Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[Viking]

The other main option, Cooper, is still poor in defence, and though he could improve here, will he ever overcome his flakiness and poor decision-making? I'd have my doubts, as others would. Has a great long pass of course, but will he throw it at the right time?

His defence might still need some work but his decision making has been far greater then any other aussie flyhalf this season. He is head and shoulders the number 1 flyhalf at the moment. Might even be the best attacking flyhalf in the comp.

I do agree that To'omua has some good potential though. He seems like a solid flyhalf for the future.

After round 5 im backing 9. Genia 10. Cooper. 12. Fainga 13. Digby 15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

Coopers defence shouldnt be a problem with those guys around him, fainga for me is an awesome player, one of my favourite this season, great on defence and solid in attack. However i fear the marketablily of giteau will force him into the 12 spot. Some guys including myself have critised diggers at 13 for his reading of the defence, but what ive noticed with the reds is that they are communicating pretty damn well so hopefully they can keep it up at international level. Also having diggers closer to cooper should pay dividend in attack, they seem to work very well together. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in 13 though is pretty hard to say no to, he will always seem the best option in that spot but at the moment he is also the best 15. so im sticking with my backline.

 

[Langthorne]

...but more than anything we need players who can do the basics well, play with aggression for as much as 80 minutes as is possible, and players who play as well without the ball as with it.

.....

I invite people to nominate uncapped players from your team who fit the bill. From the Tahs I nominate Kane Douglas and Rob Horne for the EOYT and to have a big future for Oz.

Even if he is next to Cooper in defence, Fainga'a won't be in a position to carry his neighbour in a tri nations test situation (his hands will be well and truely full). The other issue is that the failings of both individuals and teams are magnified (and exploted more) in the test arena.

Having said all that, I think it would be very prudent to expose a few of the young up and comers to test rugby - as reserves for the first choice team, as starters against the weaker teams, or in the Australia A team.

From the Tahs, the up and comers I would like to see are Douglas, Mowen and Dennis (plus Palmer if he ever gets a run with the Tahs) in the forwards, and Horne, Halagahu and Beale in the backs.

 

[Henry]

Just for the backs.

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Diggers
15. O'Connor/Hynes

Could be alright...

 

[Scotty]

A lot are picking Ioane at 13, but even yesterday he didn't really play 13. Look at where he scored his tries from - one on the wing after a cross kick from Cooper and the other running an inside line close to the ruck. Both were scored in a roving winger type role that he likes. He will be fine in either position for the wallabies though.

 

[cyclopath]

A lot are picking Ioane at 13, but even yesterday he didn't really play 13. Look at where he scored his tries from - one on the wing after a cross kick from Cooper and the other running an inside line close to the ruck. Both were scored in a roving winger type role that he likes. He will be fine in either position for the wallabies though.

Which is exactly how he would be most dangerous, I reckon. Especially with Cooper dishing it up for him. But you're right, he would be quite serviceable at 13.

 

[Geeves]

Apart from trying to pick nothing but Reds in 1-15 I have tried to be impartial but hell when they are playing this good and I prefer when as much as possible to have existing set combinations it makes it hard not to pick a lot of QLDers especially in the backs.

There is a big hole still in the squad in second row. The final mix of the back three is uncertain but everything else is pretty bloody good at the moment

Front row. It’s hard to replace the existing props who after last year’s efforts deserve to be picked. After having a joke of a scrum to dominating I can’t go past them. The question for me is still the hooker. TPN is great around the park but hell his lineout throwing scares me. Moore has been solid but unspectacular. S. Fainga'a still needs to do more to prove he is not a flash in the pan, also his lineouts although great on Sunday he does have TPN characteristics which I would love to see him prove me wrong about.

1. Robinson
2. ?TPN/Moore/Fainga'a
3. Alexander

Second Row: Bugger! Big holes here although some good performances nothing demanding of certain starters. Until the season unfolds and a couple more consistent performances its still a question of wait and see.

4.
5.

