Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[BDA]

looks like most people are choosing pretty similar squads, with a few slight variations. I think ultimately squad selection will be dictated by injuries. There'll be a few significant injuries (touch wood) that might require some changes to the make up of the 23. Thankfully we seem to have some options in most position.

 

[Gnostic]

Buzzard was nowhere near 1.96m

If he is then so am I and I'm 1.92m

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Connors

The question was when (if ever) in the professional or RWC tournaments Australia had fielded somebody near Dennis listed height. These two were the shortest I can remember with Troy Jaques also, though I can't remember if he played lock or 6 and his actual height.

 

[KOB1987]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Connors

The question was when (if ever) in the professional or RWC tournaments Australia had fielded somebody near Dennis listed height. These two were the shortest I can remember with Troy Jaques also, though I can't remember if he played lock or 6 and his actual height.

I doubt if Troy ever played lock for easts let alone the wallabies in his 2 runs off the bench. He's definitely a back rower and about 190cm I'd say. I'm pretty sure he never did a RWC tour too


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[Gnostic]

@ GNostic

Genia - more durable and experienced and in a go forward pack he runs rings around White as a running 9 . White is a kicking 9 . Ball in hand .

Cooper is , admittedly , a left field suggestion at 12..and I should explain ..I wouldn't necessarily start him at 12 ...but he is undoubtedly in my squad of 23 , and may , even be my fullback if Folau moved to the Centres to partner Kurindrani.something I know Rod Kafer has been a big advocate of . However ..with the two play creator model of the Tahs ..Cooper is > than Beale off Foley.

Kerevi is a bolter and on sheer raw talent and as a future building block needs to go . He's a learn on the job talent but his talent warrants it.

Fardy calls the lineouts and is your 3rd lock in a pinch , and yes , there may be a case of losing McCalman in that 23 and bringing in Greg Holmes as the 4th Prop

Ashley Cooper and Speights are my starting wings

You have to select 4 props in the 23 it is a regulation I believe.

Don't agree regarding Genia, on form. Agree that White is a kicking half and I would take Stirzacker over him again one form and with regards to game plan. Won't happen just my opinion.

Anybody > Beale in current form. I just wouldn't play Cooper at 12. Would be more likely to play Foley at 12 if it came to that, but would prefer to see a total departure from the structure to a traditional structure with somebody like Horne at 12 before that happened. IMO under the current "two play maker" structure the only options are To'omua and Lilo.

Unlike last year Jones and Dennis are also calling lineouts successfully. Again I am just making the case that Fardy needs to do more to lock his starting place, he is under pressure from Jones, Higgers, Dennis and possibly McCalman, with two of those also playing lock and calling.

 

[BDA]

The locks are probably the hardest selections for me. It's certainly not because there's too much talent (like in the back-row and outside backs). Skelton and Simo are in both not sure where it will go after that, whether in fact we'll have 4 specialist locks or maybe 1 hybrid 6/lock. Not sure. Neither Horwill nor Carter are screaming choose me. At this point you'd have to think that Cheika might be better off selecting 3 locks and have one of Jones/Fardy/Dennis play the lock/6 role. I certainly think Jones deserves a spot in the squad.

I still have a big concern about us using hybrid locks in he important games of the world cup. I don't want to see a hybrid lock/6 on the bench against England. We need a genuine lock on the bench. One that is a strong scrummager. As much as I'd prefer to leave Horwill our of the squad all together, he is our best set piece lock outside of simo. That is one role I think he would be well suited to; he's capable of playing 20 decent minutes off the bench against England. Rory Arnold might be another good option for that position. The bloke is 127kg and should offer our reserve TH some pretty good support

 

[qwerty51]

Adam Coleman > Rory Arnold

 

[BDA]

You have to select 4 props in the 23 it is a regulation I believe.

Don't agree regarding Genia, on form. Agree that White is a kicking half and I would take Stirzacker over him again one form and with regards to game plan. Won't happen just my opinion.

Anybody > Beale in current form. I just wouldn't play Cooper at 12. Would be more likely to play Foley at 12 if it came to that, but would prefer to see a total departure from the structure to a traditional structure with somebody like Horne at 12 before that happened. IMO under the current "two play maker" structure the only options are To'omua and Lilo.

Unlike last year Jones and Dennis are also calling lineouts successfully. Again I am just making the case that Fardy needs to do more to lock his starting place, he is under pressure from Jones, Higgers, Dennis and possibly McCalman, with two of those also playing lock and calling.

Genia's stats for the weekend suggest he was one of the better players on the field. Created 12 line-breaks apparently. Agree Stirzacker he been edging him on form, but he's too green. Hard to go past Genia's experience.

Agree with your comments about no.12. I'd actually choose Horne at 12 before I'd play Beale there. Horne would be my key to playing a 6/2 bench, in that he covers 11,12,13,14. He's had much more impact for the tahs this season than Beale has and defence is outstanding, which is what we need if we're to win a world cup.

