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Matt Toomua wants to be the starting Wallabies 10
By Online Editors
Melbourne Rebels playmaker Matt Toomua isn't beating around the bush - he wants to make the Wallabies No.10 jersey his own in 2020.
Toomua says the best way to clinch the up-for-grabs Australian jumper is by leading the Rebels to a maiden Super Rugby finals berth.
Five-eighths Bernard Foley and Christian Lealiifano have left Australian rugby which leaves the door wide open for 52-Test Toomua who replaces another former Wallabies No.10, Quade Cooper, in Melbourne.
Toomua and Fijian international Frank Lomani have replaced Cooper and Wallabies centurion Will Genia in the halves and will start their season-opener against the Sunwolves on Saturday.
"A few (Wallabies) incumbents have gone so there's definitely an opportunity there but in saying that there's a lot of good 10s around the country," Toomua told AAP.
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"There's a lot of excitement in Australian rugby for a few reasons and that's probably one of them.
"First, I've got to play well here at Rebels and keep the 10 here but you know I'm not that naive to think there's not an opportunity there.
"It's obviously a goal of mine as I'm sure it is for the Brumbies 10 and Waratahs 10 and Reds 10, but I'm looking forward to hopefully getting a shot there."
Lomani admits he needs to be more vocal after the Rebels were thrashed in a trial against the Brumbies last week and is looking to learn off Toomua.
"I need to improve my game management and I need to be more aggressive with my leadership - I need to command and be bossy," Lomani said.
"I like playing alongside Matt Toomua - he's helped me a lot on running lines and I like how he's so commanding.
"We've got a fair idea on how the (Sunwolves) play. We'll use our big ball carriers and we have some good players like (Toomua) who can control our game."
This year marks the first time the Rebels have the same captain, coach and CEO for consecutive seasons in the club's history.
"Credit where it's due, I think our recruiting team have done a really good job," Toomua said.
"A lot of the other teams are probably feeling the exodus post World Cup a bit more than we are, we've got a fair bit of stability there, particularly with our coaches."
- AAP
Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made a surprise cross-code switch:
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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