Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Train Without a Station]

I'm in the minority here but I don't really see all the fuss about MMM. Seen a few good games from him years back, but can't say I remember him being an absolute stand out for the Reds of when he came back for the Force. Quirk seemed to have more impact as a Blindside and the Brumbies locks seemed better than him too. That's just my opinion though.

 

[Tomikin]

I'd say that Gill was the best Aus openside in Super Rugby in the first half of last season. But, I wouldn't say he was the best in the second half though. He tapered off slightly, although he still played well.

I don't like MMM as blindside flanker. I like MMM as a lock. MMM as loosehead lock makes sense to me, or MMM as bench lock.

If Fardy doesn't deserve first shot (as it currently stands, Super Rugby form in 2014 aside) as Wallaby blindside I'll eat my hat. The guy was outstanding in the RC and EOYT.

Poey out pointed Gill in the first game last year as well. I think people forget that. Although Mowen Kilmen also had massive impact at the breakdown that game.

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[Scrubber2050]

How great is it for Australian rugby

Pocock V Hooper V Gill V any others out there

 

[qwerty51]

I'm in the minority here but I don't really see all the fuss about MMM. Seen a few good games from him years back, but can't say I remember him being an absolute stand out for the Reds of when he came back for the Force. Quirk seemed to have more impact as a Blindside and the Brumbies locks seemed better than him too. That's just my opinion though.

He did nothing in his only Test last year too.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I'll give him a pass for that one due to injury.

 

[qwerty51]

Well up until his injury he was doing nothing.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I honestly only remember him ever playing one stand out game. May have been the 2009 or 2008 game against the Tahs in Sydney. Prior to that I could never understand the hype.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think MMM is a bit of a myth at this point of his career mostly due to how prone he is to injury.

His body doesn't stand up to the aggressive, abrasive style of game he plays and whilst he'll have a couple of standout Super Rugby games, I can't see him stringing enough games together to every be a consistent choice for the Wallabies again.

He earned Wallaby selection last year after playing some good Super Rugby games and then was injured and then made a comeback. Unfortunately by that point his body was ruined and he was poor in his only test and then needed surgery and was out for the rest of the season.

I predict 2014 isn't likely to be much different. If he does play well enough to get Wallaby selection, his body will probably be held together with sticky tape by that point and he won't be up to the extra physicality of test rugby.

 

[Ignoto]

I predict 2014 isn't likely to be much different. If he does play well enough to get Wallaby selection, his body will probably be held together with sticky tape by that point and he won't be up to the extra physicality of test rugby.

I wouldn't say MMM is that far off from Wallaby selection, especially since he'd be an extremely handy reserve; one he can play blindside and lock. Having a Fardy/MMM on the bench gives Link a big boost in bench selection. Outside of Higgers, Fardy and MMM, there's not much else happening that could potentially slot into the 23 if we were to play a test tomorrow. Sure Quirk might be a possible selection, but including him on the bench really limits you (you'll effectively have a specialist 6 and another specialist 7) compared to having Fardy or MMM on the bench.

So at the end of the day, due to sheer genetics and what he brings to the table, MMM will be in the fringe squad. Then with possible injuries to Palu or Higgers, will we see him come into the 23.

 

[Train Without a Station]

But how handy is he actually? I'd considering him far less effective playing Blindside that almost any blindside flanker option which leaves him really as a lock, in which case I'd have a number of options beyond Douglas, Horwill and Simmons in front of him.

He's really not in the top 5 of either position, and I'm even sceptical of claims that he can play 6 and lock equally, so what do you really gain by his versatility.

Personally, I'd rather in the event of injury, I would rather see somebody like Quirk or Dennis come off the bench and have to play lock, or somebody like Douglas or Simmons have to push into blindside, than going in with a bloke that best case scenario and is a tactical sub, is not the next best blindside or lock.

 

[Tomikin]

I wouldn't say MMM is that far off from Wallaby selection, especially since he'd be an extremely handy reserve; one he can play blindside and lock. Having a Fardy/MMM on the bench gives Link a big boost in bench selection. Outside of Higgers, Fardy and MMM, there's not much else happening that could potentially slot into the 23 if we were to play a test tomorrow. Sure Quirk might be a possible selection, but including him on the bench really limits you (you'll effectively have a specialist 6 and another specialist 7) compared to having Fardy or MMM on the bench.

So at the end of the day, due to sheer genetics and what he brings to the table, MMM will be in the fringe squad. Then with possible injuries to Palu or Higgers, will we see him come into the 23.

Lol Palu and Higgers are both combined less injury plagued and better players.

He needs to play 2014 no injuries then maybe NH tour.

