Wallabies Squad for The Rugby Championship 2012

Brumby Jack August 7, 2012 85

The 30-man Wallabies squad for the inaugural season of The Rugby Championship has been announced today.

Ben Alexander – ACT Brumbies
Adam Ashley-Cooper – NSW Waratahs
Berrick Barnes – NSW Waratahs
Kurtley Beale – Melbourne Rebels
Quade Cooper – Queensland Reds
Dave Dennis – NSW Waratahs
Kane Douglas – NSW Waratahs
Anthony Fainga’a – Queensland Reds
Saia Fainga’a – Queensland Reds
Will Genia – Queensland Reds
Liam Gill – Queensland Reds
Mike Harris – Queensland Reds
Scott Higginbotham – Queensland Reds
Michael Hooper – ACT Brumbies
Rob Horne – NSW Waratahs
Digby Ioane – Queensland Reds
Sekope Kepu – NSW Waratahs
Drew Mitchell – NSW Waratahs
Stephen Moore – ACT Brumbies
Nick Phipps – Melbourne Rebels
David Pocock (c) – Western Force
Tatafu Polota-Nau – NSW Waratahs
Benn Robinson – NSW Waratahs
Radike Samo – Queensland Reds
Jake Schatz – Queensland Reds
Nathan Sharpe – Western Force
Rob Simmons – Queensland Reds
James Slipper – Queensland Reds
Sitaleki Timani – NSW Waratahs
Nic White – ACT Brumbies

Any there any surprises or glaring omissions from your point of view?

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About the author: Brumby Jack View all posts by Brumby Jack

A Canberra born and bred Rugby tragic brought up on a diet of Canberra Kookaburra and ACT Brumbies Rugby. It was a choice between politics and Rugby, with Rugby the obvious winner.

Discussion »

http://www.mudchooks.com/ MrTimms

Too many (insert rival province name) players.

And not enough (insert my province name) players.

#fact
- Brumby Jack
  
  But I thought you supported the Waratahs?
  - http://www.mudchooks.com Steve Timms
    
    You thought wrong, I support the team with not enough players in the 30 man squad. Every year…
Ali

Really sorry not to see Nick Cummins make the squad. On the other hand, thank goodness Vuna didn’t either!
- Brumby Jack
  
  Vuna hurt his shoulder playing club rugby in Melbourne on the weekend.
  
  I’m not sure how bad the injury is though.
  - old weary
    
    speaking of injuries, are we ever going to see Vickerman again? I bloody hope so….
JDog

where are your 8th men? What does Ben Mowen have to do to get a crack?

Samo, Higginbotham and Schatz against Read and a fit Vermeulen.

Good luck with that.
- Ian
  
  I reckon our loose forwards have it over the kiwi loose forwards. Especially now that McCheat is getting pinged more often.
  - http://www.mudchooks.com Steve Timms
    
    He isn’t wearing black though, once he puts his cloak of invisibility on he will be back to business as usual.
    - Ian
      
      We will need the Sydney crowd to let the ref know when he infringes…. That will require those stiff buggers to make some noise though, so doubt that will happen.
  - Lee Enfield
    
    The problem with Ian is that it will nearly be a home ground for the Kiwis.
    - Ian
      
      Are you calling me a kiwi home ground? I know I may get a little loose when drunk, but not sure that classifies me as a venue.
    - Lee Enfield
      
      Good call. Pardon the typo, there should have been a that before your name.
Skip

Having seen the videos on this site, i hope a few have been given a good flogging to get the cardio up. Timani. Simons & co.
houdini locks

Stuff it, I’m switching to the all blacks… Douglas, simmons and timani… No neville or pyle. Useless!!
- Brax
  
  Judas!
  - Houdini Locks
    
    I wouldn’t really support those w*nkers
Jon

Saia Fainga’a is a ragdoll – not even Super Rugby quality
- Ali
  
  Agree! Nathan Charles should have got a call up instead. Had an awesome season for the Force and deserved a spot more than SF. If he knew the words to the Reds team song, he most probably would have!
- bill
  
  okaaaay.
dom

am i the only one that thinks Adam Wallace stepped up big time for the reds late in the season, and deserved a look in?
- Brumby Jack
  
