Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Braveheart81]

The Wednesday to Sunday to Saturday turnaround for our first three matches definitely has to have impacted on Cheika's plans.

Thankfully the middle game is Uruguay but you'd figure that short turnaround is going to do interesting things with the training schedule.

If you treat them as two separate games involving two different XVs, the Uruguay XV will be preparing for their match prior to the Fiji game.

The day after the Fiji game we presumably have a recovery session although those that are healthy enough that are in the Uruguay game (probably bench players from the Fiji game) might have another session that day that is a contact session.

The way our first three matches are scheduled it makes it incredibly difficult to go down the path of having your 31 man squad structured as a best 23 with some replacements.

 

[Groucho]

The Wednesday to Sunday to Saturday turnaround for our first three matches definitely has to have impacted on Cheika's plans.

Thankfully the middle game is Uruguay but you'd figure that short turnaround is going to do interesting things with the training schedule.

If you treat them as two separate games involving two different XVs, the Uruguay XV will be preparing for their match prior to the Fiji game.

The day after the Fiji game we presumably have a recovery session although those that are healthy enough that are in the Uruguay game (probably bench players from the Fiji game) might have another session that day that is a contact session.

The way our first three matches are scheduled it makes it incredibly difficult to go down the path of having your 31 man squad structured as a best 23 with some replacements.

If I were planning this, I'd treat the Uraguay game as a pivot.

Until that game, the goal is to preserve two full XVs so that no one has to back up between Fiji and Uraguay. All injury replacements until then are like for like.

After Uruguay, two full XVs are no longer required, so the plan is to revert to a conventional formation, with three halfbacks and three hookers, as injuries occur. The first forward replacement is Hanson. The first back replacement is White.

If there are no injuries then there are no problems.

That way you mitigate both forms of risk.

It also means you can play the full England formation against either Fiji or Uraguay, which is vital, since otherwise the A team will not have played together since Homebush (or Chicago, if that's the way that game goes).

 

[Gnostic]

Did I see somewhere that France only has three locks in their 31. Yes they have some 6/Locks selected as well, but it sort of puts a bit of perspective into the risks in Chiekas selections.

Do not mistake me I do see the selection of only 2 Hookers as a genuine risk.

 

[qwerty51]

Yep only 3 and I wouldn't call any of the backrowers selected possible locks.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I read one was in fact a 6/lock. But it didn't mention the name so not sure how accurate.

 

[qwerty51]

Probably Bernard Le Roux, he's 6'5" but I don't recall him every playing lock in a professional match. Probably doing what NZ are doing with Kaino.

 

[Scotty]

I get this whole 2 x XV business but since there is 31 players in the squad I don't see why we still couldn't have had 3 hookers?

 

[Sword of Justice]

I get this whole 2 x XV business but since there is 31 players in the squad I don't see why we still couldn't have had 3 hookers?

Need a specialist Prop as cover just as badly as you need a Hooker. One of the backrowers or wingers realistically should have been Chibba but Groucho's theory is interesting. We will see who is replaced with whom.

 

[emuarse]

Think about this:

Douglas will surprise everyone and bash guys at the ruck
TPN & Moore stay fully fit
Phipps & Genia stay fit and Genia returns to his 2012/2013 form
Cooper plays every match like his 2013 AB match.

It could happen.

Tell him he's dreaming

 

[emuarse]

It all seems a bit ironic though now that Douglas was selected for the squad. I mean why do they ignore that he had zero club rugby form but it's not okay that JOC (James O'Connor)'s club form wasn't there?

JOC (James O'Connor) actually has a history of superb Test performances on the wing, plus his skillset would be complimentary to Folau as he can kick and be an extra play-maker. Yet Douglas has no decent Test runs on the board.

So there happy for Douglas to return to form from what sounds like a major back injury but they don't do the same for JOC (James O'Connor) who only has niggling injuries?

Something not right here. The whole Douglas selection really has sent a poor message to everyone.

This is the era of entitlement, and every Wallaby coach is entitled to one love child at the RWC

 

[Scrubber2050]

This is the era of entitlement, and every Wallaby coach is entitled to one love child at the RWC

Worked for Alan

 

[Strewthcobber]

See the scrum thread for full details of a law clarification on suitably trained front row laws.

