Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Slim 293]

When you look at how all the positions could be covered, it really highlights the shortcomings of having no third hooker:

1. Sio, Slipper, Smith
2. Moore, TPN
3. Kepu, Holmes, Slipper
4/5. Douglas, Skelton, Simmons, Mumm, Fardy, McCalman
6. Fardy, McMahon, McCalman, Hooper, Pocock, Mumm, Simmons
7. Hooper, Pocock, McMahon, McCalman
8. Pocock, McCalman, Palu
9. Phipps, Genia, Giteau
10. Cooper, Foley, To'omua, Giteau, Beale
11/14. Tomane, Horne, Mitchell, Speight, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Beale, Folau
12. To'omua, Giteau, Beale, Horne, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
13. Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horne, Speight
15. Folau, Beale, Mitchell, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Foley

 

[Lorenzo]

Even as a Brumbies supporter I can't understand why both made it.

How often will they be on the paddock at the same time?

You want at least one winger that can kick a bit, which is good news for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Mitchell.

 

[Braveheart81]

The stupidest thing is big risks have been taken on the composition of the squad and they just aren't justified.

But it's just surplus numbers in some positions at the expense of surplus numbers in much more specialized positions.

I agree. There are a couple of significant risks being taken that just didn't need to happen.

To me the strangest inclusion is both Tomane and Speight. This was the easiest place to pick Horwill or Hanson.

Rugby World Cup squads always involve some risk taking because you can't cover every position to the extent you'd like. Surely however you should have as a central thought what the repercussions are for particular eventualities and cover those which have the greatest negative impact on your ability to compete at the RWC.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I agree. There are a couple of significant risks being taken that just didn't need to happen.

To me the strangest inclusion is both Tomane and Speight. This was the easiest place to pick Horwill or Hanson.

Rugby World Cup squads always involve some risk taking because you can't cover every position to the extent you'd like. Surely however you should have as a central thought what the repercussions are for particular eventualities and cover those which have the greatest negative impact on your ability to compete at the RWC.

And surely that in the event of losing both your 13 and 15, with your injury cover you then have Foley as your back 3 replacement (moving to 15 with the starting 15 moving to wing) is much less of a risk then being in a position where losing a prop and a hooker you forfeit a match.

 

[neilc]

Is Mitchell up to it? I don't have a view on him, haven't seen enough of him recently to say whether he is the best choice over others - he is experienced and can kick, although I recall some shockers for kicks when he played fullback in Super Rugby. When he left for France I thought he was past his best and since he's been back I didn't notice much of his play in the RC but maybe I was not looking carefully. Woud you consider him a starter in a key match?

 

[Slim 293]

When you look at how all the positions could be covered, it really highlights the shortcomings of having no third hooker:

1. Sio, Slipper, Smith
2. Moore, TPN
3. Kepu, Holmes, Slipper
4/5. Douglas, Skelton, Simmons, Mumm, Fardy, McCalman
6. Fardy, McMahon, McCalman, Hooper, Pocock, Mumm, Simmons
7. Hooper, Pocock, McMahon, McCalman
8. Pocock, McCalman, Palu
9. Phipps, Genia, Giteau
10. Cooper, Foley, To'omua, Giteau, Beale
11/14. Tomane, Horne, Mitchell, Speight, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Beale, Folau
12. To'omua, Giteau, Beale, Horne, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
13. Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horne, Speight
15. Folau, Beale, Mitchell, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Foley

Or looking at it another way:

Sio - 1
Slipper - 1, 3
Smith - 1
Kepu - 3
Holmes - 3
Moore - 2
TPN - 2
Douglas - 4, 5
Skelton - 4, 5
Simmons - 4, 5, 6
Mumm - 4, 5, 6
Fardy - 4, 5, 6
McCalman - 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Hooper - 6, 7
Pocock - 6, 7, 8
McMahon - 6, 7
Palu - 8
Phipps - 9
Genia - 9
Giteau - 9, 10, 12
Cooper - 10, 12
Foley - 10, 15
To'omua - 10, 12
Kuridrani - 13
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Horne - 11, 12, 13, 14
Speight - 11, 13, 14
Tomane - 11, 14
Beale - 10, 12, 11, 14, 15
Mitchell - 11, 14, 15
Folau - 11, 14, 15

 

[Viking]

As far as I'm concerned it's not just half empty. It's the wrong shape, full of rubbish warm beer that I didn't even want to drink anyway!