  Dom,
  
  Only if his name was Adam Timani
- Lee Enfield
  
  And he wasn’t injured.
Lee Enfield

Looking at the squad, there is no reason if the right team is picked, we can’t win back the Bledisloe 2-1 and win the Rugby championship. It all comes down to which 22 Deans picks and unfortuantely that is where my optimism ceases.
- The Rant
  
  Here’s Dean’s 22: No fkn doubt.
  1.Kepu
  2.TPN
  3.Robinson
  4.Simmons
  5.Sharpe
  6. Dennis
  7.Pocock
  8. Higgers
  9. Genia
  10. Cooper
  11. Ioane
  12. Barnes
  13. Horne
  14. AAC
  15. Beale
  
  16: Nandos
  17: Alexander
  18: Timani
  19: Hooper/Gill
  20: Finger/Mitchell
  21: Harris
  22: White/Phipps (if white has surgery)
  
  Personally I like the alternate suggestions I’ve seen here. But this is classic deans. Barnes to inside with mccabe out (robbie happy to not have to make a real decision there). Dennis will get a run with no Palu and Simmons will get first crack. Alexander still gives him the best head of all the front rowers and retains a bench spot.
  - Lee Enfield
    
    If he goes with that 22, we could definitely stand a chance. It isn’t a perfect 22, but it should be good enough.
    I ain’t sure he will have Cooper at 10, I think we will see Barnes there.
TimB

Pretty light on props. I thought Alexander may have struggled to make the squad after the towelling he got from Paddy Ryan.
Fin

Douglas and Schatz are good selections. Timani and Simmons have had their chances and not really done enough IMO. I Would have had Taps in this squad somewhere probably at the expense of Horne , Finger or Harris.
Pie Thrower

who does Dom Shipperly have to r00t to get a gig??
Gordo

Kane Douglas is the biggest bolter, right? Does anyone know why he got the nod ahead of Neville, Pyle, AWH, etc?
- Fin
  
  Gordo IMO Douglas is the reason the Waratahs scrum is so solid. Kepu at TH and Douglas behind him could give the Wallabies a rock solid scrum for the next six or seven seasons. I’d be building Pyle as his long term patner.
  - wilful
    
    Yeah agreed. And how do you build a partner except by exposing them to wallabies training camps etc?
Jimbo81

12/30 Queenslanders is never a bad thing. AWH not there speaks volumes.

Also – Rob “sexy fingers” horne is still there. He and BB are one hit away from retirement and one mid-field bomb / butchered try away from being sacked.

Glad Quade is back to make us look half-way decent.
http://bundanoon1@gmail.com China Steve

Alexander lucky to be there…no TAPS, bad decision…Neville very un-lucky…again….hate to say it but think we will struggle…
TIMTAH

My ideal starting XV from this squad:

1. Kepu
2. Polota-Nau
3. Slipper
4. Douglas
5. Sharpe
6. Dennis
7.Pocock (c)
8.Higgers
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. Barnes
13. Ashley-Cooper
14. Mitchell
15. Beale

Thoughts?
- suckerforred
  
  Like that back line. Swap Moore in for TPN & I would agree.
  - muffy
    
    Agreed, Moore is our first choice Hooker IMO
    
    Other than that you probably have my team there. I would have Shipperly in the mix (i know hes not there, but he can finish and tackle)
- http://bundanoon1@gmail.com China Steve
  
  1.Kepu
  2.TPN
  3.Slipper
  4.Douglas
  5.Sharpe
  6. Schatz
  7.Pocock
  8. Higgers
  9. Genia
  10. Cooper
  11. AAC
  12. A. Finga
  13. Ioane
  14. Mitchell
  15. Beale
  - Fin
    
    Looks pretty good to me China, Maybe Dennis to start with Schatz off the bench ( been impressed with Jake not sure whether he ready to start though) and I’d have mitchell in 11 and AAC in 14
    - http://bundanoon1@gmail.com China Steve
      
      I feel Ioane needs to be brought in closer to the action, he is our strike power especially without Paddy in the middle. Schatz has youth on his side and could go hard early which will be required in these fast contests
- Hawko
  
  That’s close to the best but as we have seen from the leaks, its nothing like the team Deans will select.
- baldwid
  
  I would swith kepu and slipper. Kepu is a better tighthead and Slipper is a better Loosey!
suckerforred

Nothing much different from what every one else is saying.

