The Wallabies Thread

[Rugbynutter39]

Hope that Sio and DHP prove their fitness. If so, both are probably starting 15 selections, but there must be some doubt.



Can't understand the omission of Fardy. That could be a very unbalanced back row with all runners and no on-the-ball player. Expect Timani will have to slot into No 6. Not sure that Dempsey has done enough to warrant selection - mainly due injury, but that's the way it is.



Godwin is the main surprise in the backs. His form is hardly what would be described as better than good. He is a strong defender - about the best that can be said, although Cheika did mention his left foot kick. Phipps should also count himself lucky.



Good to see Tui and Hanigan both get a chance in the forwards and Joey Powell in the backs.


All in all, not a bad looking squad.

Yep no complaints about the squad. As a side note liked the idea of announcing the squad live on kick and chase as much better than reading about it online when announced so good initiative there.

Yes surprised about Fardy as thought he has been awesome this season.....and number one 6 in my books...but yeh maybe because not here next year Syndrome.

Equally good to see Sam Carter selected as he has been very good this year.

The surprise for me was Godwin. I probably did not have him on the radar but on reflection yes been solid for Brumbies and Cheika about combinations so fair enough. I thought Billy Meakes unlucky as thought personally he has been the form 12.

Also nice for me to see Hunt and Nabuli selected, both deserved for different reasons.

All in all seems fairly fair selections and not really too much controversy as lot of players been rewarded for good form this season which is what you want.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Gees we are talking about a 2017 squad but still talking about this on a 2016 Wallabies and onwards thread..

A year is a long time....about time we started talking about this in 2017 language as I thought we are talking about 2017 Wallabies...not 2016 Wallabies...

 

[RedsHappy]

Pity he didn't announce 'upgrades and additions' to his national coaches squad.

That's were the real changes are needed, that's where, without changes, we'll be exposed against the best international teams. Just as we were so painfully exposed against England in 2016. It wasn't the players, fundamentally.

 

[KOB1987]

I expected Godwin to be selected despite a relatively quiet supe season.

Don't overlook that on his sole test appearance v France on the EOYT he did acquit himself exceptionally well. His best might be brought out when he has the best around him.

 

[fatprop]

Yep no complaints about the squad. As a side note liked the idea of announcing the squad live on kick and chase as much better than reading about it online when announced so good initiative there.

Yes surprised about Fardy as thought he has been awesome this season...and number one 6 in my books.but yeh maybe because not here next year Syndrome.

Equally good to see Sam Carter selected as he has been very good this year.

The surprise for me was Godwin. I probably did not have him on the radar but on reflection yes been solid for Brumbies and Cheika about combinations so fair enough. I thought Billy Meakes unlucky as thought personally he has been the form 12.

Also nice for me to see Hunt and Nabuli selected, both deserved for different reasons.

All in all seems fairly fair selections and not really too much controversy as lot of players been rewarded for good form this season which is what you want.

Yeah, Godwin was a surprise, he does some good stuff and then fades out of the game

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[KOB1987]

I'm thinking Dempsey is the beneficiary of McMahon's injury. He's not quite big enough for an international 6 and played 7 v the French baabaas on the tour. He could well be the backup 7.

 

[hammertimethere]

Well the reasoning is clear and I probably don't disagree with it given the situation that we are in with under strength opposition. However, it should be noted that the rugby public in Australia is prickly about the performance of the Super Rugby teams in general. Anything less than 3 solid wins (even if there is a little lack of gloss due to inexperience) will be a PR disaster.

Of the new players/more controversial picks I think Hardwick, Hanigan, Joe Powell, Hunt and Koroibete + the recall of Higginbotham are great selections. Nabuli, Godwin, Dempsey and Tui probably haven't done enough or are a bit premature for me. I think if we were hosting a 3 match series vs the French for example we would see Fardy, Simmons and maybe even Alexander called up.

The players we need to get healthy and in the right headspace to look at later would for me be guys like Louwrens, Rona, Peni, Phillip, Ainsley, Ready, Tui, Gordon, Lomax.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Nice little put down re Simmons lack of physicality

 

[Brumby Runner]

Cheika has clearly made the choice to move on from players not here next year.

I would have retained both Fardy and Skelton but can understand not picking them.

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Not exactly what he said in his presentation when questioned about Scott's omission. Said it wasn't to do with him leaving but waffled on then about how Fardy understood or some such rot. Almost incomprehensible, but looked very much to me that he then contradicted what I thought he was saying when discussing Will Genia's inclusion.

 

[Micheal]

Not exactly what he said in his presentation when questioned about Scott's omission. Said it wasn't to do with him leaving but waffled on then about how Fardy understood or some such rot. Almost incomprehensible, but looked very much to me that he then contradicted what I thought he was saying when discussing Will Genia's inclusion.

From what I can gather from others his reasoning was quite clear and well communicated.

He's looking towards the next RWC, which Fardy won't be playing at. Likewise, he's told departing players that if they are clear standouts for the first XV they will be in the squad, but if they are only capable of a bench or squad spot then he will give the position to a younger player to develop them for the next RWC.

