The number of Waratahs on Dave Rennie’s ‘player of national interest’ list has surged on the back of their Super Rugby AU form.
Eleven of Rob Penney’s charges are on the latest PONI list, as published in the Sydney Morning Herald, up from three at the start of the year, with only the Brumbies (14) better represented. There are ten Rebels and nine Reds, and unsurprisingly no members of the winless Western Force.
In addition to Michael Hooper, Rob Simmons and Jake Gordon, all of whom were on the April version, young Tahs Will Harrison, James Ramm, Jack Maddocks, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Angus Bell, Tom Horton, Ned Hanigan and Lachie Swinton have been pencilled in by Rennie as potential Wallabies for when he announces his first squad of the year once Super Rugby AU has concluded.
Of particular interest are the position some players are listed under. James O’Connor is considered an inside centre option despite playing at flyhalf for the Reds, and Matt To’omua is among the no.10s even though he’s lined up in the midfield the last two weeks.
Reece Hodge’s days as a Wallabies winger look to be over, with the Melbourne utility’s name listed at both inside and outside centre. Ramm, Tom Wright, Filipo Dauguno and reigning John Eales medallist Marika Koroibete are the four wide men.
In addition to Hodge, there are three other players in two positions: Johnson-Holmes (tighthead and loosehead prop), Hanigan (lock and blindside flanker) and back-rowers Pete Samu and Harry Wilson (both blindside flanker and number eight).
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Allan Alaalatoa has been listed solely as a tighthead prop despite calls to move him to the other side of the scrum to allow him and Taniela Tupou to both start, and Reds captain Liam Wright is only among the opensides alongside Hooper and club teammate Fraser McReight, even though he’s switched between no.6 and no.7 this year.
Inexperienced Rebel forwards Pone Fa’amausili and Trevor Hosea are included in the 44-man group, two of 17 uncapped players on Rennie’s list.
While Test matches are yet to be officially confirmed for 2020, New Zealand is expected to host some form of international rugby around November, either a full Rugby Championship or just the Bledisloe Cup.
Australian players of national interest
Tighthead props: Allan Alaalatoa, Pone Fa’amausili, Jermaine Ainsley, Taniela Tupou, Harry Johnson-Holmes (also loosehead)
Loosehead props: Angus Bell, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Harry Johnson-Holmes (also tighthead)
Hookers: Folau Fainga’a, Connal McInerney, Jordan Uelese, Tom Horton
Locks: Ned Hanigan (also blindside flanker), Rob Simmons, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Trevor Hosea, Matt Philip, Cadeyrn Neville
Blindside flankers: Lachlan Swinton, Ned Hanigan (also lock), Harry Wilson (also number eight), Peter Samu (also number eight), Rob Valetini
Openside flankers: Michael Hooper, Liam Wright, Fraser McReight
Number eights: Harry Wilson (also blindside flanker), Pete Samu (also blindside flanker), Isi Naisarani
Scrumhalves: Nic White, Jake Gordon, Tate McDermott
Flyhalves: Matt To’omua, Noah Lolesio, Will Harrison
Inside centres: James O’Connor, Reece Hodge (also outside centre), Irae Simone
Outside centres: Reece Hodge (also inside centre), Jordan Petaia, Tevita Kuridrani
Wingers: James Ramm, Tom Wright, Marika Koroibete, Filipo Daugunu
Fullbacks: Jack Maddocks, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tom Banks
MitchO
Guest
Nah mate. Lolesio and Harrison on are the list in indelible ink. They both need to be around the squad so the coaching brains trust can keep them working hard. I have no doubt that they both have the talent for test footy. Now it's about experience and work. Rennie and his crew can keep them close and keep them working.
MitchO
Guest
Ferris was close a few years ago. He'd still be close. He's another good Ozzie 7. Pity he got hurt the other week.
