Wallabies 2025

[TSR]

To be fair BR wasn’t actually part of this latest exchange on laying claim to a few more Queenslanders in the squad. It was Slim who tried to deny Lolesio & Iliatau’s heritage.

 

[emuarse]

None of this matters. There is occasionally an heretical anti-Gnosticism in artificial limitation to the meaning of “Queenslander”. It’s an epiphany that addresses desire, and in the absence of desire, a physical location, even temporarily, at any point in life. “Queensland” is a state of mind, and if the Queenslander in case of point, denies this state of mind then the qualifying state of mind is any other individual Queenslander.

BR knows this but posts expressing his inner turmoil on the nature of being.

Sounds like you've got a chip on your shoulder.
Those aforementioned players started their rugby tuition in Queensland, but were born Kiwis.
The information I supplied was to answer a question from TSR, "Ikitau & Lolesio also originally Queenslanders, aren’t they?"
Not the gubbly gook, as supplied by your arcane reasoning.
To quote an Italian friend.."Speak England you bastard"

 

[Slim 293]

Re: Post #76
Len Ikitau - of Samoan nationality but born in NZ. Parents moved to Queensland, & Len played schoolboy league atMarsden State High School, Logan City, QLD & then Rugby at Brisbane Boys' College
Noah Lolesio - born in Auckland NZ & educated at The sSouthport School, Gold Coast.
So they both commenced their rugby in Queensalnd.

Pffft..

The veins on these proud Tuggeranong boys run thick with late night Chicken Gourmet gravy.

On the scale of how Canberran they are…

I’d say at least APS6.

 

[Strewthcobber]

The really interesting debate is Gunnedah hero Harry Wilson

 

[wamberal99]

The really interesting debate is Gunnedah hero Harry Wilson

Coached by Tim Gavin.

 

[Ignoto]

The really interesting debate is Gunnedah hero Harry Wilson

 

[dru]

Truth.

 

[Sully]

Pretty desperate to claim someone who left nsw when they were 10 years old.

 

[HogansHeros]

All this talk about too many New South Welshman in the squad, but not a lot offering of alternatives. Maybe it is because those selecting are selecting the best we have in the positions they are selected for.... I dunno call me a conspiracy theorist.

 

[Adam84]

Pretty desperate to claim someone who left nsw when they were 10 years old.

I mean, it’s Harry Wilson. I’d be desperate too if I was New South Wales.

 

[TSR]

They couldn’t look after the one they had.

 

[Ignoto]

All this talk about too many New South Welshman in the squad, but not a lot offering of alternatives. Maybe it is because those selecting are selecting the best we have in the positions they are selected for.... I dunno call me a conspiracy theorist.

Eh, its a bit of that and a bit that the Tahs have benefited from the Rebels demise in getting Kellaway back and were fortunate enough to land Smokin Joe for next year.

Outside of that, 3 of the starting 15 (Bell, Gordon and Jorgensen) played for the Tahs (BR doubled up on Pietsch and Jorgensen). Of those 3, only 1 has been a locked in starter all year (Bell) where Gordon has been in/out and Jorgensen has had some setbacks until the Spring Tour.

 

[Rhino_rugby]

All this talk about too many New South Welshman in the squad, but not a lot offering of alternatives. Maybe it is because those selecting are selecting the best we have in the positions they are selected for.... I dunno call me a conspiracy theorist.

Fair point........if the selectors believe these players are the best available, it’s hard to argue without solid alternatives. Criticism is easy, but offering realistic solutions is what matters.
Maybe the focus should shift to developing depth across all regions, so there's more competition for those spots.

 

[Brumby Runner]

All this talk about too many New South Welshman in the squad, but not a lot offering of alternatives. Maybe it is because those selecting are selecting the best we have in the positions they are selected for.... I dunno call me a conspiracy theorist.

In my initial post, I went into detail about why I thought this was pretty much the best squad available.

I went on to suggest others who had missed selection in the Wallabies last year and who were missing from this squad due to injury or unavailability. I think there's plenty of evidence that some of those players, like Porecki, Schoupp, L Lonergan, Wright, Cale, Pasitoa, Petaia, Ryan, Kuenzle, most of whom were either in earlier squads or were playing in good form this year, could displace others who are in that current squad.

I just don't think the squad announced last week will necessarily be unchanged come Lions tour. There are quite a few better players not in the squad than some who are in it.

 

[HogansHeros]

Porecki hasnt seen a rugby field since the World Cup... Petaia is going to try his luck in the NFL... i dont need to go on... Wright and Cale are probably the only I would agree with you on as legitimate alternatives, but they play in the only positions where we have some sort of depth, so im not worried about their omission.

Sure the squad may change, but I couldnt care less about "too many reds", "too many tahs" its a silly game to play if we have no serious alternatives...

 

[Rhino_rugby]

In my initial post, I went into detail about why I thought this was pretty much the best squad available.

I went on to suggest others who had missed selection in the Wallabies last year and who were missing from this squad due to injury or unavailability. I think there's plenty of evidence that some of those players, like Porecki, Schoupp, L Lonergan, Wright, Cale, Pasitoa, Petaia, Ryan, Kuenzle, most of whom were either in earlier squads or were playing in good form this year, could displace others who are in that current squad.

