The Wallabies Thread

[Brumby Runner]

Weekes is the best scrummaging THP prop in Aus at the moment after Holmes by some way

I expect the props to be

THP: Holmes & Weekes

LHP: Sio & Slipper

Floater\5th prop: Smith

I agree that Weekes is also up there and put in a good effort against the vaunted Reds pack last night. I have to say, though, that as a Toby Smith fan, I was disappointed with his game last night. Seemed to have some trouble against Holmes and he made quite a few mistakes in general play.

I really don't think Laurie is by some way better than a couple of the developing props, and could well be overtaken by June.

 

[Highlander35]

Biggest issue is starts IMO. Talakai simply won't get enough starts before June, being locked behind Holmes. Neither will Makin, who'll be behind both Alexander and Ruan when he's back. Ruan Smith might, I don't know his situation in terms of injury or form.

Weeks will have the advantage of 10-12 starts compared to maybe 3 for the others. With 5 professional sides, Chieka shouldn't need to select Pine Riders.

 

[Slim 293]

Ruan Smith isn't injured.........

Makin has just been preferred over him.

 

[fatprop]

Since when did Foley reach the remarkable heights of being an automatic Wallaby selection? All last year there was plenty of debate about Beale or Cooper being in the mix for the position and while he did good in the RWC Foley is nowhere near a lock at Wallaby level. He is not Dan Carter. There is legitimate competition for the No 10 spot again this year and he will need to show that he is in top form as well as being fit to take the spot against England. If he comes back to his form at the RWC, then he will certainly get first dibs.

From you maybe, I saw no real competition from Cooper or Beale last year to get near Foley at 10. Foley is a proper facilitating 10, too many just don't appreciate that style preferring 60 seconds of show boat genius over 80 minutes of solid rugby

But now that Lilo is actually playing in his correct position, Foley actually has some proper competition

 

[Pfitzy]

Since when did Foley reach the remarkable heights of being an automatic Wallaby selection? All last year there was plenty of debate about Beale or Cooper being in the mix for the position and while he did good in the RWC Foley is nowhere near a lock at Wallaby level. He is not Dan Carter. There is legitimate competition for the No 10 spot again this year and he will need to show that he is in top form as well as being fit to take the spot against England. If he comes back to his form at the RWC, then he will certainly get first dibs.

That guy who kicked us to a QF win, put England to the sword, and drove us far beyond expectation to 2nd place against one of the greatest rugby sides in the history of the game? And won his province a Super Rugby title?

"Yeah, but what's he ever done for us in a BRUMBIES jersey? "




Must be March - the unbelievers are trying to shitcan the incumbent, while completely ignoring the foibles of their own pets.


A lot of discussion about Wallaby selections right now when there is a heck of a race to run. If I was looking at performances in isolation, one bloke I think we need to get hold of is Coleman - just for sheer size and aggression, Cheika could turn him into a monster. Lock him in a pit, throw him raw meat encased in wooden models wearing All Black jerseys - he has to tear them apart to get to the food, see?

 

[Highlander35]

As long as he's fit, he'll start in that 10 jersey. And he'll deserve it.

 

[Caputo]

I take it this is for the matches against England. Even though Chieka has a conservative side to selection I am basing on now as at Round 3 and would prefer exposed form from injured and overseas No Giteau rule in 2016 and all bets off for Bledisloe

1. Sio
2. Moore
3. Holmes
4. Simmons
5. Carter
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Pocock
9. Phipps
10. Lealiifano
11. Tomane
12. Toumoua
13. Kudriani
14. Beale
15. Folau
16. Hanson
17. Smith
18. Weeks
19. Coleman
20. McMahon
21. Frisby
22. Dane Haylett-Petty
23. TBC awaiting Naiyaravoro

24. Charles
25. TBC - (5th Prop if required Slipper)
26. Arnold
27. McCalman
28. Palu
29. TBC - (Half Back if required Genia/Meehan)
30. TBC Foley
31. Kerevi
32. TBC - Horne

 

[fatprop]

I agree that Weekes is also up there and put in a good effort against the vaunted Reds pack last night. I have to say, though, that as a Toby Smith fan, I was disappointed with his game last night. Seemed to have some trouble against Holmes and he made quite a few mistakes in general play.

How can Smith being challenged by the best THP in the country be an issue? Scrums were a good battle all night

As to errors in general play, his years of quality work around the field in enough evidence

I really don't think Laurie is by some way better than a couple of the developing props, and could well be overtaken by June.

Look again, the only thing holding back Weekes is him being injured or the decision to compromise the scrum on the alter of workrate.

 

[TOCC]

How can Smith being challenged by the best THP in the country be an issue? Scrums were a good battle all night

Yeah I agree, I thought Smith played a bloody good game and really took it to Holmes


But like I mentioned in the Reds tread, the surface at AAMI Stadium is rubbish, looks good but was getting ripped up too easy in the scrums, they need to sort that out before the June Tests.

 

[Brumby Runner]

That guy who kicked us to a QF win, put England to the sword, and drove us far beyond expectation to 2nd place against one of the greatest rugby sides in the history of the game? And won his province a Super Rugby title?