MitchO
Guest
Stander is (in my view) too slow for 7 so is competing with a glut of 6s and 8s. So we all like him but I think lineout ability may disqualify him just. Not saying he's worse than the competition I just think he'll miss out when the music stops. I think Ralston will be a Wallaby one day and I like that he's pretty fast but he's only 20. Dauganu and Wright are both pretty quick and are putting their hands up as young wingers who are over 20 years old. Petaia looks a quality winger too so those three and Korobeiti are the guys we are looking at with Korobeiti having some work to do. LeeWarner could surely only really be considered as a 6. He should be too short to be a test lock. Slipper and Sio will be thankful that the Tahs moved HJH to tighthead. Big Pone is a lone way short of test ready (if he ever gets there) because unless or until he can scrum he'll have a lot of problems. With Lolesion injured it has to be the Toomua, JOC, Harrison show. JOC being my most dangerous 12 - JOC gets points scored. So it'll be Toomua and Harrison covering 10.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Also, running and tackling are pretty relevant stats. Can't score tries without running and can't stop tries without tackling.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No it doesn't. The scoreboard shows the Brumbies as a whole were better than the Waratahs as a whole. Why would Hooper have to be defending Samu when he crashed over? Is Hooper supposed to mark up on the entire opposition back row? You're whole argument is the Brumbies won, so Hooper can't have played well. Which is dumb AF. Hawthorn won the 89 GF. Guess that means the scoreboard shows Gary Ablett the Norm Smith Medal winner who kicked 9 goals had zero effect on the outcome.
Spraggsy
Guest
Well the scoreboard shows he had zero effect on the outcome even with those totally irrelevant stats you posted.He is superfluous to requirements. Samu was far superior to MH. That magnificent try where he beat 3 defenders hooper could only dream of acheiving. Where was the 6 million dollar man when Pete crashed over? on the other wing?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That's Hooper who had more runs, run meters, tackles and pilfers than his opposite number, had more runs, run meters and tackles than McCaffrey and had more tackles and pilfers than Samu? He statistically outplayed his opposite number in every facet. Outplayed McCaffrey on attack and defence and had 1 pilfer vs McCaffrey's 2, and outplayed Samu on defence and over the ball.
Gary
Guest
I guess lineout stats mean nothing when you are getting smashed by the Brumbies in every other measurable aspect ? PS Horton was very very poor in the lineout on the weekend.Tahs had no answer to the far superior Brumbies players.
Spraggsy
Guest
As i said the above are not test standard including Hanigan which was proven correct by the Brumbies dismantling them.Hooper again was MIA. The players i said would maybe be considered had absolute shockers ( Lachie Swinton HJH Gordon and Harrison )
Scott
Guest
And that is the way it will stay after the brumbies bullied them, although Bell is not test Material yet and Hooper is a continual failure in gold. I`d have zero Horratahs personally.
Ringside
Roar Rookie
I rate Blythe a lot - I still think he's raw for testy footy but the bloke is a big frame and gets through a ton of work. I also love his aggression in contact. Has all the makings of a test quality player and I look forward to his development. Maybe 2021 will be his breakthrough season.
Dean
Roar Rookie
I really like Hegarty as a player, he is solid at Fullback, but Jock has really stood out at Fullback. Hegarty is better in the 10-12 Channels.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Don’t think he is. I read that he moved to Oz in 2016. If that’s right he’ll only be eligible in 2021. Article on the RA website said the PONI is just players they are doing additional tracking on. Rennie made clear it is not a potential Wallabies list. Some players on it are not under consideration for selection this year, others not on it are in mind for selection.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Agreed on both, though I reckon part of the problem there is the coaching. Neither Hodge nor Magnay can run anything remotely like the sort of tricky line that is the staple of a good 13. Hodge at least brings his support play to the position, but that position isn’t the cornerstone of the Rebel’s attack like it should be.
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
Does this mean Daugunu is already qualified for the Wallabies?
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
I was really impressed with Ralstons defence last weekend. It really showed me he is more then just a finisher and will go well one level up in Test Rugby
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
I don't understand Thorns playing Hegarty at 15. It was good to see him on the weekend slot in at 10 and JOC at 12. JOC has done very well at 10 but it would be good to see him slightly wider more often to see him square up players one on one.
Redbeard
Roar Rookie
Does the author of this piece want to reconsider post Saturday nigh’s Tahs-Brumbies game? Or is that the PONI list now contains over 100 players (as it should!)? Twenty from each franchise?
Tooly
Roar Rookie
It’s not a matter of who Rennie has penciled in. It’s a matter of who he has ignored . Also the blind inclusion of players who failed in WC and who dragged have down to 7. Where are Ready, Stowers, Standers, Lee-Warner, Miller, McCaffrey, Blyth, Paisami. No need to exclude anyone at this stage. Eventually pick the best possible players in their best positions. No need to pick development players . Their opportunities will come in time through injuries.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Campbell and Maddocks don’t tackle. End of section .