The incumbent(s):
Peter Hynes (QLD) – injured now, but there’s no doubting, in my mind, he should be the first winger chosen for the Wallabies. His work ethic is superb although on occasions he has been found out on defence by particularly fast wingers.
Digby Ione (QLD) – hmmm, perhaps Hynes isn’t the first winger chosen because this man MUST be in the Wallaby team. The best Australian back at the moment. Hands down. Playing, surprisingly, fantastic footy at 13 for the Reds, Digby will make a fantastic test winger after performing solidly there for the last few tests of 2008.
The likely candidates:
Lote Tuqiri (NSW) – has a high work ethic, like Hynes, but plays a different game. A lot of his work his based a bit closer to the ruck, utilising his obvious size and strength. Is back scoring some tries and definitely isn’t playing poorly. I get the impression he is very much ‘head down and bum up’ this year. Not saying anything too silly and just focussed on the job.
Lachlan Turner (NSW) – as I said under the fullback position, he has rediscovered his running game of late, which is crucial given his disappointing 2008 season (don’t let the Super 14 final blind you). Got limited opportunities for the Wallabies last year, which surprised me, but is getting back to that golden 2007 form. Quality finisher who can play the ‘2nd fullback’ role easily.
Adam Ashley-Cooper (ACT) – where do we play him? Wing is as good a place as any. He’s got the speed, has good size and is a quality finisher having scored some wonderful individual tries. This may well be is best chance for the Wallabies whilst Stirlo is still around. Depending on where they pick Stirlo.
Drew Mitchell (WA) – again, as per fullback, there is no doubting his finishing ability, as evidenced in 2007 RWC. He’s strong in the tackle and a lot more assured with the ball in contact than historically. His defence on the wing doesn’t seem as bad, whilst he can use a combination of his speed and the sideline.
Cameron Shepherd (WA) – perhaps lacks the speed of a true test quality winger, but his goal kicking and experience at fullback can be seen as significant assets on the flank. Ultimately it will be how he comes back from injury that will be the deciding factor as to what his test chances are.
The Roughies:
Nick Cummins (WA) – With Digby playing at outcentre, there is a fair argument that could be made that Nick Cummins has been the form Australian winger so far this tournament. He has lost momentum since injury, but with agility, pace, elusiveness and strength he has all the qualities of a test winger. The question is when, though?
What is Deans looking for?
From an outside perspective it seems as though Robbie likes his wingers to be a cross between a fullback and a backrower. There is no doubting he expects them to have the skills to cover their fullback, by way of kicking and counter attacking, but he also expects them to have a high work ethic, willing to clear out at the tackle, race back in support in defence and attack, and to roam the field looking for opportunities to attack.
Who is the answer?
My initial fears for Peter Hynes being a Paul Carozza type one season wonder, I feel, have been abated. I believe the two incumbents will be the first options selected this year. For Digby, his brilliance aside, he has worked hard on his all round game, and this should be enough to secure him the other wing spot. Tuqiri and Ashley-Cooper are the next most likely in my eyes, due largely to their all round game.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2192 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=2192">12 Comments
I notice blair connor didnt rate a mention. I think tuqiri and hynes for me. I always think watching a game that mitchell is one small step away from making a major cock up. Ioane althogh playing well doesnt chop it for me either.
I was at the Wales game last year and can say that live, Ioane seemed the only back to have real explosive power. Everyone else, Hynes, Cross, Tunkgiri all seemed to be plodding along flatfooted compared to him.
He really stood out and it’s no surprise to me that he’s kicking so much arse this S14. I think there’s gotta be some radical thinking and he’s gotta have a shot this year.
All this talk about wingers and fullbacks. Makes me think, what would the most exciting wallaby backline look like.
9 Burgess
10 Giteau
11 Ione
12 Barnes
13 Mortlock
14 T.Smith
15 Gerrard
Barnes is an excitement machine?
If it’s pure excitement you’re after:
9 Burgess
10 Giteau
11 Ioane
12 Quade Cooper
13 T. Smith
14 D. Mitchell
15 O’Connor
Barnes and Mortlock wont Step like quade, smith or ioane, but they will put people through holes and smash the daylights on defence.
But if you think quick feet is exciting, here you go.
9 Giteau
10 G.Smith
11 Ioane
12 Quade Cooper
13 Tahu
14 T.Smith
14 D. Mitchell
15 Gerrard
There is nothing exciting about watching Tahu try and defend at 13. But maybe if you swap him and T Smith!
I love the G Smith idea, but how has that really worked out for the Brumbies this year?
Love it. Smith at number 10.
9 Barnes
10 Gits
11 Lote
12 T Smith
13 Diggers
14 Lachie
15 O’Connor
I think my ideal excitement line-up would be:
9 O’Connor
10 Gits
11 Mitchell
12 Q Cooper
13 Ioane
14 T Smith
15 Gerrard
But to win RWC11:
9 Burgess
10 Gits
11 Hynes
12 Barnes
13 Ioane
14 AAC
15 Gerrard/O’Connor
20 Q Cooper
21 T Smith
22 Mitchell
Interstin comments about Hynes’ deficiencies. Fast wingers, they sort everyone out in the end, but waht contributed to that, i think a combo of the fact that Morty is not longer the defender he was and his wingers get caught out by his lapse (nowadays never used to be the case), and for Qld, Ioane is not defensively switched on at 13, but neither was fetoia, so he has that disavantge, but fair point.
Ioane, is a winger at test level. Even in super level he is caught out at 13 and he plays 13 in attack like he plays 11/14, he gets involved, which althogh it looks cool, come one, its not what the 13 has to do, the 13 is commited to outside 12 channel play most of the time, or wide running off the 9 after mutliple phases and eveyone is caught up…at Test level, he will be more of a problem than solution.
I like drew on the wing. His strength and counter attack desire to run it are good and he is a strong runner. Defesively he has taken great steps to becoming more aggressive and better positioned.
AAC is like on the wing too. Similar to Drew, but probably stronger in tight running, looking for short balls off the 9 or a wide running forward, he can look to move throug traffic. His kicking game was atrocious last year, but, thats what skills coaches are for. he would also be prone to run more as a winger, than from fullback (or lets hope so so that he doenst unleash any more horrible kicks)
Lote: With someone getting him the ball, he will be to same as he has been for Austrlaia, a go forward man, who is hidden in defence. He wont be kicking because he has a square foot. proably needs a spot just because of pay packet! for mine, not form, or potential are there..but alas, has to be played.
Turner: probably the fixit to the FB/Wing spot. In the squad for sure. Shoudl be given a chance against Italy in the 2 tests, and could be a revelation. i think is benefitting from the backline he is in, in that not much attentionis paid to him. when he does things, its a surprise, but when its expected, will he perform.
Shepherd as 15, nowhere near the goods at 11/14 for test level.
O connor should be kept as far away from the wings as possible.
9. Gits
10. Barnes
11. Diggers
12. Quade
13. Gasnier
14. Lote
15. Hynes
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