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[Tomikin]

I wouldn't say MMM is that far off from Wallaby selection, especially since he'd be an extremely handy reserve; one he can play blindside and lock. Having a Fardy/MMM on the bench gives Link a big boost in bench selection. Outside of Higgers, Fardy and MMM, there's not much else happening that could potentially slot into the 23 if we were to play a test tomorrow. Sure Quirk might be a possible selection, but including him on the bench really limits you (you'll effectively have a specialist 6 and another specialist 7) compared to having Fardy or MMM on the bench.

So at the end of the day, due to sheer genetics and what he brings to the table, MMM will be in the fringe squad. Then with possible injuries to Palu or Higgers, will we see him come into the 23.

I think MMM is a bit of a myth at this point of his career mostly due to how prone he is to injury.

His body doesn't stand up to the aggressive, abrasive style of game he plays and whilst he'll have a couple of standout Super Rugby games, I can't see him stringing enough games together to every be a consistent choice for the Wallabies again.

He earned Wallaby selection last year after playing some good Super Rugby games and then was injured and then made a comeback. Unfortunately by that point his body was ruined and he was poor in his only test and then needed surgery and was out for the rest of the season.

I predict 2014 isn't likely to be much different. If he does play well enough to get Wallaby selection, his body will probably be held together with sticky tape by that point and he won't be up to the extra physicality of test rugby.

But how handy is he actually? I'd considering him far less effective playing Blindside that almost any blindside flanker option which leaves him really as a lock, in which case I'd have a number of options beyond Douglas, Horwill and Simmons in front of him.

He's really not in the top 5 of either position, and I'm even sceptical of claims that he can play 6 and lock equally, so what do you really gain by his versatility.

Personally, I'd rather in the event of injury, I would rather see somebody like Quirk or Dennis come off the bench and have to play lock, or somebody like Douglas or Simmons have to push into blindside, than going in with a bloke that best case scenario and is a tactical sub, is not the next best blindside or lock.

Agree and with Fardy at 6 who plays lock at super level id perfer him to push to lock before MMM. But guess Fardy got his go after MMM was injured which I think was a joke Fardy is a beast and has shown it

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[Train Without a Station]

Based on what Fisher has said, Fardy will specialize at 6 now because he is too small for lock with the new scrum laws. I purposely left him out because having played a lot at lock, he would be considered a better utility option anyway.

 

[Tomikin]

Based on what Fisher has said, Fardy will specialize at 6 now because he is too small for lock with the new scrum laws. I purposely left him out because having played a lot at lock, he would be considered a better utility option anyway.

Ive heard (on here) after that comment that fisher has recently said that Fardy has proved him wrong..

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[Braveheart81]

I think a player that can play 6 and 8 or 6 and 4 is tempting as a bench player, but at the same time, the modern game calls for good use of the bench to improve your side in the last half an hour rather than just being there to cover injuries.

So far, Link has shown a preference for having a 5:3 bench split and that will mean that you only have two forward reserves who aren't in the front row.

Personally I think you may as well have a specialist lock on the bench because that is by far the most likely position in the back five of the scrum where you will make a tactical replacement.

Carrying a reserve 7 on the bench is a luxury and is really only an injury replacement as most 7s will happily play a full 80 minutes so unless you're planning on running dual 7s late in the match, you probably can't afford a specialist 7 on the bench unless you're planning to only have two back reserves.

Generally I think we will be best off having a reserve lock and then a reserve 6/8 on the bench.

 

[Tip]

Generally I think we will be best off having a reserve lock and then a reserve 6/8 on the bench.

And with Kimlin you have that wrapped up in one nice neat little package

 

[Train Without a Station]

Just the minor matter of him being contracted to Grenoble(?)

 

[Braveheart81]

And with Kimlin you have that wrapped up in one nice neat little package

Aside from the fact that he is playing overseas, I think it needs to be considered that he produced arguably career best form in 2013. I'd say that he was probably better in 2013 than in 2009 when he earned his two Wallaby caps.

What's to say he can replicate that form if and when he returns to Australia?

 

[Ash]

MMM played lock last year for the Force up until his injury, and up until then was going rather well.

After he came back for injury he didn't play many games, and didn't really go too well in any of them, ending with that anonymous game at blindside for the Wallabies.

Looking at the Force squad ahead of this year, I think that MMM would again be at lock, partnering probably Steenkamp, with Cottrell and McCalman at 6 and 8. Any injuries to those two though and MMM may end up at blindside.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Called me biased, but I thought MMM played bloody well in Super rugby last year right up until he got injured (again). I don't think he was ever right after that. And that's his problem -- if his body stays together he's an animal, but otherwise a passenger. I'd love to see him get a full season out of that big frame of his, but it may be a forlorn hope.