Wallabies 2023

[The Ghost of Raelene]

What about Whitey?

It's a good point. I guess he's likely to be starting so it's what happens after that.

For me he's a bit like Beale as well with the long kicks. I have no idea of his accuracy on the 40m+ attempts but he has the leg but its a shot in the dark at times. Lonergan hits them sweet though. I reckon anywhere inside 45m you are giving him 3 points way more often then not.

 

[Confucius Say]

1991 World Cup

Team Members: D Campese, T Coker, D Crowley, S Cutler, A Daly, J Eales, R Egerton, N Farr-Jones (Captain), J Flett, A Herbert, T Horan, P Kearns, D Knox, C Lillicrap, J Little, M Lynagh, R McCall, E McKenzie, J Miller, B Nasser, D Nucifora, W Ofahengaue, S Poidevin, M Roebuck, P Slattery, R Tombs.

1999 World Cup

Team Members: Andrew Blades, Tom Bowman, Matt Burke, Matt Cockbain, Mark Connors, Dan Crowley, John Eales (captain), Owen Finegan, Michael Foley, David Giffin, George Gregan, Nathan Grey, Richard Harry, Daniel Herbert, Tim Horan, Rod Kafer, Phil Kearns, Toutai Kefu, Stephen Larkham, Chris Latham, Jason Little, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Joe Roff, Scott Staniforth, Tiaan Strauss, Ben Tune, Chris Whitaker, Jim Williams, David Wilson.

2003 V NZ semi final

Matt Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Stirling Mortlock, Elton Flatley, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (c), David Lyons, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Nathan Sharpe, Justin Harrison, Ben Darwin, Brendon Cannon, Bill Young.

Subs: Jeremy Paul, Al Baxter, David Giffin, Matt Cockbain, Chris Whitaker, Nathan Grey, Joe Roff.


The common threads in these teams are:

Good local coaching - Dwyer, Macqueen and Jones.

Tough and uncompromising forwards that were feared by the opposition. At least 1-2 in each squad probably classified as a bit ‘mad’ but most of them hated losing so they rarely did.

Brilliant world-class backs on both sides of the ball (ex-Campo) but he could tackle occasionally.

Many have gone on to successful business, rugby administration and/or coaching careers.

State Combinations for cohesion and familiarity

McKenzie/Kearns/Daly
Eales and McCall
Gregan/Larkham
Horan/Little and Horan/Herbert
Ofehengaue and Poidevin
Kefu/Wilson/Cockbain

NSW fullbacks - Roebuck, Burke, Rogers

Based on these principles, what is your team to win RWC23?

 

[RugbyReg]

The other common denominator?

A smattering of legends of the game at their prime.

91 - Lynagh, NFJ, Campo
99 - Eales, Horan, Burke
03 - Smith, Gregan, Larkham.

We can’t match that.

 

[LeCheese]

Apophenia
ˌa-pə-ˈfē-nē-ə
noun
The human tendency to see connections and patterns that are not really there.

 

[qwerty51]

The other common denominator?

A smattering of legends of the game at their prime.

91 - Lynagh, NFJ, Campo
99 - Eales, Horan, Burke
03 - Smith, Gregan, Larkham.

We can’t match that.

At the time I would only consider Horan and Gregan a legend in 1999, Larkham (and Gregan again) in 2003.

There’s all the chance Bell, Tupou, Frost, Skelton*, Hooper(?), Quade, Kerevi, Ikitau, Korobiete could be considered legends yet - if they win it and a Bled or two.

*Just a FWIW, Stephen Jones albeit a shocking journalist put Skelton in his best ever team

 

[wamberal]

The other common denominator?

A smattering of legends of the game at their prime.

91 - Lynagh, NFJ, Campo
99 - Eales, Horan, Burke
03 - Smith, Gregan, Larkham.

We can’t match that.

I'd add Willie O in 1991. Eales won the 1991 RWC, made an extraordinary try saving tackle, catching an English back (whose name escapes me) from behind.

 

[The Marketing Pigeon]

Do we have any word on if the wallabies squad will be announced this Sunday? Media has been tight lipped about when we get our first real squad - saw QC (Quade Cooper) post on his instagram that he was joining the squad next week.

 

[RugbyReg]

At the time I would only consider Horan and Gregan a legend in 1999, Larkham (and Gregan again) in 2003.

There’s all the chance Bell, Tupou, Frost, Skelton*, Hooper(?), Quade, Kerevi, Ikitau, Korobiete could be considered legends yet - if they win it and a Bled or two.

*Just a FWIW, Stephen Jones albeit a shocking journalist put Skelton in his best ever team

my point is that they were at their respective prime at the time. Burke is a legend now, was rarely better than 98 /99.

Hooper will go down as a great, but he isn't in his prime. Skelton may be. Bell and Tupou won't be. Quade's prime was 2011 - if he can be better than that then we will win the RWC

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

If QC (Quade Cooper) and Kerevi are approaching their best we're a real shout to go deep in this tournament.

 

[LeCheese]

If QC (Quade Cooper) (Quade Cooper) and Kerevi are approaching their best we're a real shout to go deep in this tournament.

