Wallabies 2025

[noscrumnolife]

You'd be mental not to make room for Skelton (but you do have to make a lot of room for him - literally and figuratively). Go back and watch the first half of the MCG bledisloe test in '23. The guy is fucking absurd, crazy impact. That half was probably the best the Wobs played under eddie and it was all off the back of him. The leinster lions in particular will shit their pants, he murdered them two champions cup finals in a row.

Just need to put the lineout pieces around him - which is probably easiest done off the bench.

 

[Thalium]

I could envision them building two different packs if Skelton comes into the mix.

Full Power pack
Bell
Porecki
Tupou
Swain
Skelton
Nick CdC
Tizzano
Gleeson

mobility pack
Bell
Faessler
Aalatoa
Williams
Frost
Valetini
McReight
Wilson

 

[TSR]

Can’t see Porecki getting a start given the sudden depth we have at hooker. Faessler must be in some doubt given his injury too. Not sure on the current status of BPA.

Pollard, Asiata, Dolly and Lonergan have all been in good form and Nasser is now back from injury too.

If all fit I assume Pollard, Faessler & BPA would be first called up with 1-2 out of the other 5 in line if they aren’t.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

So does anyone know what Damien Hill is responsible for from a coaching perspective?

 

[Dctarget]

Koroibete is worth a look, can he be invited down on a training squad ticket?

Also on wallaby coaches, we dodged a bullet with O'Gara. He's too melodramatic and petulant. He's pulled another stunt where he's been banned from being pitch side for abusing a ref so he sat on the team bus for the first 20 minutes of the game. We're simply not good enough to have a such an incendiary coach like that. Maybe the Bokke can pull it off but not us.

 

[Wilson]

Koroibete is worth a look, can he be invited down on a training squad ticket?

Yeah, I'm starting to think they'll lean heavy in the international players for the initial squad, both to free up squad players to play for their super side against the Lions initially and to fill out the invitational squads. How many that means in total I'm not really sure, but Skelton, Kerevi and Koroibete should all be pretty likely at least.

 

[Homer]

Les Kiss coming in is going to have an influence, even if it's only limiting the initial contract term, but I wouldn't think Hilton was a lock for this role - he's the Reds forwards coach, rather than lineout specifically (that's more Fischer's domain as I understand, though it is somewhat shared), but the Reds lineout this year is hardly a ringing endorsement of the two of them in that specific role. That's not to discount Hilton as or Fischer's involvement going forward, but if they're looking for a lineout specialist it might not be either of them straight up.

If they really are after continuity with the coaches it would make no sense to dump the current guys and plunder the Super Rugby ranks. The caveat being that Cron may walk with JS.

 

[rugbyAU]

Don't think Darby Lancaster can be overlooked in some of the games coming up. Has had a great year for the Beasties as well as the tahs and starred in a dominant win over the Marlins scoring 5
Could Schmidt find a spot for him even on the bench?

very unlikely

 

[JRugby2]

If they really are after continuity with the coaches it would make no sense to dump the current guys and plunder the Super Rugby ranks. The caveat being that Cron may walk with JS.

You would assume Cron goes, and we've just seen Parling sign elsewhere - feels like there will be a number of spots opening up anyway.

 

[Wilson]

If they really are after continuity with the coaches it would make no sense to dump the current guys and plunder the Super Rugby ranks. The caveat being that Cron may walk with JS.

I don't think it's about dumping the current guys, both remaining assistants (Cron and Laurie Fischer) were effectively retired before they came in with Schmidt. The odds are they'll retire again when he leaves. Even if the focus is stability there's always going to be a refresh of the coaching staff under a new head coach.

 

[Derpus]

Kerevi and Skelton I could see coming into the squad, though in Skelton's case it will really depend on the type of game plan Joe has (he's not a typical lock in many ways). We're thin at 12 and if Kerevi is fit and playing well I'd like to see him in the wider group at the very least.

