Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I make no apologies either for my preference of McMahon at 6. I would take him over Higgers, simply because for an equal workrate McMahon has a far greater impact. He makes a lot of metres ball in hand, wins turnovers and defends like a terrier.

You'd play McMahon at 6 instead of Fardy?

 

[JJJ]

Edit: Sorry after reading your comment again. I am not sure if you are advocating for Robinson to be in the 23 or not.

Not. I'm glad we have other options on that side of the scrum, though I'm not sure what the current pecking order is in Cheika's mind.

 

[Brumby Runner]

It's interesting how quickly Skelton has gone from being almost unselectable in most people's eyes (mostly due to scrummaging on the EOYT) to being almost a lock (no pun intended) in the starting XV.

The main point of interest BH is the way he has quickly learnt to pack properly and use his weight to advantage in the scrum. Being able to jump occasionally has also increased his selectability. All praise to him for making those improvements.

 

[BDA]

McMahon would be a decent foil with Pocock at 7. But I tend to think he can't go too lightweight - as seen on the EOYT. I'd be going for a lock style 6. Plus if you're going to start Skelton and Palu you need a strong line-out option at 6. McMahon has probably taken about the same number of line-out catches as Palu this year.

 

[Highlander35]

Assuming all the below are fit, this is something similar to what I expect Cheika's squad to look like. It's not perfect but it's one of the best Australia has to offer. Left 4 places blank, but I can't pick them, and putting personal favourites in there wouldn't help discussion.

1. Slipper
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Skelton
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Palu
9. Phipps
10. Foley
11. JOC (James O'Connor)
12. To'omua
13. Kurindrani
14. Speight
15. Folau

16. TPN
17. Sio
18. Prop
19. Carter
20. Higgenbotham
21. Genia
22. Cooper
23. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Hooker
Prop
Lock
McCalman
Pocock
White
Beale
Horne

 

[fatprop]

Whilst Skelton was wonderful on Saturday

I think it is difficult to equate that style of match with a test match under NH RWC knock out conditions

 

[fatprop]

16. TPN
17. Sio
18. Prop
19. Carter
20. Higgenbotham
21. Genia
22. Cooper
23. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Against the NH sides in the NH I wouldn't be surprised to see one of Cooper or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) drop out of the match day squad for another forward.

I think we will be better off budgeting for big explosive efforts from a few

 

[Gnostic]

You'd play McMahon at 6 instead of Fardy?

No Hornet. Have a look at the side I picked at post #2017

I'd have McMahon as reserve in place of McCalman. As pointed out he can cover 7 & 6 and may have to give 8 a go. I don't rate McCalman highly at all. He has a few good games but is largely like Brown was, all action and little effect, I characterised Brown as the blowfly bashing its head on the window pane. He rarely makes the gain line and is not particularly dominant in the tackle. He is the workrate backrow and McMahon can do that and make yards and dominant tackles. The only thing I see to pick him ahead of McMahon is specialist skills at 8.

Jones to start at 6, then move into the 2nd row for Fardy. McMahon as utility backrower on the bench.

 

[wamberal]

Whilst Skelton was wonderful on Saturday

I think it is difficult to equate that style of match with a test match under NH RWC knock out conditions

I have not seen the game yet (our TV screen is in being repaired) but sight unseen, I have no doubt that Skelton will continue to improve, particularly in his use of his own physicality.

His rate of improvement is startling, cannot think of another player who has grown so much so quickly. If he keeps it up, even NH sides will have to worry about his impact and strength.

I hope.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

No Hornet. Have a look at the side I picked at post #2017

I'd have McMahon as reserve in place of McCalman. As pointed out he can cover 7 & 6 and may have to give 8 a go. I don't rate McCalman highly at all. He has a few good games but is largely like Brown was, all action and little effect, I characterised Brown as the blowfly bashing its head on the window pane. He rarely makes the gain line and is not particularly dominant in the tackle. He is the workrate backrow and McMahon can do that and make yards and dominant tackles. The only thing I see to pick him ahead of McMahon is specialist skills at 8.

Jones to start at 6, then move into the 2nd row for Fardy. McMahon as utility backrower on the bench.

Right, gotcha. If we were to play him on the bench then one of Pocock and Hooper wouldn't be in the 23 I would have thought. Watching Benny Mac on Saturday and on the EOYT in 2014 it struck me how much more go forward he has in his game now. There were several times against that Stormers defence that he made a couple of extra metres in contact through a second effort. I like that about his game now.

 

[fatprop]

I have not seen the game yet (our TV screen is in being repaired) but sight unseen, I have no doubt that Skelton will continue to improve, particularly in his use of his own physicality.

His rate of improvement is startling, cannot think of another player who has grown so much so quickly. If he keeps it up, even NH sides will have to worry about his impact and strength.

I hope.

I agree, but I think his impact at this time is more suited to back 30 minutes until his lineout efforts become better than token.

Now that does depend on Palu or McCalman starting, having two proper lineout proficient locks starting and Fardy at 6.

Simmons with one of Coleman or Arnold or Carter for grunt work

 

[Gnostic]

Right, gotcha. If we were to play him on the bench then one of Pocock and Hooper wouldn't be in the 23 I would have thought. Watching Benny Mac on Saturday and on the EOYT in 2014 it struck me how much more go forward he has in his game now. There were several times against that Stormers defence that he made a couple of extra metres in contact through a second effort. I like that about his game now.

