Wallabies 2025

[Braveheart81]

Are we overdoing how much Sua'ali'i needs to increase his involvement?

He's the leading try scorer in TRC with 4 and equal 5th in metres gained.

He would be about third in carries among the Wallabies backs, equal 9th in the comp for clean breaks, just outside the top 10 in defenders beaten and equal 8th in the comp for offloads.

 

[Tomikin]

Are we overdoing how much Sua'ali'i needs to increase his involvement?

He's the leading try scorer in TRC with 4 and equal 5th in metres gained.

He would be about third in carries among the Wallabies backs, equal 9th in the comp for clean breaks, just outside the top 10 in defenders beaten and equal 8th in the comp for offloads.

Maybe your right, it just seems from the eye test his not invovled like I feel he should be. .. But if stats say he is, then Im willing to just let it be. I have noticed that people say his shit in defence, but Ive noticed him making the tackle after a missed tackle alot, and he hits and sticks, a lot of cover tackles..

 

[Major Tom]

Also gotta remember he’s had under 15 tests. Wild that he’s played more test footy than super rugby. If he’s got the drive to always improve (he seems to) and gets quality coaching, then sky is the absolute limit.

 

[Joe Blow]

He has got to stay at 13. Shame Wright is not on deck to build the combo.

 

[dru]

I imagine two teams facing each other, more or less equivalent at all areas bar one. Ikitau and JAS as opposing #13s.
I'm with Ikitau every day of the week. Repeat the experiment at #12 and I'm still with Ikitau, but I'm trying to find a way to get Ikitau back to his best position.

Now put JAS at #11 with a first receiver who knows how to get him involved; or put him at #15 to gain time on the ball... he's the first bloke picked. [But we end up with a similar question against Wright, injuries aside.] I'd even say he's the first bloke picked if he has to be #13. I'm just not seeing it as maximising what we can get from these guys.

Not yet anyway.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Don't do it, Don't do it, Don't do it

I imagine two teams facing each other, more or less equivalent at all areas bar one. Ikitau and JAS as opposing #13s.
I'm with Ikitau every day of the week. Repeat the experiment at #12 and I'm still with Ikitau, but I'm trying to find a way to get Ikitau back to his best position.

Now put JAS at #11 with a first receiver who knows how to get him involved; or put him at #15 to gain time on the ball... he's the first bloke picked. [But we end up with a similar question against Wright, injuries aside.] I'd even say he's the first bloke picked if he has to be #13. I'm just not seeing it as maximising what we can get from these guys.

Not yet anyway.

sorry all

 

[Yoda]

Ikitau isn't really our problem, 12 or 13 his first picked and doing great. JAS needs to be more involved as his size and strength can be a weapon. So that's where we need to focus on, how do we get him more involved in the game, is that a position move, or a tactical move. Dont know, but with Joe, Im sure there working on it.

Easy.. Ikitau needs to either be cut out occasionally, pass it to Joseph or get out of the forwards and get in the backline in attack on the opponents line.

 

[Adam84]

Ikitau is better as a 13 then he is as a 12, as a centre pairing they’re solid but aren’t clicking that well. JAS isn’t running the best lines, and Ikitau looks to run/crash the ball more then he looks to pass.

I understand it’s not directly comparable, but watching the interplay between Pritchard and Bloomfield in the Aus U20s was a reminder of the interplay we’re missing at test level. Pritchard was brilliant are going into contact and holding the ball up for an offload, but also took the pass option to Bloomfield who was running really nice lines.

 

[Major Tom]

Ikitau is better as a 13 then he is as a 12, as a centre pairing they’re solid but aren’t clicking that well. JAS isn’t running the best lines, and Ikitau looks to run/crash the ball more then he looks to pass.

I understand it’s not directly comparable, but watching the interplay between Pritchard and Bloomfield in the Aus U20s was a reminder of the interplay we’re missing at test level. Pritchard was brilliant are going into contact and holding the ball up for an offload, but also took the pass option to Bloomfield who was running really nice lines.

Yeah first time I’ve seen him play but have heard he has been lighting it up at Churchie. The offload threat makes defenders bite and then he can adjust to get the nice ball to his outside man. Bloomfield ran great lines but I would like to see Tai Taka come in to give them cohesion for the Reds sake.

 

[rugbyAU]

John Eales Medal decided on 17 Oct - Ikitau surely the favourite

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Ikitau, Frost and Wilson will be the top three I think.

Ikitau deserves it IMO but Frost had a good middle period of this season to go along with playing in almost every game and Wilson will get love. Wright would have likely been up there as well but the injury probably costs him.

 

[Slim 293]

Jorgensen would have to be up there, but I'd say Wilson and McReight are probably the favourites along with Ikitau...

The votes also come from last year's spring tour, so Valetini might have a strong start to the voting before dropping off this year.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

McReight the other who has played in a lot of games.

 

[LeCheese]

I'm backing big Wilso in. Would cap off what has been a pretty impressive year for him, even with injury.

You have to think it'll be a pretty close race with Ikitau and McReight, though. Jorgo definitely a dark horse.

 

[rugbyAU]

I don't know how Wilson is up there, he's a great captain, but in attack is more a quantity over quality player, seems to always run into a brick wall and can't dent the line

 

[Adam84]

I don't know how Wilson is up there, he's a great captain, but in attack is more a quantity over quality player, seems to always run into a brick wall and can't dent the line

Ranked 3rd as a forward in the TRC for Post Contact Meters; only Savea and Oviedo had more.

 

[Ignoto]

Ranked 3rd as a forward in the TRC for Post Contact Meters; only Savea and Oviedo had more.

View attachment 23468

To think if Harry had just crawled on his knees he'd be ahead of Ardie.

 

[rugbyAU]

Ranked 3rd as a forward in the TRC for Post Contact Meters; only Savea and Oviedo had more.

View attachment 23468

okay he's got better this TRC, i thought that was an issue for him in the past

 

[LeCheese]

okay he's got better this TRC, i thought that was an issue for him in the past

It has been historically, but has greatly improved that element of his game this year. Still manages to get place the ball back pretty damn quickly too, which was the previous benefit/trade-off of him hitting the deck immediately in contact.

 

[tig]

Ikitau is better as a 13 then he is as a 12, as a centre pairing they’re solid but aren’t clicking that well. JAS isn’t running the best lines, and Ikitau looks to run/crash the ball more then he looks to pass.

I understand it’s not directly comparable, but watching the interplay between Pritchard and Bloomfield in the Aus U20s was a reminder of the interplay we’re missing at test level. Pritchard was brilliant are going into contact and holding the ball up for an offload, but also took the pass option to Bloomfield who was running really nice lines.

I still say JAS at inside centre. Itikau is the best OUTSIDE centre we have. You shouldn't weaken a strength to strengthen a weakness.