Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[fatprop]

Give me youth and enthusiasm any day if it runs straight and takes the line on, rather than the experience that crabs or even runs backwards away from the defense. Matt Giteau is a crabber, and unfortunately atm Quade runs anywhere to avoid the defense.

Given the deficiencies being shown by the options for the 10/12 spots I am becoming more and more convinced the best combo is Matt To'omua at 10 and Christian Lealiifano at 12.

We get to disagree there, I don't rate To'omua as a 10 at all (great 12 though), Lilo on the other hand, he is an option, if Foley and Cooper go down.

 

[Marcelo]

There are rumors that Lopeti Timani would be chosen to play the WC for Tonga.

That would be a HUGE blow for the future of the team. Someone should tell the boy that he should wait his chance.

 

[wamberal]

There are rumors that Lopeti Timani would be chosen to play the WC for Tonga.

That would be a HUGE blow for the future of the team. Someone should tell the boy that he should wait his chance.

He is probably aiming to improve his CV prior to heading off to where the big money is, like his older brother.

 

[Highlander35]

Pretty sure he signed a 2 year extension for the Rebs earlier this season, so unless it's an "I want to play world cup now", or a "Chieka has said I'm not in his 2-3 year plans" it'd be fairly surprising IMO.

 

[Marcelo]

Pretty sure he signed a 2 year extension for the Rebs earlier this season, so unless it's an "I want to play world cup now", or a "Chieka has said I'm not in his 2-3 year plans" it'd be fairly surprising IMO.

Yeah, he has signed an extension. I hope Cheika talked with the boy about his career

 

[BDA]

So with Kane Douglas officially back in the fold, I think the forwards for the world cup are almost a certainty now.

Props: Slipper, Sio, Kepu, Holmes, Faulkner
Hooker: Moore, TPN, Hanson
Locks: Skelton, Simo, Horwill, Douglas
Blindside: Fardy, Mumm
Openside: Pocock, Hooper
No.8: McCalman, Palu

 

[fatprop]

So with Kane Douglas officially back in the fold, I think the forwards for the world cup are almost a certainty now.

Props: Slipper, Sio, Kepu, Holmes, Faulkner
Hooker: Moore, TPN, Hanson
Locks: Skelton, Simo, Horwill, Douglas
Blindside: Fardy, Mumm
Openside: Pocock, Hooper
No.8: McCalman, Palu

I would be surprised if he is selected unless Horwill or Skelton are injured, he has been wounded with no game time or form.

And Mumm ain't a starting test "6"

 

[Viking]

I would be surprised if he is selected unless Horwill or Skelton are injured, he has been wounded with no game time or form.

And Mumm ain't a starting test "6"

Mumm could be a starting test 6 - at the moment its an unknown. Same with Horwill.

 

[fatprop]

Mumm could be a starting test 6 - at the moment its an unknown. Same with Horwill.

nah, he simply isn't a test 6, he is a mobile lock and a good lineout option.

He just isn't dynamic enough to play 6 at S15 level let alone test level

 

[BDA]

Unfortunately the only options for a starting 6 are:-

Fardy
Higgers
Mumm
McCalman
Dennis ?
Hooper
McMahon

- Higgers I'm a big fan of, but he was virtually anonymous against the Boks.
- McCalman's an option but neither McCalman nor Higgers have spent any time at 6 for the wallabies yet this season. I believe that's partly because the mould of the wallabies no.6 has for sometime been a '6/lock' type. Fardy/Jones (hell even Simo played there under Link).

I concede he's not very dynamic at all, but if we are going to be playing nearly every test with two no.7s for half the game, we can afford to lose a bit of dynamism elsewhere.

 

[Viking]

nah, he simply isn't a test 6, he is a mobile lock and a good lineout option.

He just isn't dynamic enough to play 6 at S15 level let alone test level

Is this based on his time at the Tahs or based on the last 2 years up North?

Isn't there a small chance he actually improved as a player up North? He is hitting the age where a lot of players peak. Could be worth a shot.

 

[qwerty51]

nah, he simply isn't a test 6, he is a mobile lock and a good lineout option.

He just isn't dynamic enough to play 6 at S15 level let alone test level

Huh, he's more dynamic than Fardy.. He showed that with his try. He even got a pilfer/penalty which is suppose to be Fardy's game.

 

[emuarse]

Unfortunately the only options for a starting 6 are:-

Fardy
Higgers
Mumm
McCalman
Dennis ?
Hooper
McMahon

- Higgers I'm a big fan of, but he was virtually anonymous against the Boks.
- McCalman's an option but neither McCalman nor Higgers have spent any time at 6 for the wallabies yet this season. I believe that's partly because the mould of the wallabies no.6 has for sometime been a '6/lock' type. Fardy/Jones (hell even Simo played there under Link).

I concede he's not very dynamic at all, but if we are going to be playing nearly every test with two no.7s for half the game, we can afford to lose a bit of dynamism elsewhere.

You forget the great G. Smith

 

[RugbyReg]

Well Higgers has been dropped from the latest 31 Man Wallaby squad.

Palu back in with Gits and Toby Smith

 

[qwerty51]

Yeah we won't be seeing him again in 2015 I suspect.

 

[daz]

Just saving some time here. We aim to be helpful and facilitate effective ranting where-ever possible.


[template] Too many ......... players, not enough ......... players [/template]

[template] QC (Quade Cooper) should be ......... as he is ......... [/template]

[template] This is all .......... 's fault [/template]

 

[BDA]

[template] ...... is decent in Super 15 but has never performed against the All Blacks [/template]

 

[nick_]

Moore and TPN are the obvious 1 + 2 hookers, will Hanson (assuming he is 3) get time against USA/Fiji/Uruguay?

Or wait until TPN gets injured in the RWC semi final and have him play the final 20mins of the final?

 

[qwerty51]

TPN needs game time, I'd be starting him vs USA and Fiji and probably Hanson vs Uruguay.

 

[Groucho]

Give me youth and enthusiasm any day if it runs straight and takes the line on, rather than the experience that crabs or even runs backwards away from the defense. Matt Giteau is a crabber, and unfortunately atm Quade runs anywhere to avoid the defense.

Given the deficiencies being shown by the options for the 10/12 spots I am becoming more and more convinced the best combo is Matt To'omua at 10 and Christian Lealiifano at 12.

I imagine you had to undergo a soul-searching solitary stint in the desert for 40 days, without food and water, contemplating the state of the universe, and the nature of our existence here on earth, and what it means to be a human, before finally settling on two Brumbies. ;-)