I just don't think the squad announced last week will necessarily be unchanged come Lions tour. There are quite a few better players not in the squad than some who are in it.

Good analysis..........

 

[Rhino_rugby]

Porecki hasnt seen a rugby field since the World Cup... Petaia is going to try his luck in the NFL... i dont need to go on... Wright and Cale are probably the only I would agree with you on as legitimate alternatives, but they play in the only positions where we have some sort of depth, so im not worried about their omission.

Sure the squad may change, but I couldnt care less about "too many reds", "too many tahs" its a silly game to play if we have no serious alternatives...

Arguments about 'too many Reds or Tahs' don’t matter much if there aren’t serious alternatives. Porecki’s absence and Petaia’s NFL plans make them non-factors for now. Wright and Cale are solid, but as you said, their positions already have decent depth, so their omissions aren’t a big worry either. It’s all about picking the best players available, regardless of where they’re from.

 

[Yoda]

In my initial post, I went into detail about why I thought this was pretty much the best squad available.

I went on to suggest others who had missed selection in the Wallabies last year and who were missing from this squad due to injury or unavailability. I think there's plenty of evidence that some of those players, like Porecki, Schoupp, L Lonergan, Wright, Cale, Pasitoa, Petaia, Ryan, Kuenzle, most of whom were either in earlier squads or were playing in good form this year, could displace others who are in that current squad.

I just don't think the squad announced last week will necessarily be unchanged come Lions tour. There are quite a few better players not in the squad than some who are in it.

Not sure Pasitoa will displace anyone? He needs a good injury free season playing some good rugby to even be noticed. Unlucky young lad but hoping he gets game time and plays well for the Force this year.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Bear in mind Yoda that I am only saying other players might come into the wider squad. I'm not suggesting here that there will be any or many changes to the likely XXIII.

In Pasitoa's particular case, he would need first to displace either Donaldson at 10 or Stewart at 12 in the Force lineup, and that is a big ask. But also bearing in mind that almost nobody on these threads thinks that we have bedded down a test quality No 10 in the Wallabies yet, anyone who can make a name for himself playing there in Super rugby next year would have a reasonable chance of leapfrogging one of Edmed, Donaldson or Lolesio come the Lions. Twelve also becomes an option for an outsider like Pasitoa, Feliuai or Kuenzle if Ikitau reverts to 13 or is injured. Paisami and Stewart have both had opportunities at 12 but neither has really proven to be a lock in that spot.

It may be unlikely for all the cards to fall into the right spots for Pasitoa in 2025, but given his obvious talent and form in earlier years, if he has overcome his injury problem then he has the potential to play at test level if given an opportunity. That perhaps would require the Force to shuffle their backline around to 2025, with Donaldson maybe moving to fullback to allow Pasitoa to pay at 10. Don't know if that would ever be on the cards, but could be a winner all round if tried.

 

[Yoda]

Bear in mind Yoda that I am only saying other players might come into the wider squad. I'm not suggesting here that there will be any or many changes to the likely XXIII.

In Pasitoa's particular case, he would need first to displace either Donaldson at 10 or Stewart at 12 in the Force lineup, and that is a big ask. But also bearing in mind that almost nobody on these threads thinks that we have bedded down a test quality No 10 in the Wallabies yet, anyone who can make a name for himself playing there in Super rugby next year would have a reasonable chance of leapfrogging one of Edmed, Donaldson or Lolesio come the Lions. Twelve also becomes an option for an outsider like Pasitoa, Feliuai or Kuenzle if Ikitau reverts to 13 or is injured. Paisami and Stewart have both had opportunities at 12 but neither has really proven to be a lock in that spot.

It may be unlikely for all the cards to fall into the right spots for Pasitoa in 2025, but given his obvious talent and form in earlier years, if he has overcome his injury problem then he has the potential to play at test level if given an opportunity. That perhaps would require the Force to shuffle their backline around to 2025, with Donaldson maybe moving to fullback to allow Pasitoa to pay at 10. Don't know if that would ever be on the cards, but could be a winner all round if tried.

Well I agree that 2025 Super rugby form could definitely juggle a few spots for the Lions series although I think Schmidt has most of his squad locked in regardless. It would take some regular man of the match performances from someone to jump selected squad members imo. Looking at an injury free Pasitoa, he has to get in the starting team first and I can’t see that. Donaldson is the starting 10 and Stewart 12. My thoughts are that Pasitoa gets some time at 12. I think that’s his position. Him and Donaldson could combine well.
Wallabies 10 is still not locked in. Lolesio has been steady but his game v Scotland was pretty average. Donaldson had a few chances this year and didn’t nail it, although the first half v Argentina the Wallabies raced to a 20-3 lead on good attack. Obviously the result was a thrashing but Donaldson was off the field for that. All the 10’s will be aiming for dominant and consistent performances in Super rugby to get Joe to change his thoughts there.
Looking forward to 2025 with rugby on the up.