Wallabies 2018 Spring Tour

[Derpus]

Arnold is in the squad

I meant the 23.

Holloway may be in the squad but he won't get a cap.

I expected to see Slipper in the squad.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'll go out on a limb and say that Gordon come WC will be the no.2 barring injuries. I dont mind Powell, he is still a young man and has some potential, Phipps will always work harder than his opposite and Ruru is as tough as nails but i personally don't see any of these options been better than Gordon.

BR i agree with your frustration with the lack of logic with how Powell has been discarded, it's all a bit of madness and i feel for the guy. But i believe through pure accident we are getting to the stage where the best option for no.2 will actually be the second best scrum half in the country, which in my opinion is Gordon.

On others in the squad, love the fact Dempsey is back, Holloway i believe is extremely luck (although i can see the logic behind it), Cottrell is another lucky one, as is Ainsley, Sefa's inclusion i find strange (although i am a big fan of his).

The unlucky Philip, Slipper, believe it or not Quade and Petaia. On saying all this each player included has their valid reasoning to be there.

Good luck boys and rip in

R3, that was my main point about Powell - he was in the squad as No 3, not given any substantial game time and now apparently discarded for Gordon who has done nothing of note to push ahead and also has been given no game time in the Wallabies.

I would prefer Gordon to Phipps, no problem, but I don't rate him No 2 in the country. As I said, I think Ruru has more of an all round game and is more likely to provide the Genia type of involvements as Genia drops out of the picture (which on current form may be ssoner that we'd wish). As far as the NRC is concerned, the next best No 9 is Ian Prior. His leadership and goal kicking sets him apart from the other contenders. I am also sorry that Louwrens didn't stick around and give it a try for higher honours. There is a lot to like about his game.

Holloway is a mystery. Like FP above, I think he's had his best games for the Tahs at lock, but there is little to no chance of being selected there in the Wallabies. In another place, someone (Nutta, I think) asked if there were any smokies for the tour. In jest I suggested there weren't any more light blue jerseys available to be selected. How wrong was I? Forgot about Jed completely. As a lock/No 6, Matt Philip has done much more to earn a jersey than Jed (who, btw, I have always regarded highly, but his form in recent years has been really patchy). He (Jed) hasn't even been outstanding in the NRC - apart from Philip, players like Lee-Warner, Swain and Enever have been better at lock, and Leota, ASY (Angus Scott-Young) and Brynard Stander better in the back row. His selection does pose some questions.

Yeah, I'd rate Slipper as very unlucky too. He has had a very strong NRC and has substantially better form at test level than Ainsley. Think BT must have had some input there.

I have no issue at all with Cottrell getting called into the squad. I hope he can get some time on the field at some stage.

 

[Braveheart81]

R3, that was my main point about Powell - he was in the squad as No 3, not given any substantial game time and now apparently discarded for Gordon who has done nothing of note to push ahead and also has been given no game time in the Wallabies.

I don't really see the issue with this. If the coach decides they prefer someone else above another player, the player that has been in the squad for a while doesn't deserve to be given more opportunity before that change is made.

Gordon had a strong Super Rugby season. Powell had a decent season too but I hardly think there is incumbency involved just because you've been in the squad plenty. It's not like he's a proven test match performer.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I don't really see the issue with this. If the coach decides they prefer someone else above another player, the player that has been in the squad for a while doesn't deserve to be given more opportunity before that change is made.

Gordon had a strong Super Rugby season. Powell had a decent season too but I hardly think there is incumbency involved just because you've been in the squad plenty. It's not like he's a proven test match performer.

At this stage of their careers, giving both time in the squad is not a bad plan at all.

Either might play a critical role in 2019, but we don't, and Cheika may not, know who it's more likely to be.

 

[upthereds#!]

Slipper missed out coz he is playing 3 in NRC when Cheika says he's a 1. Now that Kepu and Ala'alatoa can play 1, they brought up Ainsley.

I suggest Slipper will be the 5th lock at the WC.

 

[Braveheart81]

Slipper missed out coz he is playing 3 in NRC when Cheika says he's a 1. Now that Kepu and Ala'alatoa can play 1, they brought up Ainsley.

Slipper unlikely to play in this match though but is playing NRC finals.