Pretty sound thinking and I agree with it. We need to move past Fardy given his age and inconsistency of form.

 

[Forcefield]

Don't overlook that on his sole test appearance v France on the EOYT he did acquit himself exceptionally well. His best might be brought out when he has the best around him.

I've always been a Godwin fan for obvious reasons but that seems like a long bow to draw to me. He is playing in Australia's best performing Super Rugby side and being coached by Australia's backs coach. If those aren't the conditions to thrive, then what is?

I actually think he has regressed since leaving the Force (but to be fair he was already regressing with us- but perhaps that was cumulative injury taking its toll).

 

[Brumby Runner]

From what I can gather from others his reasoning was quite clear and well communicated.

He's looking towards the next RWC, which Fardy won't be playing at. Likewise, he's told departing players that if they are clear standouts for the first XV they will be in the squad, but if they are only capable of a bench or squad spot then he will give the position to a younger player to develop them for the next RWC.

Pretty sound thinking and I agree with it. We need to move past Fardy given his age and inconsistency of form.

I accept that Fardy is out, but not the explanations being given.

Some say it's because he (and Skelton also mentioned) are off overseas at the end of the season, but Cheika himself denied this on screen.

The next explanation being attributed to Cheika is that Fardy is not a likely starter, therefore bring in a new player for development purposes. Just who is the form No 6 who would start in preference to Fardy on this year's performances? And if that is Cheika's selection criterion, why is TPN in the squad? Moore has been announced as Captain, so he will be starting. TPN surely then fits into the same category as Fardy. Don't get me wrong, I don't want TPN to miss out, but then neither should Fardy.

And what about balance in the backrow. Hasn't that been one of our achilles Heels in recent seasons? Who is the over-the-ball flanker who will fill the No 6 spot to complement the running games Of Hooper and Higgers? None of Hanigan, Hardwick or Dempsey will give us that presence, leaving Timani as the logical No 6. But he is not as effective as Fardy in that role, and I'm not yet sure that he won't be playing No 8 with Higgers on the bench.

Fardy's omission will likely come back to bite the team in the arse at some stage. He ought to be there until he can be replaced with like for like, eg RHP or possibly Holloway.

 

[Joe Blow]

Surely Jono Lance would have been a better option than Godwin? Meakes as well as a development player.
Surely we will see Hodge at 12 with maybe Hunt given some time there off the bench. KB (Kurtley Beale) to return for the RC.

All in all a pretty good squad.

 

[Fitness Fanatic 10]

Good squad I would say

 

[fatprop]

Good squad I would say

Unfortunately I felt the same about the squad before the June Tests last season

I think the description "about as good as we can put out at the moment" maybe more accurate

 

[Joe Blow]

Its a shame that KB (Kurtley Beale) is not available to give our mid field a bit more punch in attack. Other than that I can't see where we could be significantly stronger.
The absence of Pocock more or less forces Cheika to go with a more traditional back row.

 

[Braveheart81]

It does seem like a good chance to see whether a backrow without the tight style breakdown player like Fardy can perform well together or whether we need to draft him back in for the Rugby Championship.

I agree that if Cheika isn't going to start him, there's not much point having him in the squad. Players like Fardy and Simmons are well and truly experienced enough that they could be drafted into the squad at the start of the week and play on the weekend without any interruption.

 

[KOB1987]

Thats it BH. I said quite a while ago that it made sense to use this June series to blood some new players into the squad. We are going to have to live without Fardy et al from next year so we have little to lose. The Bledisloe/RC is a different kettle of fish, I'd expect our strongest possible squad to be named for that.

 

[Brumby Runner]

As I've said elsewhere, I would be more comfortable with the new players coming in if someone like RHP had been included in Fardy's place. None of the selected back rowers are the hard on the ball, in tight player that Fardy is. The backrow is looking to be quite unbalanced to me, and that has been a major criticism of the Wallabies' sides for a couple of years now. Best I can say is that with either Hanigan or Hardwick in there, it has a better look than with Mumm there.

 

[Scrubber2050]

There are some terrible selections and omissions.

Cheika is fucking lucky that 2 of the 3 mid year tests could be won by the UQ Prems team. So his shit win/loss ratio will improve regardless of who is picked.

To me, this is the most disappointing year in my long support of rugby in Australia. This team and these rabbit tests brings no excitement to me. To be fair and under Cheika we (Wallabies) have regressed to the same type of level as the teams we are playing. For the past 15 years or so I have attended all tests in Australia and many around the world including a few World Cups and spent a shitload doing so.

Whilst I am disappointed and will not spend a cent on flights, accommodation, tickets, taxis, entertainment etc I will still watch from the luxury of my 15ft Millard (with annex).

The trouble with the sport (including ARU and coaching staff etc) is that it is losing long term and passionate supporters on lots of levels.

Sorry guys/girls for this negative post, but I am feeling despondent and needed to vent