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Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

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Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Now that we're most of the way through the season, I'd be looking at something like this:

Props: Slipper, Sio, Kepu, Holmes, Alexander, Robinson
Hookers: Moore (c), TPN, Fainga'a
Locks: Simmons, Skelton, Coleman, Jones
Backrow: Fardy, McMahon, Pocock, Hooper, Palu, McCalman

Scrumhalves: Phipps, White, Genia?
Flyhalves: Foley, Cooper
Centres: To'omua, Kuridrani, Giteau
Wings/Fullbacks: Speight, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Folau, Horne, JOC (James O'Connor)

It's only 12 backs with Giteau to cover centre, flyhallf and halfback in an emergency.

The following players miss out: Carter, Horwill, Higgers, Genia, Beale, Cummins and Tomane.

Edit: Only need 5 props, so it makes way for either a third halfback, or at least another back.

Not including Higgers is a tough call, but McMahon's form warrants selection.
 

BigSteve

Herbert Moran (7)
I like your squad Slim but i would go with something a little different. this is the squad i would love to see us take over.

Props
1. Slipper
2. Kepu
3. Sio
4. Holmes
5. Alexander

Hooker
6. Moore
7. TPN
8. Fainga'a

Second row
9. Simmons
10. Skelton
11. Jones/ Horwill
12. Coleman

No. 6
13. Fardy
14. Higginbotham

No. 7
15. Pocock
16. hooper

Number 8
17.Palu
18. Mccalman
19. timani

Halfback
20. Phipps
21. Genia
22. White

Flyhalf
23. Foley
24. cooper

Centres
25. To'omua
26. Kuridrani
27. Matt Giteau

Back three
28. folau
29. speight
30. o’connor
31. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
32. horne
 

hammertimethere

Trevor Allan (34)
Steve, I like it quite a lot but it's only 31 so your choice could be seen as between taking Timani (the extra backrower) or Horne (extra outside back).

I personally would do neither, just lose a halfback (probably White, but it's more likely to be Genia) from the squad and bring one over if required.

I would also take Horwill over Jones (if we taken Timani, Jones misses out so perhaps you choose between those two). Like you, I also prefer Higgers to McMahon. Not saying I would do it but I could understand the argument to take Beale over JOC (James O'Connor)
 

disco

Chilla Wilson (44)
I've been thinking about what team I'd like to see for Bledisloe 1 & I just think that Hooper & Pocock should both start. I just see it as a waste to have either of them on the bench.

Hooper at 6 and Pocock at 7 for me. We've got no 2nd row standout players so I'd move Fardy from 6 into Lock as he is a good scrummaging Lock also & play probably Higgers @ 8 for his lineout jumping.

I have watched very little super rugby so I might be way off the mark but if Cheika is going to play his high tempo rugby then I'd like to see Hooper & Pocock start.
 

Joe Blow

John Hipwell (52)
Now that we're most of the way through the season, I'd be looking at something like this:

Props: Slipper, Sio, Kepu, Holmes, Alexander, Robinson
Hookers: Moore (c), TPN, Fainga'a
Locks: Simmons, Skelton, Coleman, Jones
Backrow: Fardy, McMahon, Pocock, Hooper, Palu, McCalman

Scrumhalves: Phipps, White, Genia?
Flyhalves: Foley, Cooper
Centres: To'omua, Kuridrani, Giteau
Wings/Fullbacks: Speight, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Folau, Horne, JOC (James O'Connor)

It's only 12 backs with Giteau to cover centre, flyhallf and halfback in an emergency.

The following players miss out: Carter, Horwill, Higgers, Genia, Beale, Cummins and Tomane.

Edit: Only need 5 props, so it makes way for either a third halfback, or at least another back.

Not including Higgers is a tough call, but McMahon's form warrants selection.


I don't think we have the luxury of taking McMahon if both Hooper and Pocock are fit. I would start either of them over him at 6 or 7.
He only plays 6 and is not a legitimate lineout option
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
I don't think we have the luxury of taking McMahon if both Hooper and Pocock are fit. I would start either of them over him at 6 or 7.
He only plays 6 and is not a legitimate lineout option


As discussed quite extensively on the Hooper/Pocock thread, McMahon took more lineouts than Fardy did for the Wallabies last year, despite playing three tests to Fardy's ten.
.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Now that we're most of the way through the season, I'd be looking at something like this:

Props: Slipper, Sio, Kepu, Holmes, Alexander, Robinson
Hookers: Moore (c), TPN, Fainga'a
Locks: Simmons, Skelton, Coleman, Jones
Backrow: Fardy, McMahon, Pocock, Hooper, Palu, McCalman

Scrumhalves: Phipps, White, Genia?
Flyhalves: Foley, Cooper
Centres: To'omua, Kuridrani, Giteau
Wings/Fullbacks: Speight, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Folau, Horne, JOC (James O'Connor)

It's only 12 backs with Giteau to cover centre, flyhallf and halfback in an emergency.

