Wallabies 2023

[Tomthumb]

Absolute rubbish, they were a red card away from a semi-final.

They had 13 players in their squad with single digit caps, including an uncapped player

Started a 22 year old at 9 and a 20 year old at 10

 

[qwerty51]

Was it not their best team at the time, their u20s were very strong.

 

[Dctarget]

Eddie Jones and Scott Robertson are coaching the Barbarians at Twickenham in November. Gotta select Hooper.

 

[Tomthumb]

Was it not their best team at the time, their u20s were very strong.

Debatable, but they certainly went with the young players with an eye to the future

 

[Mr Pilfer]

It it is World Cup, you pick your best possible squad and try and win it. Next year you can bring in all the kids.
Also will be a massive shame to see MHooper out but will be happy if it opens the door for Samu or/and Gleeson

 

[dillyboy]

It it is World Cup, you pick your best possible squad and try and win it.

I'd argue that whomever Eddie picks is who he believes is his best possible squad to try and win it......

 

[rugbyAU]

It it is World Cup, you pick your best possible squad and try and win it. Next year you can bring in all the kids.
Also will be a massive shame to see MHooper out but will be happy if it opens the door for Samu or/and Gleeson

Agreed bring in the likes of Donaldson next year, Samu is a must for the WC IMO

 

[Wilson]

According to this article Blake Schoupp is seen as hooker cover:

Blake Schoupp is another yet to get his chance after being in and out of the squad. Schoupp is unique in that he can cover both loosehead and hooker. Does this mean Jones takes only two hookers if he backs the Brumbies 'brick s***house' to make the move if needed?

This could be enough flexibility to go with only 2 hookers for the group stage, with Schoupp covering for emergencies. That said, both Porecki and Uelese don't have a great injury history so Jones may still want 3 there as well as emergency cover.

 

[qwerty51]

Schoupp was a hooker converted to prop. It's legitimate. Obviously he hasn't played pro at hooker though.

 

[LeCheese]

Using the RWC as a development stage.

If we selected on experience, there'd be a strong argument that it isn't our best-performing XV

 

[John S]

Surely you take MHoopen on tour purely for his experience and leadership even if he’s not going to play. He’s going to add more overall than the 40 mins that Donaldson plays against Georgia.

Take him as one of the support staff/extra coach/assistant?

 

[qwerty51]

If we selected on experience, there'd be a strong argument that it isn't our best-performing XV

Which gives the best option to win a RWC though?

There's a fair point that a younger, inexperienced side (but more in form) has a higher floor but lower ceiling than an experienced, older side which has a low floor but high ceiling.

You'd be bucking one hell of a trend winning a RWC with youth.

 

[stillmissit]

Agreed bring in the likes of Donaldson next year, Samu is a must for the WC IMO

Agree with Samu, wait and see but I am thinking Donaldson will go.

 

[LeCheese]

Which gives the best option to win a RWC though?

There's a fair point that a younger, inexperienced side (but more in form) has a higher floor but lower ceiling than an experienced, older side which has a low floor but high ceiling.

You'd be bucking one hell of a trend winning a RWC with youth.

Understand that, but I think the performance deficit we've seen from some of the older heads has forced Eddie's hand.

 

[Wilson]

Ikitau out, not going to be fit in time:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1689410370879029253

 

[Dctarget]

Ikitau out, not going to be fit in time:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1689410370879029253

Ah fuck. Our paper thin depth is getting punished by Ala'alatoa and Ikitau.

 

[stillmissit]

Which gives the best option to win a RWC though?

There's a fair point that a younger, inexperienced side (but more in form) has a higher floor but lower ceiling than an experienced, older side which has a low floor but high ceiling.

You'd be bucking one hell of a trend winning a RWC with youth.

Yes, that is true but I am strongly in agreement with Le Cheese (new -whatever) we could not win the world cup with our older players who have won nothing since coming second in 2015. At least with a younger group we are going to get out of the pool, which I was not convinced we could do a couple of weeks ago.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

wait the R in GAGR doesn't stand for Revolution?

Randwick

What the fuck is Donaldson doing. He a utility? Cleaning, washing, bus bookings, catch conversions and kick them back…

 

[barbarian]

Ikitau out is a massive blow. As discussed, I'm fine leaving Hooper at home if he's not 100%, but wow I would have thought a half-baked Ikitau was still a viable option for us.

Big pressure on Petaia now, but I think he's up to it.

 

[John S]

Ikitau out is a massive blow. As discussed, I'm fine leaving Hooper at home if he's not 100%, but wow I would have thought a half-baked Ikitau was still a viable option for us.

Big pressure on Petaia now, but I think he's up to it.

Yep, that is the bigger blow.

Also further in the article on SMH (which appears to have been updated since I first read it), they're saying Jed Holloway possibly going to miss out too - but they're not reading that as a selection "shock".