Planet Rugby Forum

Not sure there’s one yet.

Widest open it’s ever been IMO.

Only lock-ins for me are:

3. NRMA
4. Rodda
7. Hooper
11. Koroibete

Some competition for 3 and 7, but can’t see the incumbents being dropped.

Rest of the positions could be anyone. Should be an interesting year.

Can't disagree. All incumbents that have remained are:

1. Sio. Slipper has unseated him this weel, but will undoubtedly feature in either 1 or 17.
2. FF. Probably still the front runner. Mafi looked like an able back up if Ulese doesn't stop being permacrocked
3. NRMA with Tupou at 18. Unchanged.
4. Rodda - clear leader
5. Wide open with Rory gone, but I'd love to see LSL here.
6. Poey retired, and he was 6 for most of 2019. Wide open, but Valentini is my pick
7. Hooper - hard to see him not getting picked, but we're deep as fudge as usual at 7. I'd be happy with any of the four 7s playing for the Wallabies. Hooper, Miller, Wright and Dick Harddick are all class, plus McReight.
8. Naisarani- playing well, but Samu could unseat.
9. Wide open. Nic White technically eligible. McDermott in driving seat.
10. Wide open, incumbents gorn.
11. Korobiete. End of.
12. Samu gone, wide open. Depends if we want a line breaker or 2nd 5 type. Simone is a rare hybrid type, but does he do either role well enough for test level?
13. Jordy played the last test here but is perma crooked. JOC played most of 2019 here but might be more in the 10 reckoning. K train and Paistrami in good form.
14. Hodge is the incumbent, but this is also wide open.
15. KB is the incumbent, and he'll be in the 23, but Banks and DHP have looked better.

Bindi wrote:Not sure there’s one yet.

Widest open it’s ever been IMO.

Only lock-ins for me are:

3. NRMA
4. Rodda
7. Hooper
11. Koroibete

Some competition for 3 and 7, but can’t see the incumbents being dropped.

Rest of the positions could be anyone. Should be an interesting year.

Yes. For many values of 'interesting'.

Australia to win the thingie cup back from the kiwis

no opinions on 1-5 really..

6. Samu (Isi is the 8 u need in scrums, samu is the 8 you need on attack, interchange, Valetini as backup)
7. OPEN AS HELL though i want cotrell but weird eyes will get it due to his contract obligations with RA
8. Isi
9 Lourens?
10. Toomua (lolesio backup)
11. Marika (still the wobbies best winger in a while)
12. JOC, barring injury Mortlock-lite
13. TK (pastrami on the wings)
14. Kat ( Hodge is overhyped and has been for 5 years, Banks backup to cover 15 too)
15. DHP for now but Banks before the year ends)

3 pages.

What's wrong with Jordan Petaia guys?

Zakar wrote:Can't disagree. All incumbents that have remained are:

1. Sio. Slipper has unseated him this weel, but will undoubtedly feature in either 1 or 17.
2. FF. Probably still the front runner. Mafi looked like an able back up if Ulese doesn't stop being permacrocked
3. NRMA with Tupou at 18. Unchanged.
4. Rodda - clear leader
5. Wide open with Rory gone, but I'd love to see LSL here.
6. Poey retired, and he was 6 for most of 2019. Wide open, but Valentini is my pick
7. Hooper - hard to see him not getting picked, but we're deep as fudge as usual at 7. I'd be happy with any of the four 7s playing for the Wallabies. Hooper, Miller, Wright and Dick Harddick are all class, plus McReight.
8. Naisarani- playing well, but Samu could unseat.
9. Wide open. Nic White technically eligible. McDermott in driving seat.
10. Wide open, incumbents gorn.
11. Korobiete. End of.
12. Samu gone, wide open. Depends if we want a line breaker or 2nd 5 type. Simone is a rare hybrid type, but does he do either role well enough for test level?
13. Jordy played the last test here but is perma crooked. JOC played most of 2019 here but might be more in the 10 reckoning. K train and Paistrami in good form.
14. Hodge is the incumbent, but this is also wide open.
15. KB is the incumbent, and he'll be in the 23, but Banks and DHP have looked better.