Agree, I wouldn't have Pocock in the 23. I understand why McCalman would be prefered by some, but my view is McMahon provides that and more. With limited bench spots McMahon gives genuine coverage for 7 and 6, while he would have a steep learning curve to fill in at 8. Pocock really only provides 7 coverage IMO and I think whilst his ruck work and close defence has been as good as ever, he is ponderous with ball in hand. To play the up tempo game we saw Chieka trying to implement last EOYT requires dynamism. If McMahon isn't on the bench I'd have McCalman before Pocock for the same reason. Indeed I'd have Hoiles as a third choice.

I see no place for two specialist 7's in the 23. On form in any rate I'd have Gill in front of Pocockas specialist 7 backup.

 

[Gnostic]

I agree, but I think his impact at this time is more suited to back 30 minutes until his lineout efforts become better than token.

Now that does depend on Palu or McCalman starting, having two proper lineout proficient locks starting and Fardy at 6.

Simmons with one of Coleman or Arnold or Carter for grunt work

Its funny I see Skelton's lineout work in the same fashion that Garrick Morgan was used. When used properly Garrick was an effective option, but he was never a dominant jumper. It is about effective use of him at the set piece.

As for scrum work, amazing what some technical coaching can do.

 

[Gillys_ghost]

1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Skelton
6. Fardy 7. Hooper 8. Palu 9. Phipps 10. Foley
11. O'Connor 12. To'omua 13. Kuridrani 14. Speight 15. Folau

16. Polota-Nau 17. Sio 18. Holmes 19. Jones 20. Pocock
21. Genia 22. Cooper 23. Ashley-Cooper

 

[TOCC]

It's funny, all this talk of line out work..
I think Horwill must be right up there with steals for the 2015 season, jumping at 2 and been lifted only by Slipper, Horwill was able to pick off a couple of throws on the weekend.


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[fatprop]

Its funny I see Skelton's lineout work in the same fashion that Garrick Morgan was used. When used properly Garrick was an effective option, but he was never a dominant jumper. It is about effective use of him at the set piece.

As for scrum work, amazing what some technical coaching can do.

I expect Skelton to grow into an adequate option at 2, but not by September

 

[Tip]

My team:
1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Skelton 6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. Palu 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. O'Connor 12. To'omua 13. Kuridrani 14. Cummins 15. Folau
16. TPN 17. Sio 18. Holmes 19. Jones 20. Hooper 21. Higgers 22. Phipps 23. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Reasoning: 1.The best the Wallabies have looked for the past 5 years is Spring tour '13, and I'm keeping the backline combinations from that
2.Cummins inspires his teammates! He's more valuable than Speight as he is shows everyone what it's like to give 110%
3. Pocock over Hooper with a 6/2 split, Hooper comes on at 50'min for skelton, Fardy moves to second row. Higgers for Palu, Jones for Fardy if need be

This is no sleight on Hooper, but I think he might be much more effective coming on as fresh legs with half an hour to go and sprinting his heart out.

 

[Swat]

My team:
1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Skelton 6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. Palu 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. O'Connor 12. To'omua 13. Kuridrani 14. Cummins 15. Folau
16. TPN 17. Sio 18. Holmes 19. Jones 20. Hooper 21. Higgers 22. Phipps 23. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Reasoning: 1.The best the Wallabies have looked for the past 5 years is Spring tour '13, and I'm keeping the backline combinations from that
2.Cummins inspires his teammates! He's more valuable than Speight as he is shows everyone what it's like to give 110%
3. Pocock over Hooper with a 6/2 split, Hooper comes on at 50'min for skelton, Fardy moves to second row. Higgers for Palu, Jones for Fardy if need be

This is no sleight on Hooper, but I think he might be much more effective coming on as fresh legs with half an hour to go and sprinting his heart out.

I had to come out of retirement for this one....

• It's nice to think of how well we looked in 2013 but that's 2 years in the past.
• Genia and Cooper haven't consistently looked the goods since 2011, let alone Cooper's injury woes.
• The Honey Badger may keep everyone happy and goes 110% but I would take a 90% Speight actually running around defenders than Cummins running 110% of the time straight into defenders. I mean you haven't even got him on the bench!

 

[Gnostic]

It's funny, all this talk of line out work..
I think Horwill must be right up there with steals for the 2015 season, jumping at 2 and been lifted only by Slipper, Horwill was able to pick off a couple of throws on the weekend.


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But for games where he was fit and selected to play he spent more time in the naughty chair than on the field. Add his suspension and its even longer out. Now that isn't just this year. He isn't the force he once was and the discipline issues mean he is easily passed over.

 

[Floggn']

OK here is MY team. It won't happen I know because of how Cheika wants to play but it would be a team that would beat Wales and England IMO.

1. Slipper (QLD)
2. Moore (C) (ACT)
3. Kepu (NSW)
4. Simmons (QLD)
5. Skelton (NSW)
6. Fardy (ACT)
7. Pocock (ACT)
8. McCalman (WA)
9. Phipps (NSW)
10. Cooper (VC) (QLD)
11. O'Connor (QLD)
12. To'omua (ACT)
13. Kuridrani (ACT)
14. Speight (ACT)
15. Folau (NSW)

16. Hanson. (Line out throwing is important for Test rugby) (QLD)
17. Sio (ACT)
18. Holmes (QLD)
19. Douglas (NSW)
20. Gill/Hooper (QLD/NSW)
21. Genia (QLD)
22. Foley (NSW)
23. Ashley-Cooper. (NSW)

The reality is Test rugby isn't Super rugby. It never has been and never will. The speed of the ball is never as fast because you have the best forwards in the game slowing you down. A good blend of solid test players with players with individual brilliance is required. Foley's kicking game is a real problem for the Wallabies if he is our 10 that's why Cooper is there. Pocock slows the ball down at the ruck better than Hooper and that is worth more than breaking the line in my view as it allows defence to set and stop points from leaking.