Wallabies 2024

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Who replaces Slipper?

Gibbon? He is still our no.2 LHP and no.3 THP and doesn't look like thats going to change in 2024. At worst he moves to no.3 LHP and no.4 THP behind Schoupp and Pone but I doubt it

5-6 props go in a test squad and he will be there in 2024 and likely 2025 unless a Pearce at WF ends up being another 20ish yr old prodigy like Bell and Tupou.

It's a great question because I'm not really sure who is that much better to also replace the bloke that is Slipper in the squad. I'm just saying I think we are on the downhill and we do actually have a favourable lead up to the Lions with Wales coming to Aus to see if the next group are up to it.

For me Gibbon is ok. Good Super Rugby Prop but not at the next level.

 

[Members Section]

I object to Pone being described as a prop he is not a props big arse!

Its hjs scrumagging just not up to test level hense slips playing out of position.

other than nela we really dont have any good in the scrum on that side. Prob cause every time we play a nz side we are playing basketball

 

[Members Section]

It's a great question because I'm not really sure who is that much better to also replace the bloke that is Slipper in the squad. I'm just saying I think we are on the downhill and we do actually have a favourable lead up to the Lions with Wales coming to Aus to see if the next group are up to it.

For me Gibbon is ok. Good Super Rugby Prop but not at the next level.

I wouldnt rule JS out yet, if its coming off the bench for Bell

 

[Tomthumb]

I guess you mean having to play like a forward as the ball rarely made it out to him? And Jones had him running all over the pitch patching up others inability to tackle.

Koroibete missed the most tackles on the team

 

[Members Section]

Koroibete missed the most tackles on the team

in context though its his job to fly in & make a big hit usually using Kellaway as his cover

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I wouldnt rule JS out yet, if its coming off the bench for Bell

Think you're right overall. Just being a Wallabies 2024 thread I think they really need to find out who is up to it.

Has been a long year of heavy lifting for Slipper. I'm sure he can't wait for the offseason.

Australia has some very good young props coming up but in reality they are a 2027 prospect and not a 2025. The likes of Barrett, De Lutiis I think will go past the Gibbons, Pone and co. I also really doubt the durability of TT to go for a long time. Can smell short/softer Japanese seasons in his future.

 

[Members Section]

Think you're right overall. Just being a Wallabies 2024 thread I think they really need to find out who is up to it.

Has been a long year of heavy lifting for Slipper. I'm sure he can't wait for the offseason.

Australia has some very good young props coming up but in reality they are a 2027 prospect and not a 2025. The likes of Barrett, De Lutiis I think will go past the Gibbons, Pone and co. I also really doubt the durability of TT to go for a long time. Can smell short/softer Japanese seasons in his future.

Yeah I agree, would love to see Holz & Barrett get a real crack next yr & Bell managed at the Tahs. Similar thing at the Reds with De Lutiis.

Do we have a scrum coach locked in for 2024? Centralisation would be great for things like this 5 SRpac scum coaches all working with the national coach.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Had big hopes for Holz in the past year but he seemed a bit off. The entire Tahs pack was very stop start though. Bell is the most important asset we have in Australian Rugby right now and if he played 70% of games even if fully fit I think it's wise. Or play off the bench every 3rd game.

No idea in terms of coaches. I don't think we will have any of the current assistants at least come Lions tour and wouldn't surprise me to see them all gone by Wales next year. Defence hasn't worked, maul is a mess and Jason Ryles was always a body in a seat with his Storm job starting next year.

Ledesma want the national job as Scrum God?

 

[Joe Blow]

Honesty, the way he has played in this World cup, that might be for the best

He was our best player last year. Would not be surprised to see him turn out for Fiji in 4 years

 

[Braveheart81]

2 poor games in a poorly performing team…

he is a world class player who has been one of the Wallabies best in recent seasons and will be a monumental loss, even with the rise of Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) on the other wing.

