2012 S15 Australia Conference

[PaarlBok]

Australia Conferense 2012

Queensland Reds

Squad
Props: Ben Daley, Greg Holmes, Guy Shepherdson, James Slipper, Kevin Davis (EPS)
Hookers: Saia Fainga'a, James Hanson, Albert Anae (EPS)
Locks: James Horwill, Van Humphries, David McDuling, Rob Simmons, Adam Wallace-Harrison
Loose Forwards: Liam Gill, Scott Higginbotham, Ed Quirk, Beau Robinson, Radike Samo, Jake Schatz
Half backs: Will Genia, Nick Frisby (EPS)
Fly Halfs: Quade Cooper, Michael Harris, Dalan Murphy (EPS), Ulupano Seuteni (EPS)
Centres: Anthony Fainga'a, Ben Tapuai
Wings: Rod Davies, Chris Feuai-Sautia, Digby Ioane, Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Aidan Toua
Full Backs: Peter Hynes, Jono Lance, Ben Lucas

Fixture List

Round 1 Away Waratahs
Round 2 Home Force
Round 3 Home Rebels
Round 4 Away Sharks
Round 5 Away Bulls
Round 6 Away Force
Round 7 Home Brumbies
Round 8 Bye
Round 9 Home Stormers
Round 10 Away Blues
Round 11 Away Crusaders
Round 12 Home Chiefs
Round 13 Home Lions
Round 14 Away Brumbies
Round 15 Bye
Round 16 Away Rebels
Round 17 Home Highlanders
Round 18 Home Waratahs

Don't Play
Cheetahs
Hurricanes

Waratahs

Squad
Props: Jeremy Tilse, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan
Hookers: Damien Fitzpatrick, Tatafu Polota-Nau, John Ulugia
Locks: Kane Douglas, Greg Peterson, Sitaleki Timani, Dean Mumm, Dan Vickerman
Loose Forwards: Chris Alcock, Dave Dennis, Rocky Elsom, Pat McCutcheon, Wycliff Palu
Halfbacks: Brendan McKibbin, Sarel Pretorius (TBC)
Flyhalves: Berrick Barnes, Daniel Halangahu, Bernard Foley
Centres: Tom Carter, Rob Horne, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Tom Kingston
Wings: Drew Mitchell, Atieli Pakalani, Lachie Turner
Fullbacks: Adam Ashley-Cooper

Fixture List
Round 1 Home Reds
Round 2 Away Rebels
Round 3 Away Highlanders
Round 4 Home Force
Round 5 Home Sharks
Round 6 Away Chiefs
Round 7 Bye
Round 8 Away Force
Round 9 Home Rebels
Round 10 Home Crusaders
Round 11 Away Brumbies
Round 12 Home Bulls
Round 13 Away Stormers
Round 14 Away Cheetahs
Round 15 Home Hurricanes
Round 16 Bye
Round 17 Home Brumbies
Round 18 Away Reds

Don't Play
Blues
Lions

ACT Brumbies

Squad
Props: Ben Alexander, Jono Owen, Dan Palmer, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Ruaidhri (pron: Rory) Murphy
Hookers: Stephen Moore, Siliva Siliva, Scott Sio
Locks: Sam Carter, Ben Hand, Peter Kimlin, Leon Power, Dylan Sigg
Loose forwards: Fotu Auelua, Colby Fainga'a, Stephen Hoiles, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, Ita Vaea, Scott Fardy
Half Backs: Ian Prior, Nic White
Fly Halfs: Christian Lealiifano, Matt To'omua
Centres: Robbie Coleman, Tevita Kuridrani, Pat McCabe, Andrew Smith, Joseph Tomane
Wings: Tom Cox, Kimami Sitauti, Henry Speight
Full Backs: Cam Crawford, Zack Holmes, Jesse Mogg

Fixture List
Round 1 Home Force
Round 2 Bye
Round 3 Home Cheetahs
Round 4 Away Chiefs
Round 5 Home Highlanders
Round 6 Home Sharks
Round 7 Away Reds
Round 8 Home Rebels
Round 9 Away Bulls
Round 10 Away Lions
Round 11 Home Waratahs
Round 12 Bye
Round 13 Away Hurricanes
Round 14 Home Reds
Round 15 Away Rebels
Round 16 Away Force
Round 17 Away Waratahs
Round 18 Home Blues

