Wallabies 2023
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Super Rugby form was pretty impressive. Particularly compared to Bowen for Jnr Wallabies where he was underwhelming.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Legacy of playing for the Waratahs, good thing he is in WA next year
Tomthumb
Peter Fenwicke (45)
If the 10 jersey wasn't mismanaged for the last 3 years we wouldn't be talking about picking Quade this year
Hogan
Herbert Moran (7)
Dusk…I didn’t say that Donaldson deserved selection simply that he is a talented player down on form. If Eddie is considering taking three 10’s to the WC then he is one of a few options. The fact he plays 15 is a bonus.
Hodge hasn’t played 10 all year so not sure he is the right choice and Quade played 2nd Division in Japan and hasn’t really set the world on fire since his return but is obviously a very experienced campaigner. We don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors at Wallabies training. Some players will have played themselves out of the WC squad and others into it. But happy to back Eddie and his coaches selections when announced.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Looked fine when it was dry and the pack wasn't getting smashed!
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Happy with Petaia's progression, provides a very different style of 13 from Ikitau.
For the RWC, Ikitau gets the 13 jersey. soaks up 50 minutes of game with his better defensive game and tactical kicking. Then you can bring on Petaia when shoulders start to soften.
Not sure what to do with them going forward next year. Jordie is only a year younger than Len, so if they're both 13s they'll have to contend with each other for a long time. Nawaqanitawase has one wing sewn up, Koroibete isn't getting any slower despite his age. Maybe Kellaway at the back. Oh well, good problems to have.
For the RWC, Ikitau gets the 13 jersey. soaks up 50 minutes of game with his better defensive game and tactical kicking. Then you can bring on Petaia when shoulders start to soften.
Not sure what to do with them going forward next year. Jordie is only a year younger than Len, so if they're both 13s they'll have to contend with each other for a long time. Nawaqanitawase has one wing sewn up, Koroibete isn't getting any slower despite his age. Maybe Kellaway at the back. Oh well, good problems to have.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
Petaia is so perfectly suited to the 23 jersey, but also a player who really should be getting max minutes. Really is a conundrum
Merrow
Arch Winning (36)
He’s currently in France…anything can happen
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Gordon and Cooper feel very square pegs in round holes at the mo.
Tomthumb
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Having good players is never a conundrum, it's what builds accountability. If Petaia wants to start, he needs to perform week in week out, same for Len
I'm really looking forward here but if we can keep the nucleus of this young side together then by the 2025 Lions tour we can have a seriously good and experienced side:
1. Bell
2. Faesslar
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Hooper
7. McReight
8. Valetini
9. McDermott (c)
10. Gordon
11. Petaia
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Nawaqanitawse
15. Jorgensen/Kellaway
16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Schoupp
18. Ala'alatoa
19. Rodda/Salakai-Loto
20. Gleeson/Leota
21. Lonergan
22. Lolesio
23. Sua'ali/Pietsch/Flook/Toole
1. Bell
2. Faesslar
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Hooper
7. McReight
8. Valetini
9. McDermott (c)
10. Gordon
11. Petaia
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Nawaqanitawse
15. Jorgensen/Kellaway
16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Schoupp
18. Ala'alatoa
19. Rodda/Salakai-Loto
20. Gleeson/Leota
21. Lonergan
22. Lolesio
23. Sua'ali/Pietsch/Flook/Toole
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Dunno but they better step forward quickly.
Wouldn't be surprised if EJ (Eddie Jones) tried to recreate 10. Ford/Smith 12. Farrell again.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Foketi is the one pushing right now, and with Kerevi's mixed form he might get significant game time at the world cup. Afterwards it'll be him and Paisami pushing immediately for the spot
Outside of those 2, there was a bit to like from Vaihu and Annan at the under 20s world cup, but both feel a few more years off. Mosese Tuipulotu is one who could come on quickly, but might struggle for game time stuck behind Foketi. Otherwise Isaac Henry could be a great, balancing partner for Carter Gordon at the wallabies, but he'll need consistent time on the field for the Reds to push his case. Kuenzle offers something similar but there is so much change year on year at the Force it's hard to tell where everyone will land there.
eastman
John Solomon (38)
Is there any potential for Ikitau to be developed in to an inside centre? Has good hands and a big left foot.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
I can't see a good argument to shift him away from 13, it's usually been harder to find and develop good outside centres and our depth looks slimmer there overall.
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
So Christy Doran named his RWC squad this morning on the roar - he has Vunivalu going to France.
The more I think about it and taking “form” as a deciding factor out of equation and rather use optics.
McLennan & Eddie have a massive hard on for rugby league talent at the moment and leaving Suli back in Oz is bad optics for any NRL players you trying to bring over…
Obviously this will be a controversial decision but probably the right call for what rugby Australia is trying to achieve in the 13-man rugby league landscape
The more I think about it and taking “form” as a deciding factor out of equation and rather use optics.
McLennan & Eddie have a massive hard on for rugby league talent at the moment and leaving Suli back in Oz is bad optics for any NRL players you trying to bring over…
Obviously this will be a controversial decision but probably the right call for what rugby Australia is trying to achieve in the 13-man rugby league landscape
Tomthumb
Peter Fenwicke (45)
His biggest strength is creating space for his wingers and setting them up, would be rather wasted at 12