Wallabies 2024

[Proud Pig]

He isn’t popular amongst the GAGR community but by all accounts is very popular with the players. Do a search on it, it’s not just me saying it.

I don't doubt it but popular and good mentor/role model are not necessarily synonymous with each other.

 

[KOB1987]

I don't doubt it but popular and good mentor/role model are not necessarily synonymous with each other.

No but popular and 95 test caps isn’t a bad start.

 

[Sully]

Beale seems to have trouble respecting women. This may not go down too well with the islanders. I know it wouldn't sit well in my family.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I think that is true wrt to their junior careers but in my mind where you start off as a pro is where you start off really.

Kellaway played 15 for just about all of the 2016 season at the Tahs, and Tom Wright played most of his first season at inside centre

 

[rugbyAU]

What back row will they likely go with

either

6 - Valetini
7 - McReight
8 - Cale

or

6 - Wright
7 - McReight
8 - Valetini

 

[stillmissit]

What back row will they likely go with

either

6 - Valetini
7 - McReight
8 - Cale

or

6 - Wright
7 - McReight
8 - Valetini

I'm hoping the first but expect the second Sans Wright.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Beale seems to have trouble respecting women. This may not go down too well with the islanders.

A silly reaction GIF that embodies Islanders respect of women/love of the tooth fairy Jesus/disrespect of gay people is proving difficult to source.

 

[stillmissit]

Beale seems to have trouble respecting women. This may not go down too well with the islanders. I know it wouldn't sit well in my family.

Beale has had problems respecting most people over his time starting with the 3 amigos and evolving into attacks on coaches and fights with other players. I wonder why he has been able to stay out of the 'dickhead - never to play again' label.

 

[KOB1987]

I’ll leave it alone now but just with this closing comment. I personally wouldn’t have selected him like many others, but once you examine the depth of the squad, backs in particular, you can see the logic in it. And if the bloke that was somehow able to integrate the socially, politically, culturally, and structurally fragmented cluster fuck that was Irish rugby is OK with picking him, then I’m good with it as well.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Regarding the selected team, I wouldn't have selected Beale, however I can see why he's there, particularly given how few experienced 15's we have at this level. Should Wright implode or get injured, we are very light on. Having said that, if it were me I would have opted for Campbell.
Looking at the rest of the squad, I would have Swain over Blyth, Gamble over Gleeson, Lonergan over Gordon and Kuenzle over Feluiai, but I guess that's why I'm not the Wallaby coach.

An injury to either Wright or Kellaway, or a sudden drop in form, and Beale is a certainty to take the field. He may well be there even if the other two are fit and firing. It grates the hell out of me.

Otherwise, Swain or Canham over Blyth, keep Gleeson over Gamble - Gleeson hasn't had a good year but if a specialist No 7 backup is desired then either of Wilkin or Reimer would be my preference - definitely Lonergan over Gordon and I'd go for Kuenzle over Beale.

 

[Tomthumb]

really says something about the state of Australian Rugby when we pick 35-year-old outside backs.

Everyone was complaining about the lack of experience last year. Now we are complaining that they didn’t pick a young guy over Beale?

Personally I thought Beale was pretty impressive for the Force. One of the very few Australian players that actually has awareness and vision

 

[Tomthumb]

Most will disagree with me, but I am opposed to the idea of not selecting the players who are going overseas. I get that Schmidt is looking to build to the Lions tour, and that's important, and he's the coach and it's his head on the line, but I have two objections.
The first is my fundamental belief that representing Australia in any sport is the highest honour there is, and should never be cheapened. That means that at any time the Wallabies should comprise the best 23 players available, the players going overseas (or to League) are available, and if any of them are in the best 23 they should be selected..
Secondly, rugby in Australia is at a crisis level at the moment following the WC and the Eddie Jones disaster. We must beat what is, essentially a very weak Welsh side, at least once and ideally twice, we must beat Georgia, and we must have at least two and ideally three wins in the RC. If we don't, by next year no-one is going give a rats what we're doing when the Lions get here, we are already a joke on just about any all-sports show you choose to watch or listen to. Now I'm not saying we won't with this side, I will be there, yelling and hoping, but our best chance is with our best 23 players.
Disagree all you like, it's just my opinion.

I get your point, but I think there needs to be an incentive and a reward for sticking with Aussie rugby and invest in it. Understand these guys need to make a living, but it feels a few of them take more from the game than they give back

Rugby Australia and the Force paid for Rodda to essentially just rehab for 2 years, and when he’s finally healthy he decides he’s off again. I don’t think that should be rewarded with a test jumper over a guy that has committed his future here

 

[Derpus]

I get your point, but I think there needs to be an incentive and a reward for sticking with Aussie rugby and invest in it. Understand these guys need to make a living, but it feels a few of them take more from the game than they give back

Rugby Australia and the Force paid for Rodda to essentially just rehab for 2 years, and when he’s finally healthy he decides he’s off again. I don’t think that should be rewarded with a test jumper over a guy that has committed his future here

I dont agree with much you say but this is %100 correct. Rodda isn't worth a cap or a top-up. He was serviceable at best at test level when fit and in form, both of which are now questionable.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Don't disagree with that, TT. I would have had Rodda under serious consideration for a gold jumper had he not decided to bail, however.

 

[Froggy]

Agree regarsin Rodda TT, but I don't think you can tar all the departing with that same brush.

 

[stillmissit]

I get your point, but I think there needs to be an incentive and a reward for sticking with Aussie rugby and invest in it. Understand these guys need to make a living, but it feels a few of them take more from the game than they give back

Rugby Australia and the Force paid for Rodda to essentially just rehab for 2 years, and when he’s finally healthy he decides he’s off again. I don’t think that should be rewarded with a test jumper over a guy that has committed his future here

The problem appears to be how to enact it and for some (derpus?) never to enact it...

 

[TSR]

I get your point, but I think there needs to be an incentive and a reward for sticking with Aussie rugby and invest in it. Understand these guys need to make a living, but it feels a few of them take more from the game than they give back

Rugby Australia and the Force paid for Rodda to essentially just rehab for 2 years, and when he’s finally healthy he decides he’s off again. I don’t think that should be rewarded with a test jumper over a guy that has committed his future here

I rate Rodda - but still agree 100% with this.

 

[Sully]

I agree with what Schmidt has done in this instance. He has to build the core of a good squad in the next 12 months, and he doesn't have time to fuck around with the feelings of people taking big bucks overseas.

 

[KOB1987]

Yeah I agree as well. Open selection might raise its head soon, but for the near future I’m happy to stick with the 3 max O/S picks and for the administration to sell the message that unless you do your time and are close to world class you aren’t going to be wearing a gold jersey.

 

[dru]

I agree with what Schmidt has done in this instance. He has to build the core of a good squad in the next 12 months, and he doesn't have time to fuck around with the feelings of people taking big bucks overseas.

On that basis Schmidt has shackled a less than stellar rugby Nation with a squad that would appear to be less than what it could be. Right now. Apparently he doesn't have enough time, but Schmidt hits key games against our peers (that being #10 and #13) in a situation where he has two weeks to hold the thing together.

[Yeah, but good, Rodda got his ]

I expect that Schmidt will prove a better HC than EJ (Eddie Jones), but we are hitting these tests from a position way less than justifies intentionally ignoring talent because there is little time. Seems idiosyncratic to me.