Wallabies power rankings: The Aussies in the mix to play under Joe Schmidt
For the players striving to pull on the Wallaby gold in 2024, they must impress the third Wallaby coach in as many years, and this time it’s Joe Schmidt.
The pragmatic Kiwi has not name-dropped players like his predecessor, but he has given some clues as to what he is looking for.
“You don’t jump into decisions around players in a short-term window… I like to take a longer-term view and have a decent opportunity to have a look at players,” Schmidt told reporters at the launch of the British and Irish Lions Tour tickets in Sydney last week.
“What we need to be able to demonstrate is that we can be really consistent,” Schmidt said.
Work rate, consistency and technical proficiency are the three big pillars which Schmidt has thus far outlined.
In terms of overseas selections, Schmidt hasn’t ruled them out, but because he is leaning towards picking Australian based players if it were to be a coin toss, no OS players will be listed.
“What I would say is that players who are playing in Australia will be a priority for us. If that is supplemented by a few players playing overseas, then that may well be the case,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt will take career form into account but has said 2024 is a “clean slate” for players to press their claims.
So, without further ado, here are the top three players in each position who are currently ticking Schmidt’s checklist.
Loose-head prop: Angus Bell, James Slipper, Alex Hodgman
Player to watch: Matt Gibbon
Bell’s ball running and physicality are the best of any Australia LHP, and they are skills which are now being complimented by a steadily improving scrummaging game.
James Slipper is the old bull who is ever reliable, and the dark horse is newly eligible Alex Hodgman. The 31-year-old former All Black is adding experience and an impressive all-round game into the mix.
Hooker: Matt Faessler, Dave Porecki, Lachlan Lonergan
Player to watch: Billy Pollard
Faessler has quickly emerged as Australia’s premier hooker. His lineout throws are true, his work rate is excellent, and he has the brains and brawn to mix it at test level.
Porecki retains a high standing despite not featuring yet this season due to injury, due to his elite lineout throwing and work ethic.
The two Brumby boys having impressed early in the season.
Jordan Uelese’s struggle to nail his lineout throws keeps him out of the frontrunner’s group.
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— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 27, 2024
Tighthead prop: Allan Alaalatoa, Sam Talakai, Zane Nonggorr
Player to watch: Taniela Tupou
Despite not having played any rugby for the last eight months, Alaalatoa’s experience and form before his horrific Achilles injury in the July Bledisloe sees him as the premier tighthead in the country.
Talakai is the experienced campaigner while Nonggorr is the young bull, both are impressing with high work rates and mostly dominant scrummaging records.
Tupou’s wait-and-watch status is because he is not stringing together big minutes.
Nevertheless, when fit and firing Tupou is one of the best tightheads in the world and should he find his groove and fitness levels, he’ll shoot up to pole position.
Loosehead lock: Nick Frost, Ryan Smith, Darcy Swain
Player to watch: Josh Canham
Traditionally there has been a distinction between the two locking positions with the loosehead lock (no.4) usually being a rangier player who is an adept lineout operator.
Frost leads the competition for lineout takes and has played almost every second of SRP 2024. His work rate plus his frame of 2.05m and 120kgs give him the right ingredients for test match footy.
Then there’s the toiler in Smith who’s work rate is immense but it remains to be seen if his 1.97m will be enough at test level.
Tighthead lock: Lukhan Salakai-Loto, Cadyrn Neville, Izack Rodda
Player to watch: Miles Amatasero
The tighthead lock is the bigger of the pair, who carries hard, gets his team over the gain line and provides the grunt at scrum time.
Salakai-Loto’s form in 2024 has been patchy but is bringing some edge to his big ball carrying as well as sitting third overall in the SRP competition for lineout takes.
Rodda is yet to play in 2024 due to injury, but his size of 2.02m and 123kgs has him as the only real test match sized tighthead lock.
Should he find form and stay injury free upon his return he may well climb the rankings.
Blindside flanker: Liam Wright, Ned Hannigan, Tom Hooper
Player to watch: Rob Leota
At test level the no.6 is needed to be a good lineout option as well as a brawler who gets through the dirty work at breakdown time.
Wright is second for lineout wins in the SRP competition and has one of the best numbers for attacking rucks attended. He has bulked up since he earned his last Wallaby cap in 2020.
Hannigan is showing similar workhorse qualities as well as one of the highest dominant carries figures in the comp.
