Skelton back to LaRochelle, so probably Frost/Williams in the second row
Ireland
Match thread
Wallabies
@NTA said in Ireland v Wallabies:
Skelton back to LaRochelle, so probably Frost/Williams in the second row
how do you rate Skelton? Seems to me he isn't always that effective, for such a big lump.
@nostrildamus said in Ireland v Wallabies:
@NTA said in Ireland v Wallabies:
Skelton back to LaRochelle, so probably Frost/Williams in the second row
how do you rate Skelton? Seems to me he isn't always that effective, for such a big lump.
From what I've seen it is his inconsistency which would be most frustrating for his coaches.. He certainly has all the physical attributes but seems lazy or disinterested quite a lot. McCall got him firing more consistently at Sarries so maybe it is how he is handled?
Skelton did OK against Scotland around the field but isn't used as a lineout option despite being so tall. Too heavy to lift? Without looking closely I assume he is a lifter. He really needs to be an effective ball-carrier to have an impact.
@nostrildamus said in Ireland v Wallabies:
@NTA said in Ireland v Wallabies:
Skelton back to LaRochelle, so probably Frost/Williams in the second row
how do you rate Skelton? Seems to me he isn't always that effective, for such a big lump.
If he was consistently available I think he'd be more effective.
Got to balance the pack
Well they still seem to have major depth problems, but I like where the Wallabies team is going, though I do suspect 1 or 2 of their locks could be better, time to poach from AFL?
@nostrildamus said in Ireland v Wallabies:
Well they still seem to have major depth problems, but I like where the Wallabies team is going, though I do suspect 1 or 2 of their locks could be better, time to poach from AFL?
AFL blokes too light. All built like greyhounds, they have to run 10km+ a game.
@nostrildamus said in Ireland v Wallabies:
@NTA said in Ireland v Wallabies:
Skelton back to LaRochelle, so probably Frost/Williams in the second row
how do you rate Skelton? Seems to me he isn't always that effective, for such a big lump.
I really rate him, but as Nick says availability is the issue. I'd have him in our best XV to take on the Lions.
We struggle to find blokes with his level of physicality.
@barbarian said in Ireland v Wallabies:
@nostrildamus said in Ireland v Wallabies:
Well they still seem to have major depth problems, but I like where the Wallabies team is going, though I do suspect 1 or 2 of their locks could be better, time to poach from AFL?
AFL blokes too light. All built like greyhounds, they have to run 10km+ a game.
Buddy Franklin was 6'6 and 105 even in AFL trim. Imagine that athlete with a rugby weights program from his mid-teens. Nic Nat was 6'8 and 111. There is the most athletic locking combo in world rugby.
Yeah fair call but those two blokes are pretty massive outliers. Sean Darcy might be the other one you'd take but that's about it. It's all hypothetical though.
Mumford smashing fluffybunnies at ruck time.
I reckon Luke Hodge would have been a dynamite 10.
But you take those guys, and a few NRL players, and the Wallabies have missed out on some talent.
There's so much fucking talent out there in W Sydney. Until NSW Rugby starts working on better alignment between 8 different organisations, we will not improve greatly
Scotland have won 40 of their 71 encounters in games played in Scotland.
In Ireland, not so much. Overall though it is 71 games each!! (If you count the 5 draws and 66 outright Scottish wins as all Scottish wins, not a strategy likely to be appreciated by the Irish, who are still a bit ginger about it, then again, so are the Scotts)...
And while it may be sailing close to the truth that Scotland haven't won against Ireland since 2018, it's Scotland's year!
Wallabies:
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James Slipper (142 Tests) – Bond Pirates
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Brandon Paenga-Amosa (19 Tests) – Southern Districts
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Taniela Tupou (57 Tests) – Brothers Rugby
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Nick Frost (24 Tests) – Hornsby Lions
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Jeremy Williams (9 Tests) – Wahroonga Tigers
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Rob Valetini (51 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
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Fraser McReight (24 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies
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Harry Wilson (c) (21 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils
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Jake Gordon (28 Tests) – Canterbury Juniors
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Noah Lolesio (28 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
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Max Jorgensen (6 Tests) – Balmain Wolves
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Len Ikitau (38 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
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Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (3 Tests) – The Kings School
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Andrew Kellaway (38 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
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Tom Wright (36 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles
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Angus Bell (35 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
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Allan Alaalatoa (79 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors
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Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (40 Tests) - Randwick
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Langi Gleeson (13 Tests) – Harbord Harlequins
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Tate McDermott (40 Tests) – Flinders Rugby Club
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Tane Edmed* - West Harbour Juniors
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Harry Potter (1 Test) - Moorabbin Rams
Ireland:
15 Hugo Keenan
14 Mack Hansen
13 Robbie Henshaw
12 Bundee Aki
11 James Lowe
10 Sam Prendergast
9 Jamison Gibson-Park
8 Caelan Doris (c)
7 Josh van der Flier
6 Tadhg Beirne
5 James Ryan
4 Joe McCarthy
3 Finlay Bealham
2 Rónan Kelleher
1 Andrew Porter
Replacements:
16 Gus McCarthy
17 Cian Healy
18 Tom O’Toole
19 Iain Henderson
20 Peter O’Mahony
21 Craig Casey
22 Jack Crowley
23 Garry Ringrose
That is a prime Ireland team on paper, the same names that have got it done repeatedly over the past few years. If they lose to a building but still a way off wallabies, Mike's right, massive upset
@mariner4life about 2 years past prime mate - sentimental selections for POM, Healy & Henderson who should've been put out to pasture already.
If Edmed gets more than 10 minutes, Donaldson would have a right to be pissed off. Especially as Lolesio was ordinary on the weekend
The Australians will be delighted with how this game has gone so far. Lansdowne Road is very, very quiet.
