyone see Either of them in 8 months leading us around France?

Let’s see how the Super Rugby season pans out. Eddie is likely to spring the odd surprise… don’t think JOC (James O'Connor) is out of the picture either with a good season.

 

[KevinO]

If Eddie is going to surprise he will pick Carter Gordon.

I also think Jones will have Hodge on the bench minimum. Possibly playing 15 as it suits the way he sets his teams up.

 

[PhilClinton]

If Eddie is going to lose he will pick Carter Gordon.

Fixed

 

[RugbyReg]

Why are people suggesting perhaps not Kellaway? Eddie loves skilled footballers with high work rates off the ball. That’s Kellaway. He’s one of the first picked backs in my eyes.

 

[dru]

Why are people suggesting perhaps not Kellaway? Eddie loves skilled footballers with high work rates off the ball. That’s Kellaway. He’s one of the first picked backs in my eyes.

Unless of course, someone else starts looking better. And there are a few possibilities.

 

[Thalium]

Why are people suggesting perhaps not Kellaway? Eddie loves skilled footballers with high work rates off the ball. That’s Kellaway. He’s one of the first picked backs in my eyes.

And he plays intelligent rugby so I too think Kellaway is one he definitely wants

One I think might be a surprise is he may have a good look at Hamish Stewart who will be at fly half this year for the Force I also think there’s the opportunity for Bryce Hegarty to impress as Eddie would have seen a bit of him last year

 

[eastman]

If Eddie is going to surprise he will pick Carter Gordon.

I also think Jones will have Hodge on the bench minimum. Possibly playing 15 as it suits the way he sets his teams up.

Hodge isn‘t Freddie Steward.

 

[eastman]

And he plays intelligent rugby so I too think Kellaway is one he definitely wants

One I think might be a surprise is he may have a good look at Hamish Stewart who will be at fly half this year for the Force I also think there’s the opportunity for Bryce Hegarty to impress as Eddie would have seen a bit of him last year

Bryce Hegarty an option at 10 you reckon?

 

[TSR]

Why are people suggesting perhaps not Kellaway? Eddie loves skilled footballers with high work rates off the ball. That’s Kellaway. He’s one of the first picked backs in my eyes.

I think it was only me, and all I said was he was probable, but I didn’t think he was a certainty. If Jones picks one or more from Hodge, Banks & Campbell then you potentially have Kellaway, Wright, Petaia, Nawaqanitwase playing for 3 (or 2) spots in the squad (I’m considering Koroibete a definite). I wouldn’t put a complete line through Vunivalu yet either.

I’d have Kellaway in - but the question was who were the shoe-ins.

 

[KOB1987]

I think it was only me, and all I said was he was probable, but I didn’t think he was a certainty. If Jones picks one or more from Hodge, Banks & Campbell then you potentially have Kellaway, Wright, Petaia, Nawaqanitwase playing for 3 (or 2) spots in the squad (I’m considering Koroibete a definite). I wouldn’t put a complete line through Vunivalu yet either.

I’d have Kellaway in - but the question was who were the shoe-ins.

I'll go out on a limb and say that Banks won't be one of the overseas picks, regardless of how many he is allowed.

 

[TSR]

And I think you are probably right.

But he and Campbell are still the only specialist fullbacks in fhat group.

In any case I do think Hodge is a likely pick and Koroibete a definite so equation is still the same.

 

[RugbyReg]

And he plays intelligent rugby so I too think Kellaway is one he definitely wants

One I think might be a surprise is he may have a good look at Hamish Stewart who will be at fly half this year for the Force I also think there’s the opportunity for Bryce Hegarty to impress as Eddie would have seen a bit of him last year

I’m a fan of Bryce but that’s be a massive call. I did think Stewart could play his 2nd playmaker role pretty well. As could Isaac Henry.

 

[stillmissit]

Also not sure Kellaway is a shoe in anymore.

Slipper & Ala'alatoa will be in the squad at least.

TSR, I will be surprised if Slipper is in the team for the WC. Eddie likes big props so it should Tupou and another

 

[stillmissit]

He kept picking Marcus Smith at 10 who struggled to control the game and needed Farrell to do it for him.

I don't think he's against picking a flyhalf he can see value in to be fair.

I think the media might have pushed him into that. There was a huge call from most punters that he was ignoring a great talent.

 

[stillmissit]

I think it was only me, and all I said was he was probable, but I didn’t think he was a certainty. If Jones picks one or more from Hodge, Banks & Campbell then you potentially have Kellaway, Wright, Petaia, Nawaqanitwase playing for 3 (or 2) spots in the squad (I’m considering Koroibete a definite). I wouldn’t put a complete line through Vunivalu yet either.

I’d have Kellaway in - but the question was who were the shoe-ins.

TSR, I think he will have a close look at Kellaway for 15.

 

[TSR]

TSR, I will be surprised if Slipper is in the team for the WC. Eddie likes big props so it should Tupou and another

Slipper looks to me to have peaked, but he is still solid at test level. His scrummaging has gone backwards a little so I think he’ll be at risk of losing his starting spot to Bell but I can’t see him being out of the Wallabies squad this year.

Who would replace him? As I see if the realistic options are Robertson, Gibbon and then probably daylight. And I don’t see Robertson or Gibbon as being close to Slipper at present.

Slipper & Bell are a fair way our best two loose heads IMO.

Edit: and neither Robertson nor Gibbon are big for LHPs

 

[TSR]

TSR, I think he will have a close look at Kellaway for 15.

Agree - and if he makes a good fist of it Hodge becomes less likely. Tom Wright also sounds like he will at least get some time there and maybe the Reds will continue to run Petaia there - although I suspect Campbell will be first choice.

One the one hand it is good there is now genuine competition in the back 3, but the 15 spot remains very open.

 

[stillmissit]

Agree - and if he makes a good fist of it Hodge becomes less likely. Tom Wright also sounds like he will at least get some time there and maybe the Reds will continue to run Petaia there - although I suspect Campbell will be first choice.

One the one hand it is good there is now genuine competition in the back 3, but the 15 spot remains very open.

I wonder what Eddie will make (or break?) of Petaia.