"Yeah, but what's he ever done for us in a BRUMBIES jersey? "

All I'm saying is that in my opinion he has to show that his form hasn't been compromised by his stint in Japan. Has been some precedent for that to be a concern when he hasn't even laced up a boot this Super season yet.

And nice to see you haven't lost your sarcastic touch. Vast number of your posts just contain shots at other posters about your view of their supposed bias.

How can Smith being challenged by the best THP in the country be an issue? Scrums were a good battle all night

As to errors in general play, his years of quality work around the field in enough evidence

I was particularly referring to his game in the open. Missed a few tackles and was unusually quiet in the open. Only one scrum I can remember where the Rebs dished it out to the Reds. Otherwise Reds pretty well dominant last night.

 

[Intruder]

I agree that Weekes is also up there and put in a good effort against the vaunted Reds pack last night. I have to say, though, that as a Toby Smith fan, I was disappointed with his game last night. Seemed to have some trouble against Holmes and he made quite a few mistakes in general play.

I really don't think Laurie is by some way better than a couple of the developing props, and could well be overtaken by June.

Totally agree. Weeks will get jumped however game time will be an issue for Talakai and Makin. Better prospects though.

 

[Pfitzy]

All I'm saying is that in my opinion he has to show that his form hasn't been compromised by his stint in Japan. Has been some precedent for that to be a concern when he hasn't even laced up a boot this Super season yet.

And nice to see you haven't lost your sarcastic touch. Vast number of your posts just contain shots at other posters about your view of their supposed bias.

What you call "supposed bias" is what I call The Truth.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Pfitzy's not biased. He's just foreign.

 

[liquor box]

Rob Simmons falls under my new rule, entitled: 'You killed it for us at the World Cup, so you get a free pass for Super Rugby.' I don't care if the bloke starts attempting drop goals or gets red carded every game for roundhouse kicking the ref (though that may be cause for concern), he gets a free pass because he's stepped up when it counted the most.

Wish he had tried a field goal this week, might have won the game

 

[boyo]

Wish he had tried a field goal this week, might have won the game

He's no Zinzan Brooke.

 

[Slim 293]

There's already some discussion about the potential squad for England, despite being a fair way out, but the question would be - how many spots are actually up for grabs?

Using the RWC squad as a blueprint.........

2015 RWC Squad

1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu (o/s)
4. Kane Douglas (Injured)
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
9. Will Genia (o/s)
10. Bernard Foley
11. Drew Mitchell (o/s)
12. Matt Giteau (o/s)
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (o/s)
15. Israel Folau

16. Tatafu Polata-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Greg Holmes
19. Dean Mumm
20. Ben McCalman
21. Nick Phipps
22. Matt To'omua
23. Kurtley Beale

24. Toby Smith
25. Will Skelton
26. Wycliff Palu (o/s)
27. Sean McMahon
28. Quade Cooper (o/s)
29. Henry Speight (Sevens)
30. Joe Tomane
31. Rob Horne

32. James Hanson
33. Sam Carter

IF Cheika stays loyal to his RWC squad (which I would expect him to be) there's not a lot of free spots...........

TH prop and scrumhalf certainly the two most vulnerable positions.........

Lilo would be one of the obvious replacements for Giteau/Cooper............

There's going to be a real battle for the lock spots, and we could really do with another big backrower to counterbalance all of our 7's.

 

[Highlander35]

Lose Kepu, Douglas, Mitchell, Giteau, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Palu and Cooper. Pencil in Speight for 7s, and therefore not considered, and no Mumm because I want to. That gives, roughly in a 31 man squad:

1. Sio
2. Moore
3. Holmes
4. Simmons
5. Carter
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Pocock
9. Phipps
10. Foley
11. Tomane
12. To'omua
13. Kuridrani
14. Horne
15. Folau

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. (Weeks)
19. Skelton
20. McCalman
21. (Stirzaker)
22. (Lilo)
23. Beale

24. Hanson
25. Smith
26. (Arnold)
27. McMahon
28. (Vaea)
29. (Frisby)
30. (Kerevi)
31. (DHP)

That's a pair of scrum halfs, a tighthead, a lock, a Backrower and a trio of backs.

Rebels bias noted, but my choices are in the brackets.

 

[Slim 293]

I keep asking, and forgetting, but is Douglas due back before the English test series?

I would also do away with Mumm.........

Edit: just read Douglas will miss the English tests, so Carter would ideally come straight into the starting side.

 

[RebelYell]

With the lack of wingers available (let's assume Mitchell isn't picked for June tests, Cummins & Speight with 7s), it's great to see Tom English hitting his 2014 form in the last couple of games. Consistently breaks the first tackle and goes looking for the ball.

Cheika's always been a big fan of him and took him on 2014 Spring Tour, so wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the mix - he's also off contract, so plenty of suitors will be forthcoming if he continues like this.

 

[Brumby Runner]

In terms of pure wingers, I'd think the English would just about be in top three atm with Tomane and Horne. But I'd like to see DHP have a run at 14, similar to Ben Smith for the ABs. It would be a positive for the Wallabies to have another top player in the back three who is safe under the high ball and can kick it a mile if necessary.