Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[farva]

What is with the love for Horne at the moment? He definitely has talent, but has only really had one or two games where he has been fit enough for us to make a judgement.
We have a fair few options at 15 at the moment - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Hynes, JOC (James O'Connor), Beale. Even Mitchell or Turner can play there. But I still think that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would be best suited to 13. He isnt really a playmaker type player. He has only just discovered a boot, but it is still inaccurate. But what he does have is an ability to break tackles, run lines, he always makes a few yards when he is tackled and usually is available for an offload. I think he is the perfect 13.
Throwing Horne into the fray after a couple of good performances is dangerous is my opinion. Horne into the squad certainly, but into the starting 15?

 

[en_force_er]

If you name AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the wing he can slot into 13 on some plays (i.e off a set-piece taking it into contact) BUT if you name him at 13 he will line up their on most plays and will shut down the chances for the men outside him to get the ball. He just isn't a ball player.

He is a winger. Still, as a terrific utility he can run pretty well at 13 and 15.

 

[fatprop]

What is with the love for Horne at the moment? He definitely has talent, but has only really had one or two games where he has been fit enough for us to make a judgement.
We have a fair few options at 15 at the moment - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Hynes, JOC (James O'Connor), Beale. Even Mitchell or Turner can play there. But I still think that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would be best suited to 13. He isnt really a playmaker type player. He has only just discovered a boot, but it is still inaccurate. But what he does have is an ability to break tackles, run lines, he always makes a few yards when he is tackled and usually is available for an offload. I think he is the perfect 13.
Throwing Horne into the fray after a couple of good performances is dangerous is my opinion. Horne into the squad certainly, but into the starting 15?

Horne is the most talented 13 we have by a long way, dynamic in both attack and defence, fast and unselfish.

Unfortunately But he ain't ready for a test , baas baas for him and a taste from the bench in the early tests and a trip in November if he is still fit

 

[Aussie D]

Serious question. Why is everyone automatically assuming Gitteau will be the 12? His form this year has been average and he has failed to turn up in all the big games the Brumbies have played (IMHO)?

firstly, tell me who your team would be and then tell me who your goal kicker would be?

Haven't really thought about it yet, just didn't think Gits deserved to be in the team on form. As for his replacements A Finger would be first choice (raw I know but works well with Quade), with either T Smith, Cross or Carter as other possibilities. I think Quade would work better for the Wobs with someone who can crash ball at 12 rather than another playmaker. Quade kicks goals.

 

[HG]

Serious question. Why is everyone automatically assuming Gitteau will be the 12? His form this year has been average and he has failed to turn up in all the big games the Brumbies have played (IMHO)?

firstly, tell me who your team would be and then tell me who your goal kicker would be?

Haven't really thought about it yet, just didn't think Gits deserved to be in the team on form. As for his replacements A Finger would be first choice (raw I know but works well with Quade), with either T Smith, Cross or Carter as other possibilities. I think Quade would work better for the Wobs with someone who can crash ball at 12 rather than another playmaker. Quade kicks goals.

Are you on the suds? None of those 3 will be in the starting side.

 

[RugbyReg]

Wallabies halfback Will Genia is in serious doubt for the opening Test of the international season after playing out the Super 14 campaign with a knee injury.

Genia faces three weeks on the sidelines with a grade 1-2 medial ligament strain which puts him in a race to be fit for the June 5 clash with Fiji in Canberra.

The 22-year-old injured his joint early in Queensland's 38-36 victory over the Highlanders but still managed to finish the match, and crucially save two tries in the process.

Genia is confident he will recover in time to take on the Fijians but said he would have pulled the same rein if he'd had his time again anyway.

"I'm the captain and it was the last game of the season and that's why I stayed out there,'' he said.

"It's not as though I had reservations about playing for Australia - it was all about finishing the season.

"It was a painful injury and the strapping didn't really do too much.

"Physically, I'll be right (for Fiji). I'm disappointed (about the injury) but I'm very happy that it's not too long.''

If he was unavailable, Genia's starting place would go to either the Waratahs Luke Burgess or Brumbies half Josh Valentine.

In worse news for Australia selectors, Genia's Queensland teammate Scott Higginbotham faces four to six weeks on the sidelines with a high ankle sprain.

The rugged blind-side flanker was likely to be in the mix for a back-row spot in the initial 40-man Wallabies squad but is now likely to undergo an arthroscope to determine the exact damage.

Higginbotham played every minute of the Reds' campaign until he came off before half-time against the Highlanders on Saturday night.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said Queensland utility back Ben Lucas also faces a couple of months on the sidelines after suffering a partial tear of the patella just before halftime.

Genia out for Fiji (at least no need to rush him) and Higgers too, for a bit longer.

 

[Scotty]

Yeah, no issue with Genia, but it would have been good to see Higgers in some early games to see what he could bring to the Wallabies.

Hodgson is firming, but Mowen might also get a shot.

 

[Reddy!]

Going by comments in the other thread, should Sharpe be the Wallabies captain?









...nup, didn't think so.

 

[en_force_er]

Going by comments in the other thread, should Sharpe be the Wallabies captain?









...nup, didn't think so.

You could do worse. Experienced wallaby, experienced captain. Always asking more of himself and players.

I didn't say the best option but you really really could do worse.

 

[matty_k]

Genia in doubt for opening test

Wallabies halfback Will Genia is in serious doubt for the opening Test of the international season after bravely playing out the Super campaign with a knee injury.

Genia faces three weeks on the sidelines with a grade 1-2 medial ligament strain which puts him in a race to be fit for the June 5 clash with Fiji in Canberra.

I hope it is only one test.

 

[Langthorne]

Wayne Smith's teams in The Australian today:

Test XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Daley.

