Wallabies 2025
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The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
I could see for the Lions Skelton being a nice addition to the pack in place of a guy like Canham as awesome as he's been. Canham to go on the end of year tour and establish himself. If Canham had caps under his belt he could take Frosts spot. Like him in attack but defensively he's very passive and not through a lack of effort. Another bolter has to be Ryan Smith although may be another at the end of ear tour but he's been great and looks to have put on size. Could do a lot worse and form for guys like Williams could play a part.
Rest of the squad @The Whisperer is pretty close to what we'll see I reckon. I do think Pollard is the clear 2nd Hooker personally and 3rd is up for grabs. The 3rd option at Centre is also up for grabs as I don't think Paisami has much claim to it even though he 13 Tests. The Reds have even looked the same with the Rookie Dre. I reckon Daugunu can be more effective at there than Hunter with other shifting in to 12.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
If Ryan Smith's name was in the possibles list, I think it just had a line though it after the Red's lineout performance on Saturday. Schmidt was there watching
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Skelton can't be on the field at the same time. I would have both in the squad which means all other locks have to be able to run a competent lineout, and preferably a really good one.
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Skelton can't be on the field at the same time. I would have both in the squad which means all other locks have to be able to run a competent lineout, and preferably a really good one.
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Good point about Schmidt being there but I reckon with his footy brain it's really only Swain that should be getting praise.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
It's a big knock against him (though I don't think we were ever likely to see an uncapped lock get a wallabies spot against the Lions), but he does potentially have half a season left to turn it around. There will be a very big target on the Reds line out from here on out, particularly with their maul being very effective, so improvements will also count for plenty.
For the most part I think he's competing for a shot at the combined Aus/NZ team and the second crack at the Lions that gets him.
Yep, Tizzano looks to be a great plan "B"
Fraser does everything Tizzano does with added superb link play
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Lukhan is 10 ahead of him for Wallabies caps. Definitely eligible and almost certainly in consideration though, I have no idea how he has been going so it's hard to tell how close he'd be. If I had to guess, they'll be looking at bringing him in for the combined Aus/Nz game to see where he's at. There was also some talk of boosting the Aus super sides with a bit more incoming talent, so I won't be surprised if he turns out for the tahs against the Lions too. Probably needs to make his case in one or both of those games to get a call up to the wallabies.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
Will Skelton has more caps too!
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
He has at least been playing lots of rugby in Japan. Started all 13 games this year and played 17 games last year too
Homer
Watty Friend (18)
I think Daungunu has found his spot at OC, he is physically dominant and doing a lot more off the ball. Feluiai has been very good in the first 30 or so but drops off quickly and has been replaced early in the 2nd half each time, just needs more game time and is a solid back-up for IC and i think offers more than Paisami this year. With Ikitau and JAS i reckon they are four solid options. Pollard is the goods this year and his scrummaging has become a strength now. Very mobile and a great option for the bench.
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Daugunu's on ball work is also huge in the Backline. You can suck in attackers when a player gets tackled near him because they have to get involved in the ruck or he's going to steal it. Can really stiffles a teams phase plan.
Faluiai looks like a good long term player but a change of team and disrupted season can explain a lot of it away so far.
Centre is a relatively thin spot at Test level but just below that the stock is good coming through. O'Donnell, Pakeho, Goldsbrough will be names in spoken about by 2027. Add them in with Ikitau, and JAS and it's a hell of a group suddenly if fit.
Faluiai looks like a good long term player but a change of team and disrupted season can explain a lot of it away so far.
Centre is a relatively thin spot at Test level but just below that the stock is good coming through. O'Donnell, Pakeho, Goldsbrough will be names in spoken about by 2027. Add them in with Ikitau, and JAS and it's a hell of a group suddenly if fit.
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
Our stocks are always so much better in the future. We like to assume that O'Donnell, Pakeho and Goldbrough will continue to improve at the same rate they have because they're young. In reality one will plateau one will leave Australian rugby and the other will probably be injured.
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
It's really wait and see with it. So broad in terms of severity.
There is time until the Lions even if it's a moderate injury but if it's 10 weeks+ it starts to eat into games he'd need to come back prior. At least Club Rugby will be playing if he needed to get a run for Randwick prior. His initial reaction was bad and can be a good indicator when they you know you can't even try to go on it.
There is time until the Lions even if it's a moderate injury but if it's 10 weeks+ it starts to eat into games he'd need to come back prior. At least Club Rugby will be playing if he needed to get a run for Randwick prior. His initial reaction was bad and can be a good indicator when they you know you can't even try to go on it.
Sometimes. I wouldn't say our stock of 10s below the current crop are great but Front Row looks very promising. Goldsbrough is the unknown really. Very hyped but currently injured. O'Donnell and Dre have been given opportunities and look comfortable at the pro level so I'll back them with continued exposure to push on. Big thing for Dre is his boot which I didn't know was in his game but a 12 with a legitimate clearance kick on them is a game changer.
griffins
Johnnie Wallace (23)
Take out any memory you have of Tupou's younger self and objectively judge him on his core job - is he one of our best three scrumagging tighthead props? I think the answer is definitely yes. Need to accept that anything else is a bonus and hope that coaches/s&c staff are doing the work (physical and mental) to unlock some of his lost dynamism. With the injuries he's had though I can't see him being his 2021 self again...
Yeah, he is playing like a THP, he has lost most of the added bonus, freakish efforts, although there are still glimpses
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
I almost don't want the glimpses. Just dominate Scrums and we'll slowly learn. The half break, grubber then not chase.... Like having an old Iphone that is going OK but then goes from 30% to 0% instantly.