Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[chief]

Will Chambers hasn't earned the right to the #13 Jersey. Being said, he has earnt the right to a Australian Barbarians place, with possible European tour position.

 

[GC]

After the weekend I just can't stand seeing AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback ever again, but he did show he's fast enough for the wing. 9-10-12-13 are perfectly balanced - why mess with that?

1/ Fat Cat
2/ TPN
3/ Alexander
4/ Sharp
5/ Mumm
6/ Hodgson
7/ Pocock
8/ Elsom
9/ Genia
10/Cooper
11/ Digby
12/ Fainga'a
13/ Chambers
14/ AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
15/ Hynes

16/ Weeks
17/ Moore
18/ Simmons
19/ Higgers
20/ Gits (reserve halfback)
21/ Barnes
22/ JOC (James O'Connor) (reserve outside back)

 

[Lachlan]

I've always thought AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) best position was wing. Doesn't have the kicking ability for 15 or the passing/distribution for 13. He is however fast, strong in contact and good under the highball = excellent winger.

 

[tranquility]

I agree I think Faainger A has to be the wallaby 12.

 

[fatprop]

A 40-man Wallabies squad for the Tests against Fiji, England and Ireland plus two mid-week fixtures against the Barbarians will be named as soon as the last Australia team is eliminated from the Super 14.

We get to pick 40!

 

[Jethro Tah]

Deans has telegraphed in the media that he will continue working with what he has begun so I predict that he will use the team he had v Wales on the EOYT as the starting point then make the following changes:

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Peter Hynes
13. Digby Ioane
12. Quade Cooper Giteau
11. Drew Mitchell
10. Matt Giteau Cooper
9. Will Genia
8. Wycliff Palu Higgers
7. David Pocock
6. Rocky Elsom
5. Dean Mumm
4. James Horwill Sharp
3. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore TPN
1. Benn Robinson

Personally I prefer AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13 and Diggers at 14 with Hynes at 15 (until he says so I would assume he is not going OS thus up for the wallabies). The bench could be something like Weeks, Moore, Douglas, Hodgson, JOC (James O'Connor), Barnes & Burgess.

More so than the last couple of years, I really see promising signs for a good quality 40 man squad that will all push for starting jerseys now and next year and that we have a good shot at silverware.

 

[Lee Grant]

Good post PT though I have never liked Digby at 13 because of his read on defence, and having him next to Giteau, who is scarcely any better in this department, is problematic. I fear more BODs strolling through near our goal line untouched to score with that midfield.

The key selection for 3N in the backs, and we love talking about the backs, is who will wear the 13 jersey. After that the other players move around like twisting a Rubik cube.

On the bench: I have liked Weeks this season as a Wallaby candidate. His scrummaging has been good and as a bonus he gets around the park bloody well. Dunno about the two 20 y.o. second rowers folks are discussing - for 3N games. I'd give both Douglas and Simmons a run in the Oz Barbarians though. I wouldn't have either in the 22 in 3N because it's a quantum leap in physicality.

We will all be patting our backs saying this player and that player I picked are in the 40 man squad but it's only 40 because of the need to have opposed training and to pick the Oz Barbarians. It's usually 30. There won't be too many on the EOYT outside the 40 except for injuries. There are only 60 professional Oz players starting every week so 2/3rds of them will be in the 40.

 

[Viking]

wowza 40 man squad, hope A.Fainga smashes gits and barnes at training, then gets first pick!

 

[RugbyReg]

A 40-man Wallabies squad for the Tests against Fiji, England and Ireland plus two mid-week fixtures against the Barbarians will be named as soon as the last Australia team is eliminated from the Super 14.

We get to pick 40!

Shees. Ok then (big breath).

Two fifteen's and back up, meaning sticking with tried and true and rewarding form.

