Wallabies 2024

[rugbyAU]

So, three games for Schmidt to test players out and rebuild as we march on to out first TRC match. What have we learned?

Front row is looking solid and settled. Kailea has been a great surprise package. TT, AAA, Slipper locked in. Faessler good and reliable, Pollard and Nasser in a shootout for bench.

Locks a bit up in the air. Frost and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) stocks have risen, Williams industrious, Blyth ok, Hooper good from the bench in Georgia game.

Backrow exciting. Valetini and McReight might be our best and most consistent players. Huge shame about Wrights injury, so who fills that final slot: Wilson or Cale? Or even Hooper/Williams? Wilson was very busy against Georgia, with both him and Valetini doing plenty of lineout jumping too.

Halfback, Gordon another who‘s stocks have really risen. I think he’ll start against SA, with McDermott/White on the bench.

Flyhalf we have major issues. Lolesio has been very flakey, I was pushing for Donaldson to get a shot and I think he flopped too. Does he get another game or two and the chance to settle in? I’m at a bit of a loss here. Ultra wildcard suggestion from the punters: JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) who was excellent in the Reds vs Wales match.

For our centres Paisami has been busy and grown each game, in a position we are a bit thin in. Ikitau showed his class when he finally got on the field and is a lock for 13. Honorable mention for Flook who’s time will come.

Back 3 some concerns too. I was hoping with successive games Wright would really be able to take it to Georgia but it was his worst match after two quiet ones (ripping try excluded). Kellaway has been polished as expected, Daugunu a strong series but giving away some simple penalties. Didn’t get to see much of Pietch and Lancaster was ok on debut. Overall an area I’m not feeling too confident in.

Hopefully some of the overseas players can help outside of 10

I'd have a back row of Valetini, McReight, Wilson

Halves of Gordon and Lolesio

and locks of Frost & LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (if no Skelton)

 

[Beattie]

Just imagine a Wallabies backline of with Cleary at 10 and Crichton and Latrell at 12 and 13.

I wish.

RA can’t afford quality league players. Quality rugby players heading out the door because NRL can afford it.

 

[Beattie]

So, three games for Schmidt to test players out and rebuild as we march on to out first TRC match. What have we learned?

Front row is looking solid and settled. Kailea has been a great surprise package. TT, AAA, Slipper locked in. Faessler good and reliable, Pollard and Nasser in a shootout for bench.

Locks a bit up in the air. Frost and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) stocks have risen, Williams industrious, Blyth ok, Hooper good from the bench in Georgia game.

Backrow exciting. Valetini and McReight might be our best and most consistent players. Huge shame about Wrights injury, so who fills that final slot: Wilson or Cale? Or even Hooper/Williams? Wilson was very busy against Georgia, with both him and Valetini doing plenty of lineout jumping too.

Halfback, Gordon another who‘s stocks have really risen. I think he’ll start against SA, with McDermott/White on the bench.

Flyhalf we have major issues. Lolesio has been very flakey, I was pushing for Donaldson to get a shot and I think he flopped too. Does he get another game or two and the chance to settle in? I’m at a bit of a loss here. Ultra wildcard suggestion from the punters: JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) who was excellent in the Reds vs Wales match.

For our centres Paisami has been busy and grown each game, in a position we are a bit thin in. Ikitau showed his class when he finally got on the field and is a lock for 13. Honorable mention for Flook who’s time will come.

Back 3 some concerns too. I was hoping with successive games Wright would really be able to take it to Georgia but it was his worst match after two quiet ones (ripping try excluded). Kellaway has been polished as expected, Daugunu a strong series but giving away some simple penalties. Didn’t get to see much of Pietch and Lancaster was ok on debut. Overall an area I’m not feeling too confident in.

And to kick you while you’re down, the U20’s don’t have anything to offer either. Your flyhalf situation doesn’t get any better.

