Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[Ruggo]

I would take JOC (James O'Connor) over Barnes on that bench.

 

[Scotty]

Fair call. I only picked Barnes so he could be compared to Cooper

 

[Scarfman]

Valentine is a peanut. I have no idea how he stays employed. Slow to clear, ridiculous options.

 

[fatprop]

Valentine is a peanut. I have no idea how he stays employed. Slow to clear, ridiculous options.

yeah, can any of our QLD guys advise how Kingi has been travelling in club?

 

[daz]

Re Barnes, to test the 'combination theory' that many learned and more astute judges than I believe should work.

The Barnes and Burgess combination doesn't exactly have the Tahs backline firing, why do you think it will work for the Wallabies?

Personally, as much as he annoys the crap out of me I'd be inclined to pick Valentine ahead of Burgess, who would be on the bench. I would also give plenty of time to the 10 that is on the bench to get a direct comparison with the starting 10.

Backline for the first test of:

9 Valentine
10 Cooper
11 Mitchell
12 Giteau
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14 Ioane
15 Hynes

Burgess, Barnes, Horne

Forgive me if this has been stated previously, but given the service from Burgess is slower than a turd coming out of a chronically constipated grandmother (dive pass and all), should he even be in serious consideration, even on the bench?

 

[Ash]

Some amusing differences, you can see the provincialism in selections. Wonder if this means that it's a close race for some positions, or just some of us are more biased than others?

Examples:
Reds supporter backline: 3 Reds starting, 1 Tah starting
Tahs supporter backling: 5 Tahs startings, 0 Reds starting

Scarfy's experiement would've been even better if he had teams that had a mixed set of supporters, and teams that had supporters of only 1 team.

 

[Scotty]

It was pretty obvious to me that the Reds backline was the best of the Australian backlines this year, and you would think this would translate to the most representatives in the Wallabies. Conversely, the Tahs and Brumbies had the best tight forwards, and the Force the best loose fowards (when not injured), so a fair squad should have:

Tight forwards - mainly Tahs with a smattering of Brumbies
Loose forwards - mainly Force with the odd Tah, Brumby or Red
Inside backs - mainly Reds with the odd Tah, or Brumby
Outside backs - mainly Reds and Tahs with some Brumbies and maybe one Force

 

[fatprop]

Some amusing differences, you can see the provincialism in selections. Wonder if this means that it's a close race for some positions, or just some of us are more biased than others?

Examples:
Reds supporter backline: 3 Reds starting, 1 Tah starting
Tahs supporter backling: 5 Tahs startings, 0 Reds starting

Scarfy's experiement would've been even better if he had teams that had a mixed set of supporters, and teams that had supporters of only 1 team.

:nta: They are all wounded

 

[Scarfman]

It was pretty obvious to me that the Reds backline was the best of the Australian backlines this year

Maybe. I thought our backs saved the piggies' arses on several occasions in the 2nd half of the year. On form you be seriously looking at Barnes, Mitchell, Beale, whereas 6 weeks ago you wouldn't take any of them.

+ I've got Hynes, Cooper and Ioane in my team so can't be accused of anything.

 

[DPK]

It was pretty obvious to me that the Reds backline was the best of the Australian backlines this year

Maybe. I thought our backs saved the piggies' arses on several occasions in the 2nd half of the year. On form you be seriously looking at Barnes, Mitchell, Beale, whereas 6 weeks ago you wouldn't take any of them.

+ I've got Hynes, Cooper and Ioane in my team so can't be accused of anything.

And 4 weeks ago I wouldn't have had Barnes in the squad. I think he's not too far off form.

 

[fatprop]

The other argument is whether Cooper's mind set and defense will suit a tri nations test match.

I think he will be wonderful and terrible in the same match, but he is worth building a side around, but we all may lose some hair watching at times.

 

[RugbyReg]

fp, you asked about Kingi at club? He played outside centre last week. Not an option for the test squad.

 

[Ash]

:nta: They are all wounded

Genia is out for four weeks, but I think that Fainga'a is the only other casualty who may have made the test squad, but I have been unable to determine how long his shoulder injury will keep him out. Most of the Reds injuries were/are forwards (Weeks, S. Fainga'a, Daley, Horwill, Byrnes, Simmons, Braid, now Higgers).

I tend to think some of the backline positions are a bit open, hence the discrepancy between some supporters. Provincialism is showing in the more marginal picks (13, 15, 10/12, etc).

