LeCheese
John Thornett (49)
For argument's sake, let's say the 15 you listed above is our best possible - there are 7 players there who were not in the 23 on Saturday.
Wallabies 2024
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Tomthumb
Dick Tooth (41)
Then why do top overseas clubs keep signing Australian players?
The wallabies aren’t in a great spot right now, but nor were the Springboks when they lost 57-0 to NZ in 2017 with many of these now supposedly unbeatable Springboks playing
Marce
Peter Sullivan (51)
Less players than 10 years ago. And I can't see many former Wallabies in top European teams. The only one is Skelton nowadays
He's playing because he is fit to play and it among the best couple of options we have.
That said, it's very clear that it is not until the second year after returning from serious injury that the overwhelming majority of professional athletes reach their peak. That doesn't mean they can't or shouldn't play during that time, it just means that they are still getting post-injury improvement.
He's captain because Liam Wright got injured and Fraser McReight is out so it's essentially between AAA and Slipper to captain the side. Jake Gordon is potentially the next option?!?
Wilson
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Who the hell else should they be picking? Every other option is injured or has barely played in the past year.
Tomthumb
Dick Tooth (41)
Actually there’s probably more now than ever. 3 in the top 14 final alone
So either French club rugby is piss weak, or you’re wrong
Tomthumb
Dick Tooth (41)
Zane Nonggorr was the best Australian tight head in super rugby this year
The biggest change with players going to France is that historically it was Wallabies at the end of their career trying to get a final lucrative contract. It wasn't the strongest competition then.
Now it is a much stronger competition and far more of the Australians there are mid career and doing it either as a permanent move or for a couple of years before returning to Australia to have another crack in Super Rugby/playing for the Wallabies.
Now it is a much stronger competition and far more of the Australians there are mid career and doing it either as a permanent move or for a couple of years before returning to Australia to have another crack in Super Rugby/playing for the Wallabies.
Wilson
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
And he was in the 23 against the springboks, arguably in the prime position coming off the bench to face the bomb squad. Either way they had about half game each and the split was always going to look like that.
Strewthcobber
Steve Williams (59)
I'm guessing they probably didn't want to have both the LH and TH on their starting debut, along with a complete leadership vacuum in the team
Tomthumb
Dick Tooth (41)
Your best right head needs to start as Ox Nche is by far their best loose head. Nonggorr was stuck behind AAA in the Wales series too which was mind boggling
LeCheese
John Thornett (49)
As others have highlighted, neither selection criteria nor recovery from the injury are that black and white. With regard to him 'failing' test metrics, that is not the suggestion - rather that it's unlikely he has returned to his pre-injury physical capabilities in 12mo, as you suggested should be expected.
Tomthumb
Dick Tooth (41)
I guess who else will say “learnings” 100 times if AAA isn’t there
And he could have just started Slipper. Tight Head is a more critical role and AAA is so far off the pace
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Looking at this list again, not many names jump out at me in our weak areas. I'd take Staniforth, Philip, Rory Arnold for locks. Sadly no tight heads of note. My kingdom for a Paul Alo-Emile.
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stillmissit
Peter Fenwicke (45)
So we are going to put a guy who is not fit enough to deal with the opposition (proven on the day) and possibly repeat the injury, then make him captain. It makes no sense unless they are not testing them for strength and endurance for the task ahead. Maybe his poor performance could have been predicted if the S&C were doing their job.
stillmissit
Peter Fenwicke (45)
DC, any idea what is the current situation with BPA?
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
beyond signing for the Force for '25, I have no idea. Don't know if he's in the country or what. He was injured when his signing was announced in April but not sure now.
LeCheese
John Thornett (49)
No - it's unlikely he's fully returned to where he was pre-injury relative to his own previous benchmark. That is not to say his fitness/strength/endurance fails to meet an overall standard, let alone using that to infer the S&C team mustn't be doing their job...
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Strewthcobber
Steve Williams (59)
Doran said on his podcast on Sunday that he thinks BPA will join the Wallaby squad in Perth this week (don't know if it was officially or otherwise), but he didn't expect him to play against SA.
stillmissit
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Can you please clarify your double negative?