Super Rugby AU is well in flight and has seen both some good and ugly things.
The Waratahs, once Australia’s premier rugby team and region, are the whipping boys of this competition. Packed with youngsters with talent and a load of big names going overseas, their season was always going to be tough.
However, they look in no place of winning or coming close to a respectable scoreline. The Force have been brave and admirable in defeat, and have a lot more steel in defence. The Rebels have always been the middle-ground team in Australia, and with a League-dominated area, they are more than competitive with Matt To’omua and Reece Hodge starring in some close performances against the Brumbies and Reds this season.
Now the big boys the Queensland Reds and the ACT Brumbies are two teams that can find some success in the trans-Tasman competition. The Reds have a blockbuster attack with James O’Connor still showing he has unbelievable skill at 10, Suli Vunivalu, Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami showing a lot of attacking flair and will no doubt feature in Wallaby gold this year. The Reds have Alex Mafi, who is quickly becoming Australia’s premier hooker.
A back row of (injured) Liam Wright, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson is (in my eyes) one for the future which could be the best-balanced back row the Aussies have fielded in years. Come 2023 and injury permitting, they and Michael Hooper should have enough battle experience to help the Wallabies in France.
Seru Uru is also a lightweight backrower who has put in some industrious performances and is another one to watch. The reigning champions the Brumbies established themselves as the best forward-orientated Australian outfit. Pete Samu and Rob Valetini are playing out of their skins while Noah Lolesio is gaining more confidence before becoming a Wallaby 10.
Len Ikitau and Irae Simone complement themselves with Simone’s defence and Ikitau’s athleticism leading to hope that Ikitau could get a cap this season, and Simone won’t be thrown into the deep end against a full-blooded All Black team. Lachlan Lonergan is also one uncapped player who has been impressive.
Overseas, there is a lot of Australian depth. Sean McMahon, Samu Kerevi, Harry Hockings, Isaac Rodda, Rory Arnold and Piers O’Connor are a few of the many names impressing weekly and putting themselves up for recall.
France are still a top-four Test team. However, they have some weaknesses that the Wallabies can exploit. After 60 minutes bar the Wales game, the French tired out substantially leading to Ireland pegging it back to 13-15 and England and Scotland scoring late tries to down them.
France have a lot of beef in a pack with the likes of Bernard Le Roux, Paul Willemse and Romain Taofifénua, Cyril Baille, Swan Rebbadj, Julien Marchand and big boy Charles Ollivon giving France the most intimidating and biggest pack on par with the Argentinians and South Africans.
These big bodies will tire out. France’s bold selection of a 6-2 split against England was so under-utilised and in the end, mismanagement costed them in a tight game.
I would want to see the likes of Taniela Tupou, James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa (some of the best scrummagers in the world) lay into the French once a glimmer of fatigue emerges. This leads onto the scrum and set-piece, another area where France can be beaten. Their line-out was marauded by the Irish and their scrum ultimately beaten by the Scots – Cyril Baille and Mohamed Haouas are relatively inexperienced, no matter how talented they are – Baille had a great tournament but his scrumming does need polish, while Haous against Tupou is a battle of hotheads I want to see.
If the Australians can win this scrummaging battle, they are a step closer to beating the mercurial French. The line-out is maybe a stretch too far, given how small Australia are in comparison to Ireland and France. French rugby embodies the idea of having a big back-rower as a line out option – Ollivon and Dylan Cretin are the candidates for this role – a selection of Harry Hockings and Rory Arnold could be a way to finding some disruption of their system.
The conundrum is that there are not as many big back-rowers in Australia – Lukhan Salakaia Loto, Lachlan Swinton and Fergus Lee-Warner could be tasked with this role of competing at the line-out.
1. James Slipper
2. Alex Mafi
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Trevor Hosea
5. Matt Philip
6. Harry Wilson
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Sean McMahon
9. Tate Mcdermott
10. James O’Connor
11. Tom Wright
12. Matt To’omua
13. Hunter Paisami
14. Suli Vunivalu
15. Jordan Petaia
16. Folau Fa’ainga
17. Angus Bell
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Liam Wright
20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
21. Harry Hockings
22. Nic White
23. Reece Hodge
This was a hard XV to form and there are a number of players I would like to see feature in this series and Rugby Championship. Fraser McReight, Lachlan Swinton, Isa Naisarani, Fergus Lee-Warner, Samu and Valetini are not too far from featuring in this side. This harsh selection does show that Australian rugby is getting depth in the back row and other areas.
With a potential relaxing of overseas selection policies to maybe five to six players, could see a huge boost in a side that has bags of potential for 2023. At the minute, McMahon and Hockings are two big units needed to tackle the task of the French. This could easily change to Samu Kerevi Rory and Arnold depending on form and injury.
