Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[ChargerWA]

Yeh I think that's probably right. Although it concerns me how shit the Force's scrum has been this season. Not sure I'd be rushing to select any of their tight 5, knowing what we'll be up against. Not that I'm saying it's necessarily Coleman's fault, I'm simply saying it remains to be seen whether he's going to assist our set piece. Again this brings me back to my last post. I believe strength in the scrum should be largely dictating which THP, Lock, and Hooker we selection on the bench against England

I don't know if Coleman is a good scrummager, but I do know Pek is only passable and Faulkner probably not even that good. I'd be looking elsewhere before laying the Forces scrummaging woes at his feet.

But Coleman is the future. He will be a 60 test Wallaby.

 

[Joe Blow]

I don't know if Coleman is a good scrummager,

But Coleman is the future. He will be a 60 test Wallaby.

Lets have a look at him in his first test before we start lining him up to be selected for the Wallabies while playing in Europe down the track.

I think he has great potential. Arnold also really looked the goods on the weekend for the Brumbies. Why do they pull him so early?

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I thought Coleman had a strong game last night, watching it live. McCalman has been immense this year as well. A carthorse he is not IMHO.

 

[Purce]

If I was picking I'd be leaning towards Jones whose numbers which I posted a few pages back are second only to Dennis. It all comes down to balance IMO and covering specialist skills. On form I could see both Dennis and Jones as 2nd row and 6 cover. In fact given how quite Fardy has been this year in comparison an argument could be made to have Fardy on the bench and to start with both Jones and Dennis. Not saying that will happen but it is certainly possible.

Didn't we decide, a couple of pages back, that Jones' numbers were the best of all the locks? You've mentioned a couple times now that Dennis' numbers are better than Jones', I'm just wondering if I'm missing something?

I'm in agreeance with you, Jones and Dennis have both been great this year. Very impressed by them both... particularly Dennis.

I still think Simmo will be starting (for his set piece) and these two will be fighting it out for the bench.

 

[Micheal]

Didn't we decide, a couple of pages back, that Jones' numbers were the best of all the locks? You've mentioned a couple times now that Dennis' numbers are better than Jones', I'm just wondering if I'm missing something?

I'm in agreeance with you, Jones and Dennis have both been great this year. Very impressed by them both. particularly Dennis.

I still think Simmo will be starting (for his set piece) and these two will be fighting it out for the bench.

Not necessarily. If Dennis takes Simmons' place (which I think he should - the same if not better work rate but with more impact), and Fardy starts at 6, we have two very capable line out technicians.

I often think the importance of the line out (whilst importance) is overstated here. Neither of those two would let us down at test time.

 

[Gnostic]

@Purce it depends on the interpretations of the numbers, tackle completion, runs, lineouts etc etc. It will be a very interesting choice facing Chieka. However if I was chosing one metric I would use to split Simmons from Jones & Dennis for LHL is simply tackle completion. The latter two have more work rate in this reagrd and better completion, with real dominance in their work. Simmons maybe marginally better at the lineout out but I have to say both Dennis and Jones especially have a lot of work to do with throwers who are very green, especially Leafa who is very poor. Simmons on the other hand has the 2nd best thrower in Oz in Hanson. As I said an interesting choice.

Significant how rapidly Carter has fallen out of contention over the last few weeks. Indeed Arnold seems to to have more support.

@ Michael - there are more lineouts in most games than scrums. It is primary first phase possession and a very contestable phase of play, any team meekly surrendering first phase ball cannot win. That means both set pieces have to be treated with respect and trained and selected for. At two RWC '03 & 07 Australia neglected the scrum and were lucky through referee interpretation to make it through in the 03 RWC. I try not to remember the 07 game V England. That game is commonly remembered for being lost at the scrum, but the lineout was just as bad. The result was a great attacking side that was starved of ball.

 

[Groucho]

Didn't we decide, a couple of pages back, that Jones' numbers were the best of all the locks? You've mentioned a couple times now that Dennis' numbers are better than Jones', I'm just wondering if I'm missing something?

I'm in agreeance with you, Jones and Dennis have both been great this year. Very impressed by them both. particularly Dennis.

I still think Simmo will be starting (for his set piece) and these two will be fighting it out for the bench.

The great thing is that we've gone from lock being our weakest link, to a half-dozen players putting their hand up based on the quality of their play.

