11. Speight
12. Kerevi
13. Kuridrani
14. Kuridrani
15. Folau
Footwork, flick passes and huge arses.
11. Speight
12. Kerevi
13. Kuridrani
14. Kuridrani
15. Folau
Footwork, flick passes and huge arses.
I know it's not particularly fair, but I just can't see a scenario where Alexander playing in a NH world cup under NH refs ends well.
For mine the current form 23 is:-
1) Sio
2) Moore
3) Kepu
4) Carter
5) Skelton
6) Fardy
7) Hooper
8) Palu
9) Phipps
10) Foley
11) Speight
12) To'omua
13) Kurindrani
14) Horne/Tomane
15) Folau
16) TPN
17) Slipper
18) Alexander
19) Jones
20) McMahon
21) White
22) Horne/Tomane
23) Beale (even though I don't think he should be contracted lets deal with the realities)
Fortunately years of picking under performing Tahs players for the wallabies has given us the understanding that super rugby form only counts for part of Wallaby selection criteria.From the form up to now I would have to say No Qld Reds in the run on side and only Slipper in the 23. QC (Quade Cooper) will change that if he plays as he did last night and force his way into the starting spot or at least the bench. For mine the current form 23 is:-
OK I think these are the locked positions, or should be anyway.
1.
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4.
5.
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Palu (McCalman when the inevitable happens)
9. Phipps
10.
11.
12. To'omua
13. Kuridrani
14. Speight
15. Folau
I'd say Slipper is probable for the 1 jersey, Carter will get one of the 2nd row and Simmons probably the other.
10 will be Cooper, if he recovers form and isn't drowned in the Reds shitness, and I'd say 11 will go to Beiber so that we have an extra kicking option at the back, and a 3rd playmaker in the wide channels. Him and Folau running off each other's shoulder, with Speight in support would be delicious.
That's essentially an optimum 15.
Sio
TPN
Skelton
Pocock
Genia
Foley/Lealiifano/Beale
I'd say rounds out the 23?
Probably needs to be a statute of limitations on how long people can bleat about this. But there won't be.Fortunately years of picking under performing Tahs players for the wallabies has given us the understanding that super rugby form only counts for part of Wallaby selection criteria.
Probably needs to be a statute of limitations on how long people can bleat about this. But there won't be.
Q.E.D.You can call it bleating if you like but the point is that form counts for only a part of selection criteria.. Waratahs players just happen to be a prime example of where this has occurred in the past, players picked from an under-performing Tahs side yet they played to a high standard at Wallaby level.
Waratahs won 4 games in 2012 finishing 11th yet players like Kepu, Mitchell, Barnes, TPN, Dennis, Douglas, Robinson, Horne and Timani were still picked for the Wallabies Rugby Championship. Few would argue that these players didn't life their game to a higher level once picked for the Wallabies.
You can call it bleating if you like but the point is that form counts for only a part of selection criteria.. Waratahs players just happen to be a prime example of where this has occurred in the past, players picked from an under-performing Tahs side yet they played to a high standard at Wallaby level.
Waratahs won 4 games in 2012 finishing 11th yet players like Kepu, Mitchell, Barnes, TPN, Dennis, Douglas, Robinson, Horne and Timani were still picked for the Wallabies Rugby Championship. Few would argue that these players didn't life their game to a higher level once picked for the Wallabies.
After watching the tahs game, I'm finding it hard to leave Skelton out of the Wallabies starting 15. The guy is a like was like a runaway train most of the game. The go forward he gave the tahs was invaluable.
I'm most impressed, and more than a bit surprised, that the Tahs have got him playing close to 80 minutes most weeks. Still work to do, but his improvement is good to see. Seems to have a good work ethic.The interesting thing about Skelton is that he is still relatively physically immature.
He will be an amazing powerhouse when he is a few years older, stronger, and wiser.