Not a bad effort. Maybe some Force fans will be here soon screaming for Deegan...

Some notes:

Tupou is a shot to start. His form is excellent and he pushed the ponies around at scrum time. Both AAA and he are getting close to world class. They’re still young, but I would put only Patricio Noriega ahead of them from 100+ years of Wallabies. Tupou could be the best footballer in the country if he keeps on his path.

Like that you pumped up Mafi. He’s in fantastic form - I always rated him but he’s taken a big step up this year. He’s 23 ffs! If we could single out the individual most responsible for this crop of tight forwards coming out of the Reds I would suck him off and not lose eye contact once. Faingaa going well but I tend to think he gets extra attention because he drives the maul and takes the glory.

LSL for the 4 jumper - I’m all for that. He is playing well and seems to be having fun. He’s 23 ffs!

Slipper and Sio with one of the Tahs as the bloke holding the bags. Easy one.

Disagree about Rodda. I think it’s open. I am biased as f*ck, but Hocking from the Reds looks beautiful. I’m not saying he’s Eales 2.0, but he’s got the same weird ability to make consistent yards after contact, despite the fact he looks like Jesse Mogg in stilts. Rodda is back in form and those ponies’ locks are started to show something. Think the second row is more open than you suggested, though I will concede that Rodda is the obvious choice for the 5 jumper for the first test. And he’s 23!

(I’m googling these ages as I go)

I’m all for Valentini at 6. Wanted him last year. I like how he smashes people that come in contact with him. Wallabies haven’t had a backrow to shift bodies like he does since Cliffs Palu. At 21 ( )looks like a great long term option, but suspect that 21 year old Liam Wright will switch sides as his boy body continues to fill out.

Hooper will get first shot, but I jumped on the McReight bandwagon on Saturday. There’s something a bit ‘GeorgeSmithy’ about him. I haven’t followed him and didn’t like the hype that’s preceded him, but he’s got something. Probably as quick as Hooper but bigger and better at the ruck. Hooper just saw off Pocock and now has this plum hunting him. I really rate Hooper and he will never let you down, but maybe this position isn’t a certainty for the RC.

I want old man Samu at 8. Naisirani is good and will keep getting better, but Samu offers more imo. He’s like a kiwi 8. Does the hard stuff very well, but supports well and runs a great line, meaning he can exploit half chances and/or make something from nothing. It was a travesty that he didn’t go to Japan last year. Harry Wilson from the Reds looking good but not yet for gold.

McDermott and Powell for the Irish. Bring in White if we have to, but McDermott is a star and the one we’ve been waiting for.

10 is JOC, with Toomua coming off the bench with 25 to go. The way JOC’s going on the redemption train, JOC will end up captain of the 2023 RWC team, before heading into politics and turning Australia into the world’s dominant naval power.

Koroibete... done. No challengers in 2020 but he’ll have a couple next year.

Yep. I vote for Simone too. There are others that can do a decent job but he looks like the one.

JP if upright and TK if he’s not.

Hodge in trouble. Can’t see DHP making the right wing. Definitely need someone with a boot though. JP might end up back on this wing for a while. Agree it’s wide open.

15 should be Banks. Reckon you’re right about Beale on the bench, but the 11th Lucas brother might have something to say about that utility/impact role.

Out of 23, I reckon 10 Queenslanders and 10 Brumbies (which are probably mostly Queenslanders) and one or two from the minor provinces.

Can’t help thinking we are missing one or two world class players to consistently beat the best sides. Where is a Latho or Burke? I look at the 1999 team - plenty of the current crop would make that side, but there were 7 or 8 blokes that were in the top 3 in the world. At the moment we might have JP and he’s in traction.

