Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[Train Without a Station]

Won't non-playing squad members return to play club rugby as they have done previously?

 

[Braveheart81]

Won't non-playing squad members return to play club rugby as they have done previously?

Some of them might but at most domestic test matches there are Wallaby squad members who aren't in the matchday team sitting on the bench.

 

[Richo]

Some of them might but at most domestic test matches there are Wallaby squad members who aren't in the matchday team sitting on the bench.

Otherwise they wouldn't get a chance to wear those spiffy team blazers.

 

[Bairdy]

Ideal 6:
Palmer
Hanson
Douglas
White
Tapuai
Mogg/Mitchell

Deans' 6:
Palmer/Ryan
Hanson
Douglas
Burgess
Phipps
Beale

 

[JSRF10]

Nic White should be preparing for spending 240 minutes sitting on the bench in case Will Genia gets injured, he is having a great game for the Brumbies tonight.

 

[Scotty]

If Deans picks Burgess or Beale I am going to go more postal than after the Cooper non-selection.

Burgess hasn't played in the country and has barely played at all anywhere. Nic White would bring a lot to the wallabies with his boot and passing game.

Beale isn't even fit enough to play for the rebels, and he has the same issues that Deans has with Cooper's play - lateral in attack and not physical in defense.

 

[qwerty51]

Palmer is not even playing, neither is McCabe.

Mogg has not stepped up

Hanson
Douglas
McMeniman
White
Tapuai
Beale

Also Tomane is not playing well, he might look for a winger, especially with Ioane in doubt. Betham perhaps as a bolter?

 

[Bairdy]

Deans will go back to what he knows Qwerty, so Mitchell, or McCabe even

 

[qwerty51]

No I don't think so, people can joke that those are his favourites but he's really not as crazy as he's made out to be. I think there's reasonable justification behind all his selections yet people chose to ignore it. Those two have none.

 

[lewisr]

No I don't think so, people can joke that those are his favourites but he's really not as crazy as he's made out to be. I think there's reasonable justification behind all his selections yet people chose to ignore it. Those two have none.

When announcing the squad he was asked about McCabe and spoke as though he had him pencilled in until the injury... In another interview he spoke about McCabes faster than expected recovery and the fact he would be in strong contention for the final 6.

 

[qwerty51]

If he doesn't play next week he's no chance. Same goes for McMeniman actually.

 

[Brumbieman]

So Qwerty, you still reckon Barnes should be picked for his goal kicking?

You know, like you're constantly advocating, saying we need his composure in pressure situations for shots at goal to potentially decide games/the series?

 

[qwerty51]

I did address that in the Tahs/Cru thread and said it was a massive concern for me. The first picked player should be the goal kicker and that was a pressure kick which he failed miserably, it was one kick though. We'll see.

 

[lewisr]

I did address that in the Tahs/Cru thread and said it was a massive concern for me. The first picked player should be the goal kicker and that was a pressure kick which he failed miserably, it was one kick though. We'll see.

I just hope that it doesnt put doubt in his mind. Barnesy doesn't strike me as that kind of bloke though. This was the issue for me from the start though, Deans is relying on a reputation and we simply haven't seen that much of Berricckkkk this year.

 

[Paradox]

Also Tomane is not playing well

Bollocks.

 

[Richo]

I reckon Barnes is definitely a confidence player. We've seen that at the Tahs in recent years. I also don't think he kicks that well under pressure, which is why he's rarely been a first choice goal kicker.

 

[qwerty51]

The only other option I see viable is Lealiifano but he has to first make the 15 and hasn't been tested kicking at Test level.

 

[lewisr]

To be fair, we have never been as good at kicking as any other top tier nation. That includes goal kicking, kicking for touch and usually kicking in game although our tactical kicks have been getting better lately.

Just going to say it - I reckon it's one of the reasons we have to concentrate more on tries through attacking rugby rather than working for the penalty *ducks*.

 

[qwerty51]

The goal should always be to score tries, not play for penalties. In the endeavour of scoring tries the opposition will get penalised in kick-able areas and we must capitalise on them, not just for the scoreboard pressure but so the opposition becomes less cynical knowing we will punish them - opens up more opportunities to score.

The Lions had a shocking kicker (Stephen Jones) in 2009 compared to Pienaar and Steyn and it cost them the series.

 

[Joe Blow]

I just hope that it doesnt put doubt in his mind. Barnesy doesn't strike me as that kind of bloke though. This was the issue for me from the start though, Deans is relying on a reputation and we simply haven't seen that much of Berricckkkk this year.

or of Beale or of JOC (James O'Connor)

Our 3 options(likely) at 10 have played a couple of games between them, if that, over the last couple of months. A bit risky considering it is the BIL and a very important series?
Lilo is another option at 10 but has not played a test or any Super rugby at 10 to speak of since last year.
QC (Quade Cooper) or To'omua must be in the final 6. Both goal kicking 10s.