Super Rugby Wallaby Watch – Rnd 8

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1. James Slipper (Brumbies)

Holds his #1 jersey after continuing his good form. Strong at scrum time and is a dynamic player around the park.

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2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies)

Was rested this week but can’t fault his games too much over the last few weeks. Has been the strongest contender, especially since fixing his lineout woes. Damien Fitzpatrick and Anaru Rangi have been playing well but haven’t dislodged Fainga’a.

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3. Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)

Keeping the combinations together again, AAA compliments his #1 and #2 with his strong scrummaging and solid defence. Kepu is close to taking the starting spot from him with a few strong weeks..

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4.Lukhan Salakai-Loto (Reds)

Even though he has been playing a lot of rugby at #6, he has played a few games in the row. He has been in unreal form and have moved him here so we can accommodate to have Luke Jones at #6. Lukhans ball carrying has all been with purpose and his defence has been fierce.

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5. Izack Rodda (Reds)

Probably unlucky not to make the team of the week more often. He is an absolute work horse and does a lot of work unnoticed. Will be interesting to see him compete with Adam Coleman as it seems Coleman is coming back to form.

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6. Luke Jones (Rebels)

Jones looks like he has answered all of our prayers as a Wallabies fan. He is an absolute workhorse in defence, a great link player with ball in hand and is exceptional in the lineout. Perfect fit to fix out backrow balancing issues.

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7. Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

Another workhorse. Has been almost holding the Tahs defensive line together since round 4. Gets an easy run into the side due to Pocock being out injured the past few weeks.

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8. Isi Naisarani (Rebels) 

Strong ball runner and bending the line consistently. The Rebels have been using him as a weapon to drag in defenders and he is making a ton of runs per game. He will be our battering ram alongside Salakiaia-Loto. Hopefully his good Super Rugby form will translate to good international form.

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9. Will Genia (Rebels)

He is just on another level and no one in the comp is coming close to taking his spot. Tate McDermott has been playing incredibly in recent weeks and may end up being his back up for the WC. Jake Gordan has also been looking good off the bench for the Tahs.

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10.  Quade Cooper  (Rebels)

Even though Foley has started to look a little bit better with each week that passes, Quade is still firmly in that #10 jumper for me. Amazing distributer and has been making a good % of his tackles recently.

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11. Sefa Naivalu (Reds)

Sefa has been consistently good. He hasn’t been the star of the Reds backline but has played a nice supporting role. He makes his tackles and finishes his tries. We don’t really have a left winger standing up and taking this position and would say that is the most vulnerable position in the team.

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12. Billy Meakes (Rebels)

Since round 1 he has been putting in good showings. He was pipped by Karmichael Hunt in our first team due to Hunt looking great but in recent weeks Hunt has gone completely missing. Meakes doesn’t seem to have bad games often (we will forget the match where he made a handful of handling errors because outside of those he played quite well). He runs hard, tackles hard and does his job. I’d expect this position to be another that is quite hotly contested.

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13. Samu Kerevi (Reds)

Each and every week he is a star. He has made 6/8 teams of the week and that’s including a bye. I’m unsure whether we will see him at 12 or 13 for the Wallabies but I can tell you he will be starting.

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14. Jack Maddocks (Rebels)

Has been playing really well and putting himself in good positions to receive the ball. Folau moves to 15 and with Chris Feauai-Sautia being injured he hasn’t been able to nail down this spot. This will be another spot that is fought over when Dane Haylett-Petty comes back due to people moving from fullback to wing.

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15. Israel Folau (Waratahs)

Has been in great form as always. The Tahs have started using the up and unders a lot and it is paying dividends. The back 3 positions will be a scrap with Folau, Haylett-Petty, Banks, Maddocks, Koroibete, Feauai-Sautia, Hodge and others competing for the 3 spots. Folau will be starting in one of these 3 spots.

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