With the Super 14 heading toward a grandstand finish, I thought I would look beyond to see what awaits the Wallabies in the first four matches of their winter campaign.
On the face of it there does not seem to be much that will trouble the Wallabies. They play the Baa-Baa’s for the first time on Australian soil, then the notoriously poor travelling Italians, and then the French who will pose the toughest test in the last of the Wallabies month long schedule.
Game 1 Baa-Baa’s – SFS, Sydney 6 June
Those who thought these games meant nothing to the players perhaps re-assessed that opinion after the last time the Wallabies and Barbarians met. The match was one that was as hard fought as any test match and was a credit to the both XV’s.
It is difficult to see the Baa-Baa’s circa 2009 being the same sort of opposition as last year due to the fact they play England at Twickers the Saturday before and then have to fly to Australia and play again within a week….I wonder if anyone will have a crack at Boonie’s record?
It will be interesting to see the approach Maestro Deans takes with naming his team. I’d expect it to be nothing more than a second string line-up but it could provide some interest with the back-up hooker, outside centre and fullback position in the first choice squad being well and truly up for grabs. Will he opt for this game to be a trial for the contenders?
The most important thing out of this game will be that Rocky Elsom gets through it unscathed!!
Game 2 Italy – Canberra Stadium, Canberra 13 June
Game 3 Italy – Docklands Stadium, Melbourne 20 June
The Italians have had an awful 12 months only winning one game, albeit in Argentina, against the Pumas. Although they may have pushed the Aussies in Padova, they lost winnable tests against a combined Pacific Islands team and the Pumas at home, and were well and truly shut-out in the Six Nations.
Italian rugby is a coaching graveyard but Nick Mallet has recently been re-appointed and given unprecedented powers in order to try (again) and restructure Italian rugby. I guess the hope is that this stability and mandate will allow him to make improvements but in reality, there is too much work to do.
These two game should be little more than nuisance value for the Wallabies but at least the powerful Azzuri scrum will give a decent indication of the scrummaging prowess of our Piggies
The challenge for the notoriously slow starting Wallabies will be to play at their level and not get pulled down the level of a far weaker opponent. All too often the Wallabies struggle with games like this and it would be nice to see them put the Italians well and truly to sword like the All Blacks seem to do against inferior teams.
Game 4 France – Stade de Australie, Sydney 27 June
It is being widely reported that the Frogs will send a full strength team for the first time after years of Southern Hemisphere neglect. That may not count for much as the French players that do make it down under will no doubt be looking forward to an end of season break after what is an incredibly long season.
After a disappointing Six Nations, the French will be looking to re-establish themselves on their Antipodean odyssey and they play the All Black’s in two tests before finishing their tour with a one-off in Sydney.
France’s Six Nations efforts were pretty patchy as they looked to play an expansive style of rugger, but more often than not retreated back to the comfort of Northern Hemisphere stodge.
Although they will undoubtedly be the sternest test the Wallabies face before the Tri-nations, after being softened up by the All Black’s in the previous two weeks, it would be hard to think they will seriously trouble our lads.
Hopefully Deans will know who his best XV is by this game and will play them against the Frogs so we will get a true indication of the improvements made over the past year. The Wallabies will no doubt be hoping for a decent test to blow away any cobwebs before they face the All Black’s at Eden Park in mid-July, and then take on the Lion-taming Saffer’s two weeks after that.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2962 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=2962">11 Comments
France will get about as much change out of this tour as they did the last, no matter who they send. Three games, three losses.
I expect that the baa-baas will be a great game with the selections as you say (Cooper+Beale+Tahu with O’Connor at full-back???) but the baa-bas will be simply too knackered to really have a hope.
can’t see beale or o’connor playing against the baa-bas. Pretty certain they’ll be at the U20 world cup.
baa baas game will be the hardest. there is more talent there than on the current wallabie team. still, as you say the travel and lack of prep will equal a australian loss.
Looks like the wallabies will have a few games to tinker with their lineup, should be good. Sorry owen, that didn’t really make much sense.
Once again, big mismatches coz it’s gonna be 4 out of 4 for the Wallabies :)
The real climax is the Springboks’ test series against those useless British & Irish ‘Kittens’ where I’m sure the Boks will kick the real crap out of them 3-0!
Bwahahaha!!!
time to get out the pick your wallaby squad poll matt!
Deans is set to name any time now randomly.
I think he’ll leave Giteau out and say, “well he’s probably our best fullback and that’s my policy.”
Fuck me, how knackered are the Frogs gonna be?
Man, that’s a big poll. Will have to put a weekend aside….
make it easier – do a ‘pick the bench for the first test’ and a ‘pick those who miss the squad cut’ poll :)
If you go on the basis that the squad will have two of every position it shouldn’t be too hard. If you have a poll with 3 of each position and you vote for who to leave out.
seems the best way and most logical way of doing it but for some reason wallaby management will pick 1 backline and the rest forwards like every other time.
Gower playingfor Italy, should be interesting.
I anticipate in Canberra, the italians could threaten the Wobblies. Probably not win, but threaten. Particualrly after the wobblies play the Baa Baas who will throw the ball around, then the staunch itlaians arrive with a territory and Forward game.
Frogs will probably be the indication of the team for the 3N’s.
I think the British and irish Pussies will have a strong showing against South Africa. I think it might be 2-1 to someone, but cant decide who. The Lions have been trainng for a while already and Sth Africa may be disrupted by the fact the Bulls are in (who will possible supply 1/3 of the team 22)…
the Lions alos coming off 2 series losses, wont want to let it be a 3rd…
the Effricaans have also got some decisions to make regardgin playing personnel, particulalrly at 9, 10, 15, and probably in the front row…Smit the Hooker but who will Prop…what Backrow combo will they go with.
Going to be an exciting contest.