Wallabies 2018 Spring Tour

[Derpus]

Hiding whom? Hooper? Surely the only lessons we learn from the ABs is how to lose in 100 different, easy ways.

Personally, I'd still go with 6 Cottrell, 7 Pocock, 8 Dempsey in the absence of Timu at 8 and until Naisarani is available or Valetini makes a case for the No 8 spot.

Hooper was better than Pocock against the All Blacks, just sayin.

 

[RugbyReg]

Qantas Wallabies squad ahead for the 2018 Spring Tour (Test caps, Vodafone Super Rugby side and age)

Forwards
Jermaine Ainsley (1 Test, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Allan Ala'alatoa (30 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Rory Arnold (19 Tests , Brumbies, 28)
Adam Coleman (28 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Jack Dempsey (7 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 24)
Folau Fainga’a (6 Tests, Brumbies, 23)
Ned Hanigan (18 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Michael Hooper (c) (88 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 27)
Sekope Kepu (100 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 32)
Tolu Latu (10 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (86 Tests, Leicester, 33)
David Pocock (75 Tests, Brumbies, 30)
Izack Rodda (14 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Rob Simmons (91 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Pete Samu (7 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Scott Sio (52 Tests, Brumbies, 27)
Taniela Tupou (9 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)

Backs
Adam Ashley-Cooper (116, Kobe Steelers, 34)
Tom Banks (3 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Kurtley Beale (81 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Israel Folau (70 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Bernard Foley (65 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Will Genia (97 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)
Jake Gordon (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Dane Haylett-Petty (28 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 29)
Samu Kerevi (22 Tests, Queensland Reds, 25)
Marika Koroibete (18 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Jack Maddocks (5 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 21)
Sefa Naivalu (8 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Jordan Petaia (uncapped, Queensladn Reds, 18)
Nick Phipps (70 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Matt To'omua (39, Leicester/Melbourne Rebels, 28)

Development Players
Rob Valetini (uncapped, Brumbies, 20)
Isi Naisarani (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 23)

 

[RugbyReg]

Jed Holloway and Brandon Paenga-Amosa will now return to Australia following an intensive training camp at Odawara, Japan, where the Wallabies will be based ahead of the Rugby World Cup next year.

 

[southsider]

Think it’s a silly move to include TPN, everyone knows what he is capable of and we are better off managing his work load a bit than making him play, wasted opportunity for BPA, Latu and Fainga’a to earn some much needed minutes at international level

 

[Slim 293]

Although not quite as silly as including AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)..........

 

[southsider]

Although not quite as silly as including AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)....

That selection is just fucking stupid

I’d much rather them bring back Fardy or Mowen if they’re wanting older players to come back into the fold

 

[Joe Blow]

Cottrell unlucky or maybe still injured? If so then Jed unlucky as he brings something different to the back row.
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will be there as a mentor for Petaia as much as for anything else.

Nice to have Kerevi back. I have never been a fan but he certainly showed a lot in the last test.

 

[Dctarget]

That selection is just fucking stupid

I’d much rather them bring back Fardy or Mowen if they’re wanting older players to come back into the fold

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) made himself available, those blokes haven't. If Mowen wanted another tilt at Gold, I'm sure Cheika would consider him.

 

[Joe Blow]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) made himself available, those blokes haven't. If Mowen wanted another tilt at Gold, I'm sure Cheika would consider him.

Doubtful Mowen but Fardy maybe.

 

[Dctarget]

Doubtful Mowen but Fardy maybe.

Didn't Cheika make up his mind on Fardy hence him going overseas? Whereas Mowen left on his own terms.

Fuck if Hanigan is in the team I'm sure they could find room for Mowen.

 

[Slim 293]

It would seem that Fardy has no interest in playing for the Wallabies at the moment...........

 

[Joe Blow]

Yes he made his mind up on Fardy and it turned out to be be a very poor decision.

 

[Dctarget]

It would seem that Fardy has no interest in playing for the Wallabies at the moment.....

Honestly it's such a shame. He's in incredible form and he would be the perfect foil to the Pooper.

 

[Slim 293]

Honestly it's such a shame. He's in incredible form and he would be the perfect foil to the Pooper.

I've said this many times now, but based on their form the last couple of years I would have Fardy and McMahon in my starting Wallabies backrow with Pocock......... alas.........

 

[southsider]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) made himself available, those blokes haven't. If Mowen wanted another tilt at Gold, I'm sure Cheika would consider him.

Just because he makes himself available doesn’t mean we should pick him

 

[Aurelius]

Just because he makes himself available doesn’t mean we should pick him

Damnit. I was just about to throw my hat into the ring.

 

[Dctarget]

Just because he makes himself available doesn’t mean we should pick him

I didn't say that.

I was replying to why we haven't brought back other older players like Mowen and Fardy (because Fardy has been discarded and Mowen hasn't made himself available).

The actual reasons why we should pick him:
We have our two first choice outside centres injured in Reece Hodge and Tevita Kuridrani. Our third, in Kerevi, is injury prone, coming back from injury and also known to not perform in high pressure situations (like England).

So this leaves Naivalu, Folau and Petaia. All unproven at this level at outside centre. Petaia shows promise but he is literally just a kid. Folau is incredible but an outside centre he ain't. I actually like Naivalu here, but as I said unproven.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) can play pretty much any position in the backs, he's Australia's third most capped player ever so probably has a bit of wisdom to share around (perfect mentor for our next prodigy in Petaia hey?).

Yeah he's 34 and probably lost a bit of pace, but he'd be easily one of our top defenders. And if Folau or Naivalu go down injured, what happens then? Who comes onto the bench?

 

[autism awareness]

Dear Wallabies Fans,

My son attends a small school in NSW for kids high on the autism spectrum that can't attend mainstream schools.

We have a Gala Dinner this week and are having an online auction to raise much needed funds for the school. The Auction items include; holidays, artwork and most importantly a load football jerseys including a signed and framed 2017 Wallabies Jersey as well as a 2018 Rebels signed and framed Jersey.

If anyone is interested in checking it out or bidding please use the links below.

The auction closes this Friday.

https://galabid.com/auction/vbgala/item/214865

https://galabid.com/auction/vbgala/item/214866

Good luck!

 

[Strewthcobber]

Latu not paying much of a penalty for some very dumb moments recently

 

[TSR]

I don’t really get what the fuss is over Pete Samu either. Good player, yes, but not ever likely to challenge Hooper or Pocock IMO and, if one of them happened to be out there are numerous other configurations I’d prefer tha to bring him in.