Teams now have to name positions for their replacements. So that means if one of our hookers can't start we will have to name someone specifically to cover them on the bench. Presumably one of the props is currently packing the odd scrum in training at 2

 

[Aussie D]

Scrubber,
no it didn't we finished fourth at that world cup after losing to France in the semi and Wales in the play-off.

 

[Dai bando]

Nice to be back, England, Wales, Australia, one of those teams are going home , England lost pretty convincingly to France the weekend, but they will be up for it come the WC, when you (Australia) beat the ABs, heads were lifted, but the lose you suffered although I didn't see the game settled things again.
Australia payed us a hugerespect when they didn't want to play us at the Mil stadium, But in reality it will be very difficult for us to beat you, also England at home are tough too, But of course it could go to a three way split then Fiji and uro .mightmean the difference, am really looking forward to it

 

[Highlander35]

George Smith backed the Flyers to progress. I think he's a little delusional, but his comments back up some feelings in and around that there's some very very good Fijiians playing all across the comps who've more or less all been released and have combined well so far this season.

 

[Gillys_ghost]

I'm not sure we will make it out of the Pool Stages but if it comes down to points difference, im pretty confident that we will make it through. Whilst wales have some great backs, eg Roberts, North, Davies, Halfpenney, i'm not confident that they have a good enough flyhalf to get the most out of them and England just arent as good at scoring tries as we are, although if they put Watson at Fullback and Jonny May keeps his form they could pose a big challlenge.

 

[Ash]

Just to throw a bit of heat on the Douglas selection, I wonder if Bob Dwyer has lost all of his marbles.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/r...-his-best-says-bob-dwyer-20150824-gj658s.html

As does Dwyer, who said: "Had I been discussing it a couple of months ago, I would say, 'Horwill is no chance.' Then I saw him play much better under 'Cheik' than he has played for years.

"But I've no doubt that we are more of a chance to win the World Cup with Kane Douglas playing at his best than we are with James Horwill playing at his best.

One at his peak was a big contender for a world XV, the other has never had better than an average game for in a Test, and has had a few shockers otherwise, not to mention only one really good year at provincial level. Guess which one Dwyer wants at his peak?

My only comment is that picking Douglas is a risk, as much as in poor form as in injury. Douglas has never stood out in his few Tests played (and in fact was shocking in 2013). Douglas must have been picked on his 2014 provincial form, which is curious, particularly when he's a tight five player coming back from back surgery, months out and poor to average form anyway for his provincial side. One can only assume that Douglas is surely the fourth lock in the pecking order.

The bigger risk is only two hookers, which I can't understand on a risk - reward basis.

The bright side is that we have some depth, even if a lot of players in key positions aren't in very good form right now.

 

[Groucho]

Larkham in the Hurled today:

The rough plan at this stage is to play our best team against Fiji, or the team we want to play against England against Fiji with a view to putting other guys on the paddock against Uruguay.

The problem there for us is that it is a Wednesday game to a Sunday game to a Saturday game … so it's a fairly awkward start to the World Cup for us.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/r...en-larkham-20150825-gj7686.html#ixzz3jqZxo0XM
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

 

[Bairdy]

My initial reaction when Douglas was included at the expense of Horwill was one of utter disbelief. After mulling it over however I can see the reasoning for Douglas' inclusion.

Don't get me wrong, Horwill has performed admirably in spite of his Super Rugby form, but he doesn't provide the same impact that Douglas can potentially provide.

If Cheiks can coerce it out of him, then all the better for us. If not, the naysayers can say 'I told you so' ad nauseum if the Douglas>Horwill (or Genia>White) selection was solely the reason why we are bundled out of the RWC.

As to the lack of a third hooker and an 'excess' of wingers, I'm willing to give latitude to the coaches who I presume have plans formulated.

With under a month until the RWC starts, it's time to get behind the boysss.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Bailey exactly. "Doesn't provide the same impact that Douglas can potentially".

One is being judged on what they are doing whilst the other judged on what it's perceived they can do, despite never being able to do it at test level in something like 15 tests.