It’s not an ordinary year for Australian rugby players, it’s a British and Irish Lions year, and the stakes are high.
It is honestly a once in a lifetime opportunity, few players are at the peak of their powers for 12-years, and even fewer manage to be their nation’s best in their chosen position for over a decade.
The rarity of these tours means this crop of Australia players, this crop of Wallabies, must work harder than they’ve ever worked before to ensure Wallaby coach, Joe
Schmidt, has no other choice but to pick them.
Throughout the season, stocks must be taken, and performances must be compared and measured, and that’s why it’s crucial to have a power ranking so punters can
follow along.
WALLABIES POWER RANKINGS AHEAD OF SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC ROUND-1
Loosehead prop
Top three: Angus Bell, James Slipper, Isaac Aedo Kailea
Player to watch: Aidan Ross
The status quo stands as of the last game of the Autumn Nations series but that’s not to say there aren’t a bunch of talented props out there in SRP who can push their
claim.
Bell is the most devastating with ball in hand is growing nicely in his scrummaging, Slipper is the experienced grizzly who knows Test match rugby better than any other Aussie player, and Kailea is abrasive on both sides of the ball as well as show his prowess at the scrum.
Strong scrummaging is non-negotiable against the Lions; hence although he’s not playing for an Australian side, Ross is eligible for the Wallabies and has signed a
multi-year contract with the Queensland Reds starting after this season, he could a smoky for the Lions.
Hooker
Top three: Matt Faessler, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Dave Porecki
Plater to watch: Nic Dolly
The rake position at the Wallabies is wide open apart from the starting spot, that belongs well and truly to Faessler.
Paenga-Amosa was a physical boost to the Wallabies pack, while Porecki was nailing his fundamentals and work-rate before his devastating ankle injury.
While Dolly is mentioned here as the player to watch, he is by no means alone in this space because every super side has capped or Australia A rakes in them, the
competition for a Wallaby jersey will be hot.
Tighthead prop
Top three: Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Zane Nonggorr
Player to watch: Harry Johnson-Holmes
Tupou and Alaalatoa are firmly in a league of their own, the quality drop off after these two is stark.
The vast difference in quality is not so much because of talent, rather because a lot of the other options are still very young by international tighthead standards.
The competition for that third spot in the power rankings is wide open and should Johnson-Holmes’ injury not be as bad as initially thought, he could push his case
nicely.
Loosehead lock (No.4)
Top three: Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Ryan Smith
Player to watch: Josh Canham
Frost and Williams came on in leaps and bounds in 2024 and they are entirely in a class of their own as well.
The engine on both of them, as well as their loose-ball play make them a very dynamic duo.
Smith was unlucky to miss out on a Wallabies jersey after a stellar season last year, if he can deliver the same again whilst working on his carry and lower tackle height,
there’s no reason he wouldn’t be firmly in the mix for higher honours.
Canham has x-factor and excitement about him, but he must remember to do the dirty work before being a baller in the wider channels, he also has several players
nipping at his heels.
Tighthead lock (No.5)
Top three: Will Skelton, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Sam Carter
Player to watch: Miles Amatosero
Although not playing in Australia, Skelton still holds this top spot firmly and will continue to do so until the rest of the tightheads start being their side’s bouncers.
LSL grew into the year in 2024, but the Reds will need him to hit the ground running at Ballymore, they lacked a proper enforcer, and LSL must fill this role.
Carter is mainly here for his experience and large frame and knowing how to use both to their best effect.
Should Amatosero learn how to harness his massive body and up his work rate as well as lineout proficiency then there’s no reason he can’t feature in gold against the
Lions.
Blindside flanker
Top three: Rob Valetini, Seru Uru, Liam Wright
Player to watch: Nick Champion de Crespigny
No other players come close to Valetini but Wright and Uru both have keen lineout abilities and instincts which are strong enough to force a change of the Wallabies
backrow composition.
Should Wright get his body right then he could pick up right where he left off in a Wallaby jersey.
Champion de Crespigny is exactly the kind of player for Test match footy, how he bosses the contact zone will be interesting to watch.
