Wallabies Trinations Squad

[jay-c]

Daley?

I really do hope that Daley and Maafu don't progress beyond scrum camp...

i know what u mean but im hoping we dont have 2 serious prop injuries which would allow for his inclusion
but if 3 of robinson, kepu, slipper and alexander go down id prefer daley over the other options

 

[Joe Blow]

Hodgeson is such a versatile player that he must be ahead of Robinson. He is definitely a better 6 and 8 and most likely a better 7 at this stage as well. Take nothing away from Robinson as he has had a great year.
Hodgo is the ultimate bench player.
What a back row Elsom, Pocock and Samo would make!!
Hope we get to see it in the next couple of months

 

[tigerland12]

Agree on all levels JB, I think that versatility will get him the nod. Both class players and two of personal favourites

 

[jay-c]

i hope the wallabies go for it in the trinations> holding back in hope of being in peak condition come wc time is just asking to lose both and not have any trophiesw at the end of the year> i hope the saffas do send a b team and that the kiwis feel it necesssary to rest some players too>
win the tri nations and rock into the wc on a roll and put the fear of god into the opposition

 

[Groucho]

I just hope we don't suffer a raft of injuries. The Super 15 suggests we will.

 

[Nusadan]

We want to do better this time. As delicious as it was to beat those ABs, a part of that pleasure was 'stealing' a win from a better team, through a combination of good luck, mental hardness and desire. This time we still want all those things, but also to be the better team. Any fifty point differences should be in our favour.

Alas that game in question (Wallabies losing 50 odd to the ABs in the lead up to the 2003 RWC) was the last time I got to take my two then young sons to a major rugby match, one is now playing for boot money for a local AFL team after playing for NSW Rams u16s and the other is on a league scholarship with Melbourne Storm, they were that mentally scarred for life after that match...

 

[drewprint]

What a back row Elsom, Pocock and Samo would make!!
Hope we get to see it in the next couple of months

Hell. Yes.

 

[DPK]

Hodgeson is such a versatile player that he must be ahead of Robinson. He is definitely a better 6 and 8 and most likely a better 7 at this stage as well. Take nothing away from Robinson as he has had a great year.
Hodgo is the ultimate bench player.
What a back row Elsom, Pocock and Samo would make!!
Hope we get to see it in the next couple of months

Jack of all trades, master of none. If they roll out a 5:2 split I'd like to see some specialists.

 

[qwerty51]

Don't sell him cheap like that. Hodgson is an outstanding player. He's a better ball carrier than Beau.

 

[farva]

i know what u mean but im hoping we dont have 2 serious prop injuries which would allow for his inclusion
but if 3 of robinson, kepu, slipper and alexander go down id prefer daley over the other options

I think Longbum could do alright, and is a better scummager than Daley right now.
But with a couple of years of Daley working under Link, he might become quite a good player.
Edit: And when Pocock has been injured, Hodgo has stepped up. He is snapping at Pococks heels as a 7. And if he was taller, Id be pushing for him as starting Wallaby 6.

 

[aussie1st]

Wouldn't mind Moraghan and Davies on the wing and Ioane at 13 given no player really stands out there. Gives us pace on both wings and Ioane free to roam about.

 

[Rebel rouser]

Just wanted to say the obvious, but if all our top players are fit (even excluding Mitchell) the Wallabies backline is going to be brain-explodingly great. Probably...

9 Genia
10 Cooper
11 Ioane
12 O'Connor
13 Ashley Cooper
14 Davies
15 Beale

20 Burgo
21 Giteau
22 Not sure. Gerrard/Morahan/Cummins

Every one of them is a game breaker. (Except 22. If we got Mitchell back then WOW)
Forwards just need to muscle up.

 

[farva]

Id suggest it will be

Genia
Cooper
Ioane
Giteau
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
JOC (James O'Connor)
Beale

 

[jay-c]

I think Longbum could do alright, and is a better scummager than Daley right now.
But with a couple of years of Daley working under Link, he might become quite a good player.
Edit: And when Pocock has been injured, Hodgo has stepped up. He is snapping at Pococks heels as a 7. And if he was taller, Id be pushing for him as starting Wallaby 6.

you know ive been seriously considering this > daley is only 112kgs>> id even go as far as to suggest the wallabies carry palmer from scrum to scrum> if he can dominate scrums like people seem to believe he can he may be worth having in the team for eng nz etc
there is enough flashy players on the park> we need some indians in there too to steady the ship

 

[light]

I'd have Davies trial after tonights performance, and no Samo in the run on. He's good for 30mins max and then goes off injured, Bokkies and AB's will target him.

 

[Rebel rouser]

Id suggest it will be

Genia
Cooper
Ioane
Giteau
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
JOC (James O'Connor)
Beale

True, this is basically the backline that tore France a new one last year with Giteau in directly for Barnes. Deans does like to stick with a performing combination and may consider O'Connor still a bit green for 12. Either way, the point is no matter which way you look at it, everyone of them is superstar material.

My only little concern is the balance. Ironically, maybe one too many ball players and not enough straight runners. That's where Barnes was a good fit, could play the ball, but also good at straightening when needed and good defence to boot. We don't really have anyone else similar in Aus at the moment. I wonder whether over time we can turn McCabe into a good international 12/13.

 

[ChargerWA]

I'd have Davies trial after tonights performance, and no Samo in the run on. He's good for 30mins max and then goes off injured, Bokkies and AB's will target him.

Gross over generalisation.

 

[Gnostic]

you know ive been seriously considering this > daley is only 112kgs>> id even go as far as to suggest the wallabies carry palmer from scrum to scrum> if he can dominate scrums like people seem to believe he can he may be worth having in the team for eng nz etc
there is enough flashy players on the park> we need some indians in there too to steady the ship

I said last year horses for courses. If its a heavy wet track a pot plant would be good to anchor the scrum. I wouldn't be playing him on a dry track though he wouldn't get to enough rucks. After his performances of the last three weeks with Slipper out Holmes has stood up and showed the form that got him picked for the Wallabies. I would be much happier taking him as the fifth prop behind Robinson, Kepu, Slipper, Alexander (in that order). Ma'afu doesn't even rate a mention IMO. He should be behind Kepu, Slipper, Baxter, Fairbrother and Holmes (in that order).

 

[Gnostic]

I'd have Davies trial after tonights performance, and no Samo in the run on. He's good for 30mins max and then goes off injured, Bokkies and AB's will target him.

Samo has been injured twice this year hasn't he? I was marvelling at his durability for a bloke not that much younger than me.

 

[Rebel rouser]

Samo has been injured twice this year hasn't he? I was marvelling at his durability for a bloke not that much younger than me.

I'm also on the Samo bandwagon. His skill set is an ideal 8. Can hit the ball up, heavy enough to anchor the scrum well, a genuine running game and tall enough to be a genuine option at lineout time. There is no other 8 in Aus who can do all that.