The following players miss out: Carter, Horwill, Higgers, Genia, Beale, Cummins and Tomane.

Edit: Only need 5 props, so it makes way for either a third halfback, or at least another back.

Not including Higgers is a tough call, but McMahon's form warrants selection.


I think back up props and locks are the only real contentious areas; and I expect the candidates to get opportunities within the rugby championship. (although Latu may end up in Fainga'a's spot as well, Cheik's teams use a dominant tackling counter ruck approach to forward play as a opposed to a chopping tackle deep reach & scrag approach, so the edge selections may go towards units that can play in that system )

Cheik's approach to our scrummaging needs changed through November and this year, with Ledesma's help at the Tahs, it is all about scrummaging square, working hard as a unit and not being penalty magnets. I see that approach being replicated with the Wobs and a couple of our props don't match the criteria

Props? we need 3 THP's Alexander & Holmes? dunno, one is a penalty magnet at test level and the other hasn't been selected for years, a few of the other TH's Weekes, Alo-Emile & Faukner are no worse scrummagers, they just play for less fancied teams.

I would like to see us take 4 THP's into the rugby championship and really be hard on the them and see what floats to the top.
 

Brumby Runner

Jason Little (69)
With Folau a lock in at fullback the winger roles should be 11. Specialist 14. Second Fullback.

So essentially it is:
Specialist - Speight, Tomane, Horne, Cummins - fighting for one wing.
Second Fullback - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), JOC (James O'Connor) - fighting for one wing.

A smokey for the second fullback spot could well be Moggy if he continues to play as he did against the Clan, and shows he has regained some defensice heart. Big provisos, I know, but his kicking game puts all others in the shade.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
A smokey for the second fullback spot could well be Moggy if he continues to play as he did against the Clan, and shows he has regained some defensice heart. Big provisos, I know, but his kicking game puts all others in the shade.


only if AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) & JOC (James O'Connor) are unavailable, and even then I think Beale and Haylett-Petty are ahead of him
 

Brumbieman

Dick Tooth (41)
I've been thinking about what team I'd like to see for Bledisloe 1 & I just think that Hooper & Pocock should both start. I just see it as a waste to have either of them on the bench.

Hooper at 6 and Pocock at 7 for me. We've got no 2nd row standout players so I'd move Fardy from 6 into Lock as he is a good scrummaging Lock also & play probably Higgers @ 8 for his lineout jumping.

I have watched very little super rugby so I might be way off the mark but if Cheika is going to play his high tempo rugby then I'd like to see Hooper & Pocock start.





Our scrum would get blitzkrieged
 

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
For me, McMahon's form shades Higgers' practicality........

I wouldn't expect either in the 23 anyways.

Pocock, Hooper, Fady, Palu and McCalman would have to be already locked in......... and at this stage I'd include Jones as a lock/6.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Higgers really hasn't been that great this year. I see him as our 3rd best 8 and would ordinarily see him as our 2nd best 6 behind Fardy but probably not this year. He's not doing enough to indicate that he's a much better option at 6 than playing the Hooper/Pocock combination if Fardy isn't available.

I agree with Slim that this spot probably goes to someone who can play lock as well as 6 rather than 6/8.
 

Brumby Runner

Jason Little (69)
I think back up props and locks are the only real contentious areas; and I expect the candidates to get opportunities within the rugby championship. (although Latu may end up in Fainga'a's spot as well, Cheik's teams use a dominant tackling counter ruck approach to forward play as a opposed to a chopping tackle deep reach & scrag approach, so the edge selections may go towards units that can play in that system )

Cheik's approach to our scrummaging needs changed through November and this year, with Ledesma's help at the Tahs, it is all about scrummaging square, working hard as a unit and not being penalty magnets. I see that approach being replicated with the Wobs and a couple of our props don't match the criteria

Props? we need 3 THP's Alexander & Holmes? dunno, one is a penalty magnet at test level and the other hasn't been selected for years, a few of the other TH's Weekes, Alo-Emile & Faukner are no worse scrummagers, they just play for less fancied teams.

I would like to see us take 4 THP's into the rugby championship and really be hard on the them and see what floats to the top.

And yet, FP, Latu was penalised for a chopping tackle against the Rebels.
 
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