Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Braveheart81]

I'd have Laurie Weeks as the frontrunner.

You could also potentially have Slipper as the third choice THP if there was an injury drama. Sio could start at LHP or you could start Slipper, sub him off early then bring him back late when the THP gets injured or however that trick works.

I wouldn't write off Benn Robinson as the 5th RWC prop. His experience is a positive and if he has a strong season he'll be there or there abouts. There'll be some sentimentality as well in finally getting him to a RWC.

Tetera Faulkner's chances could be damaged by how badly the Force's scrum is going this year.

 

[cyclopath]

Interesting. I doubt Cheika's selections at times. Who's playing at 13 then?

Matt Carraro

 

[BDA]

It would be nice to see him play in a world cup. The only way I could see Robinson being selected is if Slipper is the back-up THP (or as a result of injuries).

 

[Slim 293]

I'd have Laurie Weeks as the frontrunner.

You could also potentially have Slipper as the third choice THP if there was an injury drama. Sio could start at LHP or you could start Slipper, sub him off early then bring him back late when the THP gets injured or however that trick works.

I wouldn't write off Benn Robinson as the 5th RWC prop. His experience is a positive and if he has a strong season he'll be there or there abouts. There'll be some sentimentality as well in finally getting him to a RWC.

Tetera Faulkner's chances could be damaged by how badly the Force's scrum is going this year.

The entire Force front row are currently playing themselves out of contention...........

 

[Braveheart81]

The entire Force front row are currently playing themselves out of contention.....

It has also been suggested that Foley is coaching himself out of the Wallaby set piece gig for 2015 as well.

I really think Cheika should push hard for Nick Stiles. He's done an excellent job with the Reds set piece and if that can be combined with Cheika and Grey's aggression and physicality on attack and defence respectively it could be a really great combination.

 

[fatprop]

Interesting. I doubt Cheika's selections at times. Who's playing at 13 then?

Carrraro is there on Saturday.

It suits the Tahs to have Horne defending at 12 while Beale plays 2nd 15 in defence and being the inside line crash baller off 10 & 12 on attack

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

It has also been suggested that Foley is coaching himself out of the Wallaby set piece gig for 2015 as well.

I really think Cheika should push hard for Nick Stiles. He's done an excellent job with the Reds set piece and if that can be combined with Cheika and Grey's aggression and physicality on attack and defence respectively it could be a really great combination.

Sadly, I think you're right. Upping the aggression in attack and defence would be a good thing heading into the RWC I think. We won't get out of our group without winning the physical battle, something that England and Wales relish.

 

[Brumbieman]

View attachment 5847

Hmmm....might be time for another coffee

 

[Braveheart81]

Hmmm..might be time for another coffee

Surely this was precisely the time to respond:

Ay, ay, ay! No es bueno!

 

[Viking]

Carrraro is there on Saturday.

It suits the Tahs to have Horne defending at 12 while Beale plays 2nd 15 in defence and being the inside line crash baller off 10 & 12 on attack

I really dislike accommodating a players defensive weakness at the expense of other players. It makes Beale and Horne a package rather then individuals.

I would have thought switching Horne to 13 and bringing in Betham would have been the best option. Betham is such a solid super xv player..... Bloody Beale.

 

[fatprop]

I really dislike accommodating a players defensive weakness at the expense of other players. It makes Beale and Horne a package rather then individuals.

I would have thought switching Horne to 13 and bringing in Betham would have been the best option. Betham is such a solid super xv player... Bloody Beale.

I am in two minds about it, I like having two 15s at the back for kick return, but the Tahs also stand Foley at defensive hooker on defensive lineouts with Hooper defending at 10 so ...................... dunno

What do you think of the Brumbies ploy of having Speight pack on the side of the scrum so they can have a back rower lurking out wide at scrum time?