You'd think it's a bloody tough ask, and very unlikely, to be at your peak after 12mo out

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Definitely, which is why I'm not getting my hopes up

 

[farva]

No love for Fines? He has been a revelation in Perth.

 

[Highlander35]

I thought Fines had committed to Fiji?

 

[Ged]

Slipper
Porecki
AAA
Frost
Skelton
T Hooper
McReight
Valetini
McDermott
Cooper
Koroibete
Kerevi
Ikitau
Petaia
Wright

Lonergan
Bell
Tupou
Holloway / Rodda
Samu
White
Gordon
Kellaway

Our hookers are two small but at least they are technically accurate. I'd love a huge body like Uelese but just too high risk.
If Bell and Tupou come back quickly I could easily elevate them to the starting side.
Liam Wright was my smoky but he's injured so I've chucked T Hooper in at 6. We need a young tyke who's not accustomed to losing, who just wants to rip in and damage. Swinton could take that role but discipline is rubbish.
Eddie has mentioned the last few places on the tour go to team guys who are there for spirit. Harry Wilson is a shoe in on that front. I love the guy but I acknowledge he just doesn't bend the line enough no matter how hard he tries. Would be a great tour man, and if injury struck he wouldn't let us down. On that basis I'd take Lonergan as third halfback (Jake Gordon strikes me as bitchy) Noah as third 5/8, Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) and Toole as outside backs. In the forwards Matt Gibbon Sam Talakai and Cadern Neville get in on those criteria

 

[rugbyAU]

Slipper
Porecki
AAA
Frost
Skelton
T Hooper
McReight
Valetini
McDermott
Cooper
Koroibete
Kerevi
Ikitau
Petaia
Wright

Lonergan
Bell
Tupou
Holloway / Rodda
Samu
White
Gordon
Kellaway

Our hookers are two small but at least they are technically accurate. I'd love a huge body like Uelese but just too high risk.
If Bell and Tupou come back quickly I could easily elevate them to the starting side.
Liam Wright was my smoky but he's injured so I've chucked T Hooper in at 6. We need a young tyke who's not accustomed to losing, who just wants to rip in and damage. Swinton could take that role but discipline is rubbish.
Eddie has mentioned the last few places on the tour go to team guys who are there for spirit. Harry Wilson is a shoe in on that front. I love the guy but I acknowledge he just doesn't bend the line enough no matter how hard he tries. Would be a great tour man, and if injury struck he wouldn't let us down. On that basis I'd take Lonergan as third halfback (Jake Gordon strikes me as bitchy) Noah as third 5/8, Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) and Toole as outside backs. In the forwards Matt Gibbon Sam Talakai and Cadern Neville get in on those criteria

White will definitely start, don't see Tom Hooper or McReight starting

 

[TSR]

my point is that they were at their respective prime at the time. Burke is a legend now, was rarely better than 98 /99.

Hooper will go down as a great, but he isn't in his prime. Skelton may be. Bell and Tupou won't be. Quade's prime was 2011 - if he can be better than that then we will win the RWC

Unfortunately Cooper’s prime in 2011 didn’t carry over the the World Cup. In part due to a game plan that didn’t suit him at all but also because some of the shortcomings of his game were laid bare.

In terms of viewing pleasure, Campo in 91 is possibly the only individual player that comes close to Cooper in Super Rugby 2011 for me - but his WC wasn’t at that level.

Im thrilled that he is getting a second chance though and really hope his fitness and form stays together. In a lot of ways now I think he could be a better international 10 then he was then (gee I’d love him to still have his speed though) and I think Jones will harness his talent a lot better than Deans did.

Actualy Horan in 99 was pretty special too.

 

[fatprop]

Wasn't sure where to stick this, but this is well worth following, some interesting insights into the coaching philosophy of Mr Jones

IRAA Rugby on Instagram: "After an incredible LIVE coach event with @wallabies Head Coach Eddie Jones, we’re thrilled to bring you a mini series highlighting insights and expertise shared at the event. Ep 5: Messy Training “You’ve gotta create de

595 likes, 12 comments - iraarugby on June 7, 2023: "After an incredible LIVE coach event with @wallabies Head Coach Eddie Jones, we’re thrilled to bring you a mini series highlighting insights and expertise shared at the event. Ep 5: Messy Training “You’ve gotta create decision-making...

www.instagram.com

 

[Rusted]

My Wallabies XV at this stage:

1 - Slipper (c)
2 - Porecki
3 - Ala'alatoa (vc)

I like your team but I'm not sure you want your 2 props sharing captaincy duties

 

[rugbyAU]

I like your team but I'm not sure you want your 2 props sharing captaincy duties

Yeah true I have second thoughts about that I'd probably have maybe White as the vice

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I like your team but I'm not sure you want your 2 props sharing captaincy duties

I don't have a problem with it the more I think about it. At least one of them is most likely going to start most games. If here is a game a WC v a minnow there is no problem with a new Captain for that match.

Didn't Whittaker Captain the Wallabies v Romania in 2003? Squad could have a Captain and 2 VCs?