Wallabies 2025

[rugbyAU]

2025 Fixtures:

6 July - Wallabies v Fiji - Newcastle

19 July - Wallabies v Lions - Brisbane

26 July - Wallabies v Lions - Melbourne

2 August - Wallabies v Lions - Sydney

16 August - RSA v Wallabies - Johannesburg

23 August - RSA v Wallabies - Cape Town

6 September - Wallabies v Argentina - Townsville

13 September - Wallabies v Argentina - Sydney (Allianz)

27 September - NZ v Wallabies - Eden Park

4 October - Wallabies v NZ - Perth

25 October - Japan v Wallabies - Tokyo

 

[Sword of Justice]

Looking at that in contrast with the Lions schedule, you’d hope we have a few intra squad hit outs in the first half of July at the very least. Certainly don’t have time to experiment against Fiji at all.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Looking at that in contrast with the Lions schedule, you’d hope we have a few intra squad hit outs in the first half of July at the very least. Certainly don’t have time to experiment against Fiji at all.

Super Rugby finals through most of June too. hopefully a lot of our players have that committment

 

[Wilson]

Joe Schmidt due back from holiday later this week, RA and him will then sit down and work out what his future looks like:

‘He's done a lot of heavy lifting’: Waugh working through Schmidt contract situation

www.rugby.com.au

Sounds like they're pretty set on it being one of the 4 super coaches that steps up if Schmidt does leave:

He said RA was working through a "contingency plan" should Schmidt not commit until the World Cup, with Australia's Super Rugby coaches the obvious candidates.

"We're working through what that may look like, which is appropriate business practice when you don't have certain outcomes," Waugh said.

"I think Joe was quite overt around the fact that he saw his responsibility in elevating Australia and also providing a platform for an Australian to take over when he does finish up.

"If you look across our Super Rugby clubs now the four head coaches across the system - Simon Cron is a strong coach at the Force, you've got Stephen Larkin at the Brumbies, Les Kiss in Queensland and Dan McKellar at NSW, so we've got four very strong coaches in our system.

"I think that we're well positioned."

 

[Brumby Runner]

I hope "Larkin" is just a spelling mistake by the reporter and not really what Phil Warner said.

 

[Wilson]

I hope "Larkin" is just a spelling mistake by the reporter and not really what Phil Warner said.

It's just a transcription error from AAP. I have no doubt Waugh knows Larkham's name, they did play a couple of tests together after all...

 

[Braveheart81]

It has now been corrected if you go to the link.

 

[Ignoto]

27 September - Wallabies v AB - Eden Park

Bloody hell, every year, Eden park without fail.

Imagine winning both the B&IL AND Bledisloe in a single year.

It won't happen, but I've got nothing but hope in an offseason.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

2025 Fixtures:

6 July - Wallabies v Fiji - Newcastle - Win

19 July - Wallabies v Lions - Brisbane - Lose

26 July - Wallabies v Lions - Melbourne - Win

2 August - Wallabies v Lions - Sydney - Lose

16 August - SA v Wallabies - TBC - Win

23 August - SA v Wallabies - TBC - Lose

6 September - Wallabies v Argentina - Townsville - Win

13 September - Wallabies v Argentina - Sydney (Allianz) - Win

27 September - Wallabies v AB - Eden Park - Lose

4 October - Wallabies v NZ - Perth - Win

10 Games
6 Wins - 4 Losses
Get above that 50% win rate with a win over SA, NZ & Arg to get everyone confident for the season leading into a home WC.

 

[Dctarget]

10 Games
6 Wins - 4 Losses
Get above that 50% win rate with a win over SA, NZ & Arg to get everyone confident for the season leading into a home WC.

yeah very ambitious I reckon. I think we'll sneak one win from 3 x Lions, 2 x NZ, 2 x SA. Then hopefully bank wins against everyone else. 4/10 for me.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

It is, but I'll back them to take a home fixture if I'm on the fence.

They showed enough grit v sides like Ireland in Dublin to be positive I think.

 

[Mick The Munch]

I wonder what affect the rumours of JS stepping aside might affect the team?

 

[hawko07]

I wonder what affect the rumours of JS stepping aside might affect the team?

Apparently it will be resolved this week - no impact on the team at all.

 

[Wilson]

Great breakdown of some of the Wallabies progress and stand outs from the EOYT over at Opta:

Wallabies Bouncing Ahead of 2025 Lions Tour: McReight, Wright, and the Key Stats Under Schmidt | Opta Analyst

We dive into the data to assess how Australia are progressing after their first year under Joe Schmidt and ahead of the 2025 Lions tour.

theanalyst.com

Of particular note is McReight and Tom Wright dominating the stat sheet as best forward and best back for any nation, with McReight also the best player overall across the series:

According to the Opta Index, Fraser McReight was the top player in the Autumn Nations Series this year and it’s not hard to see why, with the Queenslander posting impressive numbers in both attack and defence.
...
While the Lions-eligible backs edged out their opposite numbers for seven of eight positions in our team head-to-head, the top ranked back in the XV was Tom Wright. In fact, he was the second highest ranked player in the team overall after McReight.

 

[Dctarget]

Great breakdown of some of the Wallabies progress and stand outs from the EOYT over at Opta:

Wallabies Bouncing Ahead of 2025 Lions Tour: McReight, Wright, and the Key Stats Under Schmidt | Opta Analyst

We dive into the data to assess how Australia are progressing after their first year under Joe Schmidt and ahead of the 2025 Lions tour.

theanalyst.com

Of particular note is McReight and Tom Wright dominating the stat sheet as best forward and best back for any nation, with McReight also the best player overall across the series:

Yet neither were nominated for player of the series, whereas the nominees were just a popularity contest: Ramos, Sititi, Kolbe and the eventual winner Van Der Flier (who McReight outplayed head to head).

 

[Dctarget]

Jeez look at the boot on Wright, just get him clear it every time, fuck Lolesio off.

His right boot is a weapon, too. Wright gained 603m from 14 kicks from hand during the Autumn Nations Series, with his average of 43m per kick almost 10 metres more than any other player (min. 10 kicks).

 

[Wilson]

Yet neither were nominated for player of the series, whereas the nominees were just a popularity contest: Ramos, Sititi, Kolbe and the eventual winner Van Der Flier (who McReight outplayed head to head).

Sititi I thought made sense as a nominee but I can't understand how they chose Van Der Flier over McReight. The only explanation I can see is that they only included the 3 game reg 9 window and Australia vs Ireland didn't count, but given they mention Van Der Flier's performance against Australia that seems unlikely. Overall winner at that point is a bit whatever, but it's a fan vote so it's hard to pay too much attention to, particularly with how partisan those things have become amongst fan.

Arguably Marcus Smith should've been amongst the nominees too, I thought he was exceptional (though I'd probably still pick Russell at 10 for the Lions).

 

[Adam84]

Jeez look at the boot on Wright, just get him clear it every time, fuck Lolesio off.

It most teams the fullback will have the longest kicks statistically, it's the nature of the positional play from fullback

 

[Slim 293]

I see Pandaram has only just changed the Oz's Wallaby tracker to have Tom Wright, Faessler, and Jake Gordon as "definite" inclusions for the Lions next year...

 

[Dctarget]

It most teams the fullback will have the longest kicks statistically, it's the nature of the positional play from fullback

yeah he's being compared against other fullbacks too though. He's got a big boot regardless, surely we can teach him to kick for touch.