look at the success of the Brumbies who tend to take player rejected from other states to understand how effective their professional pathways are….

That old chestnut about taking rejects….. gimme a break Olly….! Brumbies have an extensive network of recruitment from NSW and Qld schools…. they are all over the NSW state junior championships and have been cherry-picking young talent for years. The Hooper brothers are a classic example but I could name plenty more. I’ve got sons who were in junior rep programs and I’ve seen it in action. The Brumbies have a great setup, no question, however they have almost zero player pathway development until they hit the senior professional level.

I get that Dusty, and for the record, nearly 70% of the NSW population live in the greater Sydney area, so being Sydney-centric is just a reality based on the numbers. But I was specifically referring to players being produced by the Brumbies pathways you spoke of. Despite producing some all time greats that we are all aware of, I can only see a few who are regularly in matchday squads that came through said pathways. Lonergan x2, Corey Toole, Connal McInerny, Rory Scott, Tom Ross? Any others?

What pathways are you talking about? Brumbies pretty much just recruit from Qld, NSW and everywhere else. The % of SR players produced from the ACT is quite low… maybe half a dozen in the ACT squad and barely any playing in other SR teams.. In fact I’d argue that Vic and WA produce more professional players than ACT..

So let me get this straight….

RA is trying to destroy the Rebels by not giving them money that they don’t actually have….?

Please borrow some money, then give it to us as a grant so that RA has the debt, not us? Do I have that right?

Okay… sounds fair…..

Very simply Qld gravy train riders self interest over the obvious greater good of the game…. Don’t care if the ship sinks as long as I drown last….. sad.

There aint no interest like self interest…………. It’s clear and obvious that this is the only strategic way forward for Rugby in Australia. There are no franchises in Australia that are consistently profitable or successful. Pushback from any of the SR teams is coming purely from those who won’t get a seat on the bus or may have to move to the back of the bus…. So much for putting rugby first…

NSW produce 50% of the talent but have 20% of the contracts….
ACT produce 2% of the talent but have 20% of the contracts.
That’s the real issue, but thanks for your long winded anti NSW contribution

Sadly all the keyboard SJWs and faux Walleroo supporters on here and social media do not actually support them. They do not attend the games, buy the tickets year on year, buy and wear the merchandise, watch them play on tv etc. This is how the revenue is generated by which they could be funded. If they actually supported them with their actions they could be paid not just the same, but more than the men. Over to you keyboard warriors. Put your money where your mouth is.

He can kick goals from 60m out and punt further. Strong defender. Just depends what you want from your FB.

From memory he played a few games there for the rebels last year. I look at him as a similar skillset profile to B Barrett (obviously not in the same class btw). Tall, strong, very quick, great kicking game, gutsy defender. Has the best long flat pass in Oz rugby…. he fires bullets either side. I think he’d make an excellent FB until he slots in at 10 next year. Who else ticks all those boxes???????? No-one I can think of, that’s for sure.

Jack D’s kicking is excellent, passing good, defence and speed unacceptable. Eddie will not pick poor defenders unless he has no other option, which in this case he will have. Carter Gordon will 100% be picked in front of him. I also agree that Wright and Mark N are superb in attack, their D has been poor. I expect Eddie will pick a back three of Marika and Jordan P on the wings with Kellaway at FB. I wouldn’t be surprised if he even threw in Carter G or Hodge as the backup FB.

Predictable commentary from the ne’er do well axe-grinding community before a day in the job….. well played!

Wow, 100% tip the Brumbies… You are all aware that Debreczeni is the starting 10? I predict this won’t end well for the Brumbies….

Considering Borthwick was Eddies forwards coach for a decent spell it sounds like Borthwick is really just getting his excuses in early…. Under promise and over deliver.. If they don’t produce he can just blame Eddie. He’ll probably go into politics after this job.

Agree AAA would be an excellent choice either as captain or co-captain. The only question would be if TT does get fit and starts consistently playing to his ability he would likely start in front of Alan. This presents a problem as does Slipper with Bell possibly moving past him as well. The captain really needs to be unchallenged in his First 15 selection with 80 minutes ideally.

However I think it’s unlikely we’ll see Lonergan, Lolesio and White play a big part in the Wallabies going forward. Lonergan is probably 5th choice hooker at best behind Porecki, Faingaa, Feleti K and I expect Pollard will be in front of him at the Brumbies soon as well. Then we have Latu back in NSW plus BPN likely to return after RWC. I also expect White to drop back behind Tate and Jake G. Lolesio may be thereabouts but Rennie doesn’t seem sold on him with possibly one or two of the younger brigade of Donaldson, Edmed, Carter, Will Harrison plus Pasitoa, Kuenzle etc will move past him. I could be completely wrong of course..

IMO best wallaby player ever… any position any era..

If you look at the team through a SR non parochial lens, (Almost impossible on a site like this I admit) the selections all actually make a lot more sense. Tough luck to the Reds, but if fully fit they could well have had TT and JOC in the 23, along with Suliasi V potentially soon)
Rennie seeking powerful set piece strength to counter the English scrum L/O and maul.
Hence the Brumby focus on Swain, Neville, Valetini and AAA, plus the bench. Porecki by far the best Aust hooker with superior accuracy in the lineout and a powerful scrummager. Back row power with Leota and Valetini gives aggressive defence and carriers, both in front of Wilson in that regard.
Gordon in front of Tate for a few clear reasons… Bigger, stronger and superior kicking game, more versatility, can cover wing and potentially FB in a pinch. Was also in career best form against some of the best NZ teams.
I’m personally a big fan of Tate and Harry Wilson, but for this game, I feel DR has gotten it right.
The backs almost pick themselves except for Banks v Petaia. Can make a strong argument for either option.

