Hooper, Ikitau left out of Wallabies squad in major World Cup shocks

[SNOB]

I quite like the selections. Like most I’m stumped at big Willy being made captain. Not sure about the hookers but also not sure if we really have anyone better atm. I think the biggest thing this squad will have to worry about will be communication and not panicking when the pressure gets turned on by the opposition. I’m going to put a few bob on them to go all the way.

[GIGS20]

I quite like the selections. Like most I’m stumped at big Willy being made captain. Not sure about the hookers but also not sure if we really have anyone better atm. I think the biggest thing this squad will have to worry about will be communication and not panicking when the pressure gets turned on by the opposition. I’m going to put a few bob on them to go all the way.

Re the hookers I was pretty critical of Faessler's selection for the Bledisloe, but he shut me up fairly quickly. Did well and proved that he can mix it at that level. Uelese is another Vunivalu selection for mine, hasn't shown any promise any time he's been given the opportunity and being selected based upon some KPI that exists only in Eddie's mind.

Willy getting selected is, in my mind, disappointing but not surprising. He's been the one constant in the team and whether he's performed or not is only to be judged by the viewer. Eddie clearly considers that he's doing a bang up job at whatever he needs to do. I don't see it, but here we are.

I can only hope that his selection of McReight as the only true fetcher will be informed by the fact that the team has only looked really threatening at any time this year when he's been playing. I'm not providing big ups for Fraser in that comment, it's simply an observation that without a fetcher we put no pressure on breakdown ball at all and allow teams to hold the ball for dozens of phases. Do that with any of the good teams and they will burn you. It's possible to play effective footy without a fetcher, but I haven't seen the current Wallabies do it at all.

[shasta]

Well I have some concerns around the lack of depth @ 10 but there are a couple of emergency options. I'm pretty happy about the new broom attitude in the selections. Some older players were given a last shot - and didn't take it. I thought we'd have been a chance to not make it out of the group stage if nothing changed. Particularly pleased that Eddie saw what a lot of us have for some time - the potential of IF-L.
Really nothing to lose in RWC 2023 so who knows.
The selections of the A squad will be interesting.

[Sheikh]

Skelton is highly thought of in Europe and has won the European Cup 4 times in 6 years (twice each with Saracens and La Rochelle). He must be doing something right.

[shasta]

Skelton is highly thought of in Europe and has won the European Cup 4 times in 6 years (twice each with Saracens and La Rochelle). He must be doing something right.

I think lots of us still remember his Waratahs days. He's obviously turned things right around -and that is a character reference from where he was. Sounded good in the Stan interview yesterday and I liked the honest answeres compared to the usual cliched ones.

[bootsetal06]

I think Eddie has been watching/ listening to Campo …… get the wide glory boys in action …. hence the selections . I’m not sure of the rules but could Eddie be looking at Lolesio as a possible injury call up if necessary ( he’s in France playing ) ….. This group has piqued my interest!

[Sheikh]

I think lots of us still remember his Waratahs days. He's obviously turned things right around -and that is a character reference from where he was. Sounded good in the Stan interview yesterday and I liked the honest answeres compared to the usual cliched ones.

And when the Waratahs contacted Skelton about potentially returning to Sydney he turned them down. He was concerned that returning to Sydney and the culture there (I got the feeling both team culture and outside distractions) would bring back his bad old days and weight problems (playing at 150 kg - he's more like 125-130 kg these days). He also spoke of far superior facilities and support in Europe as compared to Sydney.

[Burgs]

I reckon Donaldson will bench every match unless he starts (maybe a start against Portugal)

There is literally no other option to back up 10 and donno could play 15 and maybe at a pinch 12 and wing. I think it's the only possibility to cover the important positions in case of injury.

It would be leftfield, but I would be comfortable with any of the 3 #9's having to cover #10 as injury cover.
Certainly not by selection, but especially White has a pretty handy kick other than box kick...

[shasta]

Given that lack of depth @ 10, I wonder if Pasitoa could be an Aus A bolter? Edmed?? JO'C??? If the worst came to pass, you'd want a specialist in camp.

[Garry Owen]

Given that lack of depth @ 10, I wonder if Pasitoa could be an Aus A bolter? Edmed?? JO'C??? If the worst came to pass, you'd want a specialist in camp.

JOC is already in camp covering Kerevi's injury so he would have to be next in line

[wholetruth]

Isn't it sad that, from what I can see, there is no story in The Worst about three Force players, albeit two new ones. But surely IFL deserves something.
Why am I not surprised.

[shasta]

JOC is already in camp covering Kerevi's injury so he would have to be next in line

That's good. Even though he was overlooked, we could do a lot worse. Plenty of big game experience.

[GIGS20]

Fwiw the injury protocol with world cup is the injured player needs to become unavailable for the remainder of the tournament. World rugby must approve the injury before a player can be replaced, but I'm pretty sure that's based upon a submission from the team doctor, so there's be some leeway there.

Apparently world rugby get participants to nominate an initial 50 player squad outside of which nobody can be selected as a replacement and then the 33 is selected from that squad.

Unsure whether that is post Stephen Donald's whitebait callup, because surely nobody would put 5 flyhalves in their 50 man squad would they?

[shasta]

..... surely nobody would put 5 flyhalves in their 50 man squad would they?

When you think of how many centres have been considered "second 5/8's"; it's probably happened more often than not. We have none really, apart from JO'C and possibly Petaia. But I don't really remember him filling in @ 10.

[Burgs]

Fwiw the injury protocol with world cup is the injured player needs to become unavailable for the remainder of the tournament. World rugby must approve the injury before a player can be replaced, but I'm pretty sure that's based upon a submission from the team doctor, so there's be some leeway there.

Apparently world rugby get participants to nominate an initial 50 player squad outside of which nobody can be selected as a replacement and then the 33 is selected from that squad.

Unsure whether that is post Stephen Donald's whitebait callup, because surely nobody would put 5 flyhalves in their 50 man squad would they?

Pretty sure an uppercut from the new Captain would see most "double digits" successfully sidelined for the rest of the Tournament?