For the backs, I'm pretty sure that Mitchell will have one wing, and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will be there somewhere in the starting 15. Genia was the only other selection I was sure on, but he is out for the first test. Like Scarfman, I think there's several permutations you can throw out that wouldn't let you down.

Of the ones mentioned by some people, I am not sure that Chambers or Horne will get first crack at 13, or at least not in a big game as I am not sure that they are ready. At least one will be blooded this year though, probably Horne. In my opinion 13 and 15 are probably the hardest positions to pick, and you'd think that Deans will initially favour the incumbents. In that case, Ioane, Barnes, Giteau, Cooper, J'OC, Hynes and Burgess are all strong possibles to be in the 22 as well as Mitchell and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), although one may be missing to blood a Horne or Chambers. Only other backline position missing is the other scrumhalf.

 

[Ash]

Oh, forgot Davies, sorry, as another wounded Reds back. But he was never in with a shot of making the Wallaby 22, and probably would've struggled to make the main training squad too as the decision for the last wing spot would've likely between Davies and Turner. Would've thought Davies might be a chance to be blooded in the Aus Baabaas, though.

 

[fatprop]

Of the Reds backs I thought Genia, Cooper, Digby and Higgenbottom would be selected with smokeys being S Faainga, Weekes and Chambers.

Of them Genia Higgenbottom & Weekes are wounded but I expect the others to be there or thereabouts

 

[mark_s]

Of the Reds backs I thought Genia, Cooper, Digby and Higgenbottom would be selected with smokeys being S Faainga, Weekes and Chambers.

Of them Genia Higgenbottom & Weekes are wounded but I expect the others to be there or thereabouts

higgenbottom a back?

 

[Scotty]

You didn't think that Hynes had a shot, fp?

 

[Scotty]

It was pretty obvious to me that the Reds backline was the best of the Australian backlines this year

Maybe. I thought our backs saved the piggies' arses on several occasions in the 2nd half of the year. On form you be seriously looking at Barnes, Mitchell, Beale, whereas 6 weeks ago you wouldn't take any of them.

+ I've got Hynes, Cooper and Ioane in my team so can't be accused of anything.

I think you would have been looking at Mitchell for the entire season. We will have to disagree on Barnes, I think he is still a fair way from best form, as proven on the weekend.

Beale, I agree, no chance 6 weeks ago, but mainly because he wasn't starting, not because he wasn't in form.

 

[fatprop]

You didn't think that Hynes had a shot, fp?

Yeah him too, but to me it depends where AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) plays. If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is 15 then no Hynes, different if they want AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13.

Six weeks ago I think he was more of a chance, with Chambers & Horne about, less likely.

 

[fatprop]

Wallabies likely to call on rookies to hook in
GREG GROWDEN
May 25, 2010

THE Wallabies may be forced to play two novice hookers for the opening Test against Fiji in Canberra on June 5 as Tatafu Polota-Nau is in doubt with a shoulder injury.

With Stephen Moore sidelined for several months with a fractured jaw, Polota-Nau was scheduled to take over as Australia's No.1 hooker. However, Polota-Nau's decision to play with a shoulder complaint, which revolves around inflammation of the AC joint, since the Crusaders match in Christchurch on April 10 has taken its toll.

When Polota-Nau returned to Sydney with the Waratahs yesterday, he was troubled by his sore shoulder and the Wallabies' medical staff want to assess him this week before deciding whether he will be available for next month's Tests.

However, there is a strong belief the Wallabies will rest him for the bigger Tests in June against England and Ireland. The most likely to move into the Test 22 are the Reds' Saia Fainga'a and Huia Edmonds, who has performed well when coming off the bench for the Brumbies this season.

Polota-Nau conceded that his shoulder is ''not that good''. ''But I'm still hoping all is well with it and that I will be OK for the Fiji game,'' he said yesterday.

The Wallabies' medical staff will also assess wingers Lachie Turner (ribs) and Drew Mitchell (bruised forearm) this week.

England five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson is also in doubt for the Australian tour and will undergo scans this week after hurting his back during Toulon's European Challenge Cup final loss to Cardiff on Sunday.

England have, meanwhile, resolved their pay dispute that threatened to divide the team during their tour of Australia and New Zealand. The pay row concerned some of the squad receiving at least £10,000 more than other tourists if they made the Test team. An independent third party was appointed and the confidential recommendations have been accepted.