Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[Richo]

Anyone who hasn't read Barbarian's article on the front page really should. It's excellent and I think sums up the feelings of a lot of us who would have really liked to see Quade picked but don't think it's the end of the world that he didn't.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

it would be in the best interests of the country if brisbane crowds show no such hostility towards the wallabies coach or any player they arnt happy with. it doesnt do anyone any good

Agree with the comment, but it wouldn't be the first time a Brisbane crowd let their feelings be known about Wallaby selections though

 

[lewisr]

Agree with the comment, but it wouldn't be the first time a Brisbane crowd let their feelings be known about Wallaby selections though

Haha yep... As you said, best way to predict the future behaviour is off historical behaviour!

 

[Riptide]

Those who have managed people would generally agree that the secret to a successful team is team harmony. It can be a juggling act dealing with egos but ultimately is paramount that everyone feels loved and no one gets preferential treatment.

I think that ultimately is what is behind Quade's omission. I don't buy into the defensive frailties argument anymore. It is not just Deans being pissed with Quade there is a lot of resentment amongst the squad after his toxic comments last year. That's why he was omitted from the logistics camp.

Quade's advisors have to take a fair bit of blame for getting him into this predicament.

On face value I'd pick Quade in my XV, but if he caused division in the camp I wouldn't pick him.

All Quade can do is play the house down for the Reds and make it impossible for them not to pick him. The team have to want him back playing beside them as well. Quade always says he wants to back himself. Now is his chance. I hope he can do it.

The two most vocal and influential Wallabies who also hold the primary leadership roles are Horwill and Genia and they have no problem with Cooper. So, I am not a believer in the "Copper is too divisive" mantra.

I'm disappointed that Cooper is not in the squad as an option. I think he is the one 10 in Aus who can prise open the Lions defense and create problems off turnover ball. He helps Genia and vice-versa.

On the issue of Deans not picking Cooper, that is his absolute right. Any coach wants to win and wants players in the team he believes will help execute their ideas to win. He obviously thinks Cooper is not his best option be it a result of defense, temperament, or how he leads the attack. If the Wallabies win the series with or without Cooper, Deans will get the plaudits but he'll be out of a job if they lose.

 

[ChargerWA]

My thoughts are that he hasn't selected a second 9 yet while he waits to make sure burgess will be available.

If Burgess is available and he goes for a 3rd scrummie is he will go for White, as Phipps is basically Burgess lite. If Burgess isn't available he will go for Phipps who has more experience.

 

[lewisr]

Some fantastic comments from Bob Dwyer. I suggest all have a listen although it is a very long.

 

[Bairdy]

A lot of people very aggrieved about Cooper's omission from the 25 man squad. In my mind I don't think he will be in the Wallabies fold unless we lose quite badly in the first test, but despite all the talk about only Cooper, I thought I might put my two cents worth in to the mix, on the rest of the squad.

Props: No surprises though would have like to have seen Palmer in the mix.

Hookers: Again, quite obvious that Moore was going to be one of the hookers, but God I hope TPN gets fit in time because, despite the notion he's a terrible lineout thrower, he and Moore complement each other so well, and he will cause havoc if he's playing against the Welsh, err, Lions forward pack.

Locks: Horwill and Simmons were always the first two locks chosen if Wallabies lineout consultant Sharpie, and the Wallabies XV he named on Rugby HQ was anything to go by. Personally would rather have Douglas as the backup/complement to the aforementioned.

Backrow: Mowen, Higginbotham, Hooper, Gill, Palu pick themselves, but gee I hope George Smith recovers in time because his experience is invaluable.

Scrumhalves: Genia is undoubtedly the first name on the team sheet, but I'm perplexed as to why we have not picked a backup in the 25! People mention Burgess, but for my mind White deservedly should be second fiddle to Sanchez.

Flyhalves: Lealiifano is an unknown quantity as test level, though has been playing well enough at Super Rugby level to get a place in the Wallabies. Barnes is a known quantity as test level in the 10 jersey; JOC (James O'Connor), too, to an extent if you count the one test against Wales in 2011. Regrettably I've not seen that test match so can't really comment, but I have no doubt that JOC (James O'Connor) has the temperament as test level. but whether or not he brings enough to the playmaking role at test level, I guess we'll have to wait until June.

Centres: Surprised that McCabe wasn't included in the initial 25 man squad, but Lealiifano and Horne's inclusion, less surprising.

Wings: Digby arguably the second name pencilled in the XV, along with Tomane and Cummins. Tomane was the best Australian winger in 2012, in my mind, before he was injured, and is strong, so elusive and great in the air. Would love to see him start alongside Digby, but would be just as happy to see Deans going with Cummins on the other wing, which is what he'll likely do.

