Tuesday 19 May 2026.
Good Morning GAGRs and welcome to another Tuesday. It’s a milestone one for me today, my 100th post including all starts including 2023 world cup games, some other internationals, and more recently covering Tuesday’s news. It has been a lot of fun to be part of this community and to contribute a bit along the way.
A slightly different article this week, instead of looking at a team of the week based on the weekend’s games, I’ve done some analysis of the teams of the week from previous rounds of Super Rugby and will present my take on a Wallabies squad for the inbound test matches.
RaWF’s view – Wallabies squad performers.
In terms of some transparency, what I did was look at my teams of the week from week 1 to week 13, and then added up the number of times that players appeared in those team of the week, to arrive at the top performers in each position. I combined the lock positions, ad the wing positions. This may be offensive to the hard working locks and the artists who ply their trade on the wing, as I assume there are differences between 4 and 5, and 11 and 14, but the players do seem to swap a bit, so I wanted to count total appearances. There were then some players like Filipo, and Tristan Reilly who have played multiple positions, I have added up all of their appearances in one position.
Then I did some sensitivity analysis by allocating 2 points to a starting spot and a single point to the bench players to see if that made a difference. More on that later.
So, here we go.
Prop – Best performers were Tom Robertson (7 points) and James Slipper (5), with Tom Lambert and Aidan Ross on 4 points. When you add the starter / bench sensitivity, Slipper and Robertson were still the front runners. With Slipper retired, hopefully Angus Bell will be available.
At hooker, it is Billy Pollard and Brandon Paenga Amosa, each with 5 points, followed by Ethan Dobbins (4) and Josh Nasser (3). Matt Faessler, Ryan Lonergan, and Richie Asiata all on 2 points. Again the starter sensitivity doesn’t change the top 2. My view is that Faessler is down the list due to injury and now a dysfunctional reds lineout.
Prop – At prop, it is Zane Nonggorr (5 points) followed by Dan Botha and Rhys van Nek on 4. This side of the scrum has the most names featured and it feels like rotation has played a part in the scoring. Allan Alaalatoa is down on points due to long term injury, but he’ll be in the Wallabies squad for sure.
Locks – 2 clear standouts here with LSL on 11 points (21 if starting counts for double), and Jeremy Williams on 7 points, ahead of Nick Frost, Matt Philip, and Lachlan Shaw on 5 points. Again the sensitivity doesn’t change the positions.
Locks – See above. Also worth noting that Nick Frost missed the early rounds and is coming into form.
Blindside Flanker – 2 clear standouts here with Bobby V on 10 points (20 for the starter sensitivity), and Joe Brial on 6 points. Others that features were Nick CdC, and Angus Scott Young. Seru Uru has had to play lock a lot, but could do the job at 6 internationally. Seru had 2 points.
Openside Flanker – Fraser McReight (7 points) leads Carlo Tizzano on 4 points, with Luke Reimer on 2, and a bunch of players with 1 point.
Number 8 – It is tight at the back of the scrum with Charlie Cale on 6 points, and Harry Wilson on 5 points, with Pete Samu in the mix on 4 points, and Vaiolini on 3 points.
Scrumhalf – Ryan Lonergan is way out in front on 10 points (17 with the starter sensitivity), with Kalani Thomas on 6 points and Henry Robertson on 3 points.
Flyhalf – This is interesting because it is Ben Donaldson on 8 points, followed by Declan Meredith on 5, and Carter Gordon and HMP on 3. Donaldson has 3 of his appearances off the bench with the versatility to play 15 as well as 10.
Wings – this is most definitely the most congested position with 12 players appearing in the team of the week, and the top performer Filipo Daugunu (7 appearances) also appearing at 13. So, Filipo with 7 points, and Max Jorgensen (6) have the edge on Darby Lancaster, Dylan Pietsch, Sid Harvey (all 3 points). Corey Toole and Tim Ryan offer pace and elusiveness, and Lachie Anderson has been good either side of an arm injury.
