Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Braveheart81]

The ARU also announces the re-signings for pretty much anyone who has ever played for the Wallabies even if they clearly aren't getting a top up contract.

 

[fatprop]

I have mentioned DHP before as a backup 15. He has also played a lot of wing he could be a smoky for a wing/fullback spot. his form is very very good ATM and would be a great backup if we are looking for a wing/fullback considering Jocs and Beatles form.

I like him and rate him, but I am unsure whether he is RWC ready, November tests & wide training squad? maybe

 

[Scrubber2050]

It's the ARU we're talking about that, they don't value props. Wouldn't surprise me if only 1-2 of them have top ups.

Think those 4 (Slipper Keps Benny A and Benn Robinson are all currently topped up.

Obviously Keps is going and its very unlikely that the 2 Bens will get another top-up after this year - will leave only 1

 

[BDA]

ok. so ignore my earlier post. I was under the mistaken impression that only the test players contracted with the ARU

 

[Tomikin]

I still think Benny A gets the 5th Prop spot for the world cup at the moment, can play both sides and is the most experienced out of them all.
Slips, Sio, Kepu, Holmes/PAE and Alexander.

 

[Deputy Van Halen]

Benny A still? I rate the guy at super level, I really do but every year it's 'he dominates at super level' before spectacularly hinging in tests. Every. Year.

I know untested less experienced tights are a risk but Benny is a known collapsing quantity, especially to refs which is not what we need in England. Even he improves out of sight in tests he's starting off on the wrong side of the Ref, at least new guys have a clean slate.

 

[Braveheart81]

I reckon after Slipper, Kepu and Holmes the last two spots are well and truly up for grabs.

Scott Sio would certainly be favoured for one of the spots but he needs to make a strong return from injury and not get injured again. He's spent a concerning amount of time out in the last two years.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Slips and Keps can both play either side (at a pinch) and each probably be the second best in the opposite side.

Likelise Holmes can do both. To a degree so can Benny A. I think Sio only plays LHP. PAE (long shot) only THP. Robbo only LHP.

So I think there is a bit of coverage with Slipper Kepu Holmes and even Benny A

 

[Brumby Runner]

Cheika hasn't picked a squad before, he went with Link's squad. We know who he prefers in the 23/15 but some of the players on the EOYT he might not like.

He had an opportunity to bring in a couple of his own choices mid-tour, and he chose Beale (who was a long way off good form and a disruptive, divisive influence), and Schatz, (who really is very meh at test level). Not good form in the selection stakes, I'd say, based on that evidence.

There were a couple of tourists selected by Link whom he didn't give much or any game time to. Surprisingly, Quade Cooper was one, while Tom English I think got no test time and Luke Jones very minimal. Indications perhaps that Cheika doesn't particularly like what these players bring (I'd wholeheartedly agree about English). And was Godwin on tour but never sighted as well?

I expect he will surprise a lot of us and disappoint a lot more with some of his selections or omissions.

 

[Brumby Runner]

It doesn't match the stats either. Consistently leads in tackles made and runs, despite only playing 60-odd minutes each test.

He's got shortcomings, but work rate isn't one of them.
.

My objection to Palu in recent years was that he always (or nearly always) started his run so deep that while he was invariably tackled behind the gain line, he was attributed multiple metres in the stats.

His recent form with the Tahs has been a lot better imo. I won't be disappointed if he is one of the No8s in the RWC. I would prefer Higgers to Ben McCalman though as he has more impact than Ben and as others have pointed out he would complement Fardy and Pocock better in the backrow, while Hooper is the ideal complement for a backrow containing Palu.

 

[the sabanator]

Schatz, (who really is very meh at test level).

Schatz is fairly meh at every level.