Re no.6, we also need to remember that Dean Mumm will also be available for selection. Not sure how he compares to the other options though

 

[BDA]

Adam Coleman > Rory Arnold

Yeh I think that's probably right. Although it concerns me how shit the Force's scrum has been this season. Not sure I'd be rushing to select any of their tight 5, knowing what we'll be up against. Not that I'm saying it's necessarily Coleman's fault, I'm simply saying it remains to be seen whether he's going to assist our set piece. Again this brings me back to my last post. I believe strength in the scrum should be largely dictating which THP, Lock, and Hooker we selection on the bench against England

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think the starters are pretty much settled except for who partners Skelton in the 2nd Row. Regardless of his form last year Simmons has been pretty average so far this year, though it would be very hard to shine with the Reds, though not impossible as Holmes proves. If I was picking I'd be leaning towards Jones whose numbers which I posted a few pages back are second only to Dennis. It all comes down to balance IMO and covering specialist skills. On form I could see both Dennis and Jones as 2nd row and 6 cover. In fact given how quite Fardy has been this year in comparison an argument could be made to have Fardy on the bench and to start with both Jones and Dennis. Not saying that will happen but it is certainly possible.

As for McCalman, I remain a doubter, because I think if you want to play a game of dominance of the gain line he just doesn't fit the bill. He is superb in executing Foley's risk averse defensive game plan, as it requires a very high work rate and indefatigable spirit. It doesn't have space for lower work rate in exchange for genuine impact. I would certainly be looking at Vaea or Higgers as back-up 8 before McCalman just on what we have seen from the individuals. That is however tempered by the restrictions placed on those individuals by the team's game plan and structures. A pity that there are probably not enough games before the RWC to see if McCalman can perform in the role that we are likely to see required by the Wallabies. That said Hoiles filled the 6 against the Crusaders and the intensity was the best we have seen this year without the big hitter Jackpot.

Gnostic, I like your thought processes, but surprise, surprise, I certainly would have Fardy in front of both Dennis and Jones, but I do follow your reasoning in general.

I also rate Higgers and Vaea higher than Ben McCalman just on the impact they have on the opposition. Ita hits as hard as anyone and is getting the best part of 80 minutes in games lately, while Higgers bends and breaks the line as good as anyone. Ben McC is a workhorse but doesn't offer the same impacts in attack as the others. If fit, Palu to start at 8 anyway.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Need another lock and who is calling? Both Arnold and Skelton are TH locks.

Being picky now, but I think you'll find both Skelton and Arnold are playing LH lock atm. Both Nos 4 and I think I'm not mistaken that 4 is the LH side.

Otherwise, spot on with all comments.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Genica?

Silent 'c'?

 

[cyclopath]

Gnostic, I like your thought processes, but surprise, surprise, I certainly would have Fardy in front of both Dennis and Jones, but I do follow your reasoning in general.

I also rate Higgers and Vaea higher than Ben McCalman just on the impact they have on the opposition. Ita hits as hard as anyone and is getting the best part of 80 minutes in games lately, while Higgers bends and breaks the line as good as anyone. Ben McC is a workhorse but doesn't offer the same impacts in attack as the others. If fit, Palu to start at 8 anyway.

Have to agree re Fardy to start. But Jones or Dennis on bench currently look tempting.
Reserve 8s are hard - all offer quite different things. Vaea kind of like-for-like with Palu, Higginbotham and McCalman different again. A worker could be very useful later in the game, depending on who else is on. I could see any of them, but I think it will be McCalman or Higgers.

 

[A mutterer]

Gnostic, I like your thought processes, but surprise, surprise, I certainly would have Fardy in front of both Dennis and Jones, but I do follow your reasoning in general.

I also rate Higgers and Vaea higher than Ben McCalman just on the impact they have on the opposition. Ita hits as hard as anyone and is getting the best part of 80 minutes in games lately, while Higgers bends and breaks the line as good as anyone. Ben McC is a workhorse but doesn't offer the same impacts in attack as the others. If fit, Palu to start at 8 anyway.

i think the big question here is whether ita can stand up to test level. i'd like to see him get some runs under his belt to settle the issue.

 

[barbarian]

Ben McCalman has had more impact than any 8 this season. Calling him a 'workhorse' really sells him short.

 

[Gnostic]

Being picky now, but I think you'll find both Skelton and Arnold are playing LH lock atm. Both Nos 4 and I think I'm not mistaken that 4 is the LH side.

Otherwise, spot on with all comments.

I am sure that Skelton is packing behind Kepu. Maybe I need to take the beer goggle off if I am seeing the usually pasty Robinson with that good a tan.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I am sure that Skelton is packing behind Kepu. Maybe I need to take the beer goggle off if I am seeing the usually pasty Robinson with that good a tan.

Could just be that the numbers don't mean anything?

 

[Garry Owens]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Connors

The question was when (if ever) in the professional or RWC tournaments Australia had fielded somebody near Dennis listed height. These two were the shortest I can remember with Troy Jaques also, though I can't remember if he played lock or 6 and his actual height.

G Nos ...respectfully , I will take my 35 years of knowing him ahead of a Wikipedia link but thanks anyway

 

[Gnostic]

Could just be that the numbers don't mean anything?

Definitely at TH Lock and No5.

Back to the bottle, vision not impaired.

 

[Gnostic]

G Nos .respectfully , I will take my 35 years of knowing him ahead of a Wikipedia link but thanks anyway

That's fine, we can all bow to first hand knowledge. It answered the question in any rate. The question was when is ever the Wallabies had fielded a lock around the height of Dennis and if they had been in a RWC squad.

Thus the examples I gave were correct that the wallabies have indeed fielded "short" locks and were in RWC (99) squad.

 

[Slim 293]

If Fardy doesnt start coming back into form, I'd want mccalman at 6. Could get hooper onto the bench with poey starting I reckon

Eh? Fardy has been playing well..........