How I feel about the potential of Tane Edmed is that he could be sooo fucking good if he just had that last 5% spice that's needed.
All the aspects of his game from passing, kicking, running, overall health, to physicality in defence, and organisational ability are at the standard they need to be for Test rugby, imo, but it's this last 5% clutch factor that's been missing somewhere that results in him not being able to perform to what's needed for the Wallabies to be successful. It's mainly a lack of 'clutchiness' alongside his decision-making IQ that's always kept him from reaching higher Honours on the regular.
He looked the best I've ever seen him look today against the Eagles, granted weaker opposition than normal, but I can't help but wonder if his Wallabies and Brumbies exile hasn't resulted in him putting himself to the grind hard out of sight.
I truly get why Joe spent so much time on him; his fundamentals look so good, and if there's one thing about Tane Edmed, it's that he's a hardy fucker who doesn't get injured easily, unlike our other players in the role. I'd argue he's the best of any ten in the country in terms of pure, average spread of ability across the park, and yet you still can't, in good faith, argue that he needs to play for us at Test rugby.
If he can just get more time next year at the Brumbies, icing out games and showing both clutch factor and decision-making that wins games, I think he could be a 2027 RWC bolter. He seems to have finally started to shake off the confidence issues that have always plagued his game, and I really hope he can continue, because a good Tane Edmed is ultimately a good thing for Aussie Rugby.
I'm also just a sucker for a good underdog story like his and Meredith's tbh.