 

[something]

Someone mentioned earlier that Chieka might pick the two best players in each position? and use that to justify picking the 23. I'm sure Chieka wont base his decisions solely on this model, but i think its also an interesting exercise for a forum lol (guys on the left are first choice)

1. Slipper - Sio
2. Moore - TPN
3. Kepu - ?? Talakai seems to be progressing well?
4. Simmons - Carter
5. Horwill/Jones/Timani/Skelton (maybe last 2?)
6. Fardy - Higgers
7. Hooper - Pocock
8. Palu - Higgers
9. Phipps - Genia
10. Foley - Cooper
11. Badger - JOC (James O'Connor)
12. To'omua - Beale
13. Kurindrani - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Speight - JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Folau - JOC (James O'Connor)

I think if you'd pick team first then reserves go:
Sio, TPN, a THP?, Carter or Skelton, Higgers, Genia, JOC (James O'Connor), AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

Other options are Pocock for Higgers, and to throw JOC (James O'Connor) into the starting side at the expense of Badger or Speight to bring in Beale or Cooper, omitting the specialist winger completely.

 

[Braveheart81]

I really dislike accommodating a players defensive weakness at the expense of other players. It makes Beale and Horne a package rather then individuals.

I would have thought switching Horne to 13 and bringing in Betham would have been the best option. Betham is such a solid super xv player... Bloody Beale.

Betham is in the team. He came in for Naiyaravoro (who isn't injured).

When you've got a particular defensive structure you play, moving Horne to 13 would have completely disrupted it. They've chosen the option of least resistance.

Horne doesn't just defend in the midfield because Beale is a weak defender. Horne is an excellent and often dominant tackler and Beale is far better on counter attack, kicking and under the high ball than Horne. It is about maximising the players' skillsets and minimising their weaknesses.

 

[Viking]

Betham is in the team. He came in for Naiyaravoro (who isn't injured).

When you've got a particular defensive structure you play, moving Horne to 13 would have completely disrupted it. They've chosen the option of least resistance.

Horne doesn't just defend in the midfield because Beale is a weak defender. Horne is an excellent and often dominant tackler and Beale is far better on counter attack, kicking and under the high ball than Horne. It is about maximising the players' skillsets and minimising their weaknesses.

I'm in two-minds about this. I can see the counter attacking benefit from Beale and the defence from Horne, BUT It is a complicated structure that relies heavily on two players. What if Horne get's injured, then some-one is going to have to fill in a specialised defensive role. Same with Beale, is the second choice 12 going to drop back to full-back as well or are they going to completely change defensive structure?

Having a 12 that can't defend, or a wing who's counter-attacking isn't valued enough so they decide to shift him for a 12 on defence is something I would prefer to avoid. I guess I prefer the KISS method. Keep-It-Simple-Stupid.

Also, It certainly doesn't help with Test selections. If Beale actually had practise defending at 12, and made progress in this area he may well lock down the 12 jersey. But currently I wouldn't put him anywhere near a gold jersey.

 

[fatprop]

So Talakai is going from a Sydney Uni prop to Wob contender in how many Super games?

 

[Braveheart81]

Few situations are perfect.

We currently have the Wallaby 12 not playing there at all throughout the year.

If Beale gets injured, either Horne would play 12 or Jono Lance would play 12.

If Horne gets injured, maybe Carraro plays on the wing and defends at 12 or maybe Beale just defends at 12 the whole time.

Who knows?

 

[I like to watch]

Horne doesn't just defend in the midfield because Beale is a weak defender. Horne is an excellent and often dominant tackler and Beale is far better on counter attack, kicking and under the high ball than Horne. It is about maximising the players' skillsets and minimising their weaknesses.

I call bullshit.
If KB (Kurtley Beale) tackled like SBW do you really think they would bother reshuffling the backline in D?

 

[Braveheart81]

I call bullshit.
If KB (Kurtley Beale) tackled like SBW do you really think they would bother reshuffling the backline in D?

No, we wouldn't.

But KB (Kurtley Beale) doesn't tackle like SBW and Horne doesn't counterattack like KB (Kurtley Beale) so it improves two deficiencies.

 

[Slim 293]

I agree that there'll only be 13 backs taken to the RWC, looking potentially like this:

Scrumhalves: Phipps, White, Genia
Flyhalves: Foley, Cooper
Centres: To'omua, Beale, Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Wings: Speight, Horne
Fullbacks: Folau, JOC (James O'Connor)

Cheika's likely preference for Beale and Horne would see the likes of Lilo, Cummins and Tomane miss out...........

 

[Braveheart81]

It seems to me that specialist wingers will be the unluckiest players considering that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) could easily be Cheika's first choice wingers and are possibly the second choice 13 and 15 respectively. It makes them a much more compelling choice than a second specialist winger.