Skelton back to LaRochelle, so probably Frost/Williams in the second row

@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?

Josh Canham looks the goods to me and Nick Frost is there already.

@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

Ireland to smash the Wallabies. They are on next level compare to Scotland.

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:

1. James Slipper (142 Tests) – Bond Pirates

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (19 Tests) – Southern Districts

3. Taniela Tupou (57 Tests) – Brothers Rugby

4. Nick Frost (24 Tests) – Hornsby Lions

5. Jeremy Williams (9 Tests) – Wahroonga Tigers

6. Rob Valetini (51 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club

7. Fraser McReight (24 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies

8. Harry Wilson (c) (21 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils

9. Jake Gordon (28 Tests) – Canterbury Juniors

10. Noah Lolesio (28 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings

11. Max Jorgensen (6 Tests) – Balmain Wolves

12. Len Ikitau (38 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings

13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (3 Tests) – The Kings School

14. Andrew Kellaway (38 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby

15. Tom Wright (36 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles

16. Angus Bell (35 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby

17. Allan Alaalatoa (79 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors

18. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (40 Tests) - Randwick

19. Langi Gleeson (13 Tests) – Harbord Harlequins

20. Tate McDermott (40 Tests) – Flinders Rugby Club

21. Tane Edmed* - West Harbour Juniors

22. 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

If Australia win it will be the biggest upset of the Autumn, possibly the season

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.

Underdog status: secured

An Aussie win while not an impossibility would turn the rugby world on its head. Will be good for New Zealand if they win as it could mean we are leapfrogged into 2nd spot.

If Edmed gets more than 10 minutes, Donaldson would have a right to be pissed off. Especially as Lolesio was ordinary on the weekend

That's a shit call.

Hometown decision.

Should have been YC against Ireland

Aussie leading 3-0. Not a great game so far.

Ireland's passing is terrible at the minute.

Rushed, pressure. Both

The Australians will be delighted with how this game has gone so far. Lansdowne Road is very, very quiet.

Ireland flopping all over the ball

Should have been pinged back to Donegal

Secret agent bealham is having a great game for Australia.

Fucking great try

Schmidt outpassing Farrell

Aussies leading 10-0 and well deserving it.

Match time 20:49. Pointless tmo interventions 10 minutes.

Crowd want a YC against Valetini.

The new Irish 10 does a good sexton arm flap impression.

Irish crowds love a lineout maul.

Oh fuck off
That was an attempted hand off

Hometown decisions keeping Ireland in this.

Irish try.

Conversion missed.

Ireland 5 Aussie 10