Wallabies 2024

[rugbyAU]

My squad:

Props - Bell, Kailea, Robertson, Ala'alatoa, Tupou, Nonngorr
Hookers - BPA, Lonergan, Faessler
Locks - Skelton, Frost, Williams, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Backrow - Wright, McReight, Wilson, Gleeson, Valetini, Tizzano
Halfbacks - Lonergan, McDermott, Gordon
Flyhalves - Edmed, Donaldson, Lolesio
Midfield - Ikitau, Flook, Kerevi, Foketi, Paisami
Outside Backs - Jorgensen, Wright, Kellaway, Pietsch, Daungunu, Sua'ali'i

 

[scrans21]

Pretty bang on what I have. Slipper clearly needs a rest and I think it's time to see what R Lonergan can do. L Lonergan seems to have put on some size so bringing him back in as 3rd string hooker makes sense. If Daugunu is finally fit then I'd be bringing him straight in on the wing. My team for the 1st test would be:

1. Bell
2. Faesslar
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. L Wright
7. McReight
8. Valetini
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Daugunu
12. Kerevi (if fit, if not then either Paisami or Foketi)
13. Ikitau
14. Kellaway
15. T Wright
16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Kailea
18. Ala'alatoa
19. Salakai-Loto
20. Wilson
21. Gordon
22. Edmed
23. Sua'ali'i

 

[Jets]

Can't see L Wright coming straight back in, especially at the expense of Wilson, the current captain.

While he was good before the injury I don't think he'll push for a spot in the starting 15 on tour.

 

[scrans21]

As good as Wilson has been, I still maintain that our best starting backrow is Liam Wright, McReight and Valetini. I like the idea of Wilson coming off the bench against tired bodies and I could see a situation where Liam Wright starts as captain before being replaced early in the second half by Wilson who finishes as captain. But you're right, the backrow most likely won't change from what it is now. Just some wishful thinking from me.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Not sure, I think Wright fits the mould of what Schmidt is looking for at 6 a lot better than any other back row option. Better line out and work rate.

Can definitely see Wilson being the replacement option.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I reckon we will see Wright captain the A team to get back some match fitness, then rotate in to one of the tests at the back end of the tour.

This will mean we are no closer to understanding where he lies in Schmidt's plans (other than using his non-top-up offer as a clue)

 

[Yoda]

Pretty bang on what I have. Slipper clearly needs a rest and I think it's time to see what R Lonergan can do. L Lonergan seems to have put on some size so bringing him back in as 3rd string hooker makes sense. If Daugunu is finally fit then I'd be bringing him straight in on the wing. My team for the 1st test would be:

1. Bell
2. Faesslar
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. L Wright
7. McReight
8. Valetini
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Daugunu
12. Kerevi (if fit, if not then either Paisami or Foketi)
13. Ikitau
14. Kellaway
15. T Wright
16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Kailea
18. Ala'alatoa
19. Salakai-Loto
20. Wilson
21. Gordon
22. Edmed
23. Sua'ali'i

Pretty good, although not sure Edmed will get in the 23 straight up? In the squad to get up to speed but not sure he was as good as some reports in his NZ stint. Lynagh to get a run in A squad with Creighton? I still believe Donaldson needs a run of starting Tests. Will Joe drop his Captain ( Wilson) first up? Sua'ali'i won’t be in Test squad for first two but given a starting role in the A team and depending on how that goes in Wallaby squad for last two .. no guarantee of being in 23 though.

 

[TSR]

A couple of points of interest in the locks for the A squad for me.

To my eyes Swain & Smith were two of the best performed locks in Super Rugby. Obviously Schmidt is looking for other attributes, but if they don’t even make the A squad they are a long way down the pecking order.

Similarly Blyth got the nod early but has now slipped outside the top squad. Will be interesting if Schmidt has him in the A squad or if he has put a line right through him.

With such a short time frame to the Lions test I don’t expect to see many development players but I expect a couple in key spots as Schmidt looks for a couple of guys to really grab the opportunity. I wonder if we’ll see someone like Teddy Wilson or Louis Werchon get a gig. Maybe Julian Heaven if he is fit - he impressed me with the chances he got in pretty tough circumstances.

Aside from that hopefully Schoup, Hodgman & Van Nek are all fit to go too.

 

[Rugby Head]

I'm hoping for:

1. Bell
2. Faesslar
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson (C)
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Daugunu
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Toole
15. T Wright
16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Kailea
18. Ala'alatoa
19. Salakai-Loto
20. Gleeson
21. Gordon
22. Edmed
23. Kellaway

Give JS a game for Aus A and then inject him onto the bench for games 3/4, we need him up to speed for the Lions next year. We need to give Toole a crack, he and Daugunu will give us some strike power on the wings. Kellaway is the perfect bench player, can cover multiple positions in the backline. Hoping they give Edmed at least 30 mins, hoping to blood him (Pardon the pun) well before the lions next year. Think we all know what we are going to get from both Lolesio and Donaldson.

 

[PhilClinton]

I have my doubts that JS will be running around in Australia A.

Him getting game time and where seems to be the most polarising topic in Australian rugby at the moment but you can't forget he's not some 18yr old with a couple of NRL games under his belt.

He was picked for NSW SOO team (obviously didn't go to plan) and has looked like a really good player for most of the year in the NRL which is a competition with a lot more depth these days than our Super Rugby. It's not like the blokes playing for the Wallabies right now are winning games. I think he will be picked at 23 straight off the bat.

