Wallabies Trinations Squad

[barbarian]

My team to play the 3N:

1. Ben Daley
2. James Hanson
3. James Slipper
4. James Horwill
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. David Pocock
8. Radike Samo
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. James O'Connor
13. Ant Fainga'a
14. Rod Davies
15. Kurtley Beale

I think the unlucky ones to miss out are Beau, Tapuai and Lance. But how can you leave out Pocock, JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale? All three are probably worse than Beau, Taps and Lance but they bring in the punters so they are hard to go past.

 

[Scotty]

Surely Lucas is also going to be ready to come into your side, and don't forget Morahan.

Jeez. Such a one eyed Tahs supporter.

 

[jay-c]

World Cups are won on good defence...

of course your right there> git might not lose a world cup for us> but he sure as hell wont win one
and its not about seeling him short> larkham ha been suggesting git is #1 all year> ie heard it in so many interviews
cooper has almost singlehandedly orchestrated many wins for the reds this year> or at least played a part in the winning try in many many games... git hasnt done that for 5 years

 

[waratahjesus]

Not sure where to throw this info, but drew Mitchell by report starts running again today, apparently a little ahead of schedule and world cup looking possible.

 

[Joe Blow]

Not sure where to throw this info, but drew Mitchell by report starts running again today, apparently a little ahead of schedule and world cup looking possible.

sweet

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

My team to play the 3N:

1. Ben Daley
2. James Hanson
3. James Slipper
4. James Horwill
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. David Pocock
8. Radike Samo
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. James O'Connor
13. Ant Fainga'a
14. Rod Davies
15. Kurtley Beale

I think the unlucky ones to miss out are Beau, Tapuai and Lance. But how can you leave out Pocock, JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale? All three are probably worse than Beau, Taps and Lance but they bring in the punters so they are hard to go past.

That's gold.

 

[barbarian]

Surely Lucas is also going to be ready to come into your side, and don't forget Morahan.

Jeez. Such a one eyed Tahs supporter.

Yeah sorry left off the bench:

16. Sai'a Fainga'a
17. Greg Holmes
18. Nathan Sharpe
19. Jake Schatz
20. Beau Robinson
21. Ben Lucas
22. Luke Morahan

Think AWH is a bit unlucky to be left out here, I think Sharpe has had a slightly better season. Nothing in it though, and I suppose fans with a slight Queensland bias may see cause to pick him.

 

[cyclopath]

Rocky >>>>>>> Me >>>>>>> Higgers

At what?
Seriously, Slim, we all get it, you don't rate him. We can take it as given rather than have it stated ad nauseam. Please.

 

[Lee Grant]

Getting away from the above comedy sketch: some people have mentioned that Wykes was unlucky. My take is that the selectors don't think he is a test match player at this stage of his career. He probably has to show a bit more tight work to break into the Wallabies next year as his type of play is geared to an open game. I said that about his future when he was at school and nothing much has changed.


Some people think he should have been preferred to Mumm but I don't. Mumm is generally under-rated in this forum as are many others, but so was Sharpe as recently as last year until the rhubarbs stopped.


The selection of Samo, since Wykes has played 8 and 6 for the Force, did Sam no favours but if one person was elevated above Wykes in the 40 man squad it was Timani, not Mumm. Timani had a terrific return to Super Rugby. I watched the big unit in the trials this year and he looked suspiciously like a good footie player and I thought I was seeing things.


Then he displaced young Douglas at the Tahs which I put down to a 2nd year syndrome of Douglas, but it was more the rise of Timani. As I wrote yesterday: I hope we can keep him for the Wallabies. He and as his brothers are globetrotters and have been away from Tonga for a while, and he even played league here. We shouldn't feel too bad about nabbing him.


I don't know what to think about the selection of Vickerman. It's a big gamble and to give him some time at the expense of others already accustomed to the pace of 3N rugby raises the stakes higher before the final card for the inside straight is dealt.


Still, they have to play out the hand. One thing I will say: when he ran out for the Tahs against the Brumbies he looked in better shape than that he was in for the 2007 RWC - or even a few months ago playing in a few games for Northampton.

