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Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

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Groucho

Groucho

Greg Davis (50)
ACT Crusader said:
That may all be well and true, but why should that be a reason for Jones to be looking overseas? He is clearly in the reckoning, and given the history of injuries with OZ locks he wouldn't be far from getting the call up. Plus there's next year and beyond given Jones has good years ahead of him.

In my view Jones had a decent year if not a bit inconsistent. But it wasn't the sort of form screaming "pick me" and what is often the case with fringe players, they have to really stand out to get more than a training squad position. Even more so in a WC year.
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Indeed. Jones at 24 should man up and compete, not leave the country because Dean Mumm was selected and the press is talking up Kane Douglas. The Fact that Jones is leaving makes me Very Angry.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Highlander35 said:
He was the form lock. Skelton the only real contender for that title.

Mumm and Dennis both selected in the same capacity with lower levels of class and form.

Anyway, so long as Douglas doesn't get selected, I'm happy with whatever Locks Chieka picks for the World Cup.
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Jones was in the squads last season, now not, despite having a decent season.

I wonder what Chieka wasn't happy with?

I actually don't think Jones was competing directly for a spot with the selected locks, but Dennis & Fardy as that 6/5 hybrid.

In the end Cheika picked an extra specialist lock


The way I see it the lock role selections logic is .......................

Specialist Lineout leader/LH lock

Simmons
Horwill
Mumm (with Horwill's form issues a reasonable back up plan)

Specialist TH Lock/rock mover/cleanouts etc (our weakest position)

Skelton
Arnold
(Douglas as an option if Arnold doesn't measure up or injury)

Jones had a good season as a backrower playing lock, but I don't think he could be the lineout leader at test match level or play the TH lock role, his good work was mostly about tackling and ball running
 
KOB1987

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
TOCC said:
No he isn't a personal favourite but I appreciate the impressive form that Luke Jones displayed throughout the 2015 Super Rugby season and now find it rather incredible that Kane Douglas, who doesn't qualify for the Wallaby selection even under the new rules is been called into the squad ahead of him. This is the same Kane Douglas who has had indifferent form and is only now returning from injury..
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Did I miss something? When was Douglas called into the squad?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Dave Beat

Dave Beat

Paul McLean (56)
TOCC said:
No he isn't a personal favourite but I appreciate the impressive form that Luke Jones displayed throughout the 2015 Super Rugby season and now find it rather incredible that Kane Douglas, who doesn't qualify for the Wallaby selection even under the new rules is been called into the squad ahead of him. This is the same Kane Douglas who has had indifferent form and is only now returning from injury.

How does an out of form, ineligible and recently injured european based lock get selected over an in-form Australian based lock?

And before we go throwing out lines about players having 'hissy fits', this is more about the precedent which is getting set for future selections and future eligibility. Australian rugby can never compete with the money on offer in Europe, that is a fact that everyone has accepted, but Australian Rugby and Australian Super Rugby teams can offer Wallaby eligibility and the opportunity to play Test rugby for your country. Its one thing to set eligibility criteria of 60 caps which only applies to a very small group of players, but opening up selection to players like Kane Douglas who only has 15caps and may remain in Ireland next year sets a very dangerous precedent.
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agree, well said
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
TOCC said:
How does an out of form, ineligible and recently injured european based lock get selected over an in-form Australian based lock?
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He hasn't been "selected", like JOC (James O'Connor), he is in a form of re-hab
 
Strewthcobber

Strewthcobber

Simon Poidevin (60)
fatprop said:
Specialist Lineout leader/LH lock

Simmons
Horwill
Mumm (with Horwill's form issues a reasonable back up plan)

Specialist TH Lock/rock mover/cleanouts etc (our weakest position)

Skelton
Arnold
(Douglas as an option if Arnold doesn't measure up or injury)
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Has Arnold packed much at TH? Hes at LH for the Brumbies isn't he?

For the scrum at least I'd be swapping Simmons and Arnold in your list - but then it isn't nearly as neat!
 
wamberal

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Highlander35 said:
He was the form lock. Skelton the only real contender for that title.

Mumm and Dennis both selected in the same capacity with lower levels of class and form.

Anyway, so long as Douglas doesn't get selected, I'm happy with whatever Locks Chieka picks for the World Cup.
Click to expand...

There is a huge gap between starring in the Soup (especially against other Oz franchises) and stepping up and performing at international level.

Frankly Jones did not make the step when he had the chance. Which is not to say that he won't in time.
 
Highlander35

Highlander35

Steve Williams (59)
Yeah, but there's a buttload of players you could say the same for. In particular, both Dennis and Mumm. But McMahon, Higgers, McCalman, Phipps, White, Lilo, Speight etc. Haven't replicated their Super form at international level. To single out Jones is more than a bit unfair.

Anyway, moot point. Jones isn't going. For mine, the locks will be Simmons, Skelton and 2 of Horwill, Carter and Mumm, unless Arnold tears it up.
 
KOB1987

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
At 2.08m you can see why he is keeping Arnold in the squad, if not only for developmental reasons. For mine he will follow a similar path to Skelton last year - get a berth here and there and then be left out at the business end of the season i.e. the Bledisloe and RWC.

I appreciate that means he'll only be in the squad for the first 2 games, but I'd expect him to be utilised and then if he performs OK be on injury standby for the RWC. As mentioned above, if he tears it up he could get the 4th lock spot.
 
topgun

topgun

Billy Sheehan (19)
So, the announced Wallaby starting Lineup has my exact forward pack... i didn't even bother selecting backs. I win!
 
Aussie D

Aussie D

Desmond Connor (43)
So the Wallaby pack for this weekend is 6 forwards plus Hooper and Higginbotham? Hope we don't get smashed.
 
mudskipper

mudskipper

Colin Windon (37)
I wonder if Cheika is daring enough to playing two new huge locks at the sane time in the first test... Skeleton and Aromd...
 
hammertimethere

hammertimethere

Trevor Allan (34)
Tonight mostly confirmed to me that the Wallabies best 23 is what I thought it would be last December.

1. Slipper
2 Moore
3 Kepu
4. Simmo
5 Horwill or Carter
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. McCalman
9.phipps
10. Cooper
11. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12. To'omua
13. TK
14. Speight
15. Folau

16. TPN
17. Sio
18. Holmes
19. Skelton
20. Hooper
21. Genia
22. Lealiifano
23. Tomane
 
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