Taps for Horne IMO. No McCabe?
Glad White, Gill, Douglas & Shatz have got a gig.
Yes Shippers might be hard done by but which of the wingers would you leave out.
Phipps is still there – But I think we just need to deal with the fact that Deans want 3 Scrumies. Why when he only ever uses one I have no idea.
- Goddess
  
  I’d put Shippers in for Mitchell, Taps in for Horne. I know Mitchell’s an experienced campaigner etc but he just breaks too easily and Horne’s been a little too… mercurial… for my liking.
- Goddess
  
  P.S. I believe McCabe’s broken again.
- Hawko
  
  White is scheduled for a shoulder op in a couple of weeks, so Phipps has to be included as he will be standby half once White goes to hospital.
  - Red Kev
    
    Ahh, didn’t know that one, Phipps’ selection makes sense now.
Dave

@suckerforred Not only has he picked three (you need to have three) but one of them is carrying an injury too, Nic White. Don’t know how serious. He’s picked 3 opensides as well. Makes a change from last year’s WC selection at least.

Shame Tapuai didn’t get a spot as he’s got something special. He is lacking a bit of game time though. If nothing else it’s time for Horne to show the faith that Deans continues to place in him.
Sitaleki Timani, hmmmm. Not convinced but I like his size. I think Deans probably does as well. And with Horwill not there we need a bit. It’ll be interesting to see how much game time Douglas gets – and what he does with it. Schatz too. Good to see them both get a look in.
Alexander hasn’t had a great season and was running into a lot of trouble in the Welsh series. Let’s hope he has picked up his game.

Except for the ever polarising 12/13 spot which has been the WBs weakness ever since Morty matured a bit too much – it’s not a bad squad. Although comparing it to the roll calls of the ABs and Boks it doesn’t have me jumping up and down about our prospects of this being “our year”. Time will tell.
RugbyNoddy

Anyone see this from the Reds press release?

Despite only turning 20 in June, Gill flourished as Queensland’s best breakdown scavenger, finishing the 2012 Super Rugby season with a competition-high 33 turnovers, including 26 breakdown or tackle steals. According to Fair Play’s Rugby Analyser statistics, Gill was the only Australian to average more than 2 breakdown or tackle steals per game (2.4).

By comparison, Gill’s Wallabies teammate David Pocock ended the season with 21 breakdown or tackle steals in an extra 245 minutes of Rugby, while Michael Hooper secured 17 breakdown or tackle steals in almost 190 minutes extra of Rugby.
Jay-c

Without knowing the stats I’d put money on gill giving away the most penalties per game too-
- Pie Thrower
  
  Well clearly if he wants to become a world class 7 then he needs to develop his own invisibilty cloke like Sir Rutchie has…
- Brax
  
  Likewise, without knowing the stats, I’d say you’ve already lost your money.
- Red Kev
  
  Well according to SMH/MSN livescores Gill is better than the competition at not conceding penalties:
  Hodgson – 25 penalties conceded
  Pocock – 21 penalties conceded
  Brussow – 19 penalties conceded
  Gill – 17 penalties conceded
  
  Gill and McCaw don’t feature on the list of the top 20 offenders.
  - Red Kev
    
    Dammit that is Hooper with 17 penalties conceded, not Gill (who as I said doesn’t make the top 20).
  - jay-c
    
    cheers for that
    as i mentioned i wasnt aware of the stats- just the impression i had after watching him was that he gave away a few
    i dont go out of my way to watch the force anymore…
  - D.
    
    Hopper is also the #2 in the S15 competition for missed tackels by back rowers. #1 Aussie back rowers.
Jay-c

One thing I’ve noticed with barnes in the wallabies Is while there is less flash there is also less mistakes. Barnes kicks to the corners and makes his tackles and with increasing accuracy kicks the goals too
Wallabies to win a tight series v the blacks
Failing that Cooper to tear open a tired defense in the 2nd half
- D.
  