Fullback: Hynes, JOC (James O'Connor) & Beale
Wing: Mitchell, Ioane, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Turner & Davies
OC: Chambers, Horne & Cross
IC: Barnes & Fainga'a A
Flyhalf: Cooper & Giteau
Scrumhalf: Genia, Burgess & Valentine/Holmes
No 8: Brown
Openside: Pocock, Hodgson & Waugh
Blindside: Rocky, Higgers, Dennis & McCalman
Lock: Sharpe, Mumm, Douglas, Simmons & Humphries
THP: Weeks, Maafu & Fairbrother/Baxter
LHP: Robinson, Alexander & Daley
Hooker: Moore, TPN & Fainga'a S

 

[Spook]

So the Brumbies have 6 from 40 selections and people think they are underachieving despite having won one less game than both QLD and NSW. Same number of selections as the Force. Perhaps Friend is a genius after all?

 

[wobbly]

Fullback: Hynes, JOC (James O'Connor) & Beale
Wing: Mitchell, Ioane, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Turner & Davies
OC: Chambers, Horne & Cross
IC: Barnes & Fainga'a A
Flyhalf: Cooper & Giteau
Scrumhalf: Genia, Burgess & Valentine/Holmes Sheehan
No 8: Brown
Openside: Pocock, Hodgson & Waugh
Blindside: Rocky, Higgers, Dennis & McCalman
Lock: Sharpe, Mumm, Douglas, Simmons & Humphries
THP: Weeks, Maafu & Fairbrother/Baxter
LHP: Robinson, Alexander & Daley
Hooker: Moore, TPN & Fainga'a S

Surely Sheehan's shown a bit more than Valentine and Holmes. And please no more Weird Al Baxterbitch!

 

[Spook]

I think Sheehan is ordinary but the other young Western Force halfback is good. I'd have him over Burgess.

 

[en_force_er]

Fullback: Shepherd, JOC (James O'Connor) & Beale
Wing: Mitchell, Ioane, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Hynes & Davies
OC: Chambers, Inman & Horne
IC: Barnes & Fainga'a A
Flyhalf: Cooper & Giteau
Scrumhalf: Genia, Burgess & Turner
No 8: Brown & Houston
Openside: Pocock, Hodgson & Waugh
Blindside: Rocky, Higgers, Dennis
Lock: Sharpe, Mumm, Douglas, Wykes & Humphries
THP: Weeks, Alexander & Fairbrother
LHP: Robinson & Cowan
Hooker: Moore, TPN & Fainga'a S

Obviously many of these guys wont be in the Wallaby 22 this season but I think they should be given a crack in the squad. They would be cut before the 3N but I think we could even see some bolters in that squad.

Many of the guys here can and will play out of the position listed.

Key things needed from this year are finding our OC and creating locking depth, my selections reflect this.

 

[RugbyReg]

So the Brumbies have 6 from 40 selections and people think they are underachieving despite having won one less game than both QLD and NSW. Same number of selections as the Force. Perhaps Friend is a genius after all?

chicken or egg. Some would sugegst they only have 6 because they are underachieving.

If they were ripping shit up then the likes of Morty, McCabe, Valentine, Hoiles, Chapman, Chisholm and Maafu would be there. Plus their two injured flyhalves.

 

[Spook]

So the Brumbies have 6 from 40 selections and people think they are underachieving despite having won one less game than both QLD and NSW. Same number of selections as the Force. Perhaps Friend is a genius after all?

chicken or egg. Some would sugegst they only have 6 because they are underachieving.

If they were ripping shit up then the likes of Morty, McCabe, Valentine, Hoiles, Chapman, Chisholm and Maafu would be there. Plus their two injured flyhalves.

If they are underachieving then a change of coach should fix that.

 

[RugbyReg]

yep.

Who are you preferred candidates?

 

[liquor box]

And please no more Weird Al Baxterbitch!

I think his try scoring abilities that he has shown this season will get him over the line :lmao:

I think we need to move on too, but he will make the squad for sure and push for a bench spot. But I hop he is not selected

 

[Spook]

yep.

Who are you preferred candidates?

Not too many which kind of proves my point from my first repost. I'd have Chisolm over Van Humphries or Douglas. McCabe over Turner. Chapman has been very good IMO with limited chances.

 

[RugbyReg]

well firstly, I don't agree with any of those, but secondly, I meant preferred candidates as coach?

 

[Spook]

well firstly, I don't agree with any of those, but secondly, I meant preferred candidates as coach?

I think Deans is still the man for Oz. Link has to be the best Aussie coach going around with Cheika taking second place.