Wallabies 2025 Spring Tour

[rugbyAU]

Right then, we need wins on this tour starting soon. The Team is selected this week with the input of Kiss. Given we have Japan and Italy, I'd say 3-4 wins is a must.

25 October v Japan - 4.50pm (Aus A v Japan on 18 October, Wallabies depart 17 October)
2 Nov v England - 2.10am
9 Nov v Italy - 4.40am
16 Nov v Ireland - 7.10am
23 Nov v France - 7.10am

Good thing, other than England, the kick-off times for this tour are decent.

I'd be selecting:

Props - Bell, Robertson, Ross, AA, Tupou, Nonggorr
Hooker - Pollard, Faessler, BPA
Lock - Skelton (not available for Japan), LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Frost, Williams, Canham
Backrow - Wilson, Valetini, McReight, Tizzano, Hooper (not available for Japan), Gleeson, Samu
Halfback - Gordon, Lonergan, Thomas
Flyhalf - Edmed, Lynagh, Donaldson
Centre - JAS, Ikitau (only available for Italy and Ireland), Paisami, Stewart
Outside Backs - Pietsch, Kellaway, Daungunu, Jorgensen, Potter, Toole, Flook

 

[TSR]

I assume Flook will be included given he was in the last 23.

If neither Skelton nor Hooper is available for Japan I assume they’ll want someone else who can cover lock. Maybe Canham instead of Gleeson.

 

[Strewthcobber]

In addition to Skelton, JOC (James O'Connor), Hooper and Ikitau, what's Bell, Gleeson and Tupou's availability?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

A month ago I was high on this tour as a springboard to carry through to the start of 27 but given some recent performances, squad losses and soon to be change in coach this tour has a chance of 1 win but a ceiling of 4.

They need to at least get one of England, Ireland or France to get the mojo back.

 

[Strewthcobber]

In retrospect, Tom Wrights injury at min 3 in Cape Town was massive for how the team has gone.

We're not going to find someone with Wrights counter attack skills, but we definitely need to find a second playmaker in the backline somehow if this tour is going to go anywhere

 

[rugbyAU]

Doran suggesting Beale ??

 

[Sword of Justice]

He played ok for the Force in the AU tournament and did play make quite a bit but I didn’t see anything to suggest his other shortcomings have disappeared. He would need to be carried in defence and does still find himself isolated away from the team’s structures on both sides of the ball.

 

[LeCheese]

25 October v Japan - 4.50pm (Aus A v Japan on 18 October, Wallabies depart 17 October)
2 Nov v England - 2.10am
9 Nov v Italy - 4.40am
16 Nov v Ireland - 7.10am
23 Nov v France - 7.10am

Noting these are AEDT - not quite as good for those of us without faded curtains.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

At this stage of his career Beale would offer a decent enough management of a backline with a nice passing game but he is a defensive liability JOC (James O'Connor) wasn't. As capable as Jorgo is in defence it would also be unfair and an issue to hide Beale and put Max up front to get hit.

He may end up going due to a lack of depth but it doesn't improve the side.

I'd rather give Petaia a call while over there.

 

[Dctarget]

3/5 is a successful tour for me. 2/5 is expected. Hurts that we may play Canham against Japan with Hockings against us. Pricks.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Japan takes on more significance than usual. Not just because we should take it personally with regards to Eddie but because good teams beat Japan by a lot and we purport to be good now.

 

[Tomthumb]

Right then, we need wins on this tour starting soon. The Team is selected this week with the input of Kiss. Given we have Japan and Italy, I'd say 3-4 wins is a must.

Has this been reported?

 

[Red Runner]

Has this been reported?

it's been reported he will coach Australia A and will be involved in that squad, so I imagine he has a role to play in both.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Was Kiss the HC for the Reds during Super Rugby Aus or was it handed over to one of the assistants? Absolutely chokers calendar for the bloke if he was.

I know the regular HCs would have had sway at times.

 

[Red Runner]

Kiss was HC

 

[Tomthumb]

it's been reported he will coach Australia A and will be involved in that squad, so I imagine he has a role to play in both.

Simon Cron is coaching Australia A

 

[Red Runner]

I have no idea how they pick this squad as I still can't get my head around who is available when.

So for Japan when we have an Australia A game same time don't we?? I'd go (assuming McReight injured)

1 Bell
2 Pollard
3 AAA
4 LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
5 Frost
6 Valetini
7 Tizzano
8 Wilson
9 Gordon
10 Edmed
11 Daugunu
12 Paisami
13 JAS
14 Jorgensen
15 Kellaway (assume he will be right?)

16 Faessler
17 Ross
18 Nonggorr
19 Williams
20 Samu
21 Lonergan
22 Donaldson
23 Potter

Then for the rest of the travelling squad I'd have:

BPA
Robertson
De Luttis
Canham
McReight (assuming he will be right soon enough)
Thomas
Lynagh
Pietsch
Flook

The Aust A game would be:

1 Lambert
2 Nasser
3 De Luttis
4 Swain
5 Canham
6 Nick CdC
7 Reimer
8 Talataina
9 Thomas
10 Lynagh
11 Pietsch
12 Pakeho
13 Flook
14 Anderson
15 Grealy

16 Asiata (or Donnins if he is still in Italy)
17 Ieli
18 Botha
19 Uru
20 Halaholo
21 Wilson
22 HMP
23 Harvey

I'd probably also take Jarrah McLeod and Marley Pearce as depth players.

We are so short of inside centres we perhaps Feilaui should be considered too.

 

[rugbyAU]

Has this been reported?

Yes by Ian Payten yesterday

 

[TSR]

I assume this will upset some people on here - but is there a chance Donaldson misses out?

In the last two Super AU games he was first outplayed by HMP and his team spanked and then, as far as I could tell in the final he was pushed wide for Burey & Beale to run the show. He played okay. Did some good things, made some errors. But certainly didn’t play like a guy trying to make his claim for a test spot.

Edmed was rather maligned at Super level too and he still got himself in the frame. There aren’t exactly an abundance of other options so maybe he makes it on that basis alone. But I don’t know he’s a definite.

 

[Yoda]

TSR. I tend to agree. Don't think he fits into the style Joe wants? Didn't play with confidence v Tahs, although played well against the Reds in a beaten side. As we all know though it's not as though Lynagh, Noah and now Edmed are streets ahead? The fickle 10 position. They must all feel like they're on eggshells knowing that if they play bad they'll get dropped.