  Barnes also kicks for no reason to nowhere when he gets flustered or runs out of ideas. This will come back and bite the Wallabies on their arses with the AB’s back three being able to gain so much ground in open play, then the 5 or 6 hand offs and then a try. It’s like clock work with them. If Barnes gets the 10 spot, he needs to cut that out of his game. 2 Dads is a bit of an offender also.
  
  Continued applied pressure on the AB’s is the secret to beating them. Kicking it away removes all of that built up pressure and just turns it into letting them play their game, not ours. When they play their game, forget it. It’s over.
Mart

Where’s Palu?
- Brumby Jack
  
  Injured.
  - Mart
    
    Bugger
  - Mart
    
    Do you know for how long?
    
    I thought he pulled up alright after Super rugby?
Mart

I don’t think our pack is much chop without Palu.

He’s the only stand out 8 in Australia that dominates at an international level.
- Pie Thrower
  
  dominates for 17 minutes before going missing for 20 minutes and then going off injured you mean?
  - Mart
    
    Oh please. There is no one more intimidating in the pack than Palu.
    Even when he’s average he’s 10 times better than any other 8 in Australia.
    - Pie Thrower
      
      I agree he can be intimidating when he is firing, but more often than not he isn’t firing. he is such a hot and cold player – hot and cold a number of times wtihing the space of 30 minutes. Goes missing all the time. On top of that – he gets injured all the time.
Mart

They should’ve given Fotu a run at 8.

Would’ve been a handy sub
ALLHEArT

What the Heck has Rob Horne done besides bomb trys his whole career? He has never managed to do ANYTHING at the Tahs for the whole time his been there and his as versatile as a stump.

Surely the selectors could of picked the HONEY BADGER? Nick Cummins is all heart, he can cover more positions and score bloody trys?

And piss off Phibbs for heavens sake! we are in trouble if Genia gets injured, its not like anybody going to feel at ease with little boy Phibbs coming to the rescue.

Where is Tomane and where is Pyle?

Jeepers!
- Brumby Jack
  
  Deans don’t give a shit
- Graeme
  
  Mungo hair style against him.
- Graeme
  
  NSW and Australian rugby really need to sweeten the pie and get Burgess back. Whites a capable backup for Genia, but I’d rather see Sheahan than Phipps ever wearing gold again, even for the A’s.
J-Rugby

I like Barnes … But if he is at 10 the wallabies will play ‘Waratah-styled’ rugby and we all know how that worked out this year (Boring, useless attack … Essentially playing for penalties)! Let’s give Quade a chance to finally make 10 his own and up until the next World Cup
- The Other Dave
  
  I’d prefer Cooper at flyhalf, but would be happy enough with Barnes. Both players do silly shit when there’s nothing on, and there seems to be two key reasons for this:
  a) They have Horne outside them; and,
  b) as has been so well pointed out by Scott Allan, we have no structure to our attack.
  
  That said, I’d be ecstatic if Horne proved me wrong this year, and if our backs could align quickly to make Deans’s ‘play what’s in front of you’ work (though I suspect that even Haile Gebrselassie taking EPO couldn’t achieve that).
muffy

Anyone know how far off KPI O’Conner is?
- D.
  
  Will miss the first 2 games is what is being reported.
Robson

The best squad available IMHO; except for the exclusion of Tapuae and Adam Wallace-Harrison.

The real key, however, is how Deans brings them together to get, individually and collectively, the best possible performance from them. I think the guys can do it, but I have zero faith in Deans so again IMHO there may be a couple of test matches away from home that will be a long day at the office!
Red Kev

Well Deans has lived up to my billing of him as an inept selector; I’m going to lay bets on him delivering on my assessment of him being a poor strategic (game plan) and tactical (game day) coash as well and put the Wallabies 3rd behind the All Blacks and Springboks and very likely to lose their match in Argentina as well.

