Marce
John Hipwell (52)
You can't pick that side if Australia A is gonna play at the same time as Wallabies in Australia.
Australia A - Back on the Cards
- Thread starter Tomikin
- Start date
Yeah picked this a couple of weeks ago. Pone would be in Aussie A for sure. Didn’t pick Frost because I didn’t want to pick players going OS in the A team.
Why?
Marce
John Hipwell (52)
You need 23 players in game day and most of them gonna be picked for the bench
I picked a match day wallaby 27. None of whom appear in my Aus a team.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Yeah, and if we are hosting games then they could play the opener against whoever they are facing at the same venue.
Marce
John Hipwell (52)
Sorry, I didnt see it.
liquor box
Peter Sullivan (51)
I expect a squad to be something like this-
1 - Fred Kaihea
2 - Folau Fainga'a
3 - Sefo Kautai
4 - Jed Holloway
5 - Tom Hooper
6 - Luke Reimer
7 - Rory Scott
8 - Ed Kennedy
9 - Lachie Albert
10 - Rodney Iona
11 - Chris Feauai-Sautia
12 - Ollie Sapsford
13 - Hudson Creighton
14 - Cam Clark
15 - Jesse Mogg
brumbies.rugby
Holloway there to balance out Mckellar's influence in the selection room
Seriously though, I love this concept and think a decent pacific and South American competition would be great for Rugby in Australia. It may even be a great way for U20's who play Super Rugby get experience in a high performance setting playing against quality opposition and get world experience and travelling that may help keep them signed to rugby.
1 - Fred Kaihea
2 - Folau Fainga'a
3 - Sefo Kautai
4 - Jed Holloway
5 - Tom Hooper
6 - Luke Reimer
7 - Rory Scott
8 - Ed Kennedy
9 - Lachie Albert
10 - Rodney Iona
11 - Chris Feauai-Sautia
12 - Ollie Sapsford
13 - Hudson Creighton
14 - Cam Clark
15 - Jesse Mogg
Super Rugby Squad | Brumbies
brumbies.rugby
Holloway there to balance out Mckellar's influence in the selection room
Seriously though, I love this concept and think a decent pacific and South American competition would be great for Rugby in Australia. It may even be a great way for U20's who play Super Rugby get experience in a high performance setting playing against quality opposition and get world experience and travelling that may help keep them signed to rugby.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
My biggest concern here with them playing against each other is that there is a lot to be gained by the B Team being a bit heavy handed in tactics to open up spots in the A Team. I can see another Rod McCall/Dan Crowley eye gouge type incident
Marce
John Hipwell (52)
In his current form, Holloway MUST be a Wallabies starter
Members Section
John Thornett (49)
My guess it would be 2 squads not 1 big squad of 50 odd with players interchanging teams
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
I haven't read the article as it is behind a paywall, but do they mention how they're planning on using the team?
It was discussed on the Wallabies thread a while back about whether RA has the funds to be sending a full 50 man touring squad to be playing test matches and A matches during Spring Tour etc. or whether they would enter them into a minnows league and play against some of the developing nations instead.
Also I assume this means they're not planning on bringing an type NRC competition back anytime soon? Surely you'd want blokes from the A side playing in that comp, otherwise it's pretty much just an extended club season.
It was discussed on the Wallabies thread a while back about whether RA has the funds to be sending a full 50 man touring squad to be playing test matches and A matches during Spring Tour etc. or whether they would enter them into a minnows league and play against some of the developing nations instead.
Also I assume this means they're not planning on bringing an type NRC competition back anytime soon? Surely you'd want blokes from the A side playing in that comp, otherwise it's pretty much just an extended club season.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
No its not an official cap (as in test cap) but it does officially capture you for eligibility purposes.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
I think the Wallabies will be encamped with their standard 33 allotment as (for example) they will always want the player who is backup to the bench position on hand at all times. Might then see a reduced squad for the Australia A (but I'll dream 33).
My Wallaby squad (Japan based players allowed as per reports)
Hk: Porecki, Fainga'a, Kaituu
Prop: Bell, Slipper, Sio, Ala'alatoa, Tupou
Lock: Swain, Rodda, Philip, Neville
BR: Valetini, Leota, Samu, Wilson, Mcreight, Hoops
HB: Mcdermott, White, Gordon
FH: JOC (James O'Connor), Quade, Lolesio
CE: Kerevi, Paisami, Ikitau, Perese
OB: Petaia, Koroibete, Kellaway, Banks, Hodge (at a stretch ...)
