Fewer Brumbies, only three Tahs and Suaalii on the bench. The Wallabies team I would pick on form

The Brumbies might be the biggest losers from an inconsistent campaign that ended with a record-breaking 66-12 hammering by the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night.

There is no room for Nick Frost in my Wallabies team for the first Test against Ireland on July 4 (full team below). That Test is fast approaching and too many Brumbies are playing nowhere near the intensity required.

Perhaps fatigue is a factor for some (particularly Rob Valetini and Ryan Lonergan), but the only genuinely Test-level footy from Australian players over the weekend came from the Reds in a brief period against the Chiefs in Hamilton.

The Reds were eventually repelled, but the blokes who were involved in that period of intense combat should have won some brownie points with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. Big lock Josh Canham isn’t in the Herald’s 23-man squad, but he’s making a late push.

Daugunu in, Suaalii on the bench

What to do with $5 million man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii? Put him on the bench for the first Test.

He hasn’t had enough rugby this season, but the biggest factor here is the outstanding form of the Reds’ Filipo Daugunu. The latter has played in a number of positions this year and influences the game, no matter where he plays. He bumps blokes out of the way, tackles and jackals, and has an underrated kicking game.

If the Wallabies team is picked on form, Daugunu will start against the Irish and Suaalii will get the chance to impact the game from the bench. Schmidt has lamented the pending loss of Josh Flook to an overseas move, but it would be difficult to select Flook with his longer-term future still uncertain.

Reds giant in line for July Tests

Reds prop Massimo de Lutiis has been one to watch recently after the stir caused by Ulster’s interest.

The conclusion? The 22-year-old is actually a proper rugby player, not just a gym performer with a big bench press. He has obviously used his size well in the set-piece, but he has impressed with his ability to carry and even offload the ball when the opportunity presents itself.

You can’t be a one-trick pony in Test rugby. Players who are strong but offer little else won’t last, so it has been highly encouraging to see de Lutiis promote the footy and play his part with the Reds in attack.

Taniela Tupou has played just 10 times for Racing 92 this season, and missed their win against Toulouse on Sunday (AEST). It’s time to get the next generation started.

Schmidt still sweating on overseas stars

The good news for the Wallabies is that Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper have played big roles in Exeter’s charge into the play-offs in England’s PREM competition.

The bad news for the Wallabies is that achievement has extended their season for at least another week. Exeter play defending champions Bath next weekend, and Schmidt will be hoping that Ikitau and Hooper emerge unscathed.

Ikitau, in particular, will be vital for the Wallabies’ hopes of performing well in the first three Nations Championship Tests. Australian rugby lacks a bit of depth in those midfield positions.

Australian coach a rising force

The Western Force won four of six games against Australian rivals this year, and Simon Cron’s stocks are on the up.

Interestingly, Cron has only extended his contract for another year in Perth, until the end of the 2027 season, and that possibly suggests he is a coach who wants to go to the Test arena at some level and is thinking about his future.

Cron has built something from the ground up at the Force – he didn’t necessarily inherit a great situation – and the calibre of player he has been able to attract to Perth, and their subsequent improvement as players – across the board – is a big feather in his cap.