I wouldn't be that shocked not to see Kerevi. Think he sorta blew his audition last year (although he actually looked good while on the field).

 

[Qwertyrick]

Don't think Darby Lancaster can be overlooked in some of the games coming up. Has had a great year for the Beasties as well as the tahs and starred in a dominant win over the Marlins scoring 5
Could Schmidt find a spot for him even on the bench?

Most of the tries this year have been scored down Lancaster’s side of the field when he’s played lol. He’s had an ordinary year, goes to show why he’s hardly played, because when he has, he’s been bog average.

 

[Qwertyrick]

Don't think Darby Lancaster can be overlooked in some of the games coming up. Has had a great year for the Beasties as well as the tahs and starred in a dominant win over the Marlins scoring 5
Could Schmidt find a spot for him even on the bench?

Is this Darby’s dad ? Lol

 

[JRugby2]

Is this Darby’s dad ? Lol

fuck off with this bullshit hey. People are allowed opinions champ

 

[upthereds#!]

Les Kiss coming in is going to have an influence, even if it's only limiting the initial contract term, but I wouldn't think Hilton was a lock for this role - he's the Reds forwards coach, rather than lineout specifically (that's more Fischer's domain as I understand, though it is somewhat shared), but the Reds lineout this year is hardly a ringing endorsement of the two of them in that specific role. That's not to discount Hilton as or Fischer's involvement going forward, but if they're looking for a lineout specialist it might not be either of them straight up.

Yep good point - but having a specialist lineout coach is a bit of a luxury! It is my understanding Fisher is defence and along with cron, unlikely to continue past Schmidt. HOWEVER that being said, they may be more then happy to continue as is WITHOUT a lineout specialist, or at least maybe yes bring one in on a short term basis to cover that skill set, as the broader forward responsibilities can indeed fall on a Cron/Fisher portfolio given their previous experiences.

The tough thing about bringing in a Super Rugby coach on an interim basis, is that they will want to stay and may be a bit miffed if they don't get to, considering the impending HC change.

 

[fatprop]

Can’t see Porecki getting a start given the sudden depth we have at hooker. Faessler must be in some doubt given his injury too. Not sure on the current status of BPA.

Pollard, Asiata, Dolly and Lonergan have all been in good form and Nasser is now back from injury too.

If all fit I assume Pollard, Faessler & BPA would be first called up with 1-2 out of the other 5 in line if they aren’t.

I wouldn't bet on it, in-between injuries he has been pretty good, a run of functional games and I think he will be picked in the squad

 

[Wilson]

I wouldn't bet on it, in-between injuries he has been pretty good, a run of functional games and I think he will be picked in the squad

This remains a pretty big question though, he was out for a long stint and went of with an HIA last week, so there's a chance he's out again this one. I think he'll probably still make the squad with Faessler and BPA also under injury clouds, but Porecki is far from a cert and running out of time to press his claim.

Asiata, Pollard and Dolly have all been making a really good case recently, I wouldn't be amazed to see two of them alongside only one of the more experienced options in Faessler, BPA and Porecki. A lot depends on fitness and availablity at this point.

 

[PhilClinton]

fuck off with this bullshit hey. People are allowed opinions champ

What are you, The Groundskeepers dad?

 

[JRugby2]

What are you, The Groundskeepers dad?

I'll be your dad soon if you're not careful

 

[TSR]

I wouldn't bet on it, in-between injuries he has been pretty good, a run of functional games and I think he will be picked in the squad

I dunno. For me he’s been the same as he’s always been. He’s steady but no more. He got a gig with the Wallabies when the cupboard was bare and with a forwards coach who had background with him. Guys like Pollard, Lonergan & Asiata have all improved and bring more IMO and he doesn’t have the advantage of already having been inside one of Schmidt’s squads. There’s nothing wrong with him there are just more players in good form IMO. Anyway - we’ll find out soon enough.