I agree there is a lot of merit in this (theoretically) that could be solved with central contracting to strengthen all of the teams and having our best player in the starting 23’s
Brumbies, too heavy on Hookers and Locks, light on inside backs.. McInerny and Neville on the list.
Tahs, too heavy on back row and Flyhalf, need an XXL lock and a XXL LH prop. Swinton, Sinclair and one of Harrison and Donaldson or Edmed on the transfer list
Rebels too heavy on Props, light at F/H and centre. Pone and either Gibbon or Orr on the list
Force, need big ball runners in the centres and props. Understocked everywhere.
Reds, too many o/s backs and centres, also need a decent LH and potentially hookers. Petaia is really the square peg there, along with
As a Tahs fan I’d be looking to do this…
A straight swap with a flyhalf for a LH prop with the Rebels, say Harrison for Pone.
A tall backrower for a Lock with the Brumbies, say either Swinton/Harris or Rahboni for Neville or Frost
Reds swap Petaia for Sio with the Brumbies.
Twiggy buys Kerevi for the Force plus a couple of NZ imports to fill the prop slots like the big TH from the crusaders that grew up in WA – Tamaiti Williams.
McInerney from Brumbies goes to Reds or Rebels.
Liam Wright goes to Force as a 7

I was always a big fan of Jordy Reid, I thought he’d given it away due to some sort of neck or back injury…. I though he would have been a great back-rower converted to Hooker… probably would be playing for the Wallabies now if that was the case….

The Hubris of the NZ rugby fan, like death and taxes…

So let me get this straight…….

1 – Rebels ditch their starting TH for a player they don’t need in Wright? Have you watched Brad Wilkin lately? Keeping Hardwick out of the starting team and in the conversation as to being the Rebels best player so far this year. Hard Pass from both teams..

2- Toomua for Perese? Toomua a massive injury risk at the end of his career…. not on anyone’s wish list, with Perese already the incumbent centre back up for the Wallabies and lighting it up every week. Tahs on the rise, Rebels a continuing disappointment. This one only supported by the Rebels coaching staff….. Tahs would laugh it out of the office. Another hard pass.

3 – Pollard and Sio for Vunivalu? Reds need a decent loose head and the brumbies have too many hookers, so there are problems to be solved for each team but Vunivalu? Brumbies still need Sio btw, he gets plenty of game time but is not in great form. Brumbies are flush with o/s backs, Banks, Mogg, Muirhead, Wright etc. Brumbies don’t need to do any deals as they are solid from 1 – 15. Another hard pass.

4 – I can explain why Mark Nawaqa isn’t starting, he misses most of his tackles. Tizzano is being left out on merit as Gamble is killing it until Hooper returns. So no deal there either. Tahs have plenty of BR depth and smallish locks, only a big unit like Rodda is an upgrade, not FLW

I understand where you’re coming from and the idea has great merit, but these examples don’t do the idea any justice.

If I’m putting my money where my mouth is I’d be looking at the following

Tahs short on XXL Locks and TH prop. Could also use a hooker upgrade. Backs are solid, possibly a winger so Vunivalu would have a suitable home.

Reds Short on back up flyhalf and LH prop.

Brumbies pretty much ok.

Rebels need a back up flyhalf / IC or Fullback – Have strong depth at TH prop.

Force need a big centre as Kahui is on borrowed time.

Tahs to swap either Will Harrison or Tane Edmed for either Cobus or Pone with the Rebs. Solves big problems for both

Alternatively

Tahs to swap either Will Harrison or Tane Edmed for Vunivalu, also solves big problems for both and gives the Tahs an NRL marquee player in Sydney, which is another marketing win.

Centralised contracting should hopefully sort all this out if/when it ever happens

We braved Parramatta stadium in the rain last week and had a good night, but very little undercover seating at Leichhardt is a bridge too far in this weather….. keen live rugby fans, but not prepared to brave open air seating in this drenching weather with kids and so little parking in close proximity to the oval.

Very salty from MB considering the Fiji boys were dishing out plenty of niggle themselves, not to mention getting plenty of leeway from our favourite Qld ref Nick Berry…. a couple of blatant knock-ons, offside etc. nothing to whinge about in reality. They’ll get better every week , but so will the Tahs with Hooper/Hanigan and RWV still to return to the team.

Fair enough, I shouldn’t have called you a clown. Apologies.

Clearly I was referring to the fact that you consider he hadn’t done enough of the hard yards in Super rugby. In reality though, not many have done harder than him, 162 games of super rugby, 95 test matches and probably another 50 across professional games in UK and France. There’re obviously a plenty of morons with money in World Rugby, because they seem to keep wanting him to play for their clubs for big bucks.

Neither Rennie or Marinos, (or DC for that matter) have made any promises to pick him. All have expressed their respect for his commitment to come back and compete for half the wage he would be on elsewhere.

Posters on here agree and disagree about anything and everything that gets a run here, I wouldn’t be taking too much comfort from that mate. Maybe you should ask yourself why coaches across the world are continually throwing money at him to play for their club? But feel free to write him off…. whether he makes it back in the gold or not, he’s got plenty to be proud of, not least putting his country before his pay check. Wish we had a few more like him….

Hard yard of Super rugby? Only played 162 super rugby players you clown. Only Stephen Moore and Nathan Sharpe have played more super games for Australian teams, so by your logic there are only 2 players that qualify as doing the hard yards…. what’s the benchmark mate?