I'd probably go:

1. Slipper
2. FF
3. AAA
4. Rodda
5. LSL
6. Valetini
7. Hooper
8. Samu
9. McDermott
10. JOC
11. MK
12. Simone or Stewart depending on how they go this year. Both are looking decent.
13. TK
14. Speight - he looks better in Red.
15. Banks

16. Sio
17. Mafi
18. Thor
19. Whoever does better out of the Ponies locks and Hocking.
20. Naisirani
21. Powell
22. Simone/Stewert/Toomua
23. Beale or DHP. Jock Campbell is a smokey but maybe a bit too small.

towny wrote:Maybe some Force fans will be here soon screaming for Deegan

Plays for the Rebels

Zakar wrote:15. KB is the incumbent, and he'll be in the 23, but Banks and DHP have looked better.

Beale is a busted flush

Mog The Almighty wrote:What's wrong with Jordan Petaia guys?

Rooted shoulder I believe.

kiap wrote:

towny wrote:Maybe some Force fans will be here soon screaming for Deegan

Plays for the Rebels

Zakar wrote:15. KB is the incumbent, and he'll be in the 23, but Banks and DHP have looked better.

Beale is a busted flush

You’ll have slim pickings starting arguments around here with that. Beale, DHP and Hodge are tops on my yeah nah get fúcked list after RWC 2019. The only thing that should get them even close to selection is a coronavirus outbreak so bad the match would be cancelled anyway...

kiap wrote:

towny wrote:Maybe some Force fans will be here soon screaming for Deegan

Plays for the Rebels

Zakar wrote:15. KB is the incumbent, and he'll be in the 23, but Banks and DHP have looked better.

Beale is a busted flush

And Cheiks is goooone...advising RL teams

It's looking good for Australian rugby with the emergence of good young talent.

I expect to see players like Angus Bell, Josh Nasser, Trevor Hosea, Nick Frost, Fraser McReight, Liam Wright, Harry Wilson, Will Harrison, Noah Lolesio, Isaac Lucas, Semisi Tupou, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jock Campbell, etc. to make Wallabies in the next 2,3 years.

As for Wallabies this year I think the contenders are:

Props: Sio, Alaaltoa, Thor, Slipper
Hookers: Faingaa, Uelese, Mafi, Rangi
Locks: Rodda, Philip, Lukhan Tui (hopefully no Simmons), ?
Backrow: Hooper, Naisarani, Wilson, Lukhan Tui, Samu, Dempsey?
Scrumhalves: McDermott, Gordon, Powell, Louwrens?
Flyhalves: Toomua, O'Connor
Centres: Toomua, O'Connor, Petaia (when fit), Paisami, Irae Simone, Magnay
Outside backs: O'Connor, Korobiete, Haylett-Petty, Beale?, Speight, Kellaway, Banks, Wright?

Bindi wrote:I'd probably go:

1. Slipper
2. FF
3. AAA
4. Rodda
5. LSL
6. Valetini
7. Hooper
8. Samu
9. McDermott
10. JOC
11. MK
12. Simone or Stewart depending on how they go this year. Both are looking decent.
13. TK
14. Speight - he looks better in Red.
15. Banks

16. Sio
17. Mafi
18. Thor
19. Whoever does better out of the Ponies locks and Hocking.
20. Naisirani
21. Powell
22. Simone/Stewert/Toomua
23. Beale or DHP. Jock Campbell is a smokey but maybe a bit too small.

Absolutely dead against Samu at 8. In fact ... wtf is going through your and Towns' heads???

Finally we have a big, strong, legit-lineout-jumping, hard-working No.8. At looong last we can quit playing 2 (or even 3) under-sized opensides across our backrow. And what do you want to do? Go out of your way to play another under-sized #7 out of position at 8, at a time where we least require that???

