It's great having so many debatable positions right now. I can only pencil 2 names in with confidence - Izzy and Moore. The rest look open to me.
On the wing, I suspect Tomane and Cummins lead the charge but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is an option there too. Coleman, Mogg, Woodward, Horne, Turner, etc., all look an absolute blinder or two away from serious consideration.
Inside: Lealiifano, McCabe and Beale are all battling for one spot. Lealiifano probably has the edge but needs to earn a permanent place in the Brumbies starting XV first.
Outside: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Kuridrani and Tapuai playing for one spot. Assuming Tomane and Cummins are the wings, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is probably first pick here, although the other 2 are right on his hammer.
Halves: Looks a straight battle between the QLD pair and the Brumbies pair. At this stage, most would probably have White and Cooper but I suspect they'll stick with a state combo either way. Nothing in it at all right now.
Up front, who slots in either side of Moore in the scrum is anyone's guess. The Brumbies scrum has been so-so to date so selecting all 3 front rowers from there seems unlikely. Slipper and Robinson look the more likely starters to me with Sio and Alexander backing up, although could make a case for Cowan as well. Who knows - it's a weak link position in the side right now regardless of who is selected.
Similarly in the 2nd row. Last year, Simmons was starting to establish himself and Horwill went from team captain to questionable starter. Now Horwill has moved into the unlikely starter category. Simmons hasn't been in great form either but perhaps not poor enough to lose his spot given the lack of alternatives. Fardy is available for this position and also blindside. I expect this is his more likely place given he has serious competition at blindside but is first picked here. I'm leaning towards Fardy and Simmons at this stage but could easily be swayed. The Rebels pair, Carter, Douglas and Horwill are all in the mix too.
At openside, Hooper is almost a certainty but it remains to be seen how well Gill comes back. Hodgson next best. This is potentially blown open by Pocock later in the year, who was a certainty to start and likely captain before his injury.
The final 2 positions in the back row appear to go to Higginbotham and Mowen. If Mowen is deemed ineligible, it gets more complicated. Fardy could shift to blindside with Higgers at 8, opening up the way for another 2nd rower. Alternatively, Dennis could play 6, leaving the locks unchanged. Another alternative is McCalman at the back with Higgers at 6.
All very interesting and open anyway at this early stage. For captain, I'd be leaning towards Hooper or Moore given they are almost certain to be picked every time and aren't disappearing next year.
