Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC
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Peter Johnson (47)
I'd rate our 12s like this:-
1. To'omua
2. Lilo
3. Giteau
4. Beale
5. Horne
I hate to be that guy always hating on Beale, but I just don't rate him as a test player at 12. Actually correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that out of the abovenamed players he's got the least amount of experience at 12 in test matches. Even Horne spent a bit of time there in the Deans Era. Beale's limited test experience at 12 was almost exclusively from the bench. Can anyone confirm whether he ever started at 12?
I wouldn't mind him playing fullback if Folau wasn't available, but not starting at 12. He could be usual at 12 off the bench late in the match for attacking impact, although I prefer a 6/2 bench with a guy like Horne on the bench
1. To'omua
2. Lilo
3. Giteau
4. Beale
5. Horne
I hate to be that guy always hating on Beale, but I just don't rate him as a test player at 12. Actually correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that out of the abovenamed players he's got the least amount of experience at 12 in test matches. Even Horne spent a bit of time there in the Deans Era. Beale's limited test experience at 12 was almost exclusively from the bench. Can anyone confirm whether he ever started at 12?
I wouldn't mind him playing fullback if Folau wasn't available, but not starting at 12. He could be usual at 12 off the bench late in the match for attacking impact, although I prefer a 6/2 bench with a guy like Horne on the bench
I agree that Beale isn't a likely choice as a starting test 12. I tend to think he's in a somewhat different competition for spots in the various squads and it mostly revolves around his utility and impact as a bench player.
I tend to think it will be difficult for Leali'ifano to make the RWC squad because I can't see Cheika thinking he's in his first choice 23.
I tend to think it will be difficult for Leali'ifano to make the RWC squad because I can't see Cheika thinking he's in his first choice 23.
D
daz
Guest
Damn, I didn't even think of Gits in the selection mix. I obviously haven't processed the new rules yet! 
Trouble is, I don't know where to place him in the pecking order because there is a bit of a unknown quantity around him in Test footy right now.
Trouble is, I don't know where to place him in the pecking order because there is a bit of a unknown quantity around him in Test footy right now.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
For starting 12's:
1. To'omua
2. Lilo
3. Giteau
4. Godwin
5. Inman
6. Beale
Like Braveheart already mentioned, the list for back-up 12 is going to be completely different. Beale would certainly be favoured for a bench position even though I'd put him way down the list as a starter.
Utility/Bench/Impact value:
1. Giteau
2. Beale
3. Lilo / To'omua
4. Godwin
5. Inman
1. To'omua
2. Lilo
3. Giteau
4. Godwin
5. Inman
6. Beale
Like Braveheart already mentioned, the list for back-up 12 is going to be completely different. Beale would certainly be favoured for a bench position even though I'd put him way down the list as a starter.
Utility/Bench/Impact value:
1. Giteau
2. Beale
3. Lilo / To'omua
4. Godwin
5. Inman
Let's assume that we're going to select 14 backs for the RWC squad. It could possibly go down to 13 but is unlikely to go up to 15.
I reckon the following spots are just about locked in barring injury.
9: Phipps, Genia/White
10: Foley, Cooper
12: To'omua
13: Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14: Speight
15: Folau
So that's 9 players already.
The players left that are really in contention in my mind are:
- 3rd halfback. This will either be White/Genia, Stirzacker or Giteau. I don't think Giteau will actually play at the RWC at halfback unless there is an injury within 48 hours of a match and then he'll be on the bench as a reserve halfback. If Giteau is selected I think we'll only pick two specialist halfbacks and then there's a strong chance we'll only take 13 backs and opt for another forward.
- wing option. Speight and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) are currently the only wing options. Horne, JOC (James O'Connor), Cummins, Tomane are fighting it out here.
- utility backs. Beale and Leali'ifano are the two obvious options.
My prediction is Giteau will go to the RWC and it will mean we only pick two specialist halfbacks and 13 backs in total.
I think the remaining three backs will be three out of Horne, Beale, Leali'ifano and JOC (James O'Connor).
I reckon the following spots are just about locked in barring injury.
9: Phipps, Genia/White
10: Foley, Cooper
12: To'omua
13: Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14: Speight
15: Folau
So that's 9 players already.
The players left that are really in contention in my mind are:
- 3rd halfback. This will either be White/Genia, Stirzacker or Giteau. I don't think Giteau will actually play at the RWC at halfback unless there is an injury within 48 hours of a match and then he'll be on the bench as a reserve halfback. If Giteau is selected I think we'll only pick two specialist halfbacks and then there's a strong chance we'll only take 13 backs and opt for another forward.
- wing option. Speight and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) are currently the only wing options. Horne, JOC (James O'Connor), Cummins, Tomane are fighting it out here.
- utility backs. Beale and Leali'ifano are the two obvious options.
My prediction is Giteau will go to the RWC and it will mean we only pick two specialist halfbacks and 13 backs in total.
I think the remaining three backs will be three out of Horne, Beale, Leali'ifano and JOC (James O'Connor).