 

[Yoda]

I'm hoping for:

1. Bell
2. Faesslar
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson (C)
9. McDermott
10. Lolesio
11. Daugunu
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Toole
15. T Wright
16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Kailea
18. Ala'alatoa
19. Salakai-Loto
20. Gleeson
21. Gordon
22. Edmed
23. Kellaway

Give JS a game for Aus A and then inject him onto the bench for games 3/4, we need him up to speed for the Lions next year. We need to give Toole a crack, he and Daugunu will give us some strike power on the wings. Kellaway is the perfect bench player, can cover multiple positions in the backline. Hoping they give Edmed at least 30 mins, hoping to blood him (Pardon the pun) well before the lions next year. Think we all know what we are going to get from both Lolesio and Donaldson.

I saw what we get from Edmed this Super rugby season and watched most of his Kiwi games. He’s not better than Noah or Donno.

 

[Yoda]

I have my doubts that JS will be running around in Australia A.

Him getting game time and where seems to be the most polarising topic in Australian rugby at the moment but you can't forget he's not some 18yr old with a couple of NRL games under his belt.

He was picked for NSW SOO team (obviously didn't go to plan) and has looked like a really good player for most of the year in the NRL which is a competition with a lot more depth these days than our Super Rugby. It's not like the blokes playing for the Wallabies right now are winning games. I think he will be picked at 23 straight off the bat.

Do you honestly think so? Just walks into the National side after 2 weeks training? I’d be surprised.. as I said, I suspect he will start in the A team. Surely he needs a few lesser standard games before a debut at Twickenham?

 

[PhilClinton]

Do you honestly think so? Just walks into the National side after 2 weeks training? I’d be surprised.. as I said, I suspect he will start in the A team. Surely he needs a few lesser standard games before a debut at Twickenham?

A 10th ranked national team who have positional issues across most of the backline.

First game isn't until November 10th. He will have been in the rugby extended setup and then actual Wallabies squad training for about 6 weeks by then so if he's looking good enough, I think he's picked in the 23.

 

[PhilClinton]

Honestly, I am just bothered by the narrative from the media and some posters that JS is a development player and should be treated as such.

He's played over 60 games of NRL, has scored nearly 30 tries, been selected for the highest honour in that sport and has a background playing rugby. That's even before you factor in the obscene wage he's getting. He isn't injured and was legitimately one of the best players for the Roosters at the back end of the year i.e. he's in form, plus his goal kicking is great.

Everything tells me he's ready to be picked for the Wallabies.

 

[Braveheart81]

Honestly, I am just bothered by the narrative from the media and some posters that JS is a development player and should be treated as such.

There are absolutely people out there who believe he should play Shute Shield games before earning selection for the Waratahs.

These people are not serious.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Honestly, I am just bothered by the narrative from the media and some posters that JS is a development player and should be treated as such.

He's played over 60 games of NRL, has scored nearly 30 tries, been selected for the highest honour in that sport and has a background playing rugby. That's even before you factor in the obscene wage he's getting. He isn't injured and was legitimately one of the best players for the Roosters at the back end of the year i.e. he's in form, plus his goal kicking is great.

Everything tells me he's ready to be picked for the Wallabies.

Counterpoint to that would be does he know the rules? Folau threw the ball out dead and wasn’t allowed to kick for 6 months when he came across and SBW was absolutely poleaxed by Luke Burgess just standing next to a ruck in a barbarians game because he had no idea what was happening.

He will be awesome but it’s impossible to know what the game actually is without playing it. And I don’t count his last game when he was 15.

 

[LeCheese]

Counterpoint to that would be does he know the rules? Folau threw the ball out dead and wasn’t allowed to kick for 6 months when he came across and SBW was absolutely poleaxed by Luke Burgess just standing next to a ruck in a barbarians game because he had no idea what was happening.

He will be awesome but it’s impossible to know what the game actually is without playing it. And I don’t count his last game when he was 15.

He had several years of union under his belt before playing league - I'm sure a quick crash course in changes since he left school will be all that's needed.

In saying that, as we know, the brain and muscle memory work in funny ways, so it's entirely reasonable if there are a couple of brain farts as he's getting back in the swing of things.

 

[Derpus]

Not exactly a lot to lose just throwing him in, is there?

 

[Sword of Justice]

He had several years of union under his belt before playing league - I'm sure a quick crash course in changes since he left school will be all that's needed.

In saying that, as we know, the brain and muscle memory work in funny ways, so it's entirely reasonable if there are a couple of brain farts as he's getting back in the swing of things.

He was playing as a back at school level. I played as a lock at school level and I have seriously no idea what happens at the rucks in pro 2024 rugby and so I think that will be his biggest learning curve.

I think Derpus’ ‘fuck it all to shit anyway’ argument is the most convincing and where I ultimately land. Not at all disinclined to try him out soon for that reason but I’m sympathetic both ways and don’t want punters to have made their minds up too early.

 

[LeCheese]

He was playing as a back at school level. I played as a lock at school level and I have seriously no idea what happens at the rucks in pro 2024 rugby and so I think that will be his biggest learning curve.

I think Derpus’ ‘fuck it all to shit anyway’ argument is the most convincing and where I ultimately land. Not at all disinclined to try him out soon for that reason but I’m sympathetic both ways and don’t want punters to have made their minds up too early.

Realistically, he won't be getting into the weeds of the dark arts of rucking as a back at pro level either. He'll be fine.

Anyway, he can't be worse than Vunivalu.