Inside Centre – Hunter Paisami leads the way with 6 appearances, followed by Isaac Henry, who also appeared at 13. David Feliuai, Hamish Stewart, and Bayley Kunzle all scored 2 points.
Outside Centre – This is where it gets a little confusing, Filipo appeared a total of 7 times, but only once at centre, Josh Flook got 6 appearances, and Isaac Henry 4 (across 2 positions). Of the others, we saw Kadin Pritchard, Joey Walton, Hudson Creighton all with 2 points, and Tristan Reilly went well at 13 with limited game time. Notably, JAS doesn’t feature due to injury and form.
See 11 above.
Fullback – Jock Campbell leads the way with 6 appearances, followed by Mac Grealy on 4, Sid Harvey on 3, and Andy Muirhead and Tom Wright on 2.
Another consideration might be player of the round. Fraser McReight and Filipo got the nod twice for dominant performances.
I’m sure that there will be discussions about my Reds bias in the summary above, and I am ok with that.
A possible Wallabies Squad
If I was picking a Wallabies squad based on the data above, it would be interesting, One of the challenges is that I don’t know how many players they are going to pick, and what the distribution is going to be, but assuming 3 players for each front row position, 4 locks, 6 back rowers, 3 halfbacks, 3 Flyhalfs, 4 centres, 5 wingers and fullbacks, means 31 players, so let’s have a crack.
Loosehead – Tom Robertson, Tom Lambert, and Aidan Ross, though someone might miss out if Angus Bell get’s called back.
Hooker – I’d go with Pollard, BPA and Faessler, but want to have Ethan Dobbins and Josh Nasser training just in case.
Tighthead – Zane Nonggorr, Dan Botha, and Allan Alaalatoa, would get the nod, maybe harsh on van Nek, but 7As deserves a spot. Not sure how well Tupou has been playing in France, but he’d probably be in the mix as well for sheer power and his experience.
Locks – LSL, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, and Matt Philip are the picks of experience and performance. Lachlan Shaw and Darcie Swain should be in the mix to get the experience (Shaw) and because of his experience and partnership with Williams (Swain).
see above
Bobby V and Joe Brial.
Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano.
Charlie Cale and Harry Wilson.
Ryan Lonergan, Kalani Thomas and Tate McDermott. I know Tate hasn’t played yet, but is due back soon, and…
Ben Donaldson, Carter Gordon and Declan Meredith. Noah might be worth looking at, but would likely cost Meredith his spot.
See 14 and 15 below.
and 13. David Feliuai, Hunter Paisami, Isaac Henry, Len Ikitau. JAS hasn’t been able to play more than one game, and while that contradicts my position on Tate above, I can live with it.
see above
and 15. Filipo Daugunu, Max Jorgensen, Dylan Pietsch, Jock Campbell, Mac Grealy, and Tom Wright.
see above.
If we are talking about first picked, it looks like this I think.
LSL, Bobby V, F.Mac, and Filipo. Courtesy of Rugby Australia.
A personal note.
In terms of milestones, I hit two this week, 100 articles on GAGR, which has been fun and I am glad that I have been part of the community and contributed.
On a different, more personal, and sadder note, I lost my Dad this week. My father David passed away on Tuesday evening last week, the 12th May. He was 84 years old (or young really with his outlook on life) and is survived by his wife of 60 years, my two sisters and I, our combined 9 children (his grand-children) and two great grand-children. He had a brief stay in hospital and palliative care and was surrounded by family and friends in his final days. I know that I was blessed to have 53 years with him in my life, at the moment though, it is terribly sad, but I do have my family, my extended family, and friends for support.
I am reminded of my favourite joke, one that my Dad told me 25 years ago I think.
Did I tell you about my friend who is an agnostic, dyslexic, insomniac?
They lie awake at night wondering if there is a dog.
Dave (Dad) and Mike.
As always, thanks for reading this far and look forward to the discussion in the comments.
Cheers
RAWF