Don't Play
Crusaders
Stormers

Western Force

Squad
Props: Pek Cowan, Tetera Faulkner, Keiron Longbottom, Salesi Ma'afu
Hookers: Ben Whittaker, Nathan Charles
Locks: Phoenix Battye, Toby Lynn, Nathan Sharpe, Sam Wykes
Backrow: Richard Brown, Lachlan McCaffry, Ben McCallman, Matt Hodgson, David Pocock
halves: Brett Sheehan, Justin Turner, James Stannard
Centres: Matt Brandon, Gene Fairbanks, Willie Rapia, Ben Seymour, Rory Sidey, Winston Stanley, Brian Sefanaia
Outside Backs: Nick Cummins, Pat Dellit, Alfie Mafi, Napolioni Nalaga, Jordan Rapana, Will Tupuo, Cam Shepherd

Fixture List
Round 1 Away Brumbies
Round 2 Away Reds
Round 3 Home Hurricanes
Round 4 Away Waratahs
Round 5 Away Rebels
Round 6 Home Reds
Round 7 Home Chiefs
Round 8 Home Waratahs
Round 9 Bye
Round 10 Home Stormers
Round 11 Away Cheetahs
Round 12 Away Sharks
Round 13 Home Rebels
Round 14 Home Lions
Round 15 Bye
Round 16 Home Brumbies
Round 17 Away Blues
Round 18 Away Crusaders

Don't Play
Bulls
Highlanders

Melbourne Rebels

Squad:
Rebels Squad:

Prop: Paul Alo-Emile, Rodney Blake, Nic Henderson, Laurie Weeks, Eddie Aholelei (EPS)
Hooker: Ged Robinson, Heath Tessmann, Adam Freier, Luke Holmes (EPS)
Lock: Adam Byrnes, Alister Campbell, Luke Jones, James King, Hugh Pyle, Cadeyrn Neville (EPS)
Backrow: Tom Chamberlain, Tim Davidson, Gareth Delve, Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy
Scrumhalf: Nick Phipps, Richard Kingi, Nick Stirzaker (EPS)
Flyhalf: Danny Cipriani, James Hilgendorf
Centres: Mitch Inman, Lloyd Johansson, Stirling Mortlock, James O'Connor
Wing: Cooper Vuna, Lachlan Mitchell,
Fullback: Kurtley Beale, Mark Gerrard, Julian Huxley, Isaiah Mosese (EPS)

Fixture List
Round 1 Bye
Round 2 Home Waratahs
Round 3 Away Reds
Round 4 Home Cheetahs
Round 5 Home Force
Round 6 Away Highlanders
Round 7 Home Blues
Round 8 Away Brumbies
Round 9 Away Waratahs
Round 10 Bye
Round 11 Home Bulls
Round 12 Home Crusaders
Round 13 Away Force
Round 14 Away Hurricanes
Round 15 Home Brumbies
Round 16 Home Reds
Round 17 Away Lions
Round 18 Away Stormers
Don't Play
Chiefs
Sharks

 

[#1 Tah]

Awesome stuff Paarl. Thanks.

Although, what is the (TBC) next to pretorius in reference to?

 

[PaarlBok]

Awesome stuff Paarl. Thanks.

Although, what is the (TBC) next to pretorius in reference to?

Dunno Boet, Kiap helped me with their squad, maybe meaning qouta or something.

Overall picture to me look like the Brumbies have the best draw next year and hopefull we have a much more competitive Aus conferense. We dont want to see the Reds getting a free ride to the top like last year. :fishing

 

[Jethro Tah]

Thanks Paarl. The aniticipation of the new season is giving me the butterflies. I must say, for whatever reason, I am looking forward to the 2012 Super 15 far more than the Wallabies EOYT.

 

[Lee Grant]

Although, what is the (TBC) next to pretorius in reference to?

To be congratulated? Indeed, he made the right decision to come to Sydney.

The Brumbies don't have to play the Crusaders or the Stormers? Nice gig that.

 

[kiap]

Gents, I just did a cut and paste of the players from a news article but I think the TBC for Pretorius might have originally come from his Tahs profile where it says "Senior Club: TBC".

Anyone know what club he will be at?

Extended Playing Squad

Grayson Hart (Southern Districts), Halfback
Tevita Metuisela (Manly), Number 8 / Number 6
Lotu Taukeiaho (Randwick), Prop
Lopeti Timani (Southern Districts), Lock, Backrow
Nathan Trist (Sydney University), Outside Back.

