Wallabies Trinations Squad

[DPK]

13. Ashley-Cooper vs. Horne vs. Fainga'a vs Carter vs. Mortlock

I'd say it's more like this.

 

[fatprop]

I'd say it's more like this.

ok, but still Fainga'a & Carter could fill a gap if we were desperate but they ain't a threat at 13, Digby or McCabe would be the other ones.

 

[#1 Tah]

Fuze was at scrum camp according to Ian Payten, maybe he hasn't seen the back of his first class rugby career?

 

[Groucho]

Deans is announcing a 40 man squad on Sunday, not 30

Excellent. Someone told me Drew Mitchell will be in it. Phenomenal, if true.

 

[Braveheart.]

Assuming that the 40 man squad includes injured players (TPN, Burgo, Cliffy et al)...

Please note that players I have denoted with an asterix * are players that have been in the Wallabies set up before and have been invloved with scrum camp but are players I do not expect to make the 30 man squad. So no "but Dean Mumm sucks" please....

I've also bracketed Berrick Barnes in the squad...not sure if he's made himself available for Wallabies selection or not. I've bracketed Tom Carter against Berrick, Tom has lifted his game in 2011 BUT still has apparent weakenesses (speed / agility) that will hault his progression to the 30 man squad.

Props: Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Ben Alexander, Ben Daley, Salesi Ma'afu*

Hookers: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Stephen Moore, Saia Fainga'a, Nathan Charles

Second Rowers: Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Dan Vickerman, Rob Simmons, Hugh Pyle, Dean Mumm*

Loose Forwards: David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Wycliff Palu, Radike Samo, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Beau Robinson, Ben McCalman, Dave Dennis

Half Backs: Will Genia, Luke Burgess, Nick Phipps

Inside Backs: Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau, Anthony Fainga'a, Berrick Barnes (Tom Carter), James O'Connor

Outside Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Kurtley Beale, Rod Davies, Lachie Turner, Luke Morahan, Pat McCabe, Cameron Shepperd.

Notable Absentees: Stirling Mortlock, Nick Cummins, Sitaleki Timani, Mark Gerrard & Richard Brown.

Not considered due to injury: Drew Mitchell, Rob Horne, Mark Chisholm, Huia Edmonds, Peter Hynes.

 

[Ruggo]

The 40 man squad is a good thing. There are 40 players who deserve a chance to train in this squad. Robbie will make his decisions on how they train from there.

 

[Swarley]

Swarley - agree with most
1. Agree and IMO that Holmes has done enough over past 2 weeks to be elevated back into real contention - the final will seal the deal - Dunning and Daley probably won't get it as Kepu, Sliiper and Holmes can cover both sides as well as Alexander (sort of)
2. Agree
3. Slipper then Kepu then Alexander - Deans won't give Baxter a shot (although derserves it) and Ma'afu would be very very lucky
4. Agree
5. Agree
6. Probably should be Higgers on performance but Rocky will get it - captain and all of that
7. AGREE with Pocock and Robinson but Waugh no chance
8. Agree except leave Samo home
9. Agree
10. Agree but probably not with Matt T
11. - 15. - Mitchell - will he be ready (if so fantastic) love to see JOC (James O'Connor) at 12 - Barnes (unfortunately) too big a risk - Horne (great player but prone to injury) and Mortlock (just a little old and slow) Beale just a must

Agree that Baxter/Mortlock/Dunning/Daley/Waugh (especially Waugh) likely won't feature this year, but I included them just to showcase that we do have depth

Deans is announcing a 40 man squad on Sunday, not 30

Hookers: Polota-Nau, Moore, Fainga'a, Charles
Props: Slipper, Robinson, Kepu, Alexander, Holmes (smokey, but an extended squad means he's got a shot)
Locks: Horwill, Sharpe, Simmons, Vickerman, Mumm/Pyle (he's been at scrum camp, had an excellent debut season and once again, extra places=big chance)
Flankers: Pocock, Elsom, Hodgson, Higginbotham, Robinson (same as Pyle)
Number Eights: McCalman, Samo, Brown/Dennis (shouldn't be Brown, but likely will- a Deans favourite), Palu (will return for the final 3N game so will be included like, i.e.: TPN EOYT 2010)
Scrumhalfs: Genia, Burgess, Phipps
Flyhalfs: Cooper, Giteau
Centres: Barnes, Horne (see Palu for both), Ashley-Cooper, O'Connor, Fainga'a
Wingers: Mitchell (slated for a late-August return, see Palu), Ioane, Turner, McCabe, Davies
Fullbacks: Beale, Shepherd


23 Forwards, 17 Backs. I'm guessing the squad will look a lot like that.

 

[Epi]

@ Braveheart - Surely Saffy's done enough to make the 40 man squad....