 

[cyclopath]

G'day guys, been a following for a while and this comment has got me asking the question..
What I want to know is what's everyones obsession with Palu?
He barely makes gain line, drops in and out of games, his work rate is piss poor and he isn't a reliable lineout option.
Everyone loves to hate on Higgers for his seagull-ing but I believe he will add more balance to a back row of Pocock and Fardy. I think Higger's wide running would complement Pocock and Fardys tighter games.
Also, if Cheika decides to go with Skelton at lock and decides to play Palu in the same team we are going in with only 2 viable lineout options and at test level this is not okay.
Look at how the Crusaders and Allblacks play Kieran Read, he's out in wide channels running at backs, drawing defenders and offloading. Couldn't Higgers could play the same sort of role?

He could, but to date, he hasn't. And I mean in Tests. Higgers is good, but he is really nowhere near Read as a Test #8, despite appearing to have many of the attributes to be so.

 

[mouth guard]

He could, but to date, he hasn't. And I mean in Tests. Higgers is good, but he is really nowhere near Read as a Test #8, despite appearing to have many of the attributes to be so.

I agree, Higgers in no where near Read but I think he could be used in the same way.
It would have been hard for him to play that way with Hooper in the side who already offers that wide ball running option. If Hooper was to start an 8 like McCalman would be a better option to do the hard yards up the middle.

 

[Brumbieman]

Higgers is also a petulant little child, who thinks being a hardman means kneeing players in the head on the ground and playing the niggle game.

He's never showed up at test level, and hasn't been in any form other than average-with-an-occasional-decent-game this year.

If we are going to have any chance, we need line benders and people who make metres AFTER taking contact, not seagulling 'x-facta' players.

 

[Joe Blow]

All the recent Wallaby coaches have picked him when fit.

How has that worked out for them, particularly against the Darkness and the Boks?

 

[Joe Blow]

Palu has shouldered the load from an under performing tight 5 for the majority of his career. He does the unseen in-tight work well and does have a high work rate. Thats great but certainly not ideal for an 8 man. He basically plays as an extra lock.
We are now getting a tight 5 together that can carry the load which opens the door for the back row to bring something different to the game.

 

[Purce]

Super Rugby v Top 14 is hardly apples for apples. I think it pays to remember that JOC (James O'Connor) had a very impressive stint with toulon also. view video (plus defence) Particularly when you consider some of the players inside Mitchell feeding him quality ball. Giteau, halfpenny, bastareud, michalek just to name a few.

Mitchell will have Foley, QC (Quade Cooper), Gits, To'omua, Lilo, Falou feeding him with the Wallabies. Your argument could quite simply be that put JOC (James O'Connor)/Mitchell on the end of a decent back line and they will perform.

I think both JOC (James O'Connor) and Mitchell need to be given a shot in the TRC to see how they go with those players inside them. Decisions can be made from there.

 

[Brumbieman]

Nah.


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That shit is just embarassing.

 

[cyclopath]

Palu has shouldered the load from an under performing tight 5 for the majority of his career. He does the unseen in-tight work well and does have a high work rate. Thats great but certainly not ideal for an 8 man. He basically plays as an extra lock.
We are now getting a tight 5 together that can carry the load which opens the door for the back row to bring something different to the game.

Nice in theory, but they don't. McCalman is a worker (not a criticism, an observation), Higginbotham is highly talented, but just has not brought that to Test rugby with any consistency, Vaea has looked good in even shorter stints than Palu of late. I'm a fan of all these players, by the way, but I'm a realist. I get what you're saying, but I reckon it's a bit fanciful to expect a magic back-row, apart from moments of brilliance from Pocock or Hooper (or maybe Fardy). We look for this X-factor, but it doesn't seem to be there.
And I suspect there are good reasons coaches keep picking Palu, but I guess we're all the experts, eh?

 

[KOB1987]

I've worked out that the last forwards spot (unless they decide to take 4 specialist locks/18 forwards) will be a choice between higginbotham, jones & Dennis. If I am right, the fact that the other two can play lock almost certainly rules higgers out..


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