Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Tomikin]

Personally I think it's a great squad. TRC was not simply a trial for RWC selection. There is often a lot of luck involved in people thinking you are 'in form' or not. Just being in the right place at the right time can make a big difference.

I'm glad Chieka picked Douglas over Horwill and Genia over White as in my opinion (and obviously the coach's) the better rugby players got selected.

On what level has Douglas ever been better then Horwill... He never has.. And his coming back from back surgery and 20 mins rugby.

Genia, I get at one stage was one of if not the best in the world.. But Douglas hasn't shown anything ..

 

[Froggy]

I don't get the two hookers thing, but let's get over this forfeit business. All we need are three experienced front rowers, and if, for one game, Sio or Smith had to be a reserve number 2 (and not come unless there is an injury) the world won't end, and by the next match we'd have a replacement. The sun will still come up in the morning.

I also think Horwill hard done by and Douglas a surprise selection. However, Cheika wants a big, very tight forward who gets stuck in and does the close in, unspectacular stuff. Douglas helped win him a S15 title doing that, and my guess is he's punting on him doing it again. In the case of White, I think he got his chance, but his service was just too slow for Cheika, who we know wants a 9 to just get the thing out and moving as quickly as possible.

While I am surprised by a couple of selections, which in my opinion are a mistake, I certainly am not going to jump on the 'Cheika's a failure' bandwagon some posters here are on at this point. We've just won the RC, and this guy has one of the best coaching records in the world with Randwick, Leinster and the Tahs. I might reserve my condemnation until after the WC, and give him the benefit of the doubt until then.

 

[Quick Hands]

Personally I think it's a great squad. TRC was not simply a trial for RWC selection. There is often a lot of luck involved in people thinking you are 'in form' or not. Just being in the right place at the right time can make a big difference.

I'm glad Chieka picked Douglas over Horwill and Genia over White as in my opinion (and obviously the coach's) the better rugby players got selected.

I don't think that there is much in either of those 2 selections - I'd imagine both were a close call and the coach made the call.

The lack of the third hooker is the only thing I'd really question - from it I assume that he doesn't rate any of the other contenders, he thinks he can cover the role from within the squad or he has explored the RWC squad replacement rules and feels that he can bring someone in if needed or possibly all of the above.

 

[Groucho]

Here's my take on the risk of taking only two halfbacks and hookers.

We play three games in 10 days: Fiji on the 24th, Uruguay on the 27th, and England on the 4th. Taking two complete contingents means that no one has to start against both Uruguay and England.

Given that the game against England is by far our most important game in the pool stages, and winning it gives us a good run to the final, then Cheika decided that having everyone fresh for England (and less exposed to injury risk in the midweek game against Uruguay) outweighs the risk associated with having to fly in a halfback or hooker in the case of injury.

If that's the case, it's a calulated risk to solve a scheduling problem.

Injuries might force some people to start all three games, but given the constraint of having only 31 players, this minimises that risk of that happening.

I reckon this is a more likely explanation than our blokes not understanding the rules.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Does that include a player injured in a winning semi-final?

Don't know, but there might be a clue if someone remembers just when Steven Donald was called into the ABs in 2011.

 

[jimmydubs]

Starting to wonder if cheika read the rules on the squad. Seriously. Not sure how anyone can call taking 2 hooker as being as part of some master plan unknown to the masses. If he did read the rules, then it has to be asked, is he daft?

 

[Teh Other Dave]

Don't know, but there might be a clue if someone remembers just when Steven Donald was called into the ABs in 2011.

Yeah, I thought about that. Maybe Chibba needs to go whitebaiting or head out into Moreton Bay.

 

[Brumby Runner]

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

Possibly not, if Cheika is so intent on having two full squads for opposed training. If a hooker sat out to allow a prop to train there, one of the sides would be a man short. Of course, the replaced hooker could also train as prop I suppose.

 

[Groucho]

Possibly not, if Cheika is so intent on having two full squads for opposed training. If a hooker sat out to allow a prop to train there, one of the sides would be a man short. Of course, the replaced hooker could also train as prop I suppose.

The idea that this configuration was chosen to even up the numbers for opposed training in the UK is a complete furphy. There's no restriction on who can train with the squad before they arrive in the UK, so there's nothing stopping Sio training at hooker now.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

*snip*
I reckon this is a more likely explanation than our blokes not understanding the rules.

No question that this is a calculated risk, and this armchair critic (who has coached zero games) doesn't disagree with that in as far as the halfback situation goes. Hooker is a highly technical position, it's crucial in two set pieces, and of course a reserve hooker is mandatory for the safety aspect. If (touch wood) TPN or Moore need to sit out the England game (e.g. suspended for one match), we'd need to either keep Sio on the bench as reserve hooker, or send the injured player home. Neither are ideal.

