Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[topo]

The Wallabies line out last year was shit, those jumpers are certainly the way to go for Australia's line out to progress (or just make a play for Vickerman)

Vickerman made an appearance for his Northampton club recently. He came on as a sub, was crocked, went off and hasn't been seen since.

Forget Vickerman. His usefulness to the Wallabies expired in the south of France in 2007.

He will be back in Aus in June for about 3 months and has said he will play for Sydney Uni while here, but he is back to the UK after that. From a Wallaby point of view, he is gone. But we'll have him at Uni for a few games!

 

[fatprop]

Updated a bit, Genia's back up is the issue for me

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

 

[Reddy!]

What is wrong with Baxter now, fatprop?

 

[AIDAN]

Updated a bit, Genia's back up is the issue for me

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

Giteau can play 9 if needed leaving Cooper to wreak havoc at 10.

personally Higgers could play anywhere. throw him at 9

 

[Reddy!]

Lucas might have been an alright back up but has had 0 game time this season.

I would be tempted to give valentine another shot, although he does have disciplinary issues.

 

[fatprop]

What is wrong with Baxter now, fatprop?

Two things, his performance against Wyatt Crockett just wasn't up to it and the feeling that Deans will just look elsewhere.

 

[Geeves]

What is wrong with Baxter now, fatprop?

Two things, his performance against Wyatt Crockett just wasn't up to it and the feeling that Deans will just look elsewhere.

Rightly or wrongly (take your pick) Baxter is marked in international rugby as a poor scrumager. Who can forget a fateful little white maggot (Alan Lewis) who cost us the game against the AB in Hong Kong and Wales in 2008. It was made worse after Baxter had shoved Sheridan's head up his ... .

Lewis is not the only ref who believes Baxter is no good. Why on earth would you take the risk with Baxter when choosing your side. You can not forget what a difference last years domination in the scrums was over the previous 5 + years.

 

[Biffo]

I reckon FP has a 40-man squad pretty right. I'd go for 42 at this stage - delete the "or" for the outside centres and add Chapman to the locks/ back row.

 

[Lindommer]

There are far too many collapses when le Fuse is on the field. There are many things a ref can penalise when front rows meet, and international referees remember Baxter's poor performances the last six years. I agree with those who say he's improved but not in keeping the front row up. If he's selected for tests he'll continue to get pinged.

 

[fatprop]

What is wrong with Baxter now, fatprop?

Two things, his performance against Wyatt Crockett just wasn't up to it and the feeling that Deans will just look elsewhere.

Rightly or wrongly (take your pick) Baxter is marked in international rugby as a poor scrumager. Who can forget a fateful little white maggot (Alan Lewis) who cost us the game against the AB in Hong Kong and Wales in 2008. It was made worse after Baxter had shoved Sheridan's head up his ... .

Lewis is not the only ref who believes Baxter is no good. Why on earth would you take the risk with Baxter when choosing your side. You can not forget what a difference last years domination in the scrums was over the previous 5 + years.

That said, the only side I would be concerned having Baxter start is the ABs, they are the only test side with the technical ability to pack as low, if not lower than him and that is where the problems start.

But against the Boks etc, no problem and his work around the field this season has improved markedly.

 

[Viking]

I agree with fatprops squad. Minus Cross. Really not a fan of him. As for the number 9 issue, I think valentines deserves a shot, he's a lil pest and great at annoying/frustrating the opposition, plus he can pass and step. Id prob stick kingi in there too for development cos lets face it we do not have a solid back-up for genia (if only burgess could pass).

Only problem i see with the wallabies is going to be Outside centre. I pick Will Chambers for the future, Horne should go alright now if he can stay fit.

 

[#1 Tah]

Baxter will be in squad until Fat Cat is fit.

Props: Alexander, Ma'afu, Baxter, Kepu (Robinson)
Hookers: TPN, Moore
Second Rowers: Mumm, Sharpe, Douglas, Chisolm
Back Rowers: Rock, Pockock, Hodgson, Waugh, Dennis (lock back up as well), Brown (last resort)
Scrummies: Genia (may as well play with 6 players on the bench)
Inside Backs: Gits, Cooper, JOC (James O'Connor), Barnes, Halangahu
Outside Backs: Ioane, Horne, Mitchell, Turner, Ashley-Cooper, Beale, Hynes

Squad of 30 right there.

Heard it here first.

 

[Nusadan]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/super-14/force-backrow-at-front-of-wallaby-pack-20100510-uohx.html

"But Deans was also full of praise for emerging scrum half Justin Turner"

"Everyone playing Super rugby is looked at, and (Turner) is a young man who has shown that over time he has got the ability to go to the next level – we observe all their work, and there is no doubt he has the ability to take that step," Deans said."

 

[AIDAN]

this isnt a squad prediciton but its a wallabies topic. is there 4 bledisloe cup games this year?

 

[MrTimms]

this isnt a squad prediciton but its a wallabies topic. is there 4 bledisloe cup games this year?

Pretty sure there is, I saw something about the 4th being in honkers again, October.

 

[AIDAN]

yeah i heard that too. i think its a bit of a dud being over there. i always felt with 2 games it was difficult for a team to regain the cup as 2 wins from 2 games was required. if it were 3 games i think it would make more sense than 4. maybe thats just me though.

 

[Reddy!]

4 games is ridiculous, boring and ruins the prestige of the game.

 

[the gambler]

But is a bloody good weekend on the piss. Also with the Aussie dollar being pretty strong you can buy a few suits and come back feeling like you saved some money. :thumb

 

[JJJ]

I just looked it up and Higginbotham is 1cm shorter and 2kg heavier than Juan Smith. I wouldn't have picked that.

 

[topo]

Baxter will be in squad until Fat Cat is fit.

Props: Alexander, Ma'afu, Baxter, Kepu (Robinson)
Hookers: TPN, Moore
Second Rowers: Mumm, Sharpe, Douglas, Chisolm
Back Rowers: Rock, Pockock, Hodgson, Waugh, Dennis (lock back up as well), Brown (last resort)
Scrummies: Genia (may as well play with 6 players on the bench)
Inside Backs: Gits, Cooper, JOC (James O'Connor), Barnes, Halangahu
Outside Backs: Ioane, Horne, Mitchell, Turner, Ashley-Cooper, Beale, Hynes

Squad of 30 right there.

Heard it here first.

You'd have to pick Weeks over both Ma'afu and Baxter on form if fit.