No, just no. Naisirani is patently clearly the future of the Wallabies at 8 and should be starting and playing there as much as possible.

grievous wrote:

kiap wrote:

towny wrote:Maybe some Force fans will be here soon screaming for Deegan

Plays for the Rebels

Zakar wrote:15. KB is the incumbent, and he'll be in the 23, but Banks and DHP have looked better.

Beale is a busted flush

And Cheiks is goooone...advising RL teams

He was commentating on 6N matches. He's such a bogan.

There's no way Samu should be ahead of Naisarani. Naisarani has been oustanding last year and also this year. He's a big ball carrier and has a high work rate.

TranceNRG wrote:There's no way Samu should be ahead of Naisarani. Naisarani has been oustanding last year and also this year. He's a big ball carrier and has a high work rate.

Exactly. Very weird call by those blokes.

Naisarani was rubbish for the Wobs at the RWC and hasn’t done much this year. Samu was massive against the Chiefs. Did either of you plums watch that game?

Mog The Almighty wrote:

TranceNRG wrote:There's no way Samu should be ahead of Naisarani. Naisarani has been oustanding last year and also this year. He's a big ball carrier and has a high work rate.

Exactly. Very weird call by those blokes.

For the Wobs he was a little quiet.

Mog The Almighty wrote:

Bindi wrote:I'd probably go:

1. Slipper
2. FF
3. AAA
4. Rodda
5. LSL
6. Valetini
7. Hooper
8. Samu
9. McDermott
10. JOC
11. MK
12. Simone or Stewart depending on how they go this year. Both are looking decent.
13. TK
14. Speight - he looks better in Red.
15. Banks

16. Sio
17. Mafi
18. Thor
19. Whoever does better out of the Ponies locks and Hocking.
20. Naisirani
21. Powell
22. Simone/Stewert/Toomua
23. Beale or DHP. Jock Campbell is a smokey but maybe a bit too small.

Absolutely dead against Samu at 8. In fact ... wtf is going through your and Towns' heads???

Finally we have a big, strong, legit-lineout-jumping, hard-working No.8. At looong last we can quit playing 2 (or even 3) under-sized opensides across our backrow. And what do you want to do? Go out of your way to play another under-sized #7 out of position at 8, at a time where we least require that???

No, just no. Naisirani is patently clearly the future of the Wallabies at 8 and should be starting and playing there as much as possible.

Harry Wilson is the long term Wallaby option imho. He’s playing as well as Naisirani already and he’s 14.

I'll take that as a large dollup of hyperbole. In any case, we still have the next five or six years to worry about before he comes of age.

edit: I had to google him, it says he is 20.

Mog The Almighty wrote:I'll take that as a large dollup of hyperbole. In any case, we still have the next five or six years to worry about before he comes of age.

edit: I had to google him, it says he is 20.

He’s killing it, but Samu is scoring tries for fun - he’s arguably the in-form number 8 in super rugby. If he was a kiwi he would be on the shortlist for the ABs.

towny wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:I'll take that as a large dollup of hyperbole. In any case, we still have the next five or six years to worry about before he comes of age.

edit: I had to google him, it says he is 20.

He’s killing it, but Samu is scoring tries for fun - he’s arguably the in-form number 8 in super rugby. If he was a kiwi he would be on the shortlist for the ABs.

I think Higgers was the highest try-scoring forward in super-rugby for a few seasons. Number eights scoring tries is a nice bonus, but it doesn't make them an especially good number 8.

What we need at eight is not a "try scoring machine". We need a tall, strong, physical presence that can sure up the set piece, hit rucks hard, hit tackles hard and hit the line hard. Hit everything hard. I'm sure Higgers had a better try-scoring record than Duane Vermeulen, but I know which one I'd prefer in my team.

Samu is closer to Vanmuellen than any Oz number 8. Have you seen him this year?

Bindi wrote:Naisarani was rubbish for the Wobs at the RWC and hasn’t done much this year. Samu was massive against the Chiefs. Did either of you plums watch that game?

