Wallabies 2025

[rugbyAU]

21 games for the Wallabies is about 1.5 full seasons and not a rookie effort. I don't see any reason to excuse his D. Most league players rate their tackling as better than union (not sure about that).
We cannot build a 12 unless we look for one and I'm not sure we are looking for one. It is the downside of Schmidt's pick and stick policy. Don't get me wrong, I think Schmidt is doing a great job, just not sure about his assistants.

21 wallabies and Waratahs games combined

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He tackles just fine. And lays a good hit on the opposition.

It's the defensive reads he's getting use to and in those 21 games he's been at 13 15 times which is one of the hardest defensive spots in only Test matches. Was at Fullback during Super Rugby.

 

[stillmissit]

He tackles just fine. And lays a good hit on the opposition.

It's the defensive reads he's getting use to and in those 21 games he's been at 13 15 times which is one of the hardest defensive spots in only Test matches. Was at Fullback during Super Rugby.

I agree about his hits, Ghost, but it is the stick and leg drive which I think is missing.

 

[Dctarget]

Good analysis by Bishop on Edmed's short comings.

Why Carter Gordon is once again knocking on the door to Australia's number 10

Parachuted straight back into the Wallabies squad after a stint in NRL, Gordon may finally settle one of Joe Schmidt's biggest selection headaches.

www.rugbypass.com

 

[tig]

21 games for the Wallabies is about 1.5 full seasons and not a rookie effort. I don't see any reason to excuse his D. Most league players rate their tackling as better than union (not sure about that).
We cannot build a 12 unless we look for one and I'm not sure we are looking for one. It is the downside of Schmidt's pick and stick policy. Don't get me wrong, I think Schmidt is doing a great job, just not sure about his assistants.

I still say JAS at 12.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I still say JAS at 12.

I think Carter Gordon could make a great 12 as well, quite physical, can run and a good ball player, the problem is we still need the 10 as well

 

[stillmissit]

I think Carter Gordon could make a great 12 as well, quite physical, can run and a good ball player, the problem is we still need the 10 as well

I wonder if Tom Wright could make a 12?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I wonder if Tom Wright could make a 12?

Not now. I think 5 years ago he could have shifted to first receiver but he's the prime Fullback in the country. He's also not the greatest defender in the world which wouldn't be developed now.

I think Carter Gordon could make a great 12 as well, quite physical, can run and a good ball player, the problem is we still need the 10 as well

I think he's a physical runner for a 10 but against good 12s I think his direct method would smashed tbh. Plenty in here have issues with Paisami for being one direction only and he'd be more powerful than CG.

 

[stillmissit]

Not now. I think 5 years ago he could have shifted to first receiver but he's the prime Fullback in the country. He's also not the greatest defender in the world which wouldn't be developed now.

I think he's a physical runner for a 10 but against good 12s I think his direct method would smashed tbh. Plenty in here have issues with Paisami for being one direction only and he'd be more powerful than CG.

I kind of agree about Tom not making a 12 due to his D, but I thought if he was closer to the action, his D might improve. His D and positional play at 15 is very poor, but a great counter attacker. I am sure we can make a better 15 out of Jorgenson or JAS, although we disagree about his D.
It will be interesting to see what Schmidt makes of the options he has with CG and Marky M (Nawaqanitawase) coming back.

How do you feel about the forwards? Are they good enough to take us deep into a RWC?

 

[Major Tom]

Not now. I think 5 years ago he could have shifted to first receiver but he's the prime Fullback in the country. He's also not the greatest defender in the world which wouldn't be developed now.

I think he's a physical runner for a 10 but against good 12s I think his direct method would smashed tbh. Plenty in here have issues with Paisami for being one direction only and he'd be more powerful than CG.

He’s definitely not a full time centre. He can do it in a pinch which is great but he’s a fly half who can tackle, run and pass better than any other 10 we have. I’m looking forward to what he can add to a team that has a far better fwd pack and more settled backline than the last time he pulled on the gold jersey.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I kind of agree about Tom not making a 12 due to his D, but I thought if he was closer to the action, his D might improve. His D and positional play at 15 is very poor, but a great counter attacker. I am sure we can make a better 15 out of Jorgenson or JAS, although we disagree about his D.
It will be interesting to see what Schmidt makes of the options he has with CG and Marky M (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) coming back.

How do you feel about the forwards? Are they good enough to take us deep into a RWC?

First things first. Way too much about blokes Ds. For me anyway

Forwards can be fine if we can have our best available come the pointy end. I know that's an obvious answer but I think we drop off a cliff quickly in terms of having a threatening pack if we don't have Bell, Valetini and Skelton in the 8. We have serviceable guys to step in but CDC, Samu and even Hooper aren't the same as a fit Valetini. Players like Skelton make others better. We saw it with Frost. Different player when he has the brute next to him that allows Frost to be the athlete he is around the park. I think Slipper moving on was the right call. He'll look good at Super Rugby but he was slow now and alongside AAA gee that's 2 lumbering frames in a game that is speeding up and requiring explosive moments.

The other Achilles heal is throwing in the lineout. I love how Pollard goes around the field and he's only going to get better but we can't have so many errors at the lineout when the Wallabies need to be a 9/10 to compete with the top 3-4 sides.