Openside flanker
Top three: Fraser McReight, Carlo Tizzano, Luke Reimer
Player to watch: Rory Scott
McReight and Tizzano lead the way by some margin, and even then MCreight is a full stride ahead of his Perth counterpart due to his attacking and linking abilities.
Reimer must show he can offer more than the pilfer and Scott must show he can cut it with the biggest packs in SRP.
No.8
Top three: Harry Wilson, Charlie Cale, Rob Leota
Player to watch: Will Harris
Wilson made the no.8 jersey his own in 2024, having very little genuine competition after his club captain, and Wallaby, Wirght went down injured and opened the door for Schmidt to move Valetini from no.8 to no.6.
In 2025, the competition for spots is going to a new level, with Cale itching to get back into the conversation, likewise for Leota, who had been injured for much of last season.
Although Harris spreads his time across the backrow for the Western Force, he is the right kind of body for the Test arena.
Halfback
Top three: Jake Gordon, Tate McDermott, Nic White
Player to watch: Ryan Lonergan
It’s clear the status quo of the halfbacks has remained unchanged for the last 12- months, but should Lonergan find a rich vein of form then it could throw the rule book right out the window.
Although Gordon could work on his speed of delivery, McDermott on his core skills, and White on his involvement in matches, they are all still the best Wallaby options at the time of writing this.
Although not near the Wallaby radar, Teddy Wilson from the Waratahs is set for a breakout year.
Flyhalf
Top three: Noah Lolesio, Tane Edmed, Tom Lynagh
Player to watch: Ben Donaldson
Lolesio is lonely at the top and although he has played some good rugby over the past year, there isn’t really anyone challenging him for his spot.
Edmed was a late inclusion to the Wallabies Autumn Nations Series and had a short debut, Lynagh barely featured, and Donaldson saw scant minutes as well.
The challenge for all of them is to put Lolesio under pressure with strong seasons.
Inside centre
Top three: Hunter Paisami, Hamish Stewart, David Feliuai
Player to watch: Lalakai Foketi
Paisami appeared to have the no.12 shirt locked down before his injury and although Stewart stepped up admirably, the Wallabies noticeably lost some physicality when Paisami was out.
Feliuai is the same type of abrasive inside centre which could help during the Lions series, but he must prove it this season.
Finally, Foketi has been somewhat forgotten as injury plagued his 2024 season as well as some poor discipline.
He can rocket back into contention if he can string some performances together for the Waratahs.
Outside centre
Top three: Len Ikitau, Joesph-Aukuso Suaalii, Josh Flook
Player to watch: Harry Potter
Ikitau is world-class but he’s had a tendency in the past two Super season to fly under the radar during the club season only to explode back on the scene in Test
colours.
Suaalii must be considered a genuine no.13 option after his debut performance while Flook is still a promising prospect, however, he must show that his physicality can go to another level in 2025.
Then there’s Mr Potter, although he played for the Wallabies on the wing, he has spent considerable time at outside centre and should be considered an option.
Wings
Top six (for both wings): Andrew Kellaway, Filipo Daugunu, Dylan Pietsch, Max Jorgensen, Lachie Anderson, Darby Lancaster
Player to watch: Tim Ryan
Kellaway is a lock-in due to his experience, faultless play and utility, while Daugunu offers presence in a backline which at times can lack physicality.
Pietsch and Jorgensen both have their individual strengths that are of Test standard and neither looked out of place by the end of their stints for the Wallabies.
Everyone wants to see what the ‘Junkyard’ dog can do after his breakout season in 2024; can he snake a Wallabies jersey against the Lions?
Fullback
Top three: Tom Wright, Jock Campbell
There are a bunch of players who can play fullback but apart from Wright and Campbell there are few specialist options.
Wright is not so much seeing off competition from Campbell as he is from Suaalii and Kellaway so he can’t rest on his laurels.
Campbell was quality when he made his Wallabies debut in 2022 under Dave Rennie, should he rediscover his top form then he could force himself into Schmidt’s
plans.