He definitely wasn't rubbish. In some games he was quiet but overall he was good. I reckon he's only going to get better. Samu is a much smaller guy and doesnt' have the same impact carrying the ball.

towny wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:

Bindi wrote:I'd probably go:

1. Slipper
2. FF
3. AAA
4. Rodda
5. LSL
6. Valetini
7. Hooper
8. Samu
9. McDermott
10. JOC
11. MK
12. Simone or Stewart depending on how they go this year. Both are looking decent.
13. TK
14. Speight - he looks better in Red.
15. Banks

16. Sio
17. Mafi
18. Thor
19. Whoever does better out of the Ponies locks and Hocking.
20. Naisirani
21. Powell
22. Simone/Stewert/Toomua
23. Beale or DHP. Jock Campbell is a smokey but maybe a bit too small.

Absolutely dead against Samu at 8. In fact ... wtf is going through your and Towns' heads???

Finally we have a big, strong, legit-lineout-jumping, hard-working No.8. At looong last we can quit playing 2 (or even 3) under-sized opensides across our backrow. And what do you want to do? Go out of your way to play another under-sized #7 out of position at 8, at a time where we least require that???

No, just no. Naisirani is patently clearly the future of the Wallabies at 8 and should be starting and playing there as much as possible.

Harry Wilson is the long term Wallaby option imho. He’s playing as well as Naisirani already and he’s 14.

I've been a huge fan of Harry since I saw him play for Australia U20 last year. I have no doubt he'll be a future Wallaby in the next few years. Big guy too.

towny wrote:Samu is closer to Vanmuellen than any Oz number 8. Have you seen him this year?

No, but I've seen plenty of him before. He's 6 foot tall and 100kg, fudge I was bigger than that playing amateur rugby. I'm sure he's a good player, and there maybe a place for him in the Wallabies (I would suggest as utility back-rower off the bench), but I don't want him starting at number 8. I want a legitimate line-out jumping option and a bruiser. Not another short flanker playing out of position that has been the bane of Australian rugby for almost two decades.

(edit: before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I know 6 foot is pretty tall, and 100kg is pretty big, but not for an international number 8 - especially when you consider those numbers are probably exaggerated, like most players do, especially the small-for-their-position ones ).

Mog The Almighty wrote:

towny wrote:Samu is closer to Vanmuellen than any Oz number 8. Have you seen him this year?

No, but I've seen plenty of him before. He's 6 foot tall and 100kg, fudge I was bigger than that playing amateur rugby. I'm sure he's a good player, and there maybe a place for him in the Wallabies (I would suggest as utility back-rower off the bench), but I don't want him starting at number 8. I want a legitimate line-out jumping option and a bruiser. Not another short flanker playing out of position that has been the bane of Australian rugby for almost two decades.

(edit: before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I know 6 foot is pretty tall, but not for an international number 8 ).

Did you watch the chiefs game or not?

Unless he got Aussie citizenship while at the Force, Louwrens isn’t eligible for the Wallabies. He played for Kinetsu in 2018/19.

Zakar wrote:Can't disagree. All incumbents that have remained are:

1. Sio. Slipper has unseated him this weel, but will undoubtedly feature in either 1 or 17.
2. FF. Probably still the front runner. Mafi looked like an able back up if Ulese doesn't stop being permacrocked
3. NRMA with Tupou at 18. Unchanged.
4. Rodda - clear leader
5. Wide open with Rory gone, but I'd love to see LSL here.
6. Poey retired, and he was 6 for most of 2019. Wide open, but Valentini is my pick
7. Hooper - hard to see him not getting picked, but we're deep as fudge as usual at 7. I'd be happy with any of the four 7s playing for the Wallabies. Hooper, Miller, Wright and Dick Harddick are all class, plus McReight.
8. Naisarani- playing well, but Samu could unseat.
9. Wide open. Nic White technically eligible. McDermott in driving seat.
10. Wide open, incumbents gorn.
11. Korobiete. End of.
12. Samu gone, wide open. Depends if we want a line breaker or 2nd 5 type. Simone is a rare hybrid type, but does he do either role well enough for test level?
13. Jordy played the last test here but is perma crooked. JOC played most of 2019 here but might be more in the 10 reckoning. K train and Paistrami in good form.
14. Hodge is the incumbent, but this is also wide open.
15. KB is the incumbent, and he'll be in the 23, but Banks and DHP have looked better.