 

[drewprint]

I think there’s some great young 10 talent coming through. Lynagh, HMP, Bowen.

 

[Beattie]

I think there’s some great young 10 talent coming through. Lynagh, HMP, Bowen.

HMP (Harry I guess) is not a playmaker. Centre at best but lacks speed. Lynagh and Bowen are only potentials in my view. Lynagh with more upside.

 

[Yoda]

Form implies he has played well for more than a single game.

Can you believe some of the comments on here? One game that was pretty good by JOC (James O'Connor) and now he’s the Wallaby 10. Unbelievable.

 

[TSR]

Can you believe some of the comments on here? One game that was pretty good by JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and now he’s the Wallaby 10. Unbelievable.

It’s because it’s in a position where we are struggling. He’s also an experienced head who has succeeded at test level before.

Not saying I agree with it - in fact I’d be very cautious given his injury run and his last few showings at test level - but I won’t be surprised if he’s pulled into the squad.

 

[Adam84]

JOC (James O'Connor) played well… but we can’t put our eggs in the basket of a 35 year old who struggles to string back to back games these days.

happy to have him in the squad, but Wallabies need to invest in and develop a new 5/8 and isn't JOC (James O'Connor)

 

[Strewthcobber]

He's also played 10 twelve times previously and we won two of those games, even as recently as 2022

 

[Yoda]

It’s because it’s in a position where we are struggling. He’s also an experienced head who has succeeded at test level before.

Not saying I agree with it - in fact I’d be very cautious given his injury run and his last few showings at test level - but I won’t be surprised if he’s pulled into the squad.

TSR. I very much doubt he will. No future in it. He was never a great 10 imho. Great winger and 12. Past it now. Have to back our young 10’s. I recall Foley and Quade having many not so great Tests in their careers. People are way too reactive. Joe is a good coach.

 

[liquor box]

Can you believe some of the comments on here? One game that was pretty good by JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and now he’s the Wallaby 10. Unbelievable.

I can believe it, he had a great game indicating he is currently fit an ready to play, he did this against a country, not a state or province and he has experience.

He also plays in Australia and this is important for me as I don't want overseas based players in the team.

I am a Reds fan and would not have resigned him to the Reds so I have no loyalty to him but he seems like a pretty bloody good option to me.

Do you think we have issues at 10? Who would you play?

 

[stillmissit]

I think the loss of Carter Gordon was a pity as I still think he had the biggest upside of the 10's. We have to deal with reality and that is Lynagh, Lolesio and Donaldson for this RC. What happened to Pasitoa from the Force several were talking up?

 

[TSR]

TSR. I very much doubt he will. No future in it. He was never a great 10 imho. Great winger and 12. Past it now. Have to back our young 10’s. I recall Foley and Quade having many not so great Tests in their careers. People are way too reactive. Joe is a good coach.

He was Super Rugby Player of the Year at 10 in 2021 and was also the best 10 and first player picked at 10 for the Wallabies in 2020 (admittedly all the other options were rookies) before injury intervened. He reads and manages the game well, plays well flat at the line with players in motion and is one of the better goal kickers available. So don’t really see the argument he has never been a good 10 is supported by any rational analysis. Certainly never great at test level - agree on that.

Whether he can be at test level now - doubtful I’d think. He has struggled to stay injury free and his last efforts were sub par - playing too deep, not controlling the game etc. Although I think it’s notable that these are two things he normally does really well - play flat at the line and game manage. In a lot of cases you’d suggest it’s a sign he can’t step up to test level, but that’s clearly not an issue for O’Connor. But one big thing is whether or not he is injury free. If he stays injury free than he is, IMO, worth consideration going forward.

In any case comments from Schmidt seem to indicate he is going to persist with Donaldson, Lolesio and Lynagh. Fair enough and O’Connor really has minimal chances to change his mind. Maybe if he kills it v Tonga.