 

[Groucho]

No question that this is a calculated risk, and this armchair critic (who has coached zero games) doesn't disagree with that in as far as the halfback situation goes. Hooker is a highly technical position, it's crucial in two set pieces, and of course a reserve hooker is mandatory for the safety aspect. If (touch wood) TPN or Moore need to sit out the England game (e.g. suspended for one match), we'd need to either keep Sio on the bench as reserve hooker, or send the injured player home. Neither are ideal.

I agree. However having to start one of our first-choice outside backs against Uruguay would also not be ideal. 31 is a funny number for the organisers to set.

 

[Joe Blow]

The idea that this configuration was chosen to even up the numbers for opposed training in the UK is a complete furphy. There's no restriction on who can train with the squad before they arrive in the UK, so there's nothing stopping Sio training at hooker now.

Except that he is our starting LH. Maybe Smith will be a hooker in scrum training or they will bring in someone already in the UK.

 

[Slim 293]

I'm not sure if players outside the squad are allowed to train with the team during the RWC............


Edit: Ok, got an IRB quote from when Matt Todd was brought in from outside the AB's squad last RWC for opposed training when there were concerns over McCaw:

"Opposed training sessions may be arranged, but any player drafted in as injury cover may not train on the same side with the team or attend team meetings or stay in the team hotel."

 

[Marcelo]

Our piglets are hardly weak. Despite the absence of a third hoooker, this is possibly the strongest and deepest set of forwards we've fielded at a RWC. We've never had two test class front rows, ever.

I agree but still it remains the weak point of the team. For that reason Australia is the only SANZAR team that continues to use the 6/2 bench

I'd guess McCalman or Mumm will play 6 if Fardy doesn't start. Alternatively Pocock and Hooper will play 6 and 7 with Palu or McCalman number 8. I don't expect we'll start Pooper in either of these two games though.

You are right, I think Mumm is the first option

 

[Marcelo]

Double post, sorry

 

[Pudge88]

Hi Everyone,

I'm jumping to the discussion bringing the subject of JOC (James O'Connor) to the table, which I think is worth noting.


I mean what a fall from grace. He was number 1 in arguably the toughest position to secure (Fly Half) in 2013, and was prior to that perhaps the joint #1 winger with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).


Then he's axed, he plays rugby in Europe with some success (he was superb on the wing for Toulon when given a chance), comes back to the Reds and performs adequately - among the 2-3 best reds players each time (albeit not at his peak form due to niggling injuries).

His efforts earn him a recall in the training squad for a week end and then off he goes, never to be seen again this year near a wallaby jersey.

To add insult to injury, he's probably in fact at the very bottom of the winger pecking order:

• The squad contains a gigantic amount of wingers (AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horne, Tomane, Speight, Mitchel): no JOC (James O'Connor)
• The extended squad also contains a winger (Taqele Naiyaravoro): still no JOC (James O'Connor)
• When talking about Australians needing to get some game time during the World XV game vs Japan, Cheika mentioned explicitly Cummins, and only Cummins

So wingers pecking order:
1. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
2. Mitchell
3. Horne
4. Tomane
5. Speight
6. Naiyaravoro
7. Cummins
.
.
X. JOC (James O'Connor)
I mean.. really? I'm sorry but I smell personal punishment, not unbiased selection decision.

 

[hammertimethere]

I have nothing to say other than
1. I'm glad the Douglas is there, but Horwill should be too. I'd have both and no McMahon (Mumm to back up 6). Clearly Poey is now a bona fide 8 for us atm but it's a little riskier to play the Pooper with your only option to step in and start at tight lock being Douglas (recent crook back, no game time). Can't use Skelton without fucking the lineout which as we saw against the AB's, is like handing your opponent lead gloves in hard games. Makes what is our best combo a whole lot more fucking difficult for very little (if any) advantage.
2. I'm fine with there being two halfbacks but not two hookers. Hanson should be there for one of the outside backs (in my mind it should be Mitchell or Tomane). TGC is clearly a man who likes to live dangerously.

 

[USARugger]

Hi Everyone,

I'm jumping to the discussion bringing the subject of JOC (James O'Connor) to the table, which I think is worth noting.

He was pretty terrible at 10 in 2013 - getting selected in a position by a coach doesn't make you the best in the position, or the second-best, or third-best..

Anyway, his personal form during Super Rugby this year really wasn't good enough to concretely warrant selection over the guys recently named in the squad.

JOC (James O'Connor) isn't a risk to get picked up by Fiji if he doesn't play against the USA either.

 

[Joe Blow]

Mumm may be our back up 6 but if Fardy is injured or rested that means we pretty much must play the other three(locks) including Skelton.

There are a lot of limiting factors with this squad.

 

[KOB1987]

Mumm may be our back up 6 but if Fardy is injured or rested that means we pretty much must play the other three(locks) including Skelton.

There are a lot of limiting factors with this squad.

When you can only have 31 players every squad is going to have limitations.
I reckon mumm will only be back up 6 as a sub. To start we'd either play mccalman at 6 or if we are starting both pocock and hooper they would play on the flanks.


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