Midweek XV: 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Will Chambers, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 1 Al Baxter.

Don't know if I agree with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the wing, for me he's at either 15 or 13; same for Hynes and Ioane, what're their best positions? Chambers and Davies would have to consider themselves lucky to snag a spot in front of Turner. But what I like about WS's thinking is the potential for some of these blokes to rise under Deans' tutelage, Beale, Horne, Houston, Higginbotham, Douglas and S Fainga'a will/should show massive improvement this year. But JOC (James O'Connor)? He's had a gifted run the last few years but I'm still not convinced he's a test player, I'd rather see A Fainga'a given a go at inside centre.

Cameron Shepherd's injury this year couldn't've been worse timed.

The first problem is that 22 players will be needed for each team, and i would expect the whole 22 to be used in each match. For that reason I would go with two separate groups of 22 (with the potential for migration between the two groups due to injuries or form).

The teams I would like to see will most likely not be the teams we get, so my guess would be (assuming the midweek team is largely 'developmental'):


Test XV: 15 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (capt), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Pek Cowan

16 Saia Fainga'a 17 Salesi Ma'afu 18 Kane Douglas 19 Matt Hodgson 20 Luke Burgess 21 Berrick Barnes 22 James O'Connor



Midweek XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachlan Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Daniel Halangahu (?), 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Phil Waugh (capt), 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Tim Fairbrother 2 Ben Whittacker 1 Ben Daley

16. Damien Fitzpatrick 17. Dan Palmer 18. Ben McCalman 19. Pat McCutcheon 20 Brett Sheehan 21. Mitch Inman 22. Will Chambers


The players in bold, I would put in the Midweek side, and promote Beale, Fairbrother, Whittacker (or Fitzpatrick), and Waugh into the test side. The prop injuries have thrown a real spanner in the works - if Ma'afu can play on both sides I'd keep him on the bench, otherwise I'd go with the next best who can play both. Injuries keep coming in (and coming back), so to speak, so I wouldn't call this the final draft.

 

[Newb]

i'd be very happy with those squads langthorne. maybe a tweak here or there but i wouldn't complain.

i think weekes will be healthy by then? i'd like to see him in the mix. and as much as i love inman and chambers, i think perhaps a little similar? i guess you'd have chambers as the wing replacement?

i also noticed you gave hoiles a pass. if he could shut his mouth i think he might be worth a pick, but i think i'd rather go with mowen and higgers for development anyways.

 

[Lindommer]

I also noticed you gave Hoiles a pass. If he could shut his mouth I think he might be worth a pick, but I think I'd rather go with Mowen and Higgers for development anyways.

Agree, Newb, but Higginkhyber's out injured so Hoiles may yet get a guernsey. Maybe he could be more useful without a captain's armband.

 

[Slim 293]

In regards to the backline and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) I think it will all come down to which player Deans thinks can contribute the most:

Horne or Beale...

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has to be a definite starter... depending on which one of the above players deserves a spot more will go towards AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) plays...

The negatives of each is that Horne has fitness issues... and Beale is not the most sound defensive choice at fullback...

 

[Langthorne]

If Weekes is available I would definitely like to see him in the mix.

With Higginbotham's injury I guess Hoiles could go into 8 and Mowen move to 6. The other player who I think would do a good job is Dave Dennis.

I think Hoiles does a lot of good work around the park, but just isn't much of a captain. Is he too old for 'development'? Is he up to test standard? I think he could play tests, but it would depend on the make up of the rest of the forward pack whether it would work well (eg others who run well in high traffic areas).

With Chambers and Inman, although they both play 13, I think that combined with the other squad members the back line would be covered, and I'd really like to see them both get a run in that type of development scenario.

If Horne can stay fit, he will be an excellent Wallaby. After this weekend he will have played against the likely Trinations opposite numbers, so we'll have some idea how he would handle it. I'm not saying Deans will put him straight into the 1st XV, but with fitness it can't be too far off.

Beale's defence has been pretty good over the last couple of weeks, and he has only tended to struggle late in a match (which has been pretty much won). This weekend will be a pretty stern test in that area, so we'll see how he goes (but yes, there is room for improvement there, as is there huge room for improvement in the defence of most people's first choice Wallaby 10).

 

[fatprop]

I hope to see Horne, Chambers & Inman in the squad, 13 is our weakest spot in the backs. Of the 3, Chambers is the most physically ready for test matches today, but as I have said before, Horne has the most potential to be a serious test player.

 

[topo]

If Weekes is available I would definitely like to see him in the mix.

+1
While BA is at loosehead, Laurie is the best THP in the country.

 

[#1 Tah]

In regards to the backline and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) I think it will all come down to which player Deans thinks can contribute the most:

Horne or Beale...

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has to be a definite starter... depending on which one of the above players deserves a spot more will go towards AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) plays...

The negatives of each is that Horne has fitness issues... and Beale is not the most sound defensive choice at fullback...

Nither is james oconner

 

[Lindommer]

This weekend will be a big test for young Horne, he's taken care of NZ's best two 13s, Kahui and Smith, over the last fortnight and comes up against the best SAf outside-centre. If he pays well against Fourie he'd have to be a show for the Wallaby 13 jumper. Robbie, please don't get injured.

 

[rsea]

This weekend will be a big test for young Horne, he's taken care of NZ's best two 13s, Kahui and Smith, over the last fortnight and comes up against the best SAf outside-centre. If he pays well against Fourie he'd have to be a show for the Wallaby 13 jumper. Robbie, please don't get injured.

he looked great last weekend in particular. Barnes at 10 and crash ball carter at 12 is working for him but I'm not sure how he'd go outside the crab