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Probables vs Possibles

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Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
THE Australian Rugby Union may introduce selection trial games between the Wallabies and an Australian Barbarians side made up of fringe Test players from club rugby ranks this year.

In a throwback to the 1970s, when Wallabies selection games were held between the Probables and the Possibles, the games would be held in October after the Tri Nations ends in September. The concept would allow Australian Test selectors to cast their nets wider and pick players on form for the Wallabies' end of season spring tour.

It would also help provide match fitness to the players who are selected to go on the tour. Furthermore, the trials would act as a much-needed bridge between Test and club rugby as the Barbarians squad would include players who have been playing club rugby in Sydney or Brisbane.

The squads could include Wallabies on the comeback from injury, players ranked from 23rd to 45th by coach Robbie Deans, or several as yet unknown talents the selectors want to see first-hand after hearing about them on the grapevine of club rugby.

For those fringe players, knowing a pathway exists to the Wallabies after missing Tri Nations selection would keep them motivated while playing in Sydney's Shute Shield or Premier Rugby in Brisbane. That in turn would benefit the club competitions and their respective clubs. The trial games would be particularly significant this year as the ARU axed the Australia A program which gave fringe players a chance to impress.

The ARU is reluctant to comment on the proposal. However, the Herald understands that the idea, while still in blueprint form and far from being locked in, is being seriously considered.

Even though the objective of such a game - or games - would be to find the best possible Wallabies squad and future talent, the potential to raise revenue would not have been lost on the ARU.

The timing would be perfect. With the Tri Nations and club rugby competitions over, there are no other major rugby fixtures in Australia at the time. By having these Wallabies-Barbarians games in October, the Australian market would remain stimulated until the tour starts in November.

That in turn could convert into healthy ticket sales and crowd figures, especially as the intensity of the games could well be higher than any Super 14 derby in Australia.

There would certainly be everything to play for as players fight to hold their spots in the Wallabies squad, or prove the selectors wrong and battle their way into the side.

Deans could even unearth a hidden gem or two from Australian club rugby, the grassroots of the game which he has openly embraced since starting the job last May. One of the first calls he made in the job was to allow Wallabies who were not required for Test duty to return to play for their clubs.

It was a move that was heartily applauded by the clubs, who needed their stars back to help combat diminishing crowds. Deans's support of club rugby was evident again on Sunday night at the Randwick club season launch. He addressed the club members and presented the jerseys to the Galloping Greens' first-grade side for this weekend's first round of the Shute Shield. Deans also spoke of his own of grassroots rugby days to a packed room of Randwick players and club members. Deans, a former All Blacks and Canterbury icon, began his rugby days playing for the Glenmark club.

"The surroundings are different [than at Randwick]. Glenmark is a one-teacher school, one house, two rugby fields. They got their priorities right," he joked.

Deans could not finish without commenting on new Randwick first-grade coach Gary Ella, whom he played against in 1984 at Concord Oval. Of the day he played on the wing for the All Blacks, who beat a NSW side that included the Ella brothers Gary and Mark, Deans laughed when he conceded: "It was a stressful experience"


This year's Shute Shield grand finals will be held at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday, September 27, it was announced at the season launch yesterday.

The decision marks the return of all four grade grand finals to the home of NSW Rugby, which last year had to take the title deciders to Concord Oval as it could not book the SFS.
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
I can't imagine there would be too many club players in this possible team, considering we've got 135 Super Rugby contracted players.....
 
F

formeropenside

Guest
Jerry Y made Aust A out of club rugby last year...but did not play a game.
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
yeah similarly Benny Lucas was considered for the RWC apparently.

It might only be once every couple of years I guess.

So moving forward to this year, if we say the Probables are basically just the incumbent team, meaning this:

15. Drew Mitchell
14. Peter Hynes
13. Ryan Cross
12. Stirling Mortlock
11. Digby Ioane
10. Matt Giteau
9. Luke Burgess
8. Richard Brown
7. Phil Waugh
6. Hugh McMeniman
5. Nathan Sharpe
4. Mark Chisholm
3. Al Baxter
2. Stephen Moore
1. Benn Robinson

16. Adam Freier
17. Matt Dunning
18. Dean Mumm
19. George Smith
20. Sam Cordingley Brett Sheehan
21. Quade Cooper
22. Lote Tuqiri

Now obviously that is not really the probables but its an ok start. What do you do with the bench? Keep them there for the probables are play them with the possibles. I'm going to keep them there. Meaning my Possibles for the sake of argument would be:

15 Mark Gerrard
14 Lachlan Turner
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
12 Tyrone Smith
11 Cameron Shepherd
10 Berrick Barnes
9 Will Genia
8 Wycliffe Palu
7 George Smith
6 Scott Higginbottham
5 James Horwill
4 Will Caldwell
3 Laurie Weekes
2 Tatafu Polata-Nau
1 Ben Alexander

16 Sean Hardman
17 Guy Shepherdson
18 Peter Kimlin
19 David Pocock
20 Ben Lucas
21 James O'Connor
22 Mark McLinden
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Time to be Mr negative.