 

[DPK]

@ Braveheart - Surely Saffy's done enough to make the 40 man squad....

He's still a bit green in terms of experience.

 

[What2040]

Agree that Baxter/Mortlock/Dunning/Daley/Waugh (especially Waugh) likely won't feature this year, but I included them just to showcase that we do have depth

Yeah Swarley we certainly have depth - now across the 15 spots and reserves. Probably could replace most with the other and not lose too much (except Beale, Pocock, Moore, QC (Quade Cooper) and Genia)

 

[Swarley]

Yeah Swarley we certainly have depth - now across the 15 spots and reserves. Probably could replace most with the other and not lose too much (except Beale, Pocock, Moore, QC (Quade Cooper) and Genia)

I'd include Robinson on that list, and even Moore/TPN aren't too far apart.

 

[What2040]

I'd include Robinson on that list, and even Moore/TPN aren't too far apart.

Moore an 80 minute player who digs in every minute of the 80 - TPN may be great imopact player 2 or 3 times a game but drops to knee and disappears for too long. Puts pressure on the tight 4 which should be the tight 5

 

[Swarley]

Moore an 80 minute player who digs in every minute of the 80 - TPN may be great imopact player 2 or 3 times a game but drops to knee and disappears for too long. Puts pressure on the tight 4 which should be the tight 5

But having him start instead of Moore is a lot better than having Burgess start for Genia, or Hodgson start for Pocock. I do see your point though, don't get me wrong.

 

[What2040]

But having him start instead of Moore is a lot better than having Burgess start for Genia, or Hodgson start for Pocock. I do see your point though, don't get me wrong.

agree with that

 

[fatprop]

This would be my 40, today

1 - Hooker - Moore
2 - Hooker - Fainga'a
3 - Hooker - Charles
4 - Hooker - Hanson
5 - LHP - Robinson
6 - THP/LHP - Kepu
7 - THP/LHP - Slipper
8 - THP/LHP - Alexander
9 - THP/LHP - Longbottom
10 - Lock - Horwill
11 - Lock - Sharpe
12 - Lock - Simmons
13 - Lock - Timani
14 - Lock - Vickerman
15 - 7 - Hooper or Gill
16 - 7 - Pocock
17 - 7 - Robinson
18 - 6 or 7 - Hodgson
19 - 6 - Elsom
20 - 6 - Higginbotham
21 - Lock or 8 - Samo
22 - 6 or 8 - McCalman
23 - 6 or 8 - Dennis
24 - 8 - Vaea
25 - 9 - Genia
26 - 9 - Burgess
27 - 9 - Phipps
28 - 10 - Cooper
29 - 10 or 12 - Giteau
30 - Back 3 - Cummins
31 - anywhere - O'Connor,
32 - 12 or 13 - Fainga'a
33 - 13 - Ashley-Cooper
34 - 12 or 13 - McCabe
35 - 12 - Carter
36 - 14 - Ioane
37 - 14 - Davies
38 - 11 or 15 - Morahan
39 - 15 - Beale
40 - 11 or 15 - Shepherd

 

[Groucho]

But having him start instead of Moore is a lot better than having Burgess start for Genia, or Hodgson start for Pocock. I do see your point though, don't get me wrong.

I agree. There are two times in a game when a strike player can have the greatest effect: the first quarter and the last. Do we want to intimidate them, or turn the end game to our advantage? I think it depends on how the forwards are travelling. If we're dominating, I'd start with TPN to make the most of that. If we're struggling I'd start with Moore to try to ensure parity.

 

[Braveheart.]

Fatprop - No TPN, No Palu?

I assume you excluded them on the basis of injury - yet you included Mitchell?

 

[fatprop]

my bad, add the mighty Tom Carter

 

[qwerty51]

TPN and Palu are out of the TNs, Mitchell might be back for the last couple of games

 

[BaysideBird]

Wallabies Team

Here's what I think the team will be:

1. Ben Daley
2. Stephen Moore
3. Benn Robinson
4. James Horwill
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Beau Robinson
7. David Pocock
8. Scott Higanbotham
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. James O'Connor
13. Anthony Fainga'a
14. Drew Mitchell (If Fit) or Lachie Turner
15. Kurtley Beale
16. R - James Slipper/Ben Alexander
17. R - Saia Fainga'a
18. R - Rob Simmons
19. R - Matt Hodgson
20. R - Luke Burgess/Nick Phipps
21. R - Matt Giteau
22. R - Rod Davies/Lachie Turner/Adam Ashley-Cooper

I know I didn't include Rocky Elsom so don't tell me I forgot him. Also the captian would be James Horwill. Vice Captain Will Genia. Kicker James O'Connor.