Ignoto
Geoff Shaw (53)
Kellaway as last man in defence is a 5 pointer 99% of the time. His decision making along with behind sub 5'9 makes him to be a poor fullback candidate.
Wallabies 2026
- Thread starter rugbyAU
- Start date
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
I'd be looking to call in Petaia and Banks/Maddocks if their good seasons in france continue. Over Toole and Potter. Obviously Markymark ASAP also.
rugbyAU
Jim Lenehan (48)
do we need Banks/Maddocks?
Yoda
Dick Tooth (41)
Even if they are killing it I doubt it.
Brumby Runner
George Gregan (70)
Pretty much as expected given it is still Joe's squad. He's not going to make many, if any, changes to the squad he went with for the whole of the last year. The concern, of course, is that it is a losing squad without the likes of Skelton, Bell, Tupou, Slipper et al.
I really think it is a missed opportunity by not having Kiss take charge now and letting him massage the squad as he sees fit. I have no doubt that we will need new faces before the test schedule in 2026 is run and done.
With Slipper's absence, we are short in the LHP position, exacerbated by Bell's overseas stint as well. Dr Robertson is an honest worker but will never dominate at set piece and hence his contributions are ineffective. There would be more gain by having Lington Ieli in the squad and getting him ready for 2027.
Hooker looks to be reasonably served but I'd prefer Asiata over Nasser any day.
The inclusion of De Luiitis is a major step forward in the THP stakes, especially as TT is unavailable for the training squad.
Locks and backrow are about right given 2025 form. It would be great to see Amatosero further develop into the TH Lock spot and would have been a good inclusion in the squad. Joe Brial must be close to a backrow sp;ot and Charlie Cale needs to show form and fitness in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) to force his way back into the squad.
Half back is a problem area in my opinion. I don't see the upsides touted by many about Jake Gordon. He plays the role of playmaker under Joe's plan but not nearly as effectively as Nic White did. Ryan Lonergan doesn't play that role at the Brumbies, being more inclined to feed his No 10, but he does have a superior kicking game to Jake so can offer a bit of both worlds. Tate McDermott is the best of the current No 9s, but seems to have been type cast as a finisher, a role he performs with excellence let it be said. I don't think Thomas has shown he will be a long term test player, and the rest of the options are really quite inexperienced. Maybe best this coming year to stay with the three main options and see where the others like Wilson, Werchon, Martens, Hastie and Thorn rate by the end of SRP26.
We must all hope Carter Gordon comes good both form-wise and fitness/injury-wise in 26. The next best No 10 is Declan Meredith and he's untried at test level. But nothing is surer than the Wallabies continuing to lose test matches we think they should win, and probably having an exit at the Round of 16 in RWC27, if we continue to rely on Donaldson, Edmed and Lynagh as the bench or sometime starter next year. They have all been tried and found wanting. Definitely time for the only other SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) level No 10 to show what he can do; you know the one who has more wins under his belt in our premier SH competition than those others. Meredith should now be in the squad.
Equally important to the Wallabies' prospects is the need to find a No 12. Again, we won't go far playing the likes of Paisami or Stewart at 12, nor imo, playing Sua'ali'i at 13. Again, it is a missed opportunity not bringing Jarrah McLeod in to the squad. He has all the makings of an outstanding No 12 and we should all be hoping he makes the grade for RWC27. Now is the right time to have him in the squad and learning about test level rugby in preparation for stepping up later on.
Len Ikitau is our No 13. Leave him there. Flook and Pritchard should be there as his backups and for future proofing the spot.
Wing will be well served with Jorgensen, Nawaqanitawase, Daugunu, Pietsch. No need to continue with the likes of Kellaway or Potter, or Toole.
Tom Wright owns the 15 spot. While he's out with injury, Sua'ali'i should be trialled in training as his backup. If we need another, Mac Grealy is doing a very good job at the Force and probably is close to a spot.
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Major Tom
Peter Fenwicke (45)
wamberal99
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Whatever pops up.
rugbyAU
Jim Lenehan (48)
He should say it’s been disappointing, we’ve just had one of our worst ever seasons
Last year we beat England this year we got thrashed we also came close to NZ at home and to Ireland this year thumped in Perth and nearly double our second biggest loss to Ireland
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rugbyAU
Jim Lenehan (48)
Not really, he'll be back for the Wallabies next year and probably will benefit from the sabatical and getting away from the Tahs
Major Tom
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Righto mate. I think the wallabies get laughed at enough, I doubt he needs to join the pile on. It’s just talk anyways, he’s just trying to sell some positives.
rugbyAU
Jim Lenehan (48)
Not interested in him gaslighting fans
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
I reckon the CEO of Australian rugby should go even further, and tell everyone the Wallabies are so bad that nobody should waste their time or money on them…
John S
Ken Catchpole (46)
Well we have half the Wallaby fan base on this site, and there's already those types of calls here don't think Waugh needs to tell them.
Carter Gordon is the obvious playmaking mindset. Physically and skill. Needs to work on kicking accuracy but has the biggest boot. Back up would be Lynagh if he can overcome aspects of his size deficiencies at a test level.
wamberal99
Phil Hardcastle (33)
I wonder whether one of the under 19s will emerge, or even the under 16s.
Famed_Star
Herbert Moran (7)
No mate, just your opinions.
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
Which account did you have to log out of to post that?
Edit: it’s too obvious if you dislike with both accounts…
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Upthemaroon!
Fred Wood (13)
The next crop does look exciting, but I feel like they need a couple (or a lot) of years before they are anywhere near the green and gold. I hope we pick and stick on two TH locks and two LH locks and just cycle between them like South Africa does. I don't really care who to pair up with who too much, but a pick 'm and stick 'm kinda deal.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Struggling under high ball, wide channel defensive positioning, back field communication and in field kicking.
So yes I'd say it's worth having a look at specialist and experienced Fullbacks. We don't have one atm - Wright out, kellaway a substitute journeyman and jorgo should stay on wing. With Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) and Petaia coming back into the frame, guys like Potter and Toole will liekly shuffle back down the wing pecking order - but specialist fullbacks? Cupboard is a bit bare.
wamberal99
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Sua'ali'i played a lot of fullback as a schoolboy. Kiss might choose to play him there. He could be dynamite (although I hope Wright will make it back).