Firstly, injuries (there’s a lot so some of Deans’ selections are understandable):
Palmer, Ryan, Wallace-Harrison (was on restricted training duties for last 2 months of Super Rugby), Horwill, Vickerman, Palu, Lealiifano, O’Connor (will miss first two matches), Tomane (won’t be ready even for Spring tour), McCabe, F’Sautia, Lucas.
That’s a lot of talent.
Vuna is injured too but the less said about him the better.

Terrible selections:
Alexander (has been the weakest of the non-Rebel props in Australia, included only because Palmer and Ryan are both injured).
Robinson (Holmes has been a far better scrummager this year, given the injuries Holmes Kepu and Slipper off the bench should be the game day props for the Wallabies).
S.Fainga’a (Hanson is a better hooker at the Reds, and when selected for the Wallabies on the bench Deans never uses him, a wasted spot in the squad).
Simmons (has been soft and in very poor late season form for the Reds, young enough that dropping him might serve as a wake up call so he can develop into the Nathan Sharpe type player the Wallabies need him to be).
Timani (terrible player, I’ve never been impressed with his work and cannot understand the plaudits he gets, Pyle, Neville, Fardy, Carter or Kimlin would have been better choices).
Gill (great player, likely to be Australia’s openside flanker in a few years when Pocock shifts to blindside or eightman under Jake White, but there’s no need for Pocock and Hooper (who performed well enough against Wales to retain his spot) and Gill, his selection could have waited until the Spring tour).
Samo (couldn’t even crack the Reds starting lineup this year, has turned in a far lower work rate than last year, selected on size alone as far as I can tell).
Phipps (like Robinson this is a passable selection given the injuries, I don’t think he’s good enough and believe the squad would have been better served by Lucas’ utility value, if he weren’t injured that is).
A.Fainga’a (has never offered enough in attack, great defender but the Wallabies need attack to combat the ABs and he doesn’t bring it).
Horne (ball hog, turnstyle, show pony that doesn’t actually show any real skills, possibly the worst selection in the squad).
Mitchell (well off match fitness, very poor in his games back especially in positional reading of the play, selected on reputation alone).

Omissions – these guys should all be there:
Holmes (for Alexander) – should be starting in the no.1 jersey for the Wallabies.
Hanson (for S.Fainga’a) – better hooker in every facet of the game.
Pyle (for Timani) – he was great in 2011 and improved this year, the sooner he’s made a Wallaby the better (Pyle-Horwill is for mine the likely strongest Wallaby locking combination of the future).
Neville (for Simmons) – Simmons needs a wake up call dropping in my opinion and Neville shows good potential.
Hodgson (for Gill) – more versatile cover.
Mowen (for Samo) – he’s in form and very good at number eight.
Tapuai (for A.Fainga’a) – he’s the best centre (at 12 or 13) in Australia by a significant distance, his non-selection is quite frankly the stupidest of Deans’ stupid calls in the RC squad.
Cummins (for Horne) – a 13/14 who’s been a shining light in a poor backline, with some decent ball he might deliver, certainly he won’t be any worse than Horne who has had so many chances it is ridiculous.
Shipperley (for Mitchell) – he’s been the best winger in Australia all year and made Mitchell look positively pedestrian in their match up at Suncorp.
- Red Kev
  
  Also strange to note (the post was so long I forgot to mention it) that Deans has gone with an 18-12 split.
  Thinking on it now you could easily drop Gill for a back (bring A.Fainga’a or Horne back into the mix perhaps, although I’d probably go with Foley instead and then replace him with O’Connor after the first two matches).
- muffy
  
  Hey redkev, you cop a bit for your red tinted specs at times, but I can’t fault any of the above. Good rant – pay that from me
- Graeme
  
  Kevin, I agree with almost all those.
  
  Only exceptions are Gill, he’s had a great season despite his youth. And Mitchell. I was a bit disappointed with his form when he came back, he seemed very underdone. But if he can get back to full match fitness and the form he had a year ago he is easily our best winger.
Jimbo81

totally agree
Scott Bryant

Deans is out of his fucking mind
Disco

Deans always does something weird every test season but it’s always something different to the weird way’s of last year.
redbull

How long is it till the Reds play again?
Timbo

Should change this website to redrugby.com :P