Think about this:

Douglas will surprise everyone and bash guys at the ruck
TPN & Moore stay fully fit
Phipps & Genia stay fit and Genia returns to his 2012/2013 form
Cooper plays every match like his 2013 AB match.

It could happen.

 

[Braveheart81]

Is Mitchell up to it? I don't have a view on him, haven't seen enough of him recently to say whether he is the best choice over others - he is experienced and can kick, although I recall some shockers for kicks when he played fullback in Super Rugby. When he left for France I thought he was past his best and since he's been back I didn't notice much of his play in the RC but maybe I was not looking carefully. Woud you consider him a starter in a key match?

I think he is. I expect his left foot kicking game will see him on one wing in our key matches with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the other.

 

[Slim 293]

Is Mitchell up to it? I don't have a view on him, haven't seen enough of him recently to say whether he is the best choice over others - he is experienced and can kick, although I recall some shockers for kicks when he played fullback in Super Rugby. When he left for France I thought he was past his best and since he's been back I didn't notice much of his play in the RC but maybe I was not looking carefully. Woud you consider him a starter in a key match?

His point of difference to the other wingers is he has a left foot boot..........

Having said that, it's about as useful as our other kickers.

 

[Lorenzo]

The backline is full of players that can (and have, in some cases) play pretty much anywhere. Hell, Giteau could cover 9 through 15 in a pinch.

None of them can play hooker though.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

As has been mentioned the only logical explanation is the theory that he wants 2 full starting 15's to train against each other in game situation (plus 1 extra prop). If he took an extra hooker instead of a winger then the opposed training would have been unbalanced with a hooker on the wing.

 

[Lorenzo]

His point of difference to the other wingers is he has a left foot boot....

Having said that, it's about as useful as our other kickers.

Yep. Mitchell let go of some pretty ordinary kicks in the RC. I thought one or two of them were from his weak side, until I was reminded he was left footed

Still, he has plenty of bottle.

 

[Omar Comin']

Who's to say a 3rd hooker won't be brought in for one of the excess wingers right at the start of the tournament?

Or if not then certainly if one of the hookers get a 1 week injury.

Cheika said he wants 2 full 15's so they can have proper opposed sessions in training. Maybe once the tournament begins it won't be necessary.

 

[Train Without a Station]

As has been mentioned the only logical explanation is the theory that he wants 2 full starting 15's to train against each other in game situation (plus 1 extra prop). If he took an extra hooker instead of a winger then the opposed training would have been unbalanced with a hooker on the wing.

But even then, they can take extra players to train that aren't in the squad.

 

[Viking]

Who's to say a 3rd hooker won't be brought in for one of the excess wingers right at the start of the tournament?

Or if not then certainly if one of the hookers get a 1 week injury.

Cheika said he wants 2 full 15's so they can have proper opposed sessions in training. Maybe once the tournament begins it won't be necessary.

That doesn't make sense. Why don't you name a Hooker and bring an unnamed winger along for training?

 

[Slim 293]

Also, once named you can only make squad changes for medical or compassionate reasons only............

 

[MarkJ]

Maybe the seeming surplus of wingers points to having two very different gameplans that will be used on different opponents? Horne/Mitchell/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) when the plan is to keep it in tight, and Tomane & Speight when they're going to play fast and wide?

 

[Marcelo]

Too much options for the outside backs so Cheika is thinking in running style.

It can be a serious mistake when the Australian weakness in the last 15 years have been the piglets

 

[Viking]

Maybe the seeming surplus of wingers points to having two very different gameplans that will be used on different opponents? Horne/Mitchell/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) when the plan is to keep it in tight, and Tomane & Speight when they're going to play fast and wide?

And Tomane for TPN/Moore when we don't want to play scrums or line-outs.

 

[Viking]

Seriously though... Surely one of the props have been training at Hooker.