Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[KOB1987]

And that's before we get to best prop (Sio), best hooker (Moore), best lock (Carter), best six (Fardy), and best seven (Pocock).

Then there's best 10 (Lilo), best 12 (To'omua), best 13 (Kuridrani), both best wings (Tomane and Speight).

Damn fine team you have there Brumbieman.

You left out White, not only the best halfback, the best goal kicker!

 

[Viking]

You left out Jessie Mogg - the best under performer

 

[Benaud]

I'd go for a 17/14 split.
Props: Slipper, Kepu, Sio, Holmes and Smith (possibly Faulkner - depends on whether you rate Slipper as a THP)
Hooker: Moore, TPN, Hanson
Locks: Simmons, Skelton, Horwill
L/F: Mumm
6/8: Fardy, McCalman, Higgers (think Palu is better but wouldn't be a balanced fit in the squad in the event of injury)
O/S: Pocock, Hooper
1/2: Phipps, White, Genia (if injured need to decide between blooding Frisby / Stirzaker or gambling on Gitts as emergency cover for one of the top two candidates going down)
FH/2nd 5: Cooper, Foley, To'omua (if fit), Lilo.
Centre: Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Wing: Horne, Speight, Tomane
FB: Folau, Beale.

Think Giteau will pip Lilo. Not sure if they'll go three specialist halfbacks with him there so may have room for Palu or Mitchell. And still unsure whether Jones/Carter are in contention for Horwill's spot. Otherwise looks spot on to me.

 

[Groucho]

You left out Jessie Mogg - the best under performer

Best sookface.

 

[Slim 293]

Think Giteau will pip Lilo. Not sure if they'll go three specialist halfbacks with him there so may have room for Palu or Mitchell. And still unsure whether Jones/Carter are in contention for Horwill's spot. Otherwise looks spot on to me.

I think Giteau needs to perform better than he did against the Boks to be deserving of a spot ahead of Lilo..............

These days Lilo is far more direct in attack, and a more solid defender.............

If his goal kicking was where it was at 2 years ago he'd be a shoe in, and that's where Giteau may have an advantage along with his experience.

 

[Viking]

I agree. If Lilo gets any game time I have a feeling he'll perform much better then Gits did, although whether or not he gets any decent game time is doubtful.

Hoepfully his chances have increased since To'omua is likely to miss the 1st Bled. I certainly rate Lilo the 2nd best 12 after To'omua and of similar strengths.

 

[BDA]

Selections this weekend will be interesting to Git's and Lilo's selection chances. If Cheika goes with Gits at 12, you'd have to say Lilo is going to miss out on the world cup. If he goes with Lilo, IMO its a pretty clear concession from Cheks that he doesn't see Gits as an option to start at 12. If that's the case Lilo all of a sudden becomes critical to the squad as the back up 12 (which is particularly important considering To'omua's injury problems this season).

If Cheika has to find a place for Lilo, someone else misses out. Probably either Cooper or Gits. Personally I think Cooper is the better 10, but Giteau is much more versatile.

Then again there's an outside chance that Cheika could choose Beale at 12, but to Cheika's credit I think he understands that Beale probably wont look comfortable at 12 early on in games.

 

[Dave Beat]

Selections this weekend will be interesting to Git's and Lilo's selection chances. If Cheika goes with Gits at 12, you'd have to say Lilo is going to miss out on the world cup. If he goes with Lilo, IMO its a pretty clear concession from Cheks that he doesn't see Gits as an option to start at 12. If that's the case Lilo all of a sudden becomes critical to the squad as the back up 12 (which is particularly important considering To'omua's injury problems this season).

If Cheika has to find a place for Lilo, someone else misses out. Probably either Cooper or Gits. Personally I think Cooper is the better 10, but Giteau is much more versatile.

Then again there's an outside chance that Cheika could choose Beale at 12, but to Cheika's credit I think he understands that Beale probably wont look comfortable at 12 early on in games.

I hope Cooper gets 10 and gets plenty of time in 10 so combos develop.
Kaffer looks and comments about how good the Cooper of 2011 was that he was able to run square and not drift - this is true.
But running square and direct require confidence that supporters are ready and this comes with development of combinations.
Coopers box of tricks is far larger than Gits, To'omua / Foley but the players around him need time with him.

I reckon Cheks will give Gits a go at 10 as well, not my wish but he will experiment.

 

[Brumbieman]

And that's before we get to best prop (Sio), best hooker (Moore), best lock (Carter), best six (Fardy), and best seven (Pocock).

Then there's best 10 (Lilo), best 12 (To'omua), best 13 (Kuridrani), both best wings (Tomane and Speight).

Damn fine team you have there Brumbieman.

