Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Braveheart81]

Cheika does like a line breaking winger, Speight is the best we have

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).

These are all reasons why I think Speight is one of the more certain RWC selections in the backline.

 

[BDA]

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 think Cheika would have to be mad to leave JOC (James O'Connor) out of the squad, provided he's healthy.

 

[Viking]

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.

Yeah I have to admit winning the MOTM was a surprise to me too. I agree with your logic. But there is a chance Lilo is building towards his 2012 form, he hasn't done anything remarkable yet but he has gotten better each game. If he does replicate that 2012 form in the next couple of games then that can't be ignored.

Whilst some great games at 10 still might not help him get selected ahead of Foley or Cooper I think it would certainly help him get selected ahead of Gits and Beale.

 

[Dumbledore]

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.

His history at 12 is excellent, one game for the Rebels notwithstanding, although it was a long time ago now. One of the biggest wastes of modern Australian rugby. If fit he'll be on the plane and I'll be shocked if he doesn't pick up a wing. JOC (James O'Connor) on one wing, Speight on the other, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the bench to cover 11-15.

 

[Dumbledore]

Cheika does like a line breaking winger, Speight is the best we have

Probably Betham really, only he comes with the dropsies and some pretty average defence.

 

[Viking]

His history at 12 is excellent, one game for the Rebels notwithstanding, although it was a long time ago now. One of the biggest wastes of modern Australian rugby. If fit he'll be on the plane and I'll be shocked if he doesn't pick up a wing. JOC (James O'Connor) on one wing, Speight on the other, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the bench to cover 11-15.

I think the main reason he was never put at 12 was for his defence. His time at 12 in the past was always spent being run over by players like Pat McCabe. Although recently I see him tackling a full-steam Nonu head on (right before he got penalised) so the potential is certainly there. I would love to him at 12 in the future but until he gets more game time he's a wing and utility option only.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think Cheika would have to be mad to leave JOC (James O'Connor) out of the squad, provided he's healthy.

I think his health is the only sticking point. There's plenty of competition for those last few spots and given his stop start season this year and not entirely consistent form, I don't think he can afford to be injured for much of the test season.

In 2013 and earlier he would have been selected even if injured as long as they thought he'd be fit by matchday. Now I'm not so sure.

If he remains injury free in the run up to the RWC I definitely think he'll be part of our first choice matchday 23.

 

[fatprop]

Probably Betham really, only he comes with the dropsies and some pretty average defence.

Actually thinking of who he brought in Alofa & Naiyaravaro

 

[Joeleee]

Actually thinking of who he brought in Alofa & Naiyaravaro

Naiyaravaro has to be one of the line-breakiest but he has so many other liabilities (not least of which seem to be with VISAs)

 

[Dave Beat]

Some game time to see if these OS players are up to scratch. After the Top14;

• Gits to Reds as Cooper cover as he is still injured??
• Drew to Brumbies because To'omua is impacting the back three, and it will be good to see how he goes with Speight.
• Smith to the Manly (or Tahs) to assist in mgmt of game time with Hooper. I would have said Brumbies but Poey is after game time.

 

[Dumbledore]

I think the main reason he was never put at 12 was for his defence. His time at 12 in the past was always spent being run over by players like Pat McCabe. Although recently I see him tackling a full-steam Nonu head on (right before he got penalised) so the potential is certainly there. I would love to him at 12 in the future but until he gets more game time he's a wing and utility option only.

It wasn't. It was because he was playing at 12 as a midget 18-year-old and Deans, thinking reasonably sensibly, thought he'd get him out of the middle for a couple of years while he bulked up to help avoid getting injured and just generally battered. That McCabe thing is literally the only incident anyone ever talks about, outside of him trying to tackle Rene Ranger with a broken sternum, and it happened once. He then got the runaround and never fully got to develop properly in one position.

 

[Train Without a Station]

It wasn't. It was because he was playing at 12 as a midget 18-year-old and Deans, thinking reasonably sensibly, thought he'd get him out of the middle for a couple of years while he bulked up to help avoid getting injured and just generally battered. That McCabe thing is literally the only incident anyone ever talks about, outside of him trying to tackle Rene Ranger with a broken sternum, and it happened once. He then got the runaround and never fully got to develop properly in one position.

What about Tom Carter within 2 weeks of that? Another isolated incident? I think him excelling there are the isolated incidents actually.

 

[Braveheart81]

Some game time to see if these OS players are up to scratch. After the Top14;

• Gits to Reds as Cooper cover as he is still injured??
• Drew to Brumbies because To'omua is impacting the back three, and it will be good to see how he goes with Speight.
• Smith to the Manly (or Tahs) to assist in mgmt of game time with Hooper. I would have said Brumbies but Poey is after game time.

The Top 14 final isn't until 13 June which is the last round of Super Rugby.

George Smith will be available earlier than that but I can't see him being involved.

 

[Pedrolicus]

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.

Don't forget Lealifano has been playing outside Dowsett for three of those matches. Also no Kuridrani for two and no Sio for any of them. He can't win matches on his own.

While playing fly half with a rookie scrum half and an unsettled back line he's still looked pretty good.

 

[Braveheart81]

Don't forget Lealifano has been playing outside Dowsett for three of those matches. Also no Kuridrani for two and no Sio for any of them. He can't win matches on his own.

While playing fly half with a rookie scrum half and an unsettled back line he's still looked pretty good.

I haven't forgotten but I don't think he's done anything to dramatically boost his chances.

 

[Slim 293]

His history at 12 is excellent, one game for the Rebels notwithstanding, although it was a long time ago now. One of the biggest wastes of modern Australian rugby. If fit he'll be on the plane and I'll be shocked if he doesn't pick up a wing. JOC (James O'Connor) on one wing, Speight on the other, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the bench to cover 11-15.

I don't think JOC (James O'Connor) has put in a good game at 12 since he left the Force.........

That was a long long time ago.

 

[fatprop]

Naiyaravaro has to be one of the line-breakiest but he has so many other liabilities (not least of which seem to be with VISAs)

true, but it is a style he likes - angry men who hit hard and run hard; and Speight simply fits that to a tee

I see one of "that style" and a 14/15 being selected on the other wing (AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) or JOC (James O'Connor) would be my guess)

 

[Slim 293]

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.

I think Lilo has generally had a pretty good year, but over the past few weeks I can see why Bernie prefers him at 12.............

The Brumbies backline is much better organised with To'omua at 10 (or at least having To'omua and Lilo alternate at 10/12), although to be fair to Lilo he's had Ah Wong and Coleman at 12 in recent weeks, and no White who adds as an extra playmaker.............

One aspect of his game that has returned since he broke his ankle is the ability to straighten up and accelerate through a gap..........

I don't think he'll be pushing for a Wallaby 10 spot, but he'll be in consideration for the squad............. and he's playing much better than Beale.

 

[fatprop]

I haven't forgotten but I don't think he's done anything to dramatically boost his chances.

really? I thought he has been solid

 

[BDA]

At the world cup we want a genuine 10 with test experience at 10.

Beale has test experience, but isn't a genuine 10.
Lilo is arguably a genuine 10 but has no test experience at 10.
I'd rule those two out completely.

Which ever team wins the world cup will have a very composed no.10. Carter/Barrett for NZ, Sexton for Ireland, Farrell for England, etc.

Thankfully we have two quality no.10s with lots of test experience. Giteau is probably the next most qualified.

I wouldn't be surprised is Farrell's limitation as a 10 costs his team the world cup. Then again, he does suit their game plan very well. Unfortunately if plan A doesn't work, I'm not sure there is a plan B.