Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Bairdy]

Horwill's form has been inconsistent in recent times, but you can't go to the RWC with only one lock that has more than a year's worth of experience. All it takes is an injury to Simmons before we are starting Carter and Skelton together (who have 19 caps between them). We would need Higginbotham or Fardy in the starting XV to call the lineouts in that instance.

If however someone like Dennis keep his form up and forces his way back into the Wallabies, Horwill's spot is not so secure.

Arnold, Timani, Jones, Coleman etc. would have to play exceptionally from now until the RWC, and play some tests in the RC to even get a look in, and that is probably not enough to cement their place among the top 4 locks in the selectors' eyes.

 

[Slim 293]

And I wouldn't have Carter in the first 3. Simmons, Skelton and Horwill all before him.

Cheika and Link both showed bad form is no impediment to picking Horwill.

Yet they still picked the 3 other guys ahead of Horwill...........

On form alone, I couldn't tell you where Horwill currently sits in the pecking order (deep deep down.........), and his test cred has long dried out............

We're currently better off getting a few caps into someone during the RC.

 

[Scrubber2050]

I suppose the Aru could save some bucks by picking Horwill.

He's playing in England next year so would only have to buy a one-way ticket.

I have said for quite a while that it is very unlikely he will play at that level again.

Sport has cruel consequences once performance goes south. From the sportsman point of view it must be a difficult thing to deal with.

 

[Marcelo]

Right now, and with a very healthy Rebels bias, I'd be looking at something like

1. Slipper
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Little Timani
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Vaea

9. White/Phipps - Phipps if Quade is healthy and playing well.
10. To'omua/Quade
11. Speight
12. Lilo/To'omua if Quade is playing 10
13. Kuridrani
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Folau

16. TPN
17. Sio
18. Weeks
19. Jones. Maybe Arnold if he kicks on, or Skelton if scrummaging improves.
20. Pocock/McMahon - dependent on health/form/opposition
21. McCalman/Higgers - as above
21. Phipps/White
22. Beale

Good pick, but where's AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)??? He's a more consistent player than Beale, better defender who can play at 13, 14 and 15.

The only skill where Beale is better than AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is in the kicking game, in the other skills, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is better than him

 

[Scrubber2050]

I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is great but will fail to make team, certainly in a run on spot

 

[Dumbledore]

Good pick, but where's AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)??? He's a more consistent player than Beale, better defender who can play at 13, 14 and 15.

The only skill where Beale is better than AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is in the kicking game, in the other skills, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is better than him

Oh look, it's probably an absolute mile away from what we'll end up with. I won't be too surprised if JOC (James O'Connor) isn't able to put a 100% year in and ends up having his place on the wing taken by AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

But to explain my rationale, it's pretty much that I'm not an international rugby coach and from the sidelines I'd rather pick players who can come onto the park and win you a match rather than playing not to lose. Except in the tight five. Then I just want boys who won't see our scrum pinged off the park.

Looking at the positional coverage though, you're right, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) probably would be a better shout than Beale.

 

[something]

I agree with Qwerty, he won't play another test. It's sad to say but i think Horwill's issue is mental. Not only has he has developed a losing mentality, but he has reverted back to early angry Horwill. He is increasingly likely to give away stupid penalties. You don't want that in a world cup team, plain and simple.

 

[something]

I think Simmons and Skelton will be the starting locks. Unfortunately that means carter probably wont get a look in as he and Simmons are too similar - and Skelton will be subbed. Its a smokey, but i like the idea of Timani or Arnold to back up Skelton.

 

[Godfrey]

Yes he seems to have that vibe of impotent frustration at the moment. I agree with those guessing he won't play another test. Of course that situation could reverse at any point in time, but his experience doesn't get him very high up the pecking order for me at this point.

With perfect-world form and potential being consistently hit I think Simmons, Carter and Skelton are in the 23 in whatever order. Of those I'd be most willing to lose Carter, but can understand arguments for the others.

 

[Dumbledore]

I feel for Horwill. He's never been quite the same since that hamstring injury. To go from being an explosive, physically dominant, force in the middle of the park for a champion team to an honest plodder surrounded by mediocrity has to be enormously tough.

Obviously his frustration is being expressed in ways that aren't particularly helpful, but at least you can see that he still cares.

 

[hammertimethere]

I don't think anybody could ever accuse Horwill of no longer caring.

 

[qwerty51]

I agree with Qwerty, he won't play another test. It's sad to say but i think Horwill's issue is mental. Not only has he has developed a losing mentality, but he has reverted back to early angry Horwill. He is increasingly likely to give away stupid penalties. You don't want that in a world cup team, plain and simple.