Agree with most of this - don't know who NRMA is but the day must be fast approaching when Tupou will get the nod to start regularly - to my mind he's our best 3 already but there's some value in him coming on as a supersub.
Would also like to see LSL at 5 - he's tall, fast for that position, works hard, defends well ie he has everything.
I'm almost scared to say this after Mog's response, but I also think there are strong grounds for considering Samu at 8, at least off the bench, from where he could also cover 6 & 7, which is very handy. Naisarani was dependable rather than dynamic at the RWC, but I would start him and hopefully he is on a developmental curve. Harry Wilson is also giving the selectors food for thought.
I like the idea of Lolesio and O'Connor at 10 and 12 respectively. I think NL has been the form 10 and O'Connor is a good hard-nut who could provide the steadiness for him, as he has done for the young guys around him at the Reds.
It beggars belief that no-one on this thread has mentioned Campbell in the back 3 conversation. You'd think we would have learned something from his World Cup omission. I wouldn't consider Hodge for the team at all - the RWC exposed him as lacking the speed to be an international wing against the very fast opponents he will meet, and his defence isn't robust enough to have him as a utility on the bench, imo.
To me it's a shoo-in for Campbell and Marika in the wing positions, but I would like to see our selectors using the daring so seldom seen in Australian rugby and choose a back 3 of Campbell 15, Nawaqanitawase 14, and MK 11.
I also think Carlo Tizzano of the Tahs could easily play himself into contention for 7, along with those players you have mentioned, as he has huge ability. There is a real traffic jam for the openside spot, and Cusack also has been in great form for the Brumbies - check out his work against the Chiefs last week.

Bindi wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:

towny wrote:Samu is closer to Vanmuellen than any Oz number 8. Have you seen him this year?

No, but I've seen plenty of him before. He's 6 foot tall and 100kg, fudge I was bigger than that playing amateur rugby. I'm sure he's a good player, and there maybe a place for him in the Wallabies (I would suggest as utility back-rower off the bench), but I don't want him starting at number 8. I want a legitimate line-out jumping option and a bruiser. Not another short flanker playing out of position that has been the bane of Australian rugby for almost two decades.

(edit: before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I know 6 foot is pretty tall, but not for an international number 8 ).

Did you watch the chiefs game or not?

I haven't seen the Chiefs game yet but in the other games he was playing well however I think Naisarani has been even more imprssive. Also test rugby is another level up and you need big ball carriers. Last thing Wallabies need is another small backrow without impact. We'll continue to lose agianst big packs playign small backrows.

Brumby_in_Vic wrote:Unless he got Aussie citizenship while at the Force, Louwrens isn’t eligible for the Wallabies. He played for Kinetsu in 2018/19.

Why wouldn't he be eligible? He's been in Australia since he was 16.

Bindi wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:

towny wrote:Samu is closer to Vanmuellen than any Oz number 8. Have you seen him this year?

No, but I've seen plenty of him before. He's 6 foot tall and 100kg, fudge I was bigger than that playing amateur rugby. I'm sure he's a good player, and there maybe a place for him in the Wallabies (I would suggest as utility back-rower off the bench), but I don't want him starting at number 8. I want a legitimate line-out jumping option and a bruiser. Not another short flanker playing out of position that has been the bane of Australian rugby for almost two decades.

