Wallabies 2025

[Sword of Justice]

Whether you want your First five making all those tackles is more the question

Sure, but we know he can. We also know he’s got a big boot and I believe he beat Lolesio for goal kicking percentage as well.

 

[emuarse]

Without critiquing anything else, there's an issue straight away with playing Paisami in that backline in the current system. The idea of hanging back is to present a wall to the attacker, which requires the whole defensive line to be connected. The second Paisami rushes up for a big hit, the system will fall apart.

Second, why you would want to bench one of the best attacking backs we have in Wright and put Sua'ali'i at fullback, particularly when he's been training at outside centre since he got into Wallabies camp and has formed a combo with Ikitau, is beyond me. If we're worried about his positioning and reading at 13, how is putting him at 15 going to solve that problem?

I think I'll pass on that article thanks.

Sua'ali'i looked out of his comfort zone at OC against the Fijians, & he's a better all round fullback than Wright.

 

[Slim 293]

Sua'ali'i looked out of his comfort zone at OC against the Fijians, & he's a better all round fullback than Wright.

Naaaaaaaaaaaah... nup, nope.

 

[Derpus]

Whoever is better at fullback is largely irrelevant anyway. Its who is best at centre.

 

[cyclopath]

Sua'ali'i looked out of his comfort zone at OC against the Fijians, & he's a better all round fullback than Wright.

He might be if he actually plays consistently at fullback. Who can say? But given that he doesn't, it's a bold claim.

 

[The Red Baron]

Sua'ali'i looked out of his comfort zone at OC against the Fijians, & he's a better all round fullback than Wright.

You know he played the whole spring tour last year in the centres, didn't you? Even got a man of the match award in one of the games.

 

[Uh huh]

Sua'ali'i looked out of his comfort zone at OC against the Fijians, & he's a better all round fullback than Wright.

If the problem is an extremely inexperienced flyhalf coming in at the last minute, I doubt that the solution will be to remove the second playmaker so the young flyhalf has absolutely no attacking support and has to run the back line entirely on his own.

 

[KOB1987]

We have Michael Hooper and Steve Larkham saying we now need either O'Connor or Foley in the squad. That's a bit different to Phil Kearns and David Campese saying it. Personally I agree we should bring one of them into the environment, especially considering we are going to match the Lions 38 man squad. Tahs bias aside I'd go with Foley as he's playing in great form up there. We will find out today I guess.

 

[TSR]

I can’t get onboard with Foley, even as a mentor option. Even if they bring someone in as a mentor they should be capable of competing for a spot in the 23. He has been terrible the last two times they have tried him for the Wallabies so I really don’t want to see him in Gold again.

 

[fatprop]

I can’t get onboard with Foley, even as a mentor option. Even if they bring someone in as a mentor they should be capable of competing for a spot in the 23. He has been terrible the last two times they have tried him for the Wallabies so I really don’t want to see him in Gold again.

Edmed gets his chance this week, if it doesn't look up to scratch, JOC (James O'Connor) is the logical option (JOC (James O'Connor) is the logical option anyway IMHO)

 

[JRugby2]

I can’t get onboard with Foley, even as a mentor option. Even if they bring someone in as a mentor they should be capable of competing for a spot in the 23. He has been terrible the last two times they have tried him for the Wallabies so I really don’t want to see him in Gold again.

I disagree he's been terrible. The last time he played... TRIGGER WARNING




his biggest error was invoking the long forgotten time wasting rule that otherwise put us within cooee of NZ

 

[MarkJ]

I can’t get onboard with Foley, even as a mentor option. Even if they bring someone in as a mentor they should be capable of competing for a spot in the 23. He has been terrible the last two times they have tried him for the Wallabies so I really don’t want to see him in Gold again.

I seem to recall JOC (James O'Connor) was awful in his last Wallabies game too

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

You know he played the whole spring tour last year in the centres, didn't you? Even got a man of the match award in one of the games.

Absolutely.

It's an utterly defeatist mindset to mentally build a side to play the Lions that is purely thinking about how do we try and stop them. It's the Lions, they are going to score some points. Especially this back-line which seems as strong as I any I can remember them putting out across the entire 10-15.

I think the Wallabies only have a chance if they pick the side that can go out there and try to get 25 points. Get our best side and make the Lions have to stop them.

A guy like Hunter is all heart and he's a good player. But, I imagine Tuipolotu, Ringrose, Jones, Aki have absolutely no ?? around handling him. I reckon though a guy like JAS makes them think a bit longer.

 

[Braveheart81]

Whether or not Foley or JOC (James O'Connor) get included in the Lions squad, I can't see either of them pushing into the matchday 23 unless Lynagh is injured. Edmed would be a more likely inclusion in my view moving into the third choice 10 role.

Donaldson will start. The starting backline seems very straight forward to me. Gordon, Donaldson, Potter, Ikitau, Sua'ali'i, Jorgensen, Wright.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Whether or not Foley or JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) get included in the Lions squad, I can't see either of them pushing into the matchday 23 unless Lynagh is injured. Edmed would be a more likely inclusion in my view moving into the third choice 10 role.

Donaldson will start. The starting backline seems very straight forward to me. Gordon, Donaldson, Potter, Ikitau, Sua'ali'i, Jorgensen, Wright.

In what way is Donaldson a straight forward selection in your view?

 

[Braveheart81]

In what way is Donaldson a straight forward selection in your view?

Because more often than not, Schmidt has selected him as Lolesio's backup.

 

[cyclopath]

In what way is Donaldson a straight forward selection in your view?

I think because he is in the squad and the options currently in the squad are thin.
I don't think anyone is saying he is such a standout that he demands selection.

 

[Dctarget]

I find it so hard to read the form of Japan based players. Apparently Foley has been absolutely carving it up, says he's the fittest he's ever been and dominating in a team that's going well. Similar but less effusive praise for Kerevi. Neither can get a look in to the team in areas of weaknesses. Philip has been playing in a dreadful team but comes back in fairly easily in a position of relative strength for the Wallabies. Is it purely because he's signed for next year??

 

[Sword of Justice]

Because more often than not, Schmidt has selected him as Lolesio's backup.

So really you are saying that you think guessing the backline to be selected will be a straightforward exercise? Or do you consider Donaldson to be a clear second option?

 

[Strewthcobber]

Pretty much our only advantage over NH teams these days is how we can actually get our Wallaby squad together for weeks and months at a time working on systems.

Donaldson has been in that system, and used it in games. None of the other potentials can say that.