Loosies: pretty well pick themselves. Hopefully Bam Bam get backs from injury.
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Palu

Halves this has to be a combination I hate seeing chopping and changing here and there is only one combination in Aus at the moment.
9. Genia
10. Cooper

Centres: I like a strong runner at IC. I’m tired of seeing weedy little buggers in the middle. Why Mitchell doesn’t pick JOC (James O'Connor) at 5/8 and Staniforth at IC is a mystery to me. Giteau and Barnes are not in form and I’m tired of hearing how Giteau doesn’t get along with coaches (Mitchell and Deans). So for me IC has to be A. Fainga'a. As his defence is solid (a bit high now and then) so he will help covering Coopers gaps, he runs hard spots the gaps and has good hands.

OC I think has to go Ioane as he doesn’t have a boot good enough for the wing. Ioane has been devastating at OC in the last two years & despite how good Morlock was and the influence he brings he is not the best OC at the moment

12. A. Fainga'a
13. Ioane

Back 3. We have to select players here who have a bloody boot on them and run fast. I’m tired of worrying like hell when a speedster without a boot is on a wing. There has only been one player to stamp his authority on a starting spot and that is Mitchell as his finishing is fantastic. For the other wing spot and the fullback it’s still a real tussle to see how will take it. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Hynes, Turner are in the mix. How knows Huxley might be a shot by the end of the year.

11: Mitchell
14:
15:

 

[Lindommer]

Back 3. We have to select players here who have a bloody boot on them and run fast. I’m tired of worrying like hell when a speedster without a boot is on a wing. There has only been one player to stamp his authority on a starting spot and that is Mitchell as his finishing is fantastic. For the other wing spot and the fullback it’s still a real tussle to see how will take it. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Hynes, Turner are in the mix. Who knows Huxley might be a shot by the end of the year.

11: Mitchell
14:
15:

Agree with most/all of your selections, Geeves. If only Shepherd could extricate himself from his physical woes a lot of our concerns here, and at 13, would be resolved. I sincerely hope Cam's aware of the opportunities, and responsibilities, available to him at this point in Australian rugby.

 

[Viking]

I think Shepherd is a long shot for fullback now. I think he will return with only 5 games to play. Huxley would probably be in the same boat. But at least we got some more players on the cards i guess. Both specialised fullbacks as well.

The question for me is still the hooker. TPN is great around the park but hell his lineout throwing scares me. Moore has been solid but unspectacular. S. Fainga'a still needs to do more to prove he is not a flash in the pan, also his lineouts although great on Sunday he does have TPN characteristics which I would love to see him prove me wrong about.

I agree with u about TPN, great around the park but line-out time scares me, he's been going pretty good lately though and i think he's in number 1 spot atm for a starting spot in the wallabies. But I thought S. Fainga'a was brilliant on the weekend. Line-out throwing was PERFECT, and great work around the park, seemed to get over the advantage line a lot too. If he keeps it up i think he's got a good chance for the wallabies, Especially with how young he is for a hooker.

 

[David]

As good as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is at fullback I still feel that he would be best served in the Wallabies at 13, but I also think he needs to get time there at S14 level before, he reminds me of Mortlock in some ways. Perhaps if Huxley can produce the goods you could see Mortlock to the bench and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13 with huxley to 15 next year for the brumbies (providing morty hangs around, which i doubt). For the time being my prediction is:

9. Genia (obvious choice, perhaps the best in the world at the moment)
10. Gits (I don't think deans will be changing gits back to 12)
11. Mitchell
12. QC (Quade Cooper) (went well in the end of season tour minus that Ireland debacle)
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Ioane (definitely better on the wing, can get involved and doesn't have to distribute the ball)
15. Hynes (AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Hynes about par at the moment, so with that said I reckon Hynes to 15 with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13, which I think will be his best pos in the future)

 

[Reddy!]

As good as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is at fullback I still feel that he would be best served in the Wallabies at 13, but I also think he needs to get time there at S14 level before, he reminds me of Mortlock in some ways. Perhaps if Huxley can produce the goods you could see Mortlock to the bench and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13 with huxley to 15 next year for the brumbies (providing morty hangs around, which i doubt). For the time being my prediction is:

9. Genia (obvious choice, perhaps the best in the world at the moment)
10. Gits (I don't think deans will be changing gits back to 12)
11. Mitchell
12. QC (Quade Cooper) (went well in the end of season tour minus that Ireland debacle)
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Ioane (definitely better on the wing, can get involved and doesn't have to distribute the ball)
15. Hynes (AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Hynes about par at the moment, so with that said I reckon Hynes to 15 with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13, which I think will be his best pos in the future)

Really don't like seeing an out and out flyhalf at inside centre and I am kinda over the dual play maker strategy. barnes or Giteau at IC

 

[rsea]

As good as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is at fullback I still feel that he would be best served in the Wallabies at 13, but I also think he needs to get time there at S14 level before, he reminds me of Mortlock in some ways. Perhaps if Huxley can produce the goods you could see Mortlock to the bench and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13 with huxley to 15 next year for the brumbies (providing morty hangs around, which i doubt). For the time being my prediction is:

9. Genia (obvious choice, perhaps the best in the world at the moment)
10. Gits (I don't think deans will be changing gits back to 12)
11. Mitchell
12. QC (Quade Cooper) (went well in the end of season tour minus that Ireland debacle)
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Ioane (definitely better on the wing, can get involved and doesn't have to distribute the ball)
15. Hynes (AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Hynes about par at the moment, so with that said I reckon Hynes to 15 with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13, which I think will be his best pos in the future)

Really don't like seeing an out and out flyhalf at inside centre and I am kinda over the dual play maker strategy. barnes or Giteau at IC

isn't Barnes a 10 masquerading as a 12?

 

[David]

As good as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is at fullback I still feel that he would be best served in the Wallabies at 13, but I also think he needs to get time there at S14 level before, he reminds me of Mortlock in some ways. Perhaps if Huxley can produce the goods you could see Mortlock to the bench and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13 with huxley to 15 next year for the brumbies (providing morty hangs around, which i doubt). For the time being my prediction is:

9. Genia (obvious choice, perhaps the best in the world at the moment)
10. Gits (I don't think deans will be changing gits back to 12)
11. Mitchell
12. QC (Quade Cooper) (went well in the end of season tour minus that Ireland debacle)
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Ioane (definitely better on the wing, can get involved and doesn't have to distribute the ball)
15. Hynes (AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Hynes about par at the moment, so with that said I reckon Hynes to 15 with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13, which I think will be his best pos in the future)

Really don't like seeing an out and out flyhalf at inside centre and I am kinda over the dual play maker strategy. barnes or Giteau at IC

I would prefer QC (Quade Cooper) 10, gits 12, but my but backline above is what I think Deans will do.

 

[Reddy!]

Fair enough, in which case I would agree. But if last year is anything to go by, it probably doesn't matter what number 10 and 12 have on their back.

 

[Scotty]

Despite his good form I get the feeling that Ioane has lost some pace and hence he might end up being better at 13 than wing. Anyone else notice that this year?

I wouldn't be against switching Hynes and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) from wing to fullback and back in the early wallaby games to see which works best.

A backline of:

Genia
Cooper
Mitchell
Faiaga/Lealiifano
Ioane
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Hynes

would have some real potency. Good mix of strong, direct runners and speed.

 

[David]

Despite his good form I get the feeling that Ioane has lost some pace and hence he might end up being better at 13 than wing. Anyone else notice that this year?

I wouldn't be against switching Hynes and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) from wing to fullback and back in the early wallaby games to see which works best.

A backline of:

Genia
Cooper
Mitchell
Faiaga/Lealiifano
Ioane
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Hynes

would have some real potency. Good mix of strong, direct runners and speed.

I would still prefer Ioane on the wing with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13, because Ioane can't set up his outside men like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) does, the Reds wingers didn't receive much ball last year when he played 13, and same happened again against the Force on the weekend. How many times be either Brando or Morahan get the ball?

 

[Groucho]

'm surprised by the people who are grouping S Finger with Nau. Nau is an exceptional international hooker. Finger, maybe one day.

 

[Spook]

I'm delighted we are getting another option at fly half finally.

 

[Scotty]

'm surprised by the people who are grouping S Finger with Nau. Nau is an exceptional international hooker. Finger, maybe one day.

Yeah, they are not in the same league, but Finger has done enough to be 3rd choice hooker for the Wallabies so far.

 

[chief]

I want to win this Rugby World Cup, I want to win the Tri Nations within the next two years, and I honestly don't think with Giteau's proven track record with consistency he can lead a backline with it. Let's see some sort of freshness hopefully within this year.

 

[Ruggo]

I get the impression that Gitau has been burdoned to heavily and his natural ability has natural ability has been choked as a result.