Try Hard
Roar Rookie
Why would you keep with Hooper. McReight is as good, but McMahon is twice the player. JOC to be captain. White no 9. Loto 2nd row. Uru replacement. No 11 Koroibete. Petaia has a lot to prove..not ready for the Wallabies.
Drew Armstrong
Guest
Does any player ,irrespective of country of birth and who plays Super rugby in Australia ,can become a Wallaby.??
Unders
Roar Pro
Banks just doesn't back himself at International level. Dulin, who had been playing awesomely for a while, had an error-strewn game against Scotland and costed them a 4-1 record. At 5'9 he is someone to target before France play Ramos, Bouthier and co there.
Toehill
Roar Rookie
That backrow is absolutely tiny. Wallabies need to get Liam Wright into 7 (his natural position), which allows two big units at 6 and 8 (for me Valetini and Wilson at this stage). Wright is also a quality third lineout option. Hooper and McReight are not, and McMahon is just as short. I wouldn’t have Vunivalu or Petaia anywhere near the 14 and 15 jerseys. Where the hell is Koroibete? For me at this stage: Slipper ? AAA Philip Hosea Valetini Wright, L Wilson White O’Connor Koroibete To’omua Paisami Wright, T Banks ? Sio Tupou Salakia-Loto Swinton/Daugunu Samu McDermott Hodge Kerevi, McMahon, Arnold to be considered if fit and available.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I like Lolesi at 10
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The 7 can be any size but 6 and 8 should be able to compete in the lineout. Angus Scott-Young wouldn't go astray at 6 or 8. 194 cm and 108 kg
Peni Volavola
Guest
It's time to shift the captaincy from Hooper to JOC.Hoopers record as captain is terrible.Just let him play it will probably help him in his last few test matches.Koroibete has to be my first pick and Suliasi Vunivalu and Daugunu to be in the other wing if they are fit.Seru Uru because of his versatility he can play any position in the backrow.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
I believe it is this season Rhys.
Sherry
Guest
Good read as usual, Unders. If France brings their A team, we'll need a guy to combat Bruce Dulin and that would be Banks. Watching him shred the Tah's defence, he's my WB 15. Petaia? In for Paisami.
jeznez
Roar Guru
:laughing: well as I indicated, if Paenga-Amosa had made the squad THEN he’d have made my list!
GentleGeorge
Guest
Wow :shocked: What do Paenga-Amosa, Salakai Loto, Hosea, Paisami & Petaia need to do to make your list Jeznez?
jeznez
Roar Guru
G'day Unders, I reckon there are only 10 names I'd place confidently in the 23 at this stage, and you only agree with 6 of them. Barring injury I expect: 1. Slipper 3. Alaalatoa 6. Valetini 9. White 10. O'Connor 11. Koroibete 12. To'omua 17. Bell 18. Tupou 22. Lolesio I see the other 13 spots very open. Guys that I thought might be shoe ins like Paenga-Amosa aren't even in the group.
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
weak back row 3..chuck valetini or pete samu in there..
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Do you know when he's due for the Force SMI? Is it from next season or is he coming back late in SR AU?
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I would like to see a few overseas based guys who are not (yet) contracted for any future seasons back in Aus brought back but I am just not sure they will. I like your selections though, there’s plenty of potential in many of the guys but I also think it’ll be win now in a lot of respects for Rennie whilst also developing his charges. My 23 is follows and I note I have only selected guys who are currently playing in Super Rugby AU, I do expect guys to be brought back who are contracted and on sabbatical e.g. Phillip, Hooper: 1. Slipper 2. BPA/Faingaa 3. AAA 4. LSL 5. Timani 6. Valetini 7. Hardwick 8. Wilson 9. White 10. JOC (c) 11. Koroibete 12. Toomua 13. Paisami 14. Petaia 15. Banks 16. Sio 17. Uelese 18. Tupou 19. Hosea 20. Samu 21. Tate McDermott 22. Lolesio 23. Hodge
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Thanks for the thoughts, Hosea won't be in the starting team but Rodda almost certainly will, subject to performance or injury.
Greysy
Roar Rookie
On the wing I'd have all of Koroibete, Wright, Daugunu, Petaia, Muirhead and even Hodge, Banks and Pincus ahead of him at the moment. He obviously has a greater ceiling than a number of those players, but he looks a long way from hitting it yet.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
The front row will be fine , even Rennie can’t stuff it up. Samu, Valentine and Loto at 6,7,8. Plillip, Hosea. 4,5. White, Lolisio, JOC Captain, Ikatoa , Koriebeti, Wright, Banks. Bench. Fines , Petaia, Stewart. 3 Front rowers . Wilson , Neville.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Enjoy being ranked at 6 with this confusion.
Rubbish Surf 69
Roar Rookie
I think Vunivalu is highly overrated. He hasn't done anything significant in SRAU yet. I'm sure he has the athleticism and talent to get better, but for now Marika is still miles ahead, as are many of the other Aussie wingers