Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Inside Shoulder]

I'm not sure it is Douglas and Genia. I think Mitchell will go and perhaps only one of Horne, Speight and Tomane. That will leave a winger outside the 23 potentially since none will be on the bench probably.

From there it's higgers or Palu out, prop and Hanson in and that's your 31.

I think it may actual come down to Douglas vs a 4th winger.

There may be 1 surprise though. Maybe somebody like Dennis just due to a few forward spots still not being taken by players.

Dennis is a big call - if he's in the frame Lilo must be too.

 

[SammyP]

I may be wrong, but you'd have to assume that players who haven't made the teams for the past 4 matches won't be in consideration for the WC squad. Sadly I think some of those players, eg Lilo would be great assets to have, but if he was going to be selected then surely Cheika would have wanted to see him play at least 1 test match?
My gut says that Tomane won't make the cut either, even though I think he has shown some great form.

 

[Brumby Runner]

If it comes down to a choice between Joe Tomane and Henry Speight, I'd have to go with Henry. Both are good, fast finishers but I think Henry has the better head for defense. And at his best, Henry has been consistently the best winger in the country for about four years, so he has more improvement to show (assuming we ever get some attacking flair into our backline).

I am disappointed that Christian Lealiifano didn't get a chance to play in any of the RC matches. Cheika has just about painted himself into a corner with Foley and Cooper as the only No 10 options, and neither are playing at test match level at all, but it's now too late to see what else is on offer.

Cliff Palu I think doesn't need to go to the RWC. Pocock should now be established as our No 8 for the big matches, and Ben McCalman is a better option than Cliff for the other matches.

The front row is well established now, as are the options for the back three in AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horne, Mitchell, Speight, Beale and Folau. The back row is settled with Fardy, Hooper and Pocock, but every other spot still has a question mark over it imo.

 

[Pfitzy]

2 x Hookers: Moore, TPN
5 x Props: Slipper, Sio, Smith, Kepu, Holmes
5 x Lock: Mumm, Simmons, Horwill, Skelton, Douglas
5 x Backrow: Pocock, Hoopah, Fardy, Palu, McCalman
2 x Scrumhalf: Phipps, White
2 x First Five: Foley, Cooper
3 x Second Five: To'omua, Giteau, Lealiifano
2 x Centre: Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
3 x Wing: Mitchell, Tomane, Speight
2 x Fullback: Folau, Beale

 

[TOCC]

^^

Only 2 hookers for the RWC is a risky options, especially since one of them is TPN

I don't see much purpose for Lealifano when you have 2 players already in that position and In a worst case scenario you can move Beale into a playmaker role.


I think that will be the squad, but cut Lealifano and add Hanson.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Train Without a Station]

I think 5 locks and 5 back rowers would be poor selection.

Game day squad needs 3 locks and 4 back rowers at a minimum. Fardy can cover lock in emergency situations too. None of those locks are really back row options.

6 back rowers and 4 locks just makes more sense.

 

[light]

Lilo's last game against the All Blacks was a blinder. I think he will be the unluckiest bloke to miss out considering he wasn't even given the chance to show what he's got.

Not sure where I sit on the Speight v Tomane debate but I think Rob Horne is a near certainty to miss out.

 

[RugbyReg]

A little off topic, does anyone know if the quarter finals and further are on free to air? Or just the Aussie games (if we make it)

 

[swingpass]

i think if fit Horne will go. I don't think both Palu and McCalman, should go (i would take McC) but both probably will, Mumm will cover both 6 & 4, so there is some scope to take the third hooker if Palu stays at home.
i believe there is considerable risk in going with only two hookers and two specialist half backs, i think the team will contain three of each, which means that Lilo misses out, which i think is unlucky for him. anyway we will all know soon enough.

 

[kiap]

Anyone watch the World XV game?

How did Leali'ifano do?

(Apparently Big Naiyarovoro scored a few tries).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

A little off topic, does anyone know if the quarter finals and further are on free to air? Or just the Aussie games (if we make it)

Saw an ad which said every Wobs & knockout game will be on GEM.

 

[Slim 293]

I think one of the following will happen -

1. 3 halfbacks, and Lilo and a winger miss out.
2. 2 halfbacks, and we take Lilo and not one of the wingers.
3. 2 halfbacks, no Lilo, and we take all the wing options.

That all depends on Horne's fitness though, but I think we'll need all those outside back options to give Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Folau a rest in one or two games.

Right now Kuridrani is our only specified outside centre, with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) his likely backup.

 

[cyclopath]

I think 5 locks and 5 back rowers would be poor selection.

Game day squad needs 3 locks and 4 back rowers at a minimum. Fardy can cover lock in emergency situations too. None of those locks are really back row options.