I completely disagree, it's entirely physical.

 

[Braveheart81]

I thought Horwill was pretty good on the weekend. Was one of the few Reds players who actually put in the hard yards and stood up to the Brumbies.

He was one of the best Aussie locks on the weekend. If he hadn't been playing for a team that was completely outclassed he would have looked brilliant.

 

[BDA]

You'd be a ballsy man to bet against Horwill being in the World Cup squad. Not that I think he's playing that well, there are a few other young guys who are in better form, but form really is only part of the puzzle. We're just so horribly short on experience in that department and we have no other locks that are as solid in the set piece as Horwill is.

I agree with Braveheart, I thought his performance on the weekend was pretty decent, he really played with some heart. He's by no means impressing me, but unless a rookie test lock has a major standout performance in the Rugby Championship, I suspect Horwill's experience and solid fundamentals will get him on the plane.

 

[Tip]

I'm saying this as bred-to-be-red biased QLD'er.

Horwill should not be on the plane. I double dare any of you to player-cam James Horwill during the Brumbies game... He was lucky not to be penalized the same amount as Round 1.

He was NEVER onside. Like NEVER. EVER. EVER. I can't emphisize this enough. If a referee decides to be remotely fair he'd be yellowed after 10 minutes for his 4th penalty for the same offense.

He is always a step in front of last feet, he has zero peripheral vision (is either ball watching the halfback or deciding which man to let step on by.)

Horwill is past it. He's just lazy, there is testing the referee's and being a liability. Horwill is the latter.

/endrant

 

[chasmac]

I'm saying this as bred-to-be-red biased QLD'er.

Horwill should not be on the plane. I double dare any of you to player-cam James Horwill during the Brumbies game. He was lucky not to be penalized the same amount as Round 1.

He was NEVER onside. Like NEVER. EVER. EVER. I can't emphisize this enough. If a referee decides to be remotely fair he'd be yellowed after 10 minutes for his 4th penalty for the same offense.

He is always a step in front of last feet, he has zero peripheral vision (is either ball watching the halfback or deciding which man to let step on by.)

Horwill is past it. He's just lazy, there is testing the referee's and being a liability. Horwill is the latter.

/endrant

I wonder if Horwill has lost his ability to move laterally. When To'omua made his break leading up to squeekys try, Horwill seemed to just run straight into and over the top of the inside runner (I think it was Coleman). Seems to me like he has got dodgy knees and has lost some (alot) of agility.

 

[hammertimethere]

I'm saying this as bred-to-be-red biased QLD'er.

Horwill should not be on the plane. I double dare any of you to player-cam James Horwill during the Brumbies game. He was lucky not to be penalized the same amount as Round 1.

He was NEVER onside. Like NEVER. EVER. EVER. I can't emphisize this enough. If a referee decides to be remotely fair he'd be yellowed after 10 minutes for his 4th penalty for the same offense.

He is always a step in front of last feet, he has zero peripheral vision (is either ball watching the halfback or deciding which man to let step on by.)

Horwill is past it. He's just lazy, there is testing the referee's and being a liability. Horwill is the latter.

/endrant

You're exaggerating more than a little Tip. He does lean forward when he's standing waiting to move up which probably looks like offside from a number of angles. BUT even if that is as true as you seem to think it was...SO WERE MOST OF THE BRUMBIES TIGHT 5!

I was sitting at half way and it was doing my bloody head in.

 

[hammertimethere]

The point about James' lateral movement is fair I think though

 

[Marcelo]

The best couple 10/12 in the last few years has been Quade Cooper and Matt To'omua at the Spring Tour 2013 IMO.

All my hope is in this couple, if they can arrive in good form to the WC, our possibilities are great and we'll have a similar level than the Spring tour 2013, which was one of the best performances of the team in years.

About JOC (James O'Connor), I'm not sure about him at the starting XV. He still didn't show a great performance this year to secure his place at the starting XV.

Speight, Cummins and Tomane are in best form at the Super Rugby ATM, and maybe Horne too. So JOC (James O'Connor) still has to win his place at the starting XV, right now I even prefer AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the wing. It's not his best position but at least he gives some security guarantees without being a marvel at the wing.

 

[Tip]

My biggest beef with Jimmy Horwill is that he's half a step in front of everyone else in his team. Yeah, everyone pushes the offside line, but there's no need to insert Horwill and make it a jaded line.