Fullbacks: Unfortunate for Mogg, but Folau has played just the little better, and Deans will see Folau's State of Origin experience as a deciding factor.

 

[Joe Blow]

JOC (James O'Connor) was brilliant a couple of years ago at 10 at test level.

Once........and brilliant is slightly overstated

 

[Alex]

Some further thoughts on the make up of the squad. Lets assume that the 23 comes from this 25, plus a back up 9.

Props: Fat Cat is the starting loosehead. He is the best scrummaging prop in Australia and fortunately will be fronting up against the best scrummaging prop in the lions. He also has quality involvements in the match with a pretty decent clearance from the ruck and some good work on the ground for a prop. trouble is he doesn't have enough involvements. That said, he gets picked to start and stays on for as long as Jones does. I would have Slipper starting as TH, Benny A coming off the bench at LH when Jones gets a rest and Kepu there for emergencies only. I suspect, however, Benny A will be starting tighthead and Slipper will be back up loosehead.

Hooker: Moore will start and not stop till TPN comes back or we are more points ahead than there are minutes to play.

Locks: Horwill be one and will play 80. On the other side,I think the lack of an outstanding scrummaging TH prop in the squad is why Timani got picked and why he will start. There is a perception that the wallabies have a weak scrum and the coaching staff know it will cost us the series to get off on the wrong foot with the refs. Timani is picked to keep the tight head side of the scrum solid. He will not be trusted for 80 Minutes and so Simmons will be on the bench. Denis cannot cover lock against the Lions

Openside: I would have Gill to start because of his tackling and ability to slow ball on the ground, with Hooper to bring his explosive pace and power in for the last 20. I suspect the coaching staff will do it the other way around.

Blindside/number 8: Robbie will pick Higgers at 6 and Palu at 8, but I would prefer not to have Palu and Timani on at the same time. Having both on the field does too much damage to the lineout and I want my forwards playing like a pack of hungry wolves. With TPN out, having one of Palu and Timani starting and one on the bench gives us impact over 80 minutes and Provides better balance. I have picked Timani to start for the scrum so Palu goes to the bench. Higgers to 8 and Mowen on the blindside. I think his play around the field has shaded Denis this year, but I want him to run the lineout - and in particular to contest the lions throws. For years he has been one of the best defensive lineout exponents in super rugby and I want to see him do it at international level.

I have picked Hooper, Palu and Simmons on the bench so I am going for a 6-2 split, which I think Robbie will. Dave Dennis unlucky man to miss out.

Half: Sanchez with White on the bench. He has been good and deserves his reward.

Ten: I wouldn't pick Beiber but he seems to be annointed so lets assume that is the decision.

12: I wanted Lilo to start at 12, but with O'Connor in 10 I don't think he will get the nod. Looks to me like Horne will start which may not be a bad thing. Sexton is going to be launching Jamie Roberts at the wallabies at every opportunity and Rob Horne may not be a bad bloke to be blocking his path. O'Connor is also inexperienced at ten and may find himself in situations where he needs an outlet - someone he can throw a hospital pass to and who can take the hit. That man may be Horne, buts its tough on Lilo because he has been one of the form players of the last two seasons.

13: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and don't expect to see him subbed.

Fullback first: will be Barnes - and he will be goalkicker and I am OK with that. I think he is better at 12 or 15 than 10 because he plays a lot better when he has time to assess his options (the opposite of Cooper).

Wings: Ioane will be one. On the other wing Tomane is the more accomplished classical wing and the Badger is the Badger, but there are a couple of things that Folau brings that no one else does. His aerial ability on wallaby restarts will be invaluable, his security under the high ball on box kicks, which will be a key part of the Lions arsenal, and his ability to do something special in limited space suggest to me that he might get the nod. In a tight game the ability to put up a bomb in goal for folau to chase every time you get a penalty advantage in the opposition 22 is hard to argue with.

So that leaves Lilo, Tomane and Badger for the last spot. Lilo has the best form, but an injury in the outside backs would leave the team unbalanced, unless you were prepared to move Rob Horne or James O'Connor to the wing. I woudl do this and pick Lilo because he is class, but I think Robbie will go for a wing, which for mine would be Tomane on form, Lilo and Badger missing out.

 

[lewisr]

Fullback first: will be Barnes...... plays a lot better when he has time to assess his options (the opposite of Cooper).

I think thats a really interesting point you make there. If I am interpreting you correctly, you're saying Cooper makes his best decisions when he only has a split second to think about it. If that's what youre saying its absolutely correct. More often than not, his moments of brilliance come in split second decisions whereas he always seems to screw it up when given time to think about it (whether that be because he has a second of doubt etc. etc. I don't know). Contrarily, Barnes is calm and collected and when given time can produce very smart attacking rugby, in the split second however, he reverts to kicking the ball away or a bad decision.