 

[fatprop]

If Vickerman had played more than 20 minutes of Super Rugby and one grade match, i would be more confident. I would have Timani as the 4th lock, he can make things happen and change games

 

[mudskipper]

At a glance my humble Wallabies 22 selection, I'd go with size and strength in the loosies, a younger and older second row mix for experience and speed to the breakdown and some straight running utility backs with solid defence and an experienced international scrumhalf…

1. Benn Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rob Simmons
5. James Horwill
6. Rocky Elsom (c)
7. David Pocock
8 Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. James O'Connor
12. Matt Giteau
13. Digby Ioane
14. Rod Davies
15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Radike Samo
19. Scott Higginbotham
20. Luke Burgess
21. Pat McCabe/ A.Fainga'a (however McCabe can cover 11-15 has the advantage)
22. Adam Ashley-Cooper

 

[barbarian]

What is it with people leaving out Sharpe? Have I missed something?

 

[mudskipper]

No just a new generation of second row players with equal or better skills who are faster around the field. Sharpie or Vickerman would be in the 30 but not both. Sharpies strength at the Force are he motivates the younger guys and keeps them organised, however at Wallabies level these guys are highly motivated and well drilled. One of the reasons the Reds won on the weekend was their forwards especialy secondrow got to the breakdown early. Fitness and youth are a huge part of this success.

 

[Dumbledore]

What is it with people leaving out Sharpe? Have I missed something?

Queensland are S15 Champions therefore Simmons is better than Sharpe. FACT.

 

[cyclopath]

No just a new generation of second row players with equal or better skills who are faster around the field. Sharpie or Vickerman would be in the 30 but not both. Sharpies strength at the Force are he motivates the younger guys and keeps them organised, however at Wallabies level these guys are highly motivated and well drilled.

I would say a large part of his strength is that he is a very good International lock who has been our best for the past 2 years, who is an excellent lineout technician and very good at carrying the ball up over the gain line.

 

[MrTimms]

3. Ben Alexander

17. James Slipper

I would definitely swap those two around. James is a better scrummager than Ben, especially at tight head, and you lose nothing around the field. Ben would be good as a reserve, and can play both sides.

Why no Ioane? for mine, him at 11, JOC (James O'Connor) at 14 and Rod for later.

 

[Slim 293]

If it was up to me, and all players listed in the squad were fit:

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Horwill
5. Sharpe
6. Elsom (c)
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. Giteau
13. Ashley-Cooper
14. O'Connor
15. Beale

16. Polata-Nau
17. Slipper
18. Simmons/Timani
19. Hodgson
20. Burgess
21. McCabe
22. Davies

I'm still a little torn with the 12/14 axis between playing Giteau/O'Connor/Davies... when Mitchell is back he'll go straight to the wing and Giteau/O'Connor will fight it out for the inside centre spot...

My other indecision is whether to go with Simmons on the bench (which I'm leaning towards), or having Timani there and building on his form... his size/strength would really come in handy... the other option here would be to have Samo as lock/6/8 cover...

I think Hodgson is the perfect backrow bench player, but if I were to go bigger I'd go with McCalman...

 

[tigerland12]

As good of a season Timani has had, I think Simmons deserves to be on the bench. He has been consistantly great all year

 

[light]

At a glance my humble Wallabies 22 selection, I'd go with size and strength in the loosies, a younger and older second row mix for experience and speed to the breakdown and some straight running utility backs with solid defence and an experienced international scrumhalf…

1. Benn Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rob Simmons
5. James Horwill
6. Rocky Elsom (c)
7. David Pocock
8 Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. James O'Connor
12. Matt Giteau
13. Digby Ioane
14. Rod Davies
15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Radike Samo
19. Scott Higginbotham
20. Luke Burgess
21. Pat McCabe/ A.Fainga'a (however McCabe can cover 11-15 has the advantage)
22. Adam Ashley-Cooper

I'd be hesitant to put our best outside centre on the bench in place for a player leaving the Wallabies' set-up post world cup. Digby has been playing wing all year and is IMO head and shoulders above Davies, we need our specialist wingers on the wings if we are going to score tries and we are already taking somewhat of a risk with O'Connor. I rate Davies highly but he's not above AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) or Digby yet, he should come into the Wallabies set up next year or at earliest the world cup warm-up games. Apart from that and the absence of Sharpe, not a bad 22.

 

[Slim 293]

I definitely think Simmons is just ahead of him on consistency, but Timani was one of the best Aussie locks in the last part of the regular season and certainly has some potential there...

Tough choice but I would also lean towards Simmons...