(edit: before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I know 6 foot is pretty tall, but not for an international number 8 ).

Did you watch the chiefs game or not?

No, but I also wouldn't base my opinions on a player based on one game at the start of the season. I've seen plenty of him before. Unless he's grown 5 inches and fifteen kilograms, he shouldn't be at 8 for the Wallabies anyway. If he's suddenly become amazingly awesome, that's great, but still start him in his natural position.

Mog The Almighty wrote:

Bindi wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:

towny wrote:Samu is closer to Vanmuellen than any Oz number 8. Have you seen him this year?

No, but I've seen plenty of him before. He's 6 foot tall and 100kg, fudge I was bigger than that playing amateur rugby. I'm sure he's a good player, and there maybe a place for him in the Wallabies (I would suggest as utility back-rower off the bench), but I don't want him starting at number 8. I want a legitimate line-out jumping option and a bruiser. Not another short flanker playing out of position that has been the bane of Australian rugby for almost two decades.

(edit: before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I know 6 foot is pretty tall, but not for an international number 8 ).

Did you watch the chiefs game or not?

No, but I also wouldn't base my opinions on a player based on one game at the start of the season. I've seen plenty of him before. Unless he's grown 5 inches and fifteen kilograms, he shouldn't be at 8 for the Wallabies anyway. If he's that awesome, start him in his natural position.

I think he's a utility bench player at test level.

TranceNRG wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:

Bindi wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:

towny wrote:Samu is closer to Vanmuellen than any Oz number 8. Have you seen him this year?

No, but I've seen plenty of him before. He's 6 foot tall and 100kg, fudge I was bigger than that playing amateur rugby. I'm sure he's a good player, and there maybe a place for him in the Wallabies (I would suggest as utility back-rower off the bench), but I don't want him starting at number 8. I want a legitimate line-out jumping option and a bruiser. Not another short flanker playing out of position that has been the bane of Australian rugby for almost two decades.

(edit: before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I know 6 foot is pretty tall, but not for an international number 8 ).

Did you watch the chiefs game or not?

No, but I also wouldn't base my opinions on a player based on one game at the start of the season. I've seen plenty of him before. Unless he's grown 5 inches and fifteen kilograms, he shouldn't be at 8 for the Wallabies anyway. If he's that awesome, start him in his natural position.

I think he's a utility bench player at test level.

... and it's not as if that's a bad thing. It's extremely useful and helps make a good, balanced, flexible team.

Mog The Almighty wrote:

TranceNRG wrote:
I think he's a utility bench player at test level.

... and it's not as if that's a bad thing. It's extremely useful and helps make a good, balanced, flexible team.

Agreed, he's a good player that can make an impact when the opposition is tired and the game opens up in the 2nd half.

TranceNRG wrote:

Brumby_in_Vic wrote:Unless he got Aussie citizenship while at the Force, Louwrens isn’t eligible for the Wallabies. He played for Kinetsu in 2018/19.

Why wouldn't he be eligible? He's been in Australia since he was 16.

He went back to SA at 18 after school then came back to Australia two years later. He reset his residency by leaving the Force to go to Japan uncapped. Ruaridh Murphy did something similar at the Brumbies applied for dispensation but was refused by the IRB. They wouldn’t include his school years as residency as he went over to Exeter as a senior player then came back to Australia.

BTW I regard McDermott as much a foregone conclusion at 9 as Koroibete is at 11.

And the reason I don't mention Banks is that all his Australian appearances have indicated he is what Chris Latham was for the first 6 years of his career - brilliant at SR level but unable to transition to international level, so that he looks 5 metres slower once he puts the Wallaby jumper on. He could get more chances but he has had enough already - time for someone else to show what they can bring to it and I would say Campbell, who is playing even better at 15 than he did on the wing, if that's possible.

Banks hasn't even been given a proper crack of the whip IMO. Too early to judge. He's class.