When Robbie Deans and the Australian selectors meet to pick the Wallaby side for the domestic internationals and beyond, they won’t have to work too hard to pick the front-line XV. Let’s face it: most positions are already foregone conclusions, with the only debate being who are the bench players and wider squad members. However, there are three key positions where no one quite knows where Robbie and co. will go:
Tight-head Prop
The incumbent
Ben Alexander: He has played a solid Super Rugby season largely free of injuries or dama. But has he been good enough? Although the Brumbies have languished down the arse end of the ladder their scrum has never been embarrassed, not even by the Crusaders in Nelson. His on-field work rate has been good, but not nearly as impressive as his performance last year when he topped the try-scorer tally for the Canberrans. He has played a bit more at tight-head which is encouraging, although he has turned into something of a penalty magnet at scrum time.
The challengers
Sekope Kepu: Has had a breakout season for the Waratahs after spending most of 2010 on the bench or the sideline. He visibly grew in confidence as the season wore on, and recovered well from the disaster at Nelson to destroy most opposition scrums. He won seven tight heads this season, with Alexander next on four and Slipper on three. His ball-running also developed rapidly, and his power in tight was hugely missed when he was injured in South Africa. He will be fit for the test against Samoa, so it will be interesting to see whether he is chosen.
James Slipper: Has been one of the key players in the Reds’ success this year, after being blooded for the Wallabies off the bench in 2010. Has a high skill level and great work rate, rarely making mistakes in tight. However, the Reds scrum has been far from dominant, and while never destroyed it struggled for parity against most teams. Given Australia’s ongoing troubles at the set piece, will Robbie roll the dice again with a lightweight workhorse who is not the best scrummager? Only time will tell.
The bolters
Salesi Ma’afu: Has been invited to the recent training camp in Sydney and is still clearly on Deans’s radar despite a disappointing Super campaign. Had a few bright moments in Wallaby gold last year but never really grasped his opportunities, and has surely gone backwards after spending most of this year on the bench or injury list.
Al Baxter: The old warhorse was in great form in the last few games of the Waratahs’ season, and despite announcing his retirement is still keen on a RWC berth. History suggests he is a very long shot though, as Deans has no track record of picking aging veterans when there are younger alternatives.
Number 8
The incumbent
Wycliff Palu: Big Cliffy can still be regarded as the incumbent number 8 despite spending most of the last two seasons on the injured list. But surely questions now have to be asked. Although he had a few bright moments on the field this year, for the most part he looked a bit slow and certainly lacking the dynamism that had international opponents quaking in their boots. Obviously he takes some time to come back to match fitness, so with that in mind will Robbie take the risk? He has a broken shoulder and won’t be back for another eight weeks, so will probably miss the Tri-Nations.
The challengers
Ben McCalman: He stepped into the 8 jersey last year, and certainly didn’t let anyone down. That said, he was never a standout, with his tenacity and work rate being undone by a lack of impact with ball in hand and in defence. He has had a pretty good season for the Force without being brilliant, and his numbers reflect that. Will probably be given a few opportunities to prove himself over the next few months so we will see if he can step up and put his name in the front of the selectors’ minds.
Radike Samo: The big man made a good cameo at the end of last season for the Reds, but this season he has been elevated to a starring role and has not disappointed. His blinder against the Crusaders showed he is a big game player, and he has the punch in attack and defence that Palu is desperately trying to recapture. One of the keys to the Reds’ success this year, and should be given a chance to show his wares in a gold jersey.
The bolters
Scott Higginbotham: Has played a fair bit of 8 for Queensland, and has had a great season so far. A dynamic runner and has proven abilities running off Cooper and Genia. But is he big enough to play 8? Well, he isn’t much smaller than Ben McCalman, so he probably is. But considering McCalman has struggled for impact at 8 you can’t see Higgers being any better.
Ita Vaea: Was robbed of the Super Rugby Rookie of the Year award in my eyes, as he has had a great season off the back of the scrum for the Brumbies. Is far more in the Palu and Samo mould, although lacks the all-around game that those two possess. Can smash into the defensive line like nothing else though.
Dave Dennis: Put on the 8 jersey for the last couple of Waratahs games and had blinders in both. He has a high work rate with plenty of impact in both defence and attack. Has toured with the Wallabies, but may need one more season before he can compete at the top level. Like Higgers, he is probably better suited to 6.
Outside Centre
The incumbent
Adam Ashley-Cooper: Probably a little bit safer than Alexander and Palu, although like those two he has hardly set the world on fire this season. In fact he has been almost anonymous for the Brumbies, and as a result had a short stint on the bench mid-season. He is a proven performer though, and knows international rugby like few outside backs currently in the Wallaby stable. He does face a couple of challengers, and will need to produce form pretty fast if he wants to keep his spot. Which will be hard, considering he has not played 13 all season.
The contenders
Anthony Faingaa: Ant has had another stellar year in the Reds backline, and his recent move from 12 to 13 has not changed that in the slightest. He the Ringo Starr of the Reds backline: doesn’t have the star power or talent of his counterparts, but he is reliable, rock solid and has a voice that wouldn’t be out of place narrating children’s television (OK, that may be stretching it a little). He doesn’t miss tackles, he rarely makes mistakes. But is that enough for Test rugby?
Rob Horne: …until he gets injured again, anyway. I am only putting him here because Deans has shown his love for Horne, and if fit he will be right on the selectors radar you would think. At his best he is a sprightly attacker and brutal defender. But sadly most of the time he is on the sidelines, wearing a tailored suit rather than a rugby jersey. Is he worth the risk? Much like Palu, you would think he hasn’t played enough rugby to warrant a spot.
The bolters
Mark Gerrard: The evergreen veteran has come back with a bang in Melbourne this year, and has looked good in the 13 jersey outside Stirling Mortlock. Very much Mr Reliable, he won’t pull huge crowds but he has a solid boot and a great rugby brain. Again, it would be a real long shot though, as his age and lack of pace and physicality will count against him.
Nick Cummins: He’s normally a winger, but I really liked the way he played in the 13 jersey when he pulled it on a couple of times for the Force this season. He only knows one direction and one speed: forward, and fucking fast. Add to that his brutal defence and you have to ask the question: how would the Honey Badger look in a gold jersey?
Pat McCabe: Has had a great season for the Brumbies, and his hard running and uncompromising defence will be well-suited to the 13 jersey. However, a lack of experience in this position will hurt him, as he has played far more at 15 and 12. I would be surprised if he gets a gig in a World Cup year. Expect him to be picked in the wider squad though.
If I were a selector I would go with Kepu, Samo and AAC. I think Sekope and Radike will add much-needed mongrel to our forward pack, while AAC has proven class which we will need in abundance come World Cup time. However, I think Robbie will go with Alexander, McCalman and AAC. Why? From what we have seen of him he is fiercely loyal to players who have done the job for him in the past. He persisted with players like Salesi Ma’afu and Matt Giteau last year when both were clearly out of form. This policy hasn’t had the greatest success rate though, especially against NZ.
Whom would you pick?
