Wallabies v Argentina @ CommBank Stadium 7.45pm Sat 15/07

[RugbyReg]

Given respective positions on the World Rugby Rankings, Australia was well and truly expected to lose last weekend. It was the biggest Rankings points differential since that first Rennie test v NZL, which we achieved an unexpected draw.

This week is different. Rankings are very close with Argentina, but the home side bonus means we are expected to win. I think the result this week, is more significant than last week. In no way were we expected to win last week. This week is different.

 

[cyclopath]

you're ready to throw a 22 year old prop away on the back of a 16 minute appearance off the bench v the World Champions in Pretoria?

Remarkable....

Is it, though?

 

[RugbyReg]

Is it, though?

valid point.

 

[Highlander35]

Pone and Schoupp in, Tupou drops to the A team for this week

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1678348546905608192

 

[Sam Old]

Is it, though?

EJ (Eddie Jones) did the lad a massive disfavour. Thrown to the wolves in a very odd selection.

 

[rugbyAU]

1 - Slipper (c)
2 - Faesslar
3 - AAA
4 - Frost
5 - Arnold
6 - Holloway
7 - McReight
8 - Valetini
9 - White
10 - Gordon
11 - Korobiete
12 - Kerevi
13 - Ikitau
14 - Nawaqanitawase
15 - Wright

16 - Lonergan, L
17 - Bell (if fit)/Gibbon
18 - Fa'amausili
19 - Skelton
20 - Samu/Gleeson (if fit)
21 - Lonergan, R
22 - Cooper
23 - Kellaway (if fit) or Hodge

* Petaia not fit until first Bledisloe at least
* Kellaway ruled out of Randwick on the weekend on Thursday, so might play him off the bench to start back (also offers versatility at 11, 13, 14 & 15)
* Nonnggorr, Uelese, Hooper, Porecki and Vunivalau need to be shown the door
* Tom Hooper very likely out with injury - https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...er-from-springbok-defeat-20230710-p5dn5k.html

 

[NCT]

you're ready to throw a 22 year old prop away on the back of a 16 minute appearance off the bench v the World Champions in Pretoria?

Remarkable....

Nongorr is worth further development, very young and inexperienced for a prop, he will improve. The other 2 should be nowhere near a gold jersey.

 

[CoinboxSoldier]

We are unfit and they are professional sportsmen I guess in camp they are on their phones or xbox

 

[CoinboxSoldier]

Eddie needs to coach laziness out of them

 

[PhilClinton]

Pone and Schoupp in, Tupou drops to the A team for this week

This treatment of Taniela is odd.

He's had ample opportunity to come back via short stints in club rugby for weeks now, they've obviously judged he shouldn't be playing test match rugby yet but instead they're going to chuck him straight into the fire against a Tongan national side?

 

[Rebel man]

This treatment of Taniela is odd.

He's had ample opportunity to come back via short stints in club rugby for weeks now, they've obviously judged he shouldn't be playing test match rugby yet but instead they're going to chuck him straight into the fire against a Tongan national side?

Less on the line. This game is a must win we can’t go in with half baked players. Where as the Tonga game doesn’t matter it’s just about development and getting minutes.

Does anyone know how many Aus A fixtures we have this year?

 

[Braveheart81]

EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones) did the lad a massive disfavour. Thrown to the wolves in a very odd selection.

He's also now a Wallaby. He probably won't get another opportunity this year and who knows how long he'll have to wait for the next one.

If he hadn't played this game he probably wouldn't have been capped this year.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Hopefully we see TT get through 50-60 mins v Tonga starting instead of 25-30 mins v Argentina off the bench.

 

[Members Section]

Any decent pubs around the stadium to get a beer at pre game?

 

[dillyboy]

This treatment of Taniela is odd.

He's had ample opportunity to come back via short stints in club rugby for weeks now, they've obviously judged he shouldn't be playing test match rugby yet but instead they're going to chuck him straight into the fire against a Tongan national side?

Possibly because he's Tongan? He may want a visit home .....

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Any decent pubs around the stadium to get a beer at pre game?

Most good options will be on the other side of the river on Church St. (10 min stroll)

Parramatta Leagues Club is right behind the stadium if you want to be really close.

 

[wamberal]

Most good options will be on the other side of the river on Church St. (10 min stroll)

Parramatta Leagues Club is right behind the stadium if you want to be really close.

Meanwhile we reflect on the fact that the Western Sydney Two Blues (aka Parramatta) are ripping it up in the Shute Shield. How good is that??

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

After pillaging Sydney University they travel to Manly to give it to the Marlins on their own turf.

 

[HooperPocockSmith]

1 - Slipper (c)
2 - Faesslar
3 - AAA
4 - Frost
5 - Arnold
6 - Holloway
7 - McReight
8 - Valetini
9 - White
10 - Gordon
11 - Korobiete
12 - Kerevi
13 - Ikitau
14 - Nawaqanitawase
15 - Wright

16 - Lonergan, L
17 - Bell (if fit)/Gibbon
18 - Fa'amausili
19 - Skelton
20 - Samu/Gleeson (if fit)
21 - Lonergan, R
22 - Cooper
23 - Kellaway (if fit) or Hodge

* Petaia not fit until first Bledisloe at least
* Kellaway ruled out of Randwick on the weekend on Thursday, so might play him off the bench to start back (also offers versatility at 11, 13, 14 & 15)
* Nonnggorr, Uelese, Hooper, Porecki and Vunivalau need to be shown the door
* Tom Hooper very likely out with injury - https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...er-from-springbok-defeat-20230710-p5dn5k.html

Yes... We're going to drop the co-captain out of the 23. I'd like to see a 6-2 split this weekend with Lonergan and Hodge as our 22 & 23. I'd bring McReight into the squad. I'd like to see him on with 20 to go - the same way SA use Kwagga Smith.
Porecki was fine on the weekend. I'm happy for Faessler play off the bench.
The Skelton bashing is undeserved. He was immense around the defensive maul and adds a lot of weight behind the TH. Unfortunately, we in Australia have little appreciation for these things. We expect all our locks to be like Frost.
Holloway back in the side adds a bit more at the lineout, particularly defensively.

 

[HooperPocockSmith]

Yes... We're going to drop the co-captain out of the 23. I'd like to see a 6-2 split this weekend with Lonergan and Hodge as our 22 & 23. I'd bring McReight into the squad. I'd like to see him on with 20 to go - the same way SA use Kwagga Smith.
Porecki was fine on the weekend. I'm happy for Faessler play off the bench.
The Skelton bashing is undeserved. He was immense around the defensive maul and adds a lot of weight behind the TH. Unfortunately, we in Australia have little appreciation for these things. We expect all our locks to be like Frost.
Holloway back in the side adds a bit more at the lineout, particularly defensively.

Also, I'm happy (begrudgingly so) to persevere with QC (Quade Cooper) at 10 for another week. Either way, I think having Hodge in the 23 offers enough versatility - therefore no need for a specialist 10 in 22. When Kellaway is fit, I'd play him at the back with Wright on the other wing. I'm not sure if Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) is what we need at the moment - he's still a little more rocks than diamonds at this point. In a perfect world, I'd have him, and the rest of the non-playing squad, playing in the Aus A game. With a little more foresight, it would have been lovely to have 3 or so Aus A games. It would be great to get all of the rehab squad (Bell et al) to come through those games.