I agree with you that it's a monumental loss. Koroibete played poorly this year but the loss we are feeling is from a guy who was consistently one of our best players across the last few years and is the reigning John Eales Medalist. We very much felt the loss at the RWC.

The Ironic part is despite all the talk about the young guys, 3 of the most experienced players in the team in White, Kerevi & Koroibete were some of our worst performers

Which is a reasonable part of why the team was so poor. When your team already isn't good the downside of players who are regularly among your best being mediocre is pretty severe.

I certainly wouldn't discard Kerevi yet. It is incredibly common for someone coming back from an ACL to take quite a while to really get their dynamism back. It would be premature to say he's done based on his test play this year.

 

[stillmissit]

Koroibete missed the most tackles on the team

How many did he attempt? My guess is most players didn't make it to a position to make the tackle, Donaldson being one obvious one but he wasn't alone, then there were the ones who were 'palmed off' or just chucked out an arm. Tackling is a big weakness.

 

[upthereds#!]

It's a great question because I'm not really sure who is that much better to also replace the bloke that is Slipper in the squad. I'm just saying I think we are on the downhill and we do actually have a favourable lead up to the Lions with Wales coming to Aus to see if the next group are up to it.

For me Gibbon is ok. Good Super Rugby Prop but not at the next level.

Slippers will be vital in 2024, and most likely still very valuable in 2025. However from 24 into 25 there may be a chance for guys like Hodgman to get a cap here or there (if he shows he is better then gibbon) and Eloff will be become eligible as Slipper shifts out also. Gives a bit of breathing room to 2027 whereby there may be a youngster like Pearce who has come through as the goods.

 

[Tomthumb]

He was our best player last year. Would not be surprised to see him turn out for Fiji in 4 years

I'm not saying he hasn't been really good in the past, but he has been poor this year and is on the wrong side of 30 so it's not unreasonable to think he's past his peak

We seem to get more sentimental about players than other nations

 

[Joe Blow]

I'm not saying he hasn't been really good in the past, but he has been poor this year and is on the wrong side of 30 so it's not unreasonable to think he's past his peak

We seem to get more sentimental about players than other nations

He is a physical beast who has looked lost with what the 2023 Wallabies are attempting to do, like many others.
He will be playing high level rugby for at least another 4 years and probably longer. His official announcement of retiring from test rugby likely means with Australia. If he is still playing at a similar level in 4 years Fiji will come calling.
He has remained one of our first picked players.

 

[eastman]

I object to Pone being described as a prop he is not a props big arse!

How do you explain that mammoth effort against the ABs earlier this year?

 

[Tomthumb]

He is a physical beast who has looked lost with what the 2023 Wallabies are attempting to do, like many others.
He will be playing high level rugby for at least another 4 years and probably longer. His official announcement of retiring from test rugby likely means with Australia. If he is still playing at a similar level in 4 years Fiji will come calling.
He has remained one of our first picked players.

He will be 35 years old then

 

[PhilClinton]

Might be the unpopular opinion on these forums but I really don't think Kellaway is the fullback option that brings us back to relevance.

Or if he's going to stay there, we need more creativity in the 10/12 space. Can't be going into games with a 10/12/15 who all have a pretty safe skillset and don't really complement each other much.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I'm with you.

He's the safe option which with the current group is the best option. They tried Wright who can provide the attacking option but his flaws at 15 are too much. Still think Jorgenson will be able to go past anyone in Aus by 2025.

 

[KOB1987]

Jorgensen has definite Matt Burke type potential.

 

[HooperPocockSmith]

I'm with you.

He's the safe option which with the current group is the best option. They tried Wright who can provide the attacking option but his flaws at 15 are too much. Still think Jorgenson will be able to go past anyone in Aus by 2025.

He needs to work on his kicking out of hand - which I'm sure will come. Unfortunately, his dominance at a younger age meant he never really had to kick.