I think this is one of the reasons they would work so brilliantly if played together with a license to thrill. Oh well, I can dream.

Good comments. I think horne is the best option outside J'OC at this stage.

 

[Alex]

I think thats a really interesting point you make there. If I am interpreting you correctly, you're saying Cooper makes his best decisions when he only has a split second to think about it. If that's what youre saying its absolutely correct. More often than not, his moments of brilliance come in split second decisions whereas he always seems to screw it up when given time to think about it (whether that be because he has a second of doubt etc. etc. I don't know). Contrarily, Barnes is calm and collected and when given time can produce very smart attacking rugby, in the split second however, he reverts to kicking the ball away or a bad decision.

I think this is one of the reasons they would work so brilliantly if played together with a license to thrill. Oh well, I can dream.

Good comments. I think horne is the best option outside J'OC at this stage.

That is what I meant. When Barnes has time to check his instinct to kick he takes some very good options. Whenever Cooper gets the ball at the back with time to think, you know he is going to try and beat three defenders with no support or throw a mad last minute kick or pass that may get charged down or intercepted. His instinctive play, however, can be breathtaking.

 

[terry j]

Haha yep. As you said, best way to predict the future behaviour is off historical behaviour!

did you mean to write

'Haha yep. As you said, best way to predict the future behaviour is off hysterical behaviour!'

 

[USARugger]

Well, it doesn't look like our back-three are going to be doing much kicking in June.

 

[biggsy]

Cooper has not been selected and yet a lot of talk about him.

 

[fatprop]

I have been thinking about the 9 decision, to me, I think Deans may want a back up 9 with a running game for closing out games. So that means Phipps and now Burgess. On Burgess, Deans comments were from a question by a journalist. We may be reading more into it, all he said was when and if he will be available

I would go for White but he doesn't snipe, he does have a great pass and a great kicking game. I wonder whether Deans thinks those attributes are what he wants to close out the game

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[USARugger]

fatprop

Why do you think a scrumhalf that can run the ball a bit would be better for closing out a game?

 

[Braveheart81]

Quade Cooper Continues to top the flyhalves by a significant margin on 60.73% on the Rugby HQ halves "lion tamers"

No need to tell you who is on 87% for half backs. They may need to add Burgess to the mix though.

I find it interesting that there is such a universal acceptance of who should be the starting flyhalf and yet the coach disagrees. Brisbane Crowd may get hostile towards Mr Deans.

Maybe there are a lot of Queenslanders voting who don't really put much thought into it apart from backing their favourite?

Based on some of your comments, I'd think that the only rugby you've watched in the last month was the first half of the Reds vs Sharks game.

It is getting ridiculous when people are making the claim that Cooper is playing a more mature/reserved game ideal for test football everytime the Reds backline can't score a point. The Force vs Reds and Cheetahs vs Reds weren't examples of solid low risk backline play by the Reds. They were just bad performances.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

This squad is close to meaningless.
When was the last time Australia went into a test match with only 1 specialist half back?
The contentious point is who from the next 6 picked will displace others within the 25 - we know at least one, the backup half, will be introduced into the match day 22.
Why do we assume that there will not be others - say QC (Quade Cooper) or, even, KB (Kurtley Beale)?
My mail is that RD takes a very keen interest in KB (Kurtley Beale), to the extent that he has almost been living with Deans. It was Deans who got KB (Kurtley Beale) out on the stand up paddle board. If personality issues are in play then this one should not be underestimated.

 

[Ignoto]

I would go for White but he doesn't snipe, he does have a great pass and a great kicking game. I wonder whether Deans thinks those attributes are what he wants to close out the game

With the Wallabies lacking a kicker without a massive boot on him, I can't understand why White hasn't been included. What makes it even more head scratching is, Deans has publicly said he thinks it's going to be all about the physicality.

Ok, that's fine. The lions are a big bunch of Welsh coal-miners. So, instead of running at these lads who will love nothing more than to hit us as hard as they can, why don't we incorporate a Lataham-esque boot and get from being in our own 22 to their 10-22.

 

[fatprop]

fatprop

Why do you think a scrumhalf that can run the ball a bit would be better for closing out a game?

Sniping at tired defenses, exactly what Genia does and he will play till he is near dead

Burgess's work at closing out games was very good before he left. He got over the advantage line himself and dragged the forwards with him. I think deans wants that type of play

Please note that does not mean I think he is the right option, just what the thinking may be.