 

[Major Tom]

First things first. Way too much about blokes Ds. For me anyway

Forwards can be fine if we can have our best available come the pointy end. I know that's an obvious answer but I think we drop off a cliff quickly in terms of having a threatening pack if we don't have Bell, Valetini and Skelton in the 8. We have serviceable guys to step in but CDC, Samu and even Hooper aren't the same as a fit Valetini. Players like Skelton make others better. We saw it with Frost. Different player when he has the brute next to him that allows Frost to be the athlete he is around the park. I think Slipper moving on was the right call. He'll look good at Super Rugby but he was slow now and alongside AAA gee that's 2 lumbering frames in a game that is speeding up and requiring explosive moments.

The other Achilles heal is throwing in the lineout. I love how Pollard goes around the field and he's only going to get better but we can't have so many errors at the lineout when the Wallabies need to be a 9/10 to compete with the top 3-4 sides.

Yeah, I think that's where the shift in squad depth needs to be.
Gleeson is still a downgrade on Valetini. I do feel he is closing the gap though. Hooper can be world class, but he's a different type of player.
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is a downgrade on Skelton. In fairness Skelton is very hard to replicate.
Robertson downgrade on Bell. Although I think if Kailea can keep his body right and continue to develop his scrummaging, he could close the gap there.
I feel more confident that as a squad, we're moving in the right direction at least.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Moving in the right direction very slowly. I don't think we can bank on all these guys reaching the highs we hope and who they are might be their level. I had high hopes on a guy like Schoup. I think he has a bit of that athlete power you need now over just being a big lumbering body.

We have more forwards capable of closing the gap and getting the job done though than Backs. Very thin there and then we end up in a selection cyclone of trying everyone hoping someone clicks.

 

[fatprop]

The key thing about 12 at the moment has to be metres post contact from static ball, we continually play pass the parcel flat across the line with the rush defence cutting out width (and the 13), they have to fight for metres and have the ability not be isolated while doing it

Units like JAS look great with a run up (he can hulk smash from depth) but does not work as effectively from static

 

[stillmissit]

First things first. Way too much about blokes Ds. For me anyway

Forwards can be fine if we can have our best available come the pointy end. I know that's an obvious answer but I think we drop off a cliff quickly in terms of having a threatening pack if we don't have Bell, Valetini and Skelton in the 8. We have serviceable guys to step in but CDC, Samu and even Hooper aren't the same as a fit Valetini. Players like Skelton make others better. We saw it with Frost. Different player when he has the brute next to him that allows Frost to be the athlete he is around the park. I think Slipper moving on was the right call. He'll look good at Super Rugby but he was slow now and alongside AAA gee that's 2 lumbering frames in a game that is speeding up and requiring explosive moments.

The other Achilles heal is throwing in the lineout. I love how Pollard goes around the field and he's only going to get better but we can't have so many errors at the lineout when the Wallabies need to be a 9/10 to compete with the top 3-4 sides.

First things first GHost... In internationals, it is defence that wins matches mostly. Under McQueen one of the first things he did was to bring in Mulligan? from league. to fix up the guys defence. So defence is very important, and at the moment we have an old fashioned defensive system and several of the guys who can't make a decent tackle. With the new rules, it is critical the guys can tackle lower.

Mostly agree with you re forwards. Not keen on Frost, although as you state, with Skelton there he didn't have to get over the ad line.

 

[Red Runner]

The key thing about 12 at the moment has to be metres post contact from static ball, we continually play pass the parcel flat across the line with the rush defence cutting out width (and the 13), they have to fight for metres and have the ability not be isolated while doing it

Units like JAS look great with a run up (he can hulk smash from depth) but does not work as effectively from static

Paisami!!! He actually looked great in this area for the Wallabies this year. It was just his dumb lose passing that let us down.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

First things first GHost... In internationals, it is defence that wins matches mostly. Under McQueen one of the first things he did was to bring in Mulligan? from league. to fix up the guys defence. So defence is very important, and at the moment we have an old fashioned defensive system and several of the guys who can't make a decent tackle. With the new rules, it is critical the guys can tackle lower.

Mostly agree with you re forwards. Not keen on Frost, although as you state, with Skelton there he didn't have to get over the ad line.

As much of that was the successful handling of the transition from amateur to professional era which was still being figured out in Rugby. The ARU at the time had the benefit of having a professional competition of a similar sport in it's own country to look at. It brought pro methods and intensity to a sport still figuring it out.

Modern day, I wouldn't say there is a benefit in their defensive patterns but they do excel at the wrestle which is something Rugby would benefit from if you want to slow a play down which the Wallabies would benefit from.

Yes we have an old school method. We have Laurie who if he didn't maintain currency through quirkiness would have filtered out of coaching a long time ago IMO. They run a bend don't break style and with current fitness levels doesnt work. Error rates for other sides are far too low. You will break first.

 

[Major Tom]

As much of that was the successful handling of the transition from amateur to professional era which was still being figured out in Rugby. The ARU at the time had the benefit of having a professional competition of a similar sport in it's own country to look at. It brought pro methods and intensity to a sport still figuring it out.

Modern day, I wouldn't say there is a benefit in their defensive patterns but they do excel at the wrestle which is something Rugby would benefit from if you want to slow a play down which the Wallabies would benefit from.

Yes we have an old school method. We have Laurie who if he didn't maintain currency through quirkiness would have filtered out of coaching a long time ago IMO. They run a bend don't break style and with current fitness levels doesnt work. Error rates for other sides are far too low. You will break first.

His niche seemed to be around the breakdown. All of a sudden he's focusing on defense and it shows by going with an outdated method. As soon as the Wallabies manage to keep teams to around 20pts or under the will string wins together.