 

[cyclopath]

I wouldn't be ditching Simmons too quickly. He was very good in Gold last year. That counts for something.

 

[tigerland12]

Simmons has to be given first crack. As cyclopath said he was very good last year, and he has been OK since his return from injury in a poor Reds team.

I see his line out ability unmatched in Australia for second rowers. That alone at test level is vitally important.

 

[BDA]

Particularly if we're talking about playing Skelton and Palu in the starting side.

 

[Viking]

Ben McCalman has had more impact than any 8 this season. Calling him a 'workhorse' really sells him short.

Isn't that what we say every year? He always has impact at super xv level - different story when he's playing the AB's or SA.

Like always, glad to be proven wrong.

 

[Braveheart81]

Isn't that what we say every year? He always has impact at super xv level - different story when he's playing the AB's or SA.

Like always, glad to be proven wrong.

This is the reality we face though. We don't have a number 8 who is in the same echelon of players as Read and Vermuelen.

There's no point bypassing the number 8s who are playing best for Aussie teams because they've struggled to achieve the same thing at test level against the best sides. Picking a player who is less consistent at Super Rugby level is hardly likely to pay dividends at test level.

Barring injury, I think McCalman and Palu are pretty easy choices as our best two number 8s.

 

[Viking]

Simmons has to be given first crack. As cyclopath said he was very good last year, and he has been OK since his return from injury in a poor Reds team.

I see his line out ability unmatched in Australia for second rowers. That alone at test level is vitally important.

Is he really that much better?

Anyone got any stats on how many steals he makes against the others?

Our line-out wasn't great last year and I re-call most games he would just call to himself. One game he called 100% to himself. That doesn't sound too technical and skillful to me.

Surely Dennis and Fardy wouldn't be far behind.

 

[Braveheart81]

Simmons asserted himself as both our lineout leader and more importantly our strongest scrummaging lock last year. He was rock solid on the tight head side of the scrum.

I think he's a definite starter. I doubt Cheika will mull over the starting locks that much as I think he'll consider Skelton and Simmons as good foils for each other. It will be the reserve/squad locks that pose selection difficulties.

 

[something]

I think there is definitely room for Higgers in the 23. Considering all our pigs (bar hoops) are all tight players a 'seagull' who knows how to score tries and is very good in the lineout kind of fits the requirements. After all, its all about balance

 

[KOB1987]

I think everyone agrees that Skelton and Simmons are the likely 4 & 5 at this stage..personally I think that Horwill will be on the plane purely because of his experience, even if he is only considered the 4th option. It's the final position that is wide open, if I was the selector I'd pick Jones.

Re McCalman - his time in gold last year was his best yet, couple that with his Super XV form he has to be the starting 8 ATM. But I'm talking Aus v Saf, not necessarily RWC..is someone going to start a thread for that game soon?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Definitely at TH Lock and No5.

Back to the bottle, vision not impaired.

But who was the Blue 4 getting into mischief and almost trouble in the game against the Cru?

I know that Will started at TH Lock in the EOYT tests last year but iirc he and Simmons were swapped after a couple of very ordinary scrum experiences where the TH side was on skates going backwards.

It is certainly still my impression that both Simmons and Carter have been playing TH side this year in Super while the likes of Arnold and Skelton have been on the LH side. Nonetheless, Skelton will be the first Lock chosen regardless of which side he plays.

EDIT : Just watched the video and although he was wearing 5 he was actually packing at TH Lock, ie behind the TH Prop.

 

[Slim 293]

EDIT : Just watched the video and although he was wearing 5 he was actually packing at TH Lock, ie behind the TH Prop.

That's where the 5 usually packs...........

 

[Viking]

I think everyone agrees that Skelton and Simmons are the likely 4 & 5 at this stage..personally I think that Horwill will be on the plane purely because of his experience, even if he is only considered the 4th option. It's the final position that is wide open, if I was the selector I'd pick Jones.

Re McCalman - his time in gold last year was his best yet, couple that with his Super XV form he has to be the starting 8 ATM. But I'm talking Aus v Saf, not necessarily RWC..is someone going to start a thread for that game soon?

Surely you'd go with Dennis over Horwill. Both experienced campers but Dennis is actually playing well.

 

[topgun]

Surely you'd go with Dennis over Horwill. Both experienced campers but Dennis is actually playing well.

Yes, but everyone who doesn't live in NSW will throw a tantrum and Cheika will cop it... since when did he care anyway?