Deans set to announce new-look squad

[RugbyReg]

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is set to announce a new-look squad for Australia's winter Test series commencing next month.

The Wallabies will open their 2009 campaign with a historic clash with the Barbarians in Sydney on June 6 before playing three Tests against Italy and France.

Deans says there will be no room for sentiment at the selection table when it comes to picking a squad capable of winning back the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations trophies from New Zealand this year.

He says no players - not even incumbent captain Stirling Mortlock - can expect to be automatic Test selections in 2009.

Deans will name a 30-man squad for the June Tests once all four Australian teams were eliminated from the Super 14 competition, which enters its final round this weekend.

Only the Brumbies and NSW Waratahs remain a chance for the two-week Super playoffs.

"I can tell you this much, it will be a unique (Wallabies) group, a group that has never gathered previously," Deans said on Monday.

"It will be a new direction, out of necessity because if you don't keep going and adding to what you do then you just get further behind.

"We're not in front. We're a chaser. Out of necessity as a result of that, we're going to have to be better and we're going to have to bring something that we didn't have last year.

"That's the plan. We're settling on who those people will be right now and then we'll get on and see if we can turn it into something of substance."

We've heard this stuff before but Deans may be the type of person that follows through? I know it doesn't work like this but if you pick two 15s as the 30 (so best two in each position), purely on form (and those not going OS or on the U20 tour), then:

Fullback: Drew Mitchell & Mark McLinden
Wings: Nick Cummins, Lachlan Turner, Lote Tuqiri & Cameron Shepherd
Out Centre: Ryan Cross & Digby Ione
In Centre: Tyrone Smith & Berrick Barnes
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau & Christian Lealiifano
Scrumhalf: Josh Valentine & Will Genia
No 8: Stephen Hoiles & Richard Brown
Openside: George Smith & David Pocock
Blindside: Matt Hodgson & Mitchell Chapman
Locks: Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Will Caldwell & Peter Kimlin
THPs: Al Baxter & Guy Shepherdson
LHPs: Benn Robinson & Ben Alexander
Hookers: Stephen Moore & Tatafu Polata-Nau

Now I am not sure of the injury status of Cummins, Genia and Lealiifano, so there may be other changes there (Mortlock, Burgess and Beale respectively, perhaps).

But that's a squad, as stands, without the likes of Mortlock, Burgess, Palu, MMM, Horwill, Waugh and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)?

Fair? Likely?

 

[cyclopath]

Interesting stab at it, Noddy. Without being parochial at all, I expect Palu, Burgess and Horwill will be in however. it is hard to argue about most of the names there, on form, which should always be the main discriminator. Oh, and Elsom probably, if they feel he's "available" then his form is hard to argue against.

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah, and in reality, you don't pick teams on current form alone. You do have to consider:
- likely game plan
- experience
- past performance
- whole of team contribution
- where they will be in 2011

amongst other things I am sure.

 

[disco]

But that's a squad, as stands, without the likes of Mortlock, Burgess, Palu, MMM, Horwill, Waugh and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)?

Fair? Likely?

If Deans is fairdinkum then those players will miss out but Horwill & Mortlock will be picked for sure.

 

[fatprop]

I expect them to pick three hookers and 5 props, less locks (as there is cross over with their 6s) and back three players. Mortlock, Palu, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horwill & Chisholm (who should be fit) Burgess dunno, a bit too inconsistent, but still may have done enough

Back three: Drew Mitchell, Lachlan Turner, Lote Tuqiri, Digby Ione & Cameron Shepherd
Out Centre: Ryan Cross & Mortlock.
In Centre: Berrick Barnes & AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau
Scrumhalf: Josh Valentine & Will Genia
No 8: Palu & Richard Brown
Openside: George Smith & David Pocock
Blindside: Mitchell Chapman, Dean Mumm
Locks: Nathan Sharpe, Horwill & Chisholm
THPs: Al Baxter & Guy Shepherdson
LHPs: Benn Robinson & Ben Alexander & Kepu
Hookers: Stephen Moore & Tatafu Polata-Nau, Hardman

 

[steiner]

If Tahu has another good game in the last round I reckon he'll be in there. That will probably be the case. Could be likewise with Burgess. You'd love to fit Nick Cummins in but there's a lot of competition. Maybe AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will find himself on the outer?

He'll be serious about the Morty threat I reckon because of the form of Cross, Tahu and Digby. But Mortlock will probably put in a good match at 13 this weekend and secure his spot.