 

[TSR]

I think the loss of Carter Gordon was a pity as I still think he had the biggest upside of the 10's. We have to deal with reality and that is Lynagh, Lolesio and Donaldson for this RC. What happened to Pasitoa from the Force several were talking up?

Pasitoa got injured in pre-season. I believe I read comments he is back playing club in Perth and going very well. I think the comments may have suggested he was playing more 12 though.

 

[Ignoto]

but we can’t put our eggs in the basket of a 35 year old who struggles to string back to back games these days.

The Kiwis are frothing over Beau Barrett being their saviour and he's 33.

Quade was 34 in that wonder game against the Boks on the GC and was 35 in the RWC

 

[Adam84]

The Kiwis are frothing over Beau Barrett being their saviour and he's 33.

Quade was 34 in that wonder game against the Boks on the GC and was 35 in the RWC

You’re correct age broadly isn’t the issue, in this case age is part of it in the sense of how his body has coped, it’s fact he can’t string together consecutive games without injury recurrence which is the bigger issue.

 

[Wilson]

TSR. I very much doubt he will. No future in it. He was never a great 10 imho. Great winger and 12. Past it now. Have to back our young 10’s. I recall Foley and Quade having many not so great Tests in their careers. People are way too reactive. Joe is a good coach.

The point of calling him in wouldn't be to start and supplant those young 10s (though I think some might have suggested it). It'd be to come in as an experienced voice in the backs and help bring those guys on, much in the way it looks Beale was originally selected but has since been missing with his injury. He'd be a potential candidate for the bench at times, particularly in the games where a replacement 10 might be on a hiding to nothing and you don't want to dent the confidence of a young payer in that situation (Against New Zealand in New Zealand, for example).

With or without him coming in I'd still be backing Lolesio to start for the rest of the Rugby Championship and then reassessing come the EOYT. If they do switch to Donaldson then it would need to be the same for him, but I don't see anywhere near enough upside in his play to make that call now, particularly given the hit Lolesio's confidence would take from being discarded again.

 

[Marce]

Apparently the counter-trade with RA releasing Marky to the Roosters is that Sua'ali'i will be released as soon as the Rosters season over (he is officially contracted until November 1st).

Plot twist: Roosters win the NRL Grand Final and qualify for the Interspatial Club World Cup against Mars on december 31

 

[stillmissit]

The point of calling him in wouldn't be to start and supplant those young 10s (though I think some might have suggested it). It'd be to come in as an experienced voice in the backs and help bring those guys on, much in the way it looks Beale was originally selected but has since been missing with his injury. He'd be a potential candidate for the bench at times, particularly in the games where a replacement 10 might be on a hiding to nothing and you don't want to dent the confidence of a young payer in that situation (Against New Zealand in New Zealand, for example).

I agree with this Wilson and think the value of him would be a lot greater than having Beale in the camp.

 

[Where's the beef]

Been an interesting 3 games thats for sure. We have options in the forwards and will put a good pack together. Some people will be unlucky. In the backs we have trouble at 10 and 12. I would have liked to see the force 12 get a run. I was really interested in the reds 12 who did his ACL. HP sound rather than great. At 9 Jake will get the nod because someone has to get us out of the 22. 10 is tough. Lynagh will be 10 within 2 years if he keeps developing. Noah, he does not have it, but he kicks goals and you need that at test level. He is probably the stop gap. His boot is not long enough and he does not read the game naturally. JOC (James O'Connor), I'd be interested in him playing 12 over 10. Ben D, did not really feel like he was the general last night. Better, boot, better reading and running, worse management and not as reliable off the tee. Has risk all over it. Bit like quade was. 13 will be Len, Though I admit I am a huge fan of Flook. The back 3 pick themselves. I think what we have seen is the benefits that Eddie brought in having a young side, coupled with a more fatherly approach from JS. We need to be realistic, There is a big step up in the next few weeks with all 3 sides we play. I am more interested in the effort and commitment than the result.