Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[something]

One thing i am really impressed by in this whole Cooper/Deans fiasco, is cooper's willingness to keep his mouth shut, i am surprised he hasn't gone out and said anything dumb

 

[Badger]

James Hanson is also training with the squad as backup hooker...

Here's hoping, Squeaky, Saia and Chiba stay fit and injury free.

 

[Ignoto]

We can all be holier than thou but even the best of men have their breaking limit and nobody needs to put up with that crap.

Sounds like credit has to be given to his mates for not letting it become an incident. While I would have done the exact same thing as Quade did, sounds like he had some smart mates there to ensure he didn't go through with anything.

 

[BDA]

So it appears that Burgess is not in the squad after all. Burgess and Hanson are both in training with the squad as "injury cover" but are not part of the official squad. I'm happy with that and glad to see Madness is the final member of the squad. Hopefully we get to see him smashing some blokes in one of the tests.

 

[BDA]

I'm fairly happy with the squad. The only change I'd make would be to drop one of McCalman/Dennis/Kimlin and add Cooper. Not sure we need 6 players covering 6 and 8. would prefer the option of playing a wildcard (Coops)

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Wallabies Twitter has just confirmed James Horwill as Captain.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

So it appears that Burgess is not in the squad after all. Burgess and Hanson are both in training with the squad as "injury cover" but are not part of the official squad. I'm happy with that and glad to see Madness is the final member of the squad. Hopefully we get to see him smashing some blokes in one of the tests.

I've lost count - are there 33 or more blokes in camp now?
Why do they need Burgess for "injury" cover - because he's been away from the "system" for so long and if someone goes down he wont be able to learn it or because someone is carrying an injury??
We've gone from 1 half to 3 (I think).

 

[BDA]

I'm guess the idea is to have Hanson and Burgess train with the squad so that they are familiar enough that they can slot in if an injury occurs. Seems sensible.

plus I suspect they are used at training to rotate/rest the other 2s and 9s. Although im just guessing. I really dont know a lot about how the Wallabies training camps work. someone else might be able to shed some light.

 

[lewisr]

I've lost count - are there 33 or more blokes in camp now?
Why do they need Burgess for "injury" cover - because he's been away from the "system" for so long and if someone goes down he wont be able to learn it or because someone is carrying an injury??
We've gone from 1 half to 3 (I think).

Seems to me that the distinction between being in the squad and not is becoming a grey area. About the only difference is just getting all the gear but apart from that they are training with the same blokes and staying in the same hotel so they're pretty much part of the squad, aren't they? Ahhh confused...

BDA good point mate. Might've been a good tactical maneuver to keep the Lions thinking by just having him there. It would have shut up a lot of us punters as well but that's the way dingo plays the game.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I'm guess the idea is to have Hanson and Burgess train with the squad so that they are familiar enough that they can slot in if an injury occurs. Seems sensible.

How about doing so inside the 31.
Why did it only become sensible (which I think it is) this weekend?
This is where Deans loses me: when he named his 26 Burgess was not in the country (I dont think) so it would not look too good if he was picked. Evidently whatever secret Wallabies business was being transacted after that selection it did not require the 2nd halfback to be present (cough cough) so none was picked and yet getting them together then was vital: was this just because Dingo didn't want to pick White or was he doing Jake White a favour or was he leaving the door ajar to allow him to pick his 2nd choice #9 when he eventually darkened our shores? If the last of these why was Phipps added at all?
I cant see any logic to this process, it reeks of mind games, but i am more than happy to be enlightened.

 

[BDA]

yeh and to be honest I'm not sure Cooper would react well to being in the squad but not actually getting selected in the 23. he might cause more discontent than he's worth. Robbie possibly considered this when deciding on his squad. still on balance id have him in the 31. But then again I've never witnessed first hand the inner workings and politics of the wallabies squad.

 

[Slim 293]

So, we've got position-wise (roughly):

Props: Robinson, Alexander, Slipper, Kepu, Sio
Hookers: Moore, Fainga'a
Locks: Horwill, Douglas, Simmons, Kimlin, McMeniman
Backrowers: Mowen, Dennis, Hooper, Gill, Palu, McCalman
Scrumhalves: Genia, Phipps
Flyhalves: *cough*
Centres: Lealiifano, Horne, Ashley-Cooper, McCabe
Wing/Fullbacks: To'omua, Folau, Cummins, Barnes, Ioane, O'Connor, Beale

 

[Inside Shoulder]

yeh and to be honest I'm not sure Cooper would react well to being in the squad but not actually getting selected in the 23. he might cause more discontent than he's worth. Robbie possibly considered this when deciding on his squad. still on balance id have him in the 31. But then again I've never witnessed first hand the inner workings and politics of the wallabies squad.

Would you strive for no politics inside the squad? But that ship sailed some time ago.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

So, we've got position-wise (roughly):

Props: Robinson, Alexander, Slipper, Kepu, Sio
Hookers: Moore, Fainga'a
Locks: Horwill, Douglas, Simmons, Kimlin, McMeniman
Backrowers: Mowen, Dennis, Hooper, Gill, Palu, McCalman
Scrumhalves: Genia, Phipps
Flyhalves: *cough*
Centres: Lealiifano, Horne, Ashley-Cooper, McCabe
Wing/Fullbacks: To'omua, Folau, Cummins, Barnes, Ioane, O'Connor, Beale

Tell me this bloke Cough hasn't got a smoking problem to go with his drinking issue

 

[Slim 293]

Squad by the numbers:

Brumbies (8)
Force (3)
Rebels (2)
Reds (7)
Waratahs (10)
Randwick 2nds (1)

 

[lewisr]

He was fairly resigned to missing out anyway so I think he would have been surprised/ content at getting the call up regardless of whether he ended up in the starting team.

But then again, you never know what goes on behind closed doors, especially when it comes to Deans' man management.

Not really feeling the mind games thing on the half backs. everyone knows our starting 9 will be Genia so what's the point of stirring up the reserves? I think it was just a statement that he wanted to see what burgess would do upon arrival and any game time during S15. Nic White's injury has just clarified all that I guess.

 

[BDA]

Yeh I think Deans was always going to choose Phipps because he seems to like players that have experience within the squad (Cooper aside). I think most people would have gone for White over Phipps. I would have also, although I was intrigued to hear what Kafer had so say about that choice; kafer points to a number of areas where Phipps was either the best or second best in the comp. They were stats such as tries/line-breaks/break-assists, etc. All stats conducive to a strong bench option.

The question mark for me was always going to be whether Burgess or White got the nod for the backup spot. We will never know who Deans was going to choose before White's injury. we can only speculate.

 

[gold heart]

Considering injuries and all I am quite happy with the squad.

I hope we can move the hell on now and support the WALLABIES....put aside interstate jibes, cooperism and all the other crap (although some of it is funny) and support these guys - they are the best of what is available and we now have some fluffy lions to deal with.

May it be a great series like 2001 and let the chips fall where they will with the coach after the boots are unlaced and the sweat and blood is done with!

 

[Paradox]

Slim 293 To'omua?

 

[BDA]

Pretty Happy that Horwill has been named captain. He's a much better choice that Sam Warburton for the Lions.