With the limitations on games already in place, most of the first choice guys will be rested after a serious tri series

So ......


Stirling Mortlock
Digby Ioane
Matt Giteau
Luke Burgess
Nathan Sharpe
Al Baxter
Stephen Moore
Benn Robinson
Berrick Barnes
Wycliffe Palu
George Smith
James Horwill

these guys probably won't play plus a load of wounded.

Oh and will Elsom get a run this season?
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
I've chosen to start the best 15 in each team, keeping specialist impact players Waugh and McMenimum on the Probables bench.

Probables
15. Drew Mitchell
14. Peter Hynes
13. Stirling Mortlock
12. Berrick Barnes
11. Lote Tuqiri
10. Matt Giteau
9. Luke Burgess
8. Wycliff Palu
7. George Smith
6. Rocky Elsom
5. James Horwill
4. Dean Mumm
3. Al Baxter
2. Stephen Moore
1. Benn Robinson

16. Adam Freier
17. Matt Dunning
18. Adam Ashley-Cooper
19. Phil Waugh
20. Brett Sheehan
21. Sam Norton-Knight
22. Hugh McMeniman



Possibles
15 Mark Gerrard
14 Lachlan Turner
13 Digby Ioane
12 James O'Connor
11 Cameron Shepherd
10 Quade Cooper
9 Will Genia
8 Richard Brown
7 David Pocock
6 Scott Higginbottham
5 Nathan Sharpe
4 Will Caldwell
3 Sekope Kepu
2 Tatafu Polata-Nau
1 Ben Alexander

16 Sean Hardman
17 Guy Shepherdson
18 Mark Chisholm
19 Leroy Houston
20 Ben Lucas
21 James O'Connor
22 Mark McLinden
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
Moses said:
I can't imagine there would be too many club players in this possible team, considering we've got 135 Super Rugby contracted players.....

so who would be the best club player going around? The player without a full time contract? Guess you gotta start with the academy players. From QLD McKibbon is an obvious choice considering his awards last year (player of the year and highest point scorer). The youngsters Jake Schatz, Andrew Shaw, James Slipper and Luke Morahan would probably be up there as well.
 
F

formeropenside

Guest
Biffo said:
Noone thinks Rob Horne is in the top six centres in Australia?

Mortlock, Barnes, Gits, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Cross, Digby, and maybe Tyrone Smith?
 

Cutter

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Cross doesnt impress me that much. I would have Horne ahead of him.

Tyrone Smith is doing well again.

Why hasnt anyone mentioned Tom Carter?
 

Biffo

Ken Catchpole (46)
formeropenside said:
Biffo said:
Noone thinks Rob Horne is in the top six centres in Australia?

Mortlock, Barnes, Gits, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Cross, Digby, and maybe Tyrone Smith?

I'd have only the first two of those ahead of Horne.
 

Cutter

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
In order, our top 12s:

1. Gits
2. Barnes
3. Staniforth
4. Smith
5. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
6. Horne

And our top 13s:

1. Mortlock
2. Ioane
3. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
4. Horne
5. Staniforth
6. Cross

No Tahu and no Carter. Staniforth picked on past performances to a degree but he is the type of player who never seems to lose form. Its a real pity he's off to Japan next year. If I thought AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could reproduce his Barbarians form at 12, he would be behind only Gits there. Morty is at no. 1 based on past performances as well but I think this will be his last season as the no. 1. Ioane has jumped AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in the queue at 13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) usually looks comfortable on the wing, looked great at 12 v the Baa Baas but hasnt ever settled at 13 or 15. Horne is where he is on potential because he's not getting the opportunities at the Tahs to display his talent.
 

Major Spliff Biggins

Fred Wood (13)
I'm completely unconvinced as to the validity of this article.
Put it mildly, I think it's arse piss, and should be given as much credibility as the Herald's annual reports of a proposed League v Union fixture.

I cannot see the point when the majority of probables will be rested anyway.

Seeing as we have 4 Super rugby teams playing each other every season; not to mention internal training matches between the extended squad- I do not know what this would actually achieve.

Is someone trying to tell me that if Tom Carter for example was to have a blinder that he would displace the incumbant Mortlock in the inside centre position?
 
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