Purely theoretical, but if you were the head coach/director of rugby for the Waratahs, with the aim of a 5-year rebuild post RWC2027, what signings/dismissals would you make as part of a long-term rebuild? Including players that are already locked in, what would an optimal Tahs rebuild squad look like, within a reasonable budget
I saw recently that he is leaving Kintetsu Liners in Japan, as I can't find that he has signed anywhere as of yet. Tahs desperately need a good 10, and they only have Max Burey on their books for 2027 so far. Really hoping he comes back to the Tahs, he's a class player who had a rotten run with injury for a while. He spent 707 days out injured, and when he came back in 2024, he was playing good footy. Pure speculation, but I really hope he does return.
I know this is old news, but I don't know how to feel about it. Mainly because I'm sure the Tahs and RA coughed up a pretty penny for him. Crichton has been RA's "will they, won't they" pretty much since he left school, and he's finally pulled the trigger. (largely prompted by RWC27, I'm sure) However, it's too little too late if you break it down. From what I can gather, AC will play 12, it's where he played in school, and the Tahs desperately need another centre, considering Joey Walton is leaving (more on that later); however, I think the consensus among at least many casual rugby fans is that AC will walk into the Wallaby 12 jersey. However, I just can't see this happening. Before I go deeper into this, I just want to preface that I'm a huge fan of Cricton and so glad he is coming to play Rugby, and I absolutely hope he carves up.
So I'm going to be honest here, I just can't see Crichton being a better 12 than Len Ikitan come RWC2027. Len is an absolute lock for the 12/13 Jersey IMO, he was for sure our best player in 2025, and IMO has been the best Wallaby back in the 2020s. He is either the best or second-best centre in the World, either at 12 or 13, which is ludicrous, but it's an accurate assumption of how good he is. So, basically, that means one of the two possible centre positions that AC could play is effectively rendered obsolete.
That leaves the 13 Jersey, which there is a lot of discourse about, particularly here. I strongly believe that JAS is the Wallabies' best option at 13 and that he should continue to pair with Len at 12. He's only gonna get better with time in that partnership, and I think his role in the team should be more fluid than it currently is. Let Len defend at 13 and let JAS operate as a second fullback in attack. Unfortunately, I also don't see Crichton doing better than JAS is currently doing. JAS has a much more well-rounded skill set and is much more athletic and younger. I dont see AC being a better defensive 13 than JAS, yes, he is a physical presence, which is an attribute that could benefit the Wallaby back line, but JAS cannot be rightly criticised for lacking heart in contact, the guy literally tries to run through a brick wall every time he gets the ball.
Finally, I want to touch on the possible downsides of this deal. I can't be sure, but I'm almost certain that this deal has forced Joey Walton's or even the Waratahs hand to head to France. I can't be sure whether this deal has affected the likes of Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook's decisions to leave, but I think it would to a degree. Both those guys are effectively 3rd and 4th pick for centre for the Wallabies, and seeing AC is coming to the Tahs with the intent to play at RWC2027 wouldn't have helped their case to stay in AUS.
To go back to Joey Walton, I know the guy gets a lot of hate on this page, but I think he is criminally underted. Yes, he probably won't start for the Wallabies for the same reason as I have mentioned above, but he's such a hard worker on both sides of the ball, and he's experienced. This may get me flamed, but I think the AC is a net loss for RA, unfortunately, considering that for him to end up at the Tahs, Joey Walton (who has been a rock in the revolving door that is the Warathas in recent years) has to leave, and also RA are defintely going to end up paying far more for AC than they ever would for Walton, not even because walton is 26 where AC is 30. I'm not saying that Walton is better than AC, but I think AC will offer similar traits to what Walton offers, is 4 years older and will cost way more and probably not even be in the Wallabies starting 23. In my eyes, RA would have been far better off spending big on a young 10 at the Tahs, Joey Walsh or Isiah Katoa. A position that has been terribly managed for many years, and the Tahs are in shambles at the 10 Jersey.
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I have the same issue with this as i do with the Lomax ordeal, im stoked to see him play and i hope he carves up but agian hes expenisve (despite still taking a massive pay cut) and the force already have a pletheora of good outside backs who are kind of being starved of game time as it is. However id love to see both Lomax and AC become world beaters and help the Wallabies Lift a world cup but both would have to leap-frog many deserving and inform players to do so
From my understanding, the guy is out with a Knee injury from the 17th of January, but I can't seem to find any press on his recovery. Sadly, the guy has played only two games so far for Montpellier so far, both in January. It's just sad to see. He was absolutely carving up in 24/25.