Genia and Cooper would clearly be in the squad if they were fit.
Still, it's quite the remarkable situation.
I'd guess there have been up to 6 Reds backs in a couple of previous squads of a similar size in recent years.
Wallaby Watch 2014
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Genia and Cooper would clearly be in the squad if they were fit.
Still, it's quite the remarkable situation.
I'd guess there have been up to 6 Reds backs in a couple of previous squads of a similar size in recent years.
T
Train Without a Station
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Yeah. Rightly so, it would be hard to be picked as a debutant as a back in one of the worst backlines in the comp. Harris would be close to next cab of the rank at 12 though and same with Turner on the wing if only due to lack of depth.
Benaud
Tom Lawton (22)
Pretty much 100% as expected. The 3rd halfback spot was always going to be dubious. I half expected them not to even bother with one and just play Jones as the extra lock again. No surprises with the rest. Injury permitting, I assume Pek, Hanson, Horwill, Higgers, Hodgson, Burgess and Horne probably won't get a run.
Unless Tomane is dynamite I'm not sure he'll waltz back into the 23. He hasn't even cracked the Brumbies starting team yet after returning from injury. McCabe or Horne could easily get a crack off the bench again.
I think Horwill is almost certain for the matchday 23. I'll be surprised if they go with Simmons and Carter with Skelton on the bench.
I think Horwill is almost certain for the matchday 23. I'll be surprised if they go with Simmons and Carter with Skelton on the bench.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I think Tomane will slot straight in for Cummins, better finisher than McCabe and Horne and that will be needed against NZ.
Horwill in the 23 is not certain at all, against NZ I think Carter will start and he'll prefer Skelton off the bench in Sydney.
For once (in my opinion anyway) the 23 is really easy to pick/predict which is a good thing.
1. Slipper 2. TPN 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Carter 6. Fardy 7. Hooper (c) 8. Palu 9. White 10. Foley 11. Tomane 12. To'omua 13. Kuridrani 14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 15. Folau 16. Charles 17. Sio 18. Alexander 19. Skelton 20. McCalman 21. Phipps 22. Beale 23. McCabe
If it's not that I'll be shocked.
Horwill in the 23 is not certain at all, against NZ I think Carter will start and he'll prefer Skelton off the bench in Sydney.
For once (in my opinion anyway) the 23 is really easy to pick/predict which is a good thing.
1. Slipper 2. TPN 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Carter 6. Fardy 7. Hooper (c) 8. Palu 9. White 10. Foley 11. Tomane 12. To'omua 13. Kuridrani 14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 15. Folau 16. Charles 17. Sio 18. Alexander 19. Skelton 20. McCalman 21. Phipps 22. Beale 23. McCabe
If it's not that I'll be shocked.
Benaud
Tom Lawton (22)
Really? That's exactly what I'm expecting. Simmons and Carter basically morals to start unless Carter's ankle flares up again. Skelton the impact man off the bench. Horwill could be an alternate bench option if they are concerned about the lineout with Skelton out there though.
Benaud
Tom Lawton (22)
I assumed AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Tomane early. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Speight later.
Yeah, forgot about the second winger. I think form in the next couple of weeks will play a big part for Tomane Horne and McCabe, particularly whoever gets two games. I'm not convinced Tomane will slot straight back in. No Brumbies team named yet but if they repeat last week both Tomane and McCabe are on the bench (yet one of them could be the starting Wallaby winger).
I thought Horwill was pretty good in the June series and finished the season strongly. I still expect him to get the nod either starting or off the bench.
I'm not convinced Carter's ankle will hold up. It seems to me like he's really battling through the end of the season despite having an injury break due to it.
T
Train Without a Station
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So a bloke who has played 1 test and never been in the squad before this year is a certainty to start? Ok.
Personally I think Carter is our best all around TH lock option now but to say he is an out and out certainty is a stretch.
Link in his time has shown a big emphasis on the set piece against strong packs and I doubt this will change initially and because of that I expect Horwill on the bench at least due to his superiority in the scrum and line out to Skelton. He also offers a substitution option of either players without detrimentally affecting the set piece. Otherwise would be saying he felt the 7 games in a row we had built up meant nothing and was in the wrong direction.
If physicality is an area we are lacking in the first game, I expect that to change though.
Personally I think Carter is our best all around TH lock option now but to say he is an out and out certainty is a stretch.
Link in his time has shown a big emphasis on the set piece against strong packs and I doubt this will change initially and because of that I expect Horwill on the bench at least due to his superiority in the scrum and line out to Skelton. He also offers a substitution option of either players without detrimentally affecting the set piece. Otherwise would be saying he felt the 7 games in a row we had built up meant nothing and was in the wrong direction.
If physicality is an area we are lacking in the first game, I expect that to change though.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
I think whilst form for the super sides is very important we should not forget he mode of play in those sides. Being hyper critical of players for set piece play from the Tahs is a bit of a stretch since the Tahs philosophy appears to be just get it over with and ensure security on own ball. I would think that Link and Blades would of assessed players like Skelton, Robinson, Kepu fot their set piece abilities and ability to learn said skills in Wallabies camp given Chieka's lack of focus. Lets not forget that Kepu wasn't even a 40 minute player for the Tahs until after the June internationals.
I also look at the scrum work of Skelton in the test V for the Tahs and his binding and action at the scrum was different (and far more effective).
I believe that the Super form and fitness levels of the players is only one part of the selection process and though important, how they will be coached and balanced at test level in camp is also a big factor.
I also look at the scrum work of Skelton in the test V for the Tahs and his binding and action at the scrum was different (and far more effective).
I believe that the Super form and fitness levels of the players is only one part of the selection process and though important, how they will be coached and balanced at test level in camp is also a big factor.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Defensive issues and dominance in contact.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
Horwill will be there instead of Skelton. Skelton will see game time throughout the RC but I don't see Link taking two green locks into the 23. To risky for the quality of opposition we are up against and Link will look to use Horwill's experience on the bench.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
Yep, this is just piled with irony. On the flip side and just as amazing is Reds forwards are being selected on set piece value, namely Slipper and Simmons.
WTF?
Tom Lawton (22)
Too risky? So we go with what we know, that is a player who is still not playing to his ability and come up with the same result or we take risks to beat those heathen from across the dutch and have something different on the bench. If Horwill was on fire he would be starting, make no mistake. He obviously isn't so Skelton it should be.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean with "piled with irony" but for the record I was pointing this out more as a statistical anomaly than any sort of statement about the Reds.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Off-hand, I reckon you might find some examples back in the sixties, when NSW dominated selection, with a Queenslander or two in the forwards. Jules Guerrasimoff in particular was always there or thereabouts. Stu Gregory got a few caps.
Catchpole at half, Hawthorne at fly-half, Beres Ellwood at inside centre, one of the Boyces at outside centre, the other on the wing with Michael Cleary. Lenehan at FB. Dick Marks was the first long term Queensland backline player during the sixties, IIRC. Bob Honan played for a while before switching to loig. Harry Roberts played a couple of times.
An old mate of mine, Bob Potter, was selected for one Test, he played on the wing against Fiji, marking Joe Levula. He still has the newspaper clippings, his favourite being a story in the Sydney Sun headlined "Bob Who?"
In those days there were only one or two interstate games, and Test match preparations were limited to 24 hours! So it is pretty natural that the national selectors tended to favour players from the stronger, more established, state team.
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