The funny thing is that I actually agree with most of them.

In the interests of trying to avoid the usual accusations of bias later, I'd actually have cooper as our best 10, and Carter would be 3/4 the choice lock.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I hope Cooper gets 10 and gets plenty of time in 10 so combos develop.
Kaffer looks and comments about how good the Cooper of 2011 was that he was able to run square and not drift - this is true.
But running square and direct require confidence that supporters are ready and this comes with development of combinations.
Coopers box of tricks is far larger than Gits, To'omua / Foley but the players around him need time with him.

I reckon Cheks will give Gits a go at 10 as well, not my wish but he will experiment.

It also requires defense on the back foot. Foley was not square and direct on the weekend either. That was because defense was not on the back foot, so he did not have the space to run square.

 

[nick_]

Think Giteau will pip Lilo. Not sure if they'll go three specialist halfbacks with him there so may have room for Palu or Mitchell. And still unsure whether Jones/Carter are in contention for Horwill's spot. Otherwise looks spot on to me.

How many locks go in the past? 3 (and a half if you count Mumm) seems short if there are 3 in the 23...

 

[fatprop]

Think Giteau will pip Lilo.

Yep, Gits was pretty solid in the first test, he did nothing that you would think dropped him in the pecking order below Lilo

 

[Train Without a Station]

Can somebody seriously explain how being turned over in 3 of your 8 runs, throwing one pass over the sideline and another no look pass missing your target is pretty solid?

I don't think Giteau was terrible I just seriously don't understand what good plays he made other than the run where he threw the no look pass.

 

[Viking]

Yep, Gits was pretty solid in the first test, he did nothing that you would think dropped him in the pecking order below Lilo

except getting turned over 3 times and struggling so bad for fitness he couldn't kick a ball more then 30metres.

Not that it was all bad, but IMO he is off the pace for Test rugby and I doubt he has enough time to adjust before RWC.

 

[fatprop]

except getting turned over 3 times and struggling so bad for fitness he couldn't kick a ball more then 30metres.

Not that it was all bad, but IMO he is off the pace for Test rugby and I doubt he has enough time to adjust before RWC.

He was pretty bashed about, but there is more upside than downside from him.

Link once talked about getting balance in a side right, one of those "sides" was experienced old pros to balance the youth and enthusiasm of the younglings.

 

[Viking]

He was pretty bashed about, but there is more upside than downside from him.

Link once talked about getting balance in a side right, one of those "sides" was experienced old pros to balance the youth and enthusiasm of the younglings.

That's a good point. I just highly doubt Gits can last 80minutes, or even 60mins at a high level. It's a huge risk to start a player who is not capable of finishing a match. He would be great in the last 20 minutes of a match though.

Yes he was bashed against the Boks, but he is also going to get bashed against the AB's, England and Wales too. I honestly don't think his body can handle it.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Yes he was pretty bashed about. I guess he'll be handy for those games when he doesn't get bashed about by bigger players. When are the Wallabies scheduled for Under 85kg test matches?

 

[fatprop]

That's a good point. I just highly doubt Gits can last 80minutes, or even 60mins at a high level. It's a huge risk to start a player who is not capable of finishing a match. He would be great in the last 20 minutes of a match though.

Yes he was bashed against the Boks, but he is also going to get bashed against the AB's, England and Wales too. I honestly don't think his body can handle it.

I see him as a good, flexible bench option if To'omua is about.

But I also expect him to get back to test speed quickly, one of the comments from the euro based bok players suggested there is some getting back to the speed of test rugby

 

[Brumby Runner]

He was pretty bashed about, but there is more upside than downside from him.

Link once talked about getting balance in a side right, one of those "sides" was experienced old pros to balance the youth and enthusiasm of the younglings.

Give me youth and enthusiasm any day if it runs straight and takes the line on, rather than the experience that crabs or even runs backwards away from the defense. Matt Giteau is a crabber, and unfortunately atm Quade runs anywhere to avoid the defense.

Given the deficiencies being shown by the options for the 10/12 spots I am becoming more and more convinced the best combo is Matt To'omua at 10 and Christian Lealiifano at 12.

 

[Viking]

Give me youth and enthusiasm any day if it runs straight and takes the line on, rather than the experience that crabs or even runs backwards away from the defense. Matt Giteau is a crabber, and unfortunately atm Quade runs anywhere to avoid the defense.

Given the deficiencies being shown by the options for the 10/12 spots I am becoming more and more convinced the best combo is Matt To'omua at 10 and Christian Lealiifano at 12.

9 rounds of super rugby this year say otherwise. IMO Lilo at 10 and To'omua at 12 is much better - I think it finally clicked in the quarter final against the Stormers? I'd keep them that way if your going to play both.