THEREFORE , my Australia A squad (going for 33 and I won't avoid people rumoured to be leaving)
HK: Mcinerney, Lonergan, Uelese
Prop: Robertson, Orr, HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Pone, Gibbon
Lock: Holloway, Blyth, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Frost
BR: Uru, FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner), Harris, Vosayaco, Wright, Gamble
HB: Fines, Powell, Lonergan
FH: Donaldson, Edmed, To'omua
CE: Simone, Foketi, Flook, Newsome
OB: Daugunu, Campbell, Vunivalu, Wright, Muirhead
1. Robertson 2. Mcinerney 3. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes)
4. Holloway 5. Frost
6. FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) 8. Uru 7. Wright
9. Lonergan 10. Edmed 11. Wright 12. Simone 13. Foketi 14. Vunivalu
16. Uelese 17. Orr 18. Pone 19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 20. Vosayaco 21. Fines 22. To'omua 23. Muirhead
My Wallaby squad (Japan based players allowed as per reports)
Hk: Porecki, Fainga'a, Kaituu
Prop: Bell, Slipper, Sio, Ala'alatoa, Tupou
Lock: Swain, Rodda, Philip, Neville
BR: Valetini, Leota, Samu, Wilson, Mcreight, Hoops
HB: Mcdermott, White, Gordon
FH: JOC (James O'Connor), Quade, Lolesio
CE: Kerevi, Paisami, Ikitau, Perese
OB: Petaia, Koroibete, Kellaway, Banks, Hodge (at a stretch ...)
THEREFORE , my Australia A squad (going for 33 and I won't avoid people rumoured to be leaving)
HK: Mcinerney, Lonergan, Uelese
Prop: Robertson, Orr, HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Pone, Gibbon
Lock: Holloway, Blyth, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Frost
BR: Uru, FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner), Harris, Vosayaco, Wright, Gamble
HB: Fines, Powell, Lonergan
FH: Donaldson, Edmed, To'omua
CE: Simone, Foketi, Flook, Newsome
OB: Daugunu, Campbell, Vunivalu, Wright, Muirhead
1. Robertson 2. Mcinerney 3. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes)
4. Holloway 5. Frost
6. FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) 8. Uru 7. Wright
9. Lonergan 10. Edmed 11. Wright 12. Simone 13. Foketi 14. Vunivalu
16. Uelese 17. Orr 18. Pone 19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 20. Vosayaco 21. Fines 22. To'omua 23. Muirhead
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
I think this 'A' team selection will bring up some interesting selection points.
For example UTR selection of To'omua on the bench seems redundant to me. Why bother selecting a 33yr old bloke who is out of form on the bench? Better off using that spot for a young player to gain experience in a national setup.
But is the main point of an A side to blood players and give them exposure to a high performance/touring setup? Or is it to create a cohesive side which wins games in which case you'd pick the best players regardless of whether they'll factor into the Wallabies team down the track.
Not saying I have the answers, but selections would be interesting.
For example UTR selection of To'omua on the bench seems redundant to me. Why bother selecting a 33yr old bloke who is out of form on the bench? Better off using that spot for a young player to gain experience in a national setup.
But is the main point of an A side to blood players and give them exposure to a high performance/touring setup? Or is it to create a cohesive side which wins games in which case you'd pick the best players regardless of whether they'll factor into the Wallabies team down the track.
Not saying I have the answers, but selections would be interesting.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
You're spot on. I think To'omua would be more useful then Donaldson off the bench say, however, what is the purpose of the team? If it is deemed that it is in the best interest of rugby in Australia to provide more meaningful high performance competition for developing players, then don't bother with departing players like Uelese, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Fly, Simone, (unless you want them around for their backup value to the main squad) and throw the dice on developing youths > older journeymen.
Marce
John Hipwell (52)
Tom Wright is one of the most consistent winger in the game and you pick Hodge over him? Come on. He's also ahead of Petaia and Kellaway. Koroibete plays in his own league
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
If Petaia gets more game time at fullback then yes absolutely agree, Hodge becomes redundant and allows another wing. You're right and he is outplaying Kellaway atm, but Kellaway was well ahead in previous test season.
Sometimes Super Rugby form isn't as great as indicator to Test form due to the severe shortfalls out Super Rugby teams have in their squads. Eg. Tough to live life as a finishing winger in a team that's centres can't/won't get you the ball.
Tazzmania
Bob Loudon (25)
The problem with an Australia A program rather than an NRC type competition is that you are going to have a 100 plus professional rugby players still limited to whatever game time they can manage to snare in super rugby and nothing else the rest of the year. No wonder many are now seeking alternative overseas contracts as you just cannot develop with that sort of limitation and our depth will not grow.
Marce
John Hipwell (52)
I agree, Nonu is a great example. He used to be average at best at Super Rugby level but when he wore the black jersey he was a beast. Hooper could be one guy at Wallabies who doesn't matter his performances at Super Rugby, he MUST be picked. But they EARNED that right playing something like 100 international caps at good level.
If we talk about guys like Petaia or Kellaway, they didn't earned that right. So yes, for those guys Super Rugby performances matter to pick them