Ireland v Wallabies

NTA

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

nostrildamus

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.

Catogrande

@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?

Bovidae

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.

NTA

@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

nostrildamus

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?

ARHS

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

barbarian

@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.

barbarian

@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.

mariner4life

@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.

barbarian

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.

mariner4life

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.

NTA

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

OomPB

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

nostrildamus

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!

NTA

Wallabies:

James Slipper (142 Tests) – Bond Pirates
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (19 Tests) – Southern Districts
Taniela Tupou (57 Tests) – Brothers Rugby
Nick Frost (24 Tests) – Hornsby Lions
Jeremy Williams (9 Tests) – Wahroonga Tigers
Rob Valetini (51 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
Fraser McReight (24 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies
Harry Wilson (c) (21 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils
Jake Gordon (28 Tests) – Canterbury Juniors
Noah Lolesio (28 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
Max Jorgensen (6 Tests) – Balmain Wolves
Len Ikitau (38 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (3 Tests) – The Kings School
Andrew Kellaway (38 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
Tom Wright (36 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles
Angus Bell (35 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
Allan Alaalatoa (79 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (40 Tests) - Randwick
Langi Gleeson (13 Tests) – Harbord Harlequins
Tate McDermott (40 Tests) – Flinders Rugby Club
Tane Edmed* - West Harbour Juniors
Harry Potter (1 Test) - Moorabbin Rams

NTA

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

MiketheSnow

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

mariner4life

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

darylmitchell

@mariner4life about 2 years past prime mate - sentimental selections for POM, Healy & Henderson who should've been put out to pasture already.

The Silver Fern

Ireland v Wallabies