 

[#1 Tah]

Completely based on knowing South Africans, I would say Eastern Suburbs or Northern Suburbs.

 

[tigerland12]

Just an early prediction for the final standings next year.

1- Reds
2- Waratahs

These two will be very close come seasons end.

3- Rebels
4- Force

Hard to split these two. One has a great forward pack and a crap backline, while the other has the opposite.

5- Brumbies

Entering the rebuilding phase

 

[TOCC]

Dunno Boet, Kiap helped me with their squad, maybe meaning qouta or something.

Overall picture to me look like the Brumbies have the best draw next year and hopefull we have a much more competitive Aus conferense. We dont want to see the Reds getting a free ride to the top like last year.

PB think you will find the Reds lost more against Australian teams then they did against the Saffa or Kiw conferences...
I seem to remember it was actually a clean sweep against the Saffa sides?

 

[Slim 293]

Just an early prediction for the final standings next year.

1- Reds
2- Waratahs

These two will be very close come seasons end.

3- Rebels
4- Force

Hard to split these two. One has a great forward pack and a crap backline, while the other has the opposite.

5- Brumbies

Entering the rebuilding phase

I don't know if the Rebels' backline is that great...

Certainly, JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale are major signings, but there are several other holes there to run through...

The early predictions would be the Tahs and Reds fighting it out for the top 2 spots with the rest too close to pick...

The Brumbies still have some amazing talent (particularly in the forwards), but there is a massive unpredictability about them...

The Force still have an excellent SupeRugby backrow, with a decent enough tight five and backline...

The Rebels' pack is probably the weakest of the comp, and they have some good players in their backs with some not so good...

 

[Geeves]

PB think you will find the Reds lost more against Australian teams then they did against the Saffa or Kiw conferences...
I seem to remember it was actually a clean sweep against the Saffa sides?

I did that stuff a while back for the 6 sides that made the conference (here), the Reds beat all SA sides but they didn't play the sharks, the only lost to the Hurricanes in NZ and then both NSW and the Brumbies in the Aussie conference

 

[Jnor]

Completely based on knowing South Africans, I would say Eastern Suburbs or North Harbour.

I always thought it was Northern Suburbs, or is Pretorius spreading the love around and playing in the NPC next year too?

 

[liquor box]

We dont want to see the Reds getting a free ride to the top like last year. :fishing

I do

 

[PaarlBok]

I always thought it was Northern Suburbs, or is Pretorius spreading the love around and playing in the NPC next year too?

he sign with the Tin Ears to play CC next year.

LB I think your Redfs will suffer next year. Its one thing winning the S15, another defending it. Tahs or Brumbies (Jake White influense will be huge) the Aus winners my bet.

 

[PaarlBok]

So we have two Aussie derbies in round 1.

My picks will be Tahs over the Reds (handsomely), Brumbies over the Force (hittete) and the Rebels with a four pointer!

 

[Geeves]

So we have two Aussie derbies in round 1.

My picks will be Tahs over the Reds (handsomely), Brumbies over the Force (hittete) and the Rebels with a four pointer!

Big call on the Tahs beating the Reds handsomely. As Barnes is still an uncertainty to play combined with the loss of Mitchell and Turner, NSW may well be uncoordinated at the back and exposed on the wings cutting down their firepower. This then would require NSW to dominate the forward battle to win. As the teams are still not announced but from what we have seen from link the Robinson and Gill combination is likely to be used (like the Smith and Waugh combination of old) this will give QLD the breakdown win. While the QLD locks are not too be ignored so its probably fairly even there. NSW does have an advantage in the front row but the lineouts will be even I have seen comments about Hanson being shoddy at lineouts, I just retort that TPN is not the most reliable either.

I still backing QLD purely on what I'm expecting as a more cohesive side.

Thought I agree with the other 2 predictions. Why are we giving 4 again for a Bye?

 

[FiveStarStu]

Tipping Reds and Force this week.

Will be a rough trip to Melbourne for the Tahs to face the undefeated Rebels.

 

[PaarlBok]

Why are we giving 4 again for a Bye?

They did this last year.

 

[Geeves]

Didn't like it then and still don't.

They did this last year.

I should have written "still" in there.

Although to be honest at least with the Bye points teams are almost guaranteed to make double digits in the points tally unlike previous years.

 

[kiap]

Whenever there is an odd number of total teams, it is less than ideal.

BUT. 4-point byes are better than 0-point byes.