Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Tip]

4. Simmons 5. Skelton 6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. Higgenbotham

19. Carter 20. Hooper 21. Palu (22. Giteau 23. JOC (James O'Connor)/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper))

Palu comes on for Skelton at 50 minute mark, moves Fardy to 2nd Row and Higgers to 6.

At 60 minutes you go for speed over size and bring on Hooper.

 

[Beefcake]

Anyone know when the team is announced?

 

[TOCC]

For the World Cup?
The squad needs to be submitted around August some time, obviously TRC/injuries may further influence this squad...

Giteau and Mitchell are back in Oz, the announcement may coincide with there return/unveiling.

 

[ACT Crusader]

4. Simmons 5. Skelton 6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. Higgenbotham

19. Carter 20. Hooper 21. Palu (22. Giteau 23. JOC (James O'Connor)/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper))

Palu comes on for Skelton at 50 minute mark, moves Fardy to 2nd Row and Higgers to 6.

At 60 minutes you go for speed over size and bring on Hooper.

Knuckles is back......

Giteau as back up halfback is crazy talk

 

[Highlander35]

Giteau can be 3rd halfback in the squad of 31 so that if one of the first two gets a 6-10 day knock, he can play 10-15 minutes if it's absolutely necessary for the other one to come off.

To plan to have him on the bench as 2nd halfback is ludicrous. Besides, he'll be starting in the 12 jersey.

 

[fatprop]

Giteau can be 3rd halfback in the squad of 31 so that if one of the first two gets a 6-10 day knock, he can play 10-15 minutes if it's absolutely necessary for the other one to come off.

To plan to have him on the bench as 2nd halfback is ludicrous. Besides, he'll be starting in the 12 jersey.

I wouldn't have Gits as 3rd 9, maybe a desperate 4th option if two are wounded on game day, like seeing Phipps on the wing, sheer desperation

 

[fatprop]

OK

"if" gits is in, who misses out?

We don't need a 5th, we have

To'omua
Lio
Cooper
Foley

 

[RugbyReg]

Foley

 

[Highlander35]

Doesn't matter. But as you say.

Lilo if everybody else is fit, is less established at international level than the other 3, and is more or less a like for like. But also To'omua if his ankle is buggered, Cooper if his shoulder is.

Foley is a little bit more safe than the rest because he's been Cheiks number 1, and hasn't really had a history of injuries. I'd say he's capable at fullback as well, but the semi final wasn't good.

Simple answer is that there's a bees dick between To'omua, Lilo and Gits at 12, and Gits has the left boot that prevents the complete exploitation of right footers that we saw with Tahs v Landers. Add that to more experience in the Northern conditions, and a fairly strong kicking record and you have the game 30-30-40 in MGs favour, at least in my eyes.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Unless Giteau has beefed up 15kg, or just gotten more dominant in contact, I really don't think he's as close.

Back in 2010 his big issue was that he wasn't a brute in contact. If defense was pushing hard, he'd crab because he was looking on the outside. On defense he was not able to make dominant tackles (he was very reliable though).

Considering his international opponents have only gotten bigger since then, I can't see what value he offers when in these aspect, he only offers what a flyhalf does.

To'omua and Lilo offer greater dominance in contact both sides of the ball.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Unless Giteau has beefed up 15kg, or just gotten more dominant in contact, I really don't think he's as close.

Back in 2010 his big issue was that he wasn't a brute in contact. If defense was pushing hard, he'd crab because he was looking on the outside. On defense he was not able to make dominant tackles (he was very reliable though).

Considering his international opponents have only gotten bigger since then, I can't see what value he offers when in these aspect, he only offers what a flyhalf does.

To'omua and Lilo offer greater dominance in contact both sides of the ball.

The thing that pissed me off about Gits was his running like a crab - killed everybody outside of him

 

[Train Without a Station]

It wasn't solely his fault though. He was a hole runner, not a tackle buster. If we were on the back foot he'd have to go outside to look for space. Just wasn't the type of player that would be successful at 12 without a bit of momentum in the attack.

That's where a player like Kerevi or Inman can be more valuable. But they can't hit holes and link with players as well as Giteau can. Nor do they have a strong kicking game.

 

[fatprop]

The thing that pissed me off about Gits was his running like a crab - killed everybody outside of him

He had the same disease Beale has against solid defense, he tries to go around them

 

[Slim 293]

I don't see Giteau starting ahead of To'omua at 12...........

He doesn't possess the line breaking ability or solid defence that To'omua brings...........

Oh, and the crabbing......... the crabbing...........

Could be a solid bench option.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Gits on the bench covering 12 and 10 at a pinch works for me, but not starting and not anywhere but 12. He's too lateral, as others have pointed out.

 

[barbarian]

Could Gits be a smoky to start at 10?? Plays a bit like Foley, but with more experience and a better boot. Better defender as well.

Given recent Wallaby form he is more likely to replace Foley than To'omua. And Quade is having injury issues.

I'm saying that's what I'd do, but it is a possibility.
.

 

[Brumby Runner]

The thing that pissed me off about Gits was his running like a crab - killed everybody outside of him

And when he was cornered he usually put in a shithouse kick. Hardly ever used his supports. Very selfish.

When he was out and Lilo played 10, he (Christian) earned MOTM on a number of occasions for the Brumbies.

When he was last playing in Aus for the Brumbies, Matt Giteau was not playing as good as either To'omua or Lealiifano. And there were suggestions abounding about his disruptive influence on the rest of the team. Brumbies fans by and large were not sorry to see him leave, and coincidentally or not, the Brumbies have enjoyed a whole lot more success since he left.

I don't see any reason to play him now in the Wallabies in favour of the players we already have in the 10 and 12 spots.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Gits on the bench covering 12 and 10 at a pinch works for me, but not starting and not anywhere but 12. He's too lateral, as others have pointed out.

Christian Lealiifano would offer a whole lot more on the bench than Matt Giteau. He at least plays direct football in either 10 or 12 positions.

 

[barbarian]

And when he was cornered he usually put in a shithouse kick. Hardly ever used his supports. Very selfish.

When he was out and Lilo played 10, he (Christian) earned MOTM on a number of occasions for the Brumbies.

When he was last playing in Aus for the Brumbies, Matt Giteau was not playing as good as either To'omua or Lealiifano. And there were suggestions abounding about his disruptive influence on the rest of the team. Brumbies fans by and large were not sorry to see him leave, and coincidentally or not, the Brumbies have enjoyed a whole lot more success since he left.

I don't see any reason to play him now in the Wallabies in favour of the players we already have in the 10 and 12 spots.

I think you are rewriting history a bit there BR. I distinctly recall Giteau being one of the Brumbies best in the lacklustre 2011 season, and remember sitting in a post-match presser where Tony Rea said that the team's main problem was relying too heavily on Gits.

Actually Rea was quite effusive about Giteau, as a quick google search confirms- http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/union/8262772/giteau-a-must-for-wallabies-says-rea

I'm not saying he was great, just not as terrible as you suggest. It's also flawed to judge him on his 2011 form, because if you were doing that then Kurtley Beale would be one of the first guys you picked.
.

 

[topgun]

I'd be really disappointed if Lealifano didn't get a look in this year, he's a really solid reliable player that often flies under the radar. His defensive work and coordination of the backline is pretty invaluable as we saw in the 3rd Bledisloe last year