6 back rowers and 4 locks just makes more sense.

If, for argument's sake, you had Fardy and Dennis as back row options, it gives decent lock cover too. Not saying that would be my choice per se, but it could work. I probably wouldn't have Palu now. I think his time on the field is effective enough, but it's just not reliably long enough. Pity Higgers seems to be not able to be quite there. McCalman or Pocock should be our 8 starter.

 

[cyclopath]

I think one of the following will happen -

1. 3 halfbacks, and Lilo and a winger miss out.
2. 2 halfbacks, and we take Lilo and not one of the wingers.
3. 2 halfbacks, no Lilo, and we take all the wing options.

That all depends on Horne's fitness though, but I think we'll need all those outside back options to give Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Folau a rest in one or two games.

Right now Kuridrani is our only specified outside centre, with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) his likely backup.

I see Horne's only real chance is his utility value (12 and 13 if needed) and his defence, which is a significant one given some of the big units we'll be facing from England and Wales, not to mention Fiji. Attack wise, Speight and Tomane offer more; Mitchell on par given he is more bruiser than outside-burner these days.
Who'd be a selector?

 

[Train Without a Station]

If, for argument's sake, you had Fardy and Dennis as back row options, it gives decent lock cover too. Not saying that would be my choice per se, but it could work. I probably wouldn't have Palu now. I think his time on the field is effective enough, but it's just not reliably long enough. Pity Higgers seems to be not able to be quite there. McCalman or Pocock should be our 8 starter.

Definitely. For either Fardy or Dennis to play lock, you'd need to have one lock get injured. And then that would be as a sub in a game where you may have Dennis as a loose forward/lock sub. Or Fardy moving to lock and having 2 fresh back rowers come on.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Obviously Dennis is a roughie having not played but I just see with neither Palu or Higgers commanding a spot in their starts and offering very little versatility I see Dennis as a potential roughie. Had a good year and can cover 4, 6 and 8 whilst being a top shelf line out option which is important with Pocock and Hooper clearly in our best team.

 

[Slim 293]

Speight and Tomane are definitely our two best attacking wingers, but Horne is certainly no slouch and has been in good form lately......... and his utility factor helps if we want to rest players against the likes of Uruguay.

Mitchell has played his way into the squad by simply being reliable in the win against the AB's, and unlike the other 3 can kick (by Wallaby standards at least)..............

If Speight misses out it will due to some pretty bad luck - injuries last year and suspension this year has seen his test time limited, and his Super rugby form this year was not as spectacular as it has been the past few years and was definitely outshined by Tomane, who six months ago I wouldn't have thought would make the squad.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Also bad luck that last night was his test. Potentially would have looked much better in the other 3.

 

[Marcelo]

Props: Sio, Kepu, Slipper, Holmes, Smith
Hookers: Moore, TPN
Lock: Horwill, Mumm, Simmons, Skelton, Douglas
Backrow: Fardy, Pocock, Hooper, McCalman, Higginbotham/Lopeti Timani/Vaea
Halfback: Phipps, White, Genia
First-five: Leali'ifano, Cooper
Second-five: To'omua, Giteau
Centres: Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Wingers: Tomane, Mitchell, Speight
Fullbacks: Folau, Beale

2 x Hookers: Moore, TPN
5 x Props: Slipper, Sio, Smith, Kepu, Holmes
5 x Lock: Mumm, Simmons, Horwill, Skelton, Douglas
5 x Backrow: Pocock, Hoopah, Fardy, Palu, McCalman
2 x Scrumhalf: Phipps, White
2 x First Five: Foley, Cooper
3 x Second Five: To'omua, Giteau, Lealiifano
2 x Centre: Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
3 x Wing: Mitchell, Tomane, Speight
2 x Fullback: Folau, Beale

Palu is a former player

 

[Train Without a Station]

Props: Sio, Kepu, Slipper, Holmes, Smith
Hookers: Moore, TPN
Lock: Horwill, Mumm, Simmons, Skelton, Douglas
Backrow: Fardy, Pocock, Hooper, McCalman, Higginbotham/Lopeti Timani/Vaea
Halfback: Phipps, White, Genia
First-five: Leali'ifano, Cooper
Second-five: To'omua, Giteau
Centres: Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Wingers: Tomane, Mitchell, Speight
Fullbacks: Folau, Beale



Palu is a former player

Ahhhh the old Vaea and Timani didn't get to play and look back. MUST be better then!

Would be stupid to take 5 locks leaving 2 back ups outside the 23 and not a single Hooker outside the 23. One late injury and your team won't meet WR (World Rugby) guidelines.