I reckon there's a chance he goes on the EOYT.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

So this 31 is just for Bled3, right? I'm assuming To'omua & anyone else who qualifies under Giteau's law & is required to be released under WR (World Rugby) Reg 9 will be added after that?

 

[Braveheart81]

So this 31 is just for Bled3, right? I'm assuming To'omua & anyone else who qualifies under Giteau's law & is required to be released under WR (World Rugby) Reg 9 will be added after that?

I would guess so although there has been some indication that Cheika won't on the basis that they will have a lot of rugby between now and the RWC.

 

[Tigs Man]

Cheika said he was thinking of leaving To'omua and TPN our of the AI as the English clubs have 3 weeks of development games and they give their senior players rest during those 3 weeks so he said he would rather they have the time off.

 

[RugbyReg]

R3, that was my main point about Powell - he was in the squad as No 3, not given any substantial game time and now apparently discarded for Gordon who has done nothing of note to push ahead and also has been given no game time in the Wallabies.

.

he's had plenty of game time in the NRC and Super Rugby and he's obviously been part of th squad. I think there's been sufficient opportunity for Check to guage his abilities and where he sits in the pecking order.

 

[Slim 293]

In my opinion Joe Powell is barely Super Rugby standard

Yeah, nah......... I'm going to call bullshit.

For a player that was widely regarded as the form Aus halfback in Super Rugby last year, and whether or not you agree with that you would have to acknowledge he was excellent for the Brumbies, that's a pretty dumb thing to state.

Sorry, I think Reg put it more succinctly.........

that's the type of high quality analysis I love about GAGR!

 

[TSR]

and people who don't watch the entire game think he's the second coming!

Yeah, look, your entitled to your opinion, but if this is supposed to mean that the only people who rate him don’t really watch your talking horse shit.

 

[jimmydubs]

Entire reds contingent is equalled in number by tahs backrowers. 4 tahs backrowers. I guess cause theyve had such a dominant backrow?!?!??

 

[RugbyReg]

In the same way as the Reds have been so dominant? At least the Tahs played finals footy.

 

[Up the Guts]

Entire reds contingent is equalled in number by tahs backrowers. 4 tahs backrowers. I guess cause theyve had such a dominant backrow?!?!??

Says more about the back row stocks than it does about the Tahs imo.

 

[KOB1987]

Does it need to be reiterated that this 31 man squad is for the Bledisloe in Japan only? Some fringe players have been left out because they have NRC commitments over at least this weekend and possibly the weekend after. After the game in Japan and before the European tour some players from the NRC group will be added and some from the current squad will come home.

To remind, the Australian teams in the NRC finals are Force, Vikings and Qld Country. That might provide an alternative to your thesis on Joe Powell being left out BR. It may not too.

 

[Joe Blow]

Says more about the back row stocks than it does about the Tahs imo.

Our backrow stocks are getting better with Dempsey back, Cottrell in the mix and Valetini available. Liam Gill is also apparently keen on coming back and taking a run at the RWC squad.
It’s a matter of picking the right mix and having a decent approach to that unit.

 

[Brumby Runner]

In the same way as the Reds have been so dominant? At least the Tahs played finals footy.

But really with little impact from the back row. The Tahs' success this year was built on their backline attack.

EDIT : Arguably, the Tahs' best back rowers were Miller and Wells neither of whom are in the four now named in the Wallabies. Higgers, Cottrell, McCaffery and Philip all performed better than Hanigan, Dempsey (since his return from injury) and Holloway (in the back row as distinct from his form in the second row) over the Super Rugby season.

 

[RugbyReg]

But really with little impact from the back row. The Tahs' success this year was built on their backline attack.

EDIT : Arguably, the Tahs' best back rowers were Miller and Wells neither of whom are in the four now named in the Wallabies. Higgers, Cottrell, McCaffery and Philip all performed better than Hanigan, Dempsey (since his return from injury) and Holloway (in the back row as distinct from his form in the second row) over the Super Rugby season.

Well you can't deny Hoopers form nor selection. Holloway played lock and it was Hanigan's best year. Meanwhile Dempsey was crook the whole season.

 

[Braveheart81]

Also, Hanigan spent the majority of the year playing lock too. He only reverted back to 6 when Hooper got injured.