Wallabies 2025

[rugbyAU]

1 - Bell
2 - Faessler
3 - AA
4 - Williams
5 - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6 - Valetini
7 - McReight
8 - Wilson
9 - Gordon
10 - Lolesio
11 - Daungunu
12 - Ikitau
13 - Sua'ali'i'i
14 - Potter
15 - Wright
16 - BPA
17 - Slipper
18 - Tupou
19 - Skelton
20 - Gleeson
21 - McDermott
22 - Donaldson
23 - Kellaway

 

[drewprint]

1 - Bell
2 - Faessler
3 - AA
4 - Williams
5 - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6 - Valetini
7 - McReight
8 - Wilson
9 - Gordon
10 - Lolesio
11 - Daungunu
12 - Ikitau
13 - Sua'ali'i'i
14 - Potter
15 - Wright
16 - BPA
17 - Slipper
18 - Tupou
19 - Skelton
20 - Gleeson
21 - McDermott
22 - Donaldson
23 - Kellaway

I like it. Almost what I’d have. I’d have Jorgensen over Potter ( but happy either way really, Potter has been fantastic), and Skelton to start. But that constant conundrum appears with Skelton either way - do we need a strong jumping back row to pair with him? Does this mean Hooper or Uru shoot into the mix ahead of Gleeson? Or we go 6-2 and Kellaway drops out?

 

[Derpus]

I'm not sure I would pick two 7s even if we did go 6/2.

With a 6/2 split I'd be looking at picking two locks and a replacement for 6/8 as my three non front rowers.

The benefit of a seven is they are typically the most athletic player on the field and can compensate for less athletic, though perhaps bigger players around them. If you carry a replacement for your 7 you kind of waste that advantage.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I think it is a good sign that most people aren’t talking much about Skelton, Kerevi and Koribete as it shows we are pretty happy with the options available here, which was not the case 2-3 years ago.

I still feel they are worth including in a wider squad. If Ikitau was injured I think Kerevi would be the next best option. People quickly forget koribete was our best player for a long time and just had a bad year last year, so shouldn’t be written off.

Then, a lions series we know will be very physical and probably suits a Skelton but I just worry his selection has too much of a flow on impact with other areas of the team