D
daz
Guest
Decent analysis BH. Hard to argue with your logic.
BDA
Peter Johnson (47)
Agree with your assessment. expect, I'd argue that Horne and JOC (James O'Connor) both have more utility value than Lilo and Beale, looking at the positions we need to cover.
The fact that Beale and Lilo can play 10 is irrelevant in my view. If Foley and Cooper both go down I believe Larkham will prefer To'omua at 10. In fact if Giteau is in the squad he'd be ahead of them too. The only other positions Beale can play are 12 and 15 and as mentioned above, whilst he is decent cover for 12, he's not a great option to start at 12. Lilo can really only play 12. He's probably a better option to have to start the game at 12, but has limited value as a bench option.
Horne can play 11, 12, 13, 14.
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) can play 11,13,14,15.
JOC (James O'Connor) can play 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. He can also cover 10, but as mentioned above I'd say that's irrelevant.
In my opinion those three players are our most versatile and form permitting, must be in the squad.
Mr Pilfer
Bob Loudon (25)
What do we think of Mitchell's chances? All the talk was about Gits and Drew didn't seem a chance but now after scoring a great try in a big final he surely has put his name forward. Plus with the other wingers not really setting the world on fire he must be a chance. eg I would have him ahead of Cummins, Tomane, Shipperley Betham etc
Also Lilo should be in the squad surely, when To'omua got injured last year he filled in very well for the Wallabies.
Also Lilo should be in the squad surely, when To'omua got injured last year he filled in very well for the Wallabies.
I don't think JOC (James O'Connor) will be considered an option at 12 and 13. There's no history at 13 and his history at 12 has generally been poor and a long time ago. His best chance is as a winger and backup fullback. I think his form and recurring injuries are his biggest problems. He's definitely a big time player and was just about our best at the 2011 RWC. He needs to finish the season well though and stay healthy. Given his absence from Australian rugby, I don't think he's guaranteed a spot as long as he is fit the day before the RWC squad is selected.
I agree that Horne is probably close to being picked in the RWC squad because he's amongst our best wingers and he'd be our third best 13 and a good option at 12.
I definitely think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is in the RWC squad if healthy. I don't think he's fighting it out for the last few spots.
I agree that Horne is probably close to being picked in the RWC squad because he's amongst our best wingers and he'd be our third best 13 and a good option at 12.
I definitely think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is in the RWC squad if healthy. I don't think he's fighting it out for the last few spots.
I think Mitchell will get a look in but certainly won't earn selection on the back of one try. Will probably depend on how he looks when the squad assembles. His big advantage is that he's a left footed kicker. I don't think any of those other wingers will make the squad so they're not the people he has to beat out for a spot.
Lilo is right amongst it but what works against him is that if he's not considered an ideal bench option in our best 23 (who knows, he might be), then it will be hard to make the squad.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
I would have agreed with you at the start of the year given the lack of game time at 10. However Lilo has played the last few games at 10 for the Brumbies and won MOTM ahead of incumbent Foley. His form is building in the position. This combined with his highly successful 2012 stint at 10 still in the back of peoples minds I would think his chances of being cover for 10 is pretty good and will only increase if he continues to progress each game.
Chris McCracken
Jim Clark (26)
Here's a question..... Is Giteau a chance of nabbing the 10 jersey?
Joeleee
Ted Fahey (11)
Is Speight a lock for Cheika though? The only reason I say that, is because Cheika seemed somewhat reticent to select him at the end of last year when he had arguably been in better Super Rugby form (though he had just got back from injury).
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
I could see him as a cover for 10 but theirs no way I'd put him ahead of To'omua, Cooper, Foley to start.
If Cooper and Foley are both injured then I'd still move To'omua to 10 with Gits 12.
So it would take Cooper, Foley and To'omua to all be injured before he'd get a look in. And in that case I'd probably rather still keep Gits at 12 and chuck in that guy with the big boot from the Rebels.
Should he have been MOTM in that game though? I agree he was better than Foley but neither were overly convincing in my opinion. Both kicked poorly and it was a match dominated by forward play. Neither of them produced the lone try for their team.
Including the game To'omua got injured, the Brumbies have lost three of their last four. It's not really a great audition for Leali'ifano to stake his claim for the Wallaby 10 jersey.
I think Foley and Cooper will both be in the RWC squad so being another option behind them at 10 won't really help Leali'ifano in my opinion given other players like Giteau and To'omua also potentially provide that extra cover.
Possibly not. I tend to think he's got the best chance of the specialist wingers though. If JOC (James O'Connor), Horne and Mitchell boost their chances he might miss out.
Joeleee
Ted Fahey (11)
Yeh, I've been thinking of him as a lock for a little while, but just recently I remembered how he wasn't picked so often last year and everyone was a bit surprised. Personally I think you need at least one specialist winger, and he seems to be the man for it. The only other really specialist options I can think of are Mitchell or Cummins (I still see JOC (James O'Connor)/Horne/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in more of the utility back cum winger role).
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