Quick step, quick run and quick thinking from @Reds_Rugby 💭#SuperRugbyPacific #FORvRED pic.twitter.com/YhzqOOAHab
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 23, 2024
Openside flanker: Fraser McReight, Carlo Tizzano, Charlie Gamble,
Player to watch: Luke Reimer
Based just on form in 2024 there is not much splitting the top three.
McReight leads the attacking and turnover stats and Tizzano is the busiest defender.
McReight is the incumbent and goes into this list as the favourite, but Gamble is showing some aggression and steel not seen in recent seasons.
Whoever has the biggest impact against Kiwi opposition throughout the season may reveal who has what it takes at test level.
Number 8: Rob Valetini, Harry Wilson, Langi Gleeson
Player to watch: Will Harris
As last year’s John Eales Medallist Valetini retains his spot on-top.
His ability to consistently dent the line with his ball in-hand has him in the lead.
Despite playing his part excellently in the Reds’ systems, Wilson must show he possesses defensive starch and the ability to hit a high number of rucks if he is to be considered alongside Valetini.
If Gleeson improves his ball handling skills, he’ll be in with a chance.
Halfback: Nic White, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott
Player to watch: Teddy Wilson
The Western Force look a better side with White on the field, his game management and service are elite, hence he retains his spot as the incumbent.
Lonergan’s core skills are among the best in Australia and the fact he can goal kick may be the deciding factor, depending on which flyhalf peaks Schmidt’s interest.
McDermott is unmatched in the running game, but his passing is not on the same level as the other two.
Flyhalf: Noah Lolesio, Ben Dondaldson, Carter Gordon,
Player to watch: Tane Edmed
Flyhalf is the most hotly debated position in Australian rugby, and for good reason.
All candidates are younger than 25 and each has a unique skillset.
Lolesio is the most experienced with 17 Wallabies games under his belt. His goal-kicking numbers are the best of the bunch at 83 per cent and has iced games at test level before from the tee.
Similarly, he and Donaldson have shown the best in-play kicking, with Donaldson’s running game impressing.
Gordon’s passing game is a cut above the rest while Edmed’s toughness and flat-at-the-line attack means he warrants discussion.
Inside centres: Hunter Paisami, Lalakai Foketi, Hamish Stewart
Player to watch: Joey Walton
Paisami is the clear frontrunner, with his physicality unmatched by his peers, running over backrowers with ball-in-hand and belting players of any position backwards in defence.
Foketi needs minutes after his horror neck injury while Stewart is showing a rich vein of form.
Outside centre: Len Ikitau, Izaia Perese, Josh Flook
Player to watch: Filipo Daugunu
Despite having a slow start Ikitau’s sound stats and great career form means he just pips Flook.
However, Flook is killing it: averaging just under a metre more per carry, triple the line breaks and 10 per cent higher defence percentage than Ikitau and Perese.
Perese’s lethality and power in attack is unrivalled and keeps him in the race.
Wing: Mark Nawaqanitawase, Corey Toole, Dylan Peitsch, Jordan Petaia, Andy Muirhead, Mac Grealy
Player to watch: Suliasi Vunivalu
Although there has classically been a distinction between the left (no.11) and right (no.14) wingers, their rolls in the modern game are practically the same.
But for discussion’s sake they will be listed as possible pairings.
Nawaqanitawase’s power matched with Toole’s raw speed would make for a lethal combo.
Peitsch and Petaia would equally cause opponents headaches, posing as a more robust duo.
Muirhead and Grealy are toilers who will always play for the benefit of the team.
Fullback: Andrew Kellaway, Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen
Player to watch: Jock Campbell
Kellaway is the clear front runner with 25 defenders beaten, almost three more than the others as well as the most line breaks and least turnovers. Those stats only make clear his keen understanding of when to inject himself into the line for maximum impact.
Although he is only 19, it’s clear for all to see, Jorgensen’s athleticism and raw talent is a cut above the rest, the only thing Schmidt must consider is how to best manage Jorgo’s workload.
Wright’s success in Wallaby gold may depend on his ability to tone down the mercurial and awaken the Zen required at test level.
Total top three club count
ACT Brumbies: 13
Queensland Reds: 11
NSW Waratahs: 9
Western Force: 5
Melbourne Rebels: 4
Total 42
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments