Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[Ruggo]

To cover Coopers defense, you could give Barnes the flick for Fainga'a. It is working now and it would keep combination together.

Somthing tells me that Robbie has copped a lot over the last two years, building the nucleus of his side. I wouldn't be supprised to see not many changes at all.

 

[RugbyReg]

I don't reckon Fainga'a's up to it yet either to be honest.

A good S14 player, but not test quality yet.

Some good Aussie A games and the NH tour at the end of the year will be good for him.

 

[Biffo]

Somthing tells me that Robbie has copped a lot over the last two years, building the nucleus of his side. I wouldn't be supprised to see not many changes at all.

I expect 5-6 new players in an extended squad of 40-45 to start preparation for the Tri-Nations. I expect that the 30 chosen from that 40-45 will be the RWC squad, except for forced changes.

 

[wobbly]

I'm hoping (as I'm sure Dingo is) that Barnes turns his form around. He's the current VC and the defensive glue of the backline. But I would definately have A Finger in the squad and possibly on bench putting heat on Barnes and Gits.

A 10/12 of Cooper/Gits is asking for the Boks and Blacks to target that channel. Assuming Cooper continues in hot form and out of jail, it then leaves a massive question on where to play our most experienced and on his day, most dynamic player. I've been dead against positional changes in the past (Gits at half, two flankers, back rowers at lock, etc.) but this seems worth a punt should everyone involve stay on the paddock.

 

[wobbly]

No doubts Dingo will back experience, though he's shown a liking for Cooper, so I expect he's a shoe-in for 10 now, unless something dramatic happens.

But the pressure for new blood will be strong if we lose by more than a score. Only one win from 6 last season, 12 months from a RWC with youth knocking the door down, he'll have to offer the likes of Higgy, Weeks, A Finger, and a young lock a guernsey. Otherwise it'll look like shuffling the deckchairs...

 

[Ruggo]

Somthing tells me that Robbie has copped a lot over the last two years, building the nucleus of his side. I wouldn't be supprised to see not many changes at all.

I expect 5-6 new players in an extended squad of 40-45 to start preparation for the Tri-Nations. I expect that the 30 chosen from that 40-45 will be the RWC squad, except for forced changes.

No doubt. I more talking of the run on 15. I should of said so in my post. In the absence of the A program, I haope they use the extended squad to develop as much talent as possible.

cheers

 

[RugbyReg]

I think there's at least 2 A games (or Australian Barbarians) and then the mid week games on the EOYT.

 

[Ruggo]

I don't reckon Fainga'a's up to it yet either to be honest.

A good S14 player, but not test quality yet.

Some good Aussie A games and the NH tour at the end of the year will be good for him.

Get him into the Bundy tests and lets find out if he has the goods before the 3n. I would think that logic would say that an out of form player is only going to be more exposed at test level, though the world works in strange ways.

The same argument used against Fainga'a could be used for Cooper at Wallaby 10. He is the best prospect though.
Great to have these sort of dillemas though. :thumb

 

[fatprop]

I don't reckon Fainga'a's up to it yet either to be honest.

A good S14 player, but not test quality yet.

Some good Aussie A games and the NH tour at the end of the year will be good for him.

Get him into the Bundy tests and lets find out if he has the goods before the 3n. I would think that logic would say that an out of form player is only going to be more exposed at test level, though the world works in strange ways.

The same argument used against Fainga'a could be used for Cooper at Wallaby 10. He is the best prospect though.
Great to have these sort of dillemas though. :thumb

I doubt Fainga'a will make the Wallaby squad, Baa Baas maybe, depending on how many of the Wallaby squad fringe are choosen for the mid week games. Gits will be the first choosen at either 10 or 12 for each Wallaby game and I expect Cooper, Barnes and O'Conner will be selected as well.

The big issue will be 13 to me. Mortlock appears to be out of contention, so it will depend on who is chosen at 13.
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would be my choice, with Digby as back up, but Digby does not seem to be a fan of playing there.

 

[gone]

I agree the big issue is 13 or more accurately 13/15 as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) IMO is the best canditate in both positions. To me there are only 2 realistic options, if you start AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at centre then Hynes starts at 15 and if you start AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15 then I think Ioane is your only option at 13. Personally would rather JO'C stays on the bench at this stage.

One other point I wanted to raise is there hasn't been much talk of Selesi Ma'afu. For me this guy is going from strength to strength this year. He has been the best scrummaging tighthead for my money out of the Australian teams and has given both All Black and Springbok incumbents (in Woodcock and the Beast) touchups. Would not be surprised (and would be quite happy) to see him as the bench prop. I think you have to retain Robinson and Alexander as the starters on last years form.

So my 22:

1. Robinson
2. TPN
3. Alexander
4. Mumm
5. Sharpe
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. Giteau
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Mitchell
15. Hynes

16. Moore
17. Ma'afu
18. Reserve 2nd rower is tough would like to see Van Humphries get a shot
19. Hodgson
20. Burgess (Phibbs a possible bolter here if he gets more gametime, Sheehan has been impressive too)
21. Barnes (I know he's been out of form but he'll get it back)
22. JO'C

 

[#1 Tah]

By the looks of his court case, Quade Cooper is going to be nowhere near a Wallabies or Reds jesey this year or next. They have evidence to suggest he stole 2 laptops, perhaps with the intent of extortion.

*sigh* why did he fuck up?

back to square 1 then

1. Robinson
2. TPN
3. Alexander
4. Mumm
5. Sharpe
6. Rock
7. Pockock
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Gits
11. Mitchell
12. Barnes
13. Ione
14. Turner
15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

16. Moore
17. Kepu
18. Douglas/Dennis*
19. Waugh
20. Burgess
21. JOC (James O'Connor)
22. Hynes

* Dennis played lock for the midweek team on the EoYT last year, and besides douglas, who else are we going to put there?

 

[Reddy!]

I was reading some of the comments by Rod Kafer on the foxsports Q+A weekly segment. He made a good point that Barnes isn't the type of player that shines in Super rugby. His style of play, and smarts, is much more suited to test rugby. He'll be there, or there abouts in the match day 22 for the Wobs for sure.

 

[RugbyReg]

I'm sure I've already put a team up somewhere here, but feel like having another go.

So this would be for the first England test, with Australia A/Barbarians to play midweek.

Wallabies:

15 Peter Hynes
14 Drew Mitchell
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
12 Matt Giteau
11 Digby Ioane
10 Quade Cooper
9 Will Genia [vc]
8 Wycliff Palu
7 David Pocock
6 Rocky Elsom [c]
5 Nathan Sharpe
4 Dean Mumm
3 Ben Alexander
2 Tatafu Polata-Nau
1 Benn Robinson

16 Stephen Moore
17 Laurie Weeks
18 Kane Douglas
19 Matt Hodgson
20 Luke Burgess
21 Berrick Barnes
22 James O'Connor

Australia A/Barbarians:

15 Kurtley Beale
14 Lachlan Turner
13 Rob Horne
12 Anthony Fainga'a
11 Pat McCabe
10 Daniel Halangahu [vc]
9 Josh Holmes
8 Scott Higginbotham
7 Richard Brown [c]
6 David Dennis
5 Tom Hockings
4 Rob Simmons
3 Salesi Maafu
2 Saia Fainga'a
1 Ben Daley

16 Damian Fitzpatrick
17 Tim Fairbrother
18 Mitchell Chapman
19 Stephen Hoiles
20 Chris O'Young
21 Matt To'omua
22 Will Chambers

A few notes:
- still don't think Hynes should/will be our World Cup fullback, but probably still need another year for JOC (James O'Connor). Or perhaps he'll be there year end.
- prefer Diggers used as a roamer on the wing, rather than tied up at 13.
- 3 debutants on the bench in Weeks, Douglas and Hodgson. Douglas the biggest question mark, but one of these 2m youngsters (Kane, Simmons or Hockings) needs to step up for next year, so let's see KD.
- Simmons and Hockings in Oz A, which will be a tough forward encounter v the Poms.
- Lealiifano would've been in As at least, if not for injury. Likely starting at 10.
- Thought about blooding a young openside in Hooper or Fainga'a, but probably not needed just yet. Brown can do the job v the Poms.
- Higgers had to be in Aust A, but not convinced 8 is his best spot. Leroy was considered, but probably not for long as Dennis also must be in the team, IMHO.
- Henderson, at prop, came close to consideration too. Likewise Fairbrother could've pushed for a starting spot.
- Josh Holmes is probably a bit of a surprise to start, but I think he's the man next most likely to snag a wallaby spot.
- No oldies here. No Waugh, Baxter or Humphries. The latter two could've pushed for a spot, and Waugh due to lack of depth, but no need in this game.

 

[Spook]

Nod, I think Ma'afu has outperformed Weeks (whom I rate) and the Brumbies scrum has been stronger than the Reds. Are you selecting Weeks on potential?

Both players are good in the loose. Weeks has made slightly more Runs but Ma'afu has broken more tackles. Ma'afu has made slightly more tackles than Weeks but most importantly his side of the scrum has held up against all opposition loose heads. I don't think Weeks has looked as comfortable.

Apart from that, pretty good.

 

[cyclopath]

Pretty hard to argue with those teams.
I agree with Spook that Weekes / Ma'afu are hard to split and could go either way.
I especially like that backline for the main team, although I agree Hynes is perhaps not the long term fix at 15, but as we've all debated at length here, who is (that doesn't keep getting broken). If they get good ball, they could carve up.
I would put O'Young in the "A" team ahead of Holmes - Holmes has bags of potential but seems incapable of making the step up in class.
The "A" team backline would be great to watch too, I reckon.

 

[Spook]

No room for Chisolm in either squad. Big fall from grace...

 

[TOCC]

excuse my ignorance, but what has happened to Kimlin in 2010?

 

[tranquility]

Kimlin is a gun - but he is injured.

Those teams and logic are spot on in my opinion.

Although Chris O'Young has looked the goods this year, massive improvement in his game.

 

[Viking]

14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (given a roaming license)
13. Ioane (him and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) extremely interchangeable)

I think this is the best idea I've heard for a while. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) should play wing. But be very interchangable with Digger as 13. This is great cos wingers are basically a second fullback anyway but this would mean AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) comes into 13 while diggers goes roaming on the wing. Meaning that technically his position is wing/outside centre/fullback. Sounds bloody good to me.

This frees up 15. Hynes would be solid he always is (at international and s14). Even though he hasnt played at international level at fullback he might not be flash but i'll bet my life savings he'll get the job done. He deserves a spot, plays solid, proved himself already. If not hynes then Beale has also shown good potential. Im also starting to believe that JOC (James O'Connor) is ready and more then capable to be a threat. However high balls scare the shits out of me whenever JOC (James O'Connor) is at 15.

SO here's my backline, lots of interchanging

15. Hynes
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
13.Diggers
12. Barnes/Gits
11. Mitchell
10. Cooper
9. Genia

Basically 9,10,12 will have their set positions. Everyone else will swap around. Both wingers are capable of playing fullback and outside centre (yeh i recon mitchell will go good at oc), So diggers can roam on the wing then one of wings goes into oc. Hynes comes into the line, one of the wings goes to fullback. Simple and effective!

 

[waratahjesus]

hynes has been playing well, but from last years wallabies tests through to the use of the word "solid" above, is he going to score points from fullback for the team? or is he going to play a mistake free game that may or may not yield points?