Will Deans continue trying Mortlock at 12? Hard to say. If Mortlock put in an average performance at 13 this week would he leave him out?

 

[Spook]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will be in the squad. Deans rates him and rightly so.

 

[Scotty]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) should be in the squad. Isn't his fault he has to play in one billion different positions through the season.

I think that Genia is out for a good couple of months?

 

[Spook]

It's a real pity Genia is out. I think he is superb.

 

[mark_s]

I expect them to pick three hookers and 5 props, less locks (as there is cross over with their 6s) and back three players. Mortlock, Palu, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horwill & Chisholm (who should be fit) Burgess dunno, a bit too inconsistent, but still may have done enough

Back three: Drew Mitchell, Lachlan Turner, Lote Tuqiri, Digby Ione & Cameron Shepherd
Out Centre: Ryan Cross & Mortlock.
In Centre: Berrick Barnes & AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau
Scrumhalf: Josh Valentine & Will Genia
No 8: Palu & Richard Brown
Openside: George Smith & David Pocock
Blindside: Mitchell Chapman, Dean Mumm
Locks: Nathan Sharpe, Horwill & Chisholm
THPs: Al Baxter & Guy Shepherdson
LHPs: Benn Robinson & Ben Alexander & Kepu
Hookers: Stephen Moore & Tatafu Polata-Nau, Hardman

FP, the thing that struck me about your squad is the number of decent players missing, e.g. assumedly the following tahs would be back in club rugby Phil Waugh, Adam Frier, Caldwell, Burgess, Sheehan, Dan Palmer, Horne, Tahu (all current or potential wallabies). Even QLD will have a few that are close to selection there is Higgenbottom, Lucas, Hynes & Cooper. There are probably similar lists from the Brumbies and Force as well, then there are injured players to come back like MMM. Maybe we are starting to get some depth in Aus rugby.

 

[fatprop]

Yep

We have some real depth coming through. Our biggest weakness is 2 (the third choice), 9, 12 and 15 but we have options and there will be complaints even over those spot - a real good sign.

 

[Biffo]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) should be in the squad. Isn't his fault he has to play in one billion different positions through the season.

Two = one billion?

 

[Scotty]

It is close.

And I reckon in the last two seasons he has played in 4 different positions. Not sure if he has played both wings, so I can't get it to 5.

 

[Biffo]

It is close.

And I reckon in the last two seasons he has played in 4 different positions. Not sure if he has played both wings, so I can't get it to 5.

In the last two seasons, it will be 5 or perhaps even more.

However, I can't recall seeing him at other than wing and fullback this season but I have missed four Brumbies games.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

It is close.

And I reckon in the last two seasons he has played in 4 different positions. Not sure if he has played both wings, so I can't get it to 5.

In the last two seasons, it will be 5 or perhaps even more.

However, I can't recall seeing him at other than wing and fullback this season but I have missed four Brumbies games.

He started the first few games at 13 with Morty at 12.

 

[Biffo]

It is close.

And I reckon in the last two seasons he has played in 4 different positions. Not sure if he has played both wings, so I can't get it to 5.

In the last two seasons, it will be 5 or perhaps even more.

However, I can't recall seeing him at other than wing and fullback this season but I have missed four Brumbies games.

He started the first few games at 13 with Morty at 12.

Thanks, I missed seeing those. Did he shine?

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

Nah not at all, I actually agree that he is well down on form, but I would pick him above Horne and Tahu because he is proven and can cover 12-15 from the bench.

 

[Biffo]

He is a player with immense talent and I am a strong supporter.

All my comments on this and other threads re Wallaby selection are made against form this season being the sole selection criterion. Tahu has two very good games (and no bad games) at 13. Horne has two very good games, a few neitral games and a few bad games at 13. On form alone, then, both are ahead of Ashley-Cooper.

BTW I promised, when he got the gig, that I would never second guess or criticize Deans. My approach was to watch what he did, try to understand why he did it and learn from the outcome. I have stuck to that and must say I have learned a great deal.

I am reminded of Daryl Gibson's comment when he finished with Leicester. Something like "when I left NZ I thought there was only one way to play rugby. Pat Howard taught me that there are 100 ways".

 

[cyclopath]

Nah not at all, I actually agree that he is well down on form, but I would pick him above Horne and Tahu because he is proven and can cover 12-15 14from the bench.

Fixed. ;D

 

[Gagger]

Burgess not in the squad?

You're dreaming