Wallabies Watch

Thought it would be a good idea in the lead up the Lions series to see what a Wallabies team would be picked purely on 2013 Super rugby form (ie. no reputations). It's not a week to week team but over the whole competition and can be flexible with positions. Here's what I've come up with:

1. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
3. Tetera Faulkner
4. Hugh Pyle
5. Sam Carter
6. Ed Quirk
7. David Pocock
8. Ben Mowen
9. Nic White
10. James O'Connor
11. Alfi Mafi
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Andrew Smith
14. Henry Speight
15. Jesse Mogg

Despite your noble aim this selection betrays you.
How can you pick a bloke who played 15 at 10 on anything other than reputation?

He may have had a 15 on his back but he was the first receiver on numerous occasions.

dont mind this side based on the two games. Thought Dan Palmer had a strong game for the brumbies and would be my tight head. Mitch Inmans defence and work at the breakdown would have him at 13.

There wasnt a great performance from a fly half but of the four picked there I say QC just. Very quiet though until 60th minute

If we're picking based on merit and form, I think Gill is a dark horse for the Wallabies 7s shirt. He may not be as fast as Hooper but he is essentially a David Pocock who is even better at scavenging on the floor and he definitely has a better running and linking game than Pocock right now. I think he just needs some better chances to prove himself against international competition. If he can continue to improve and then translate his form to the international level, I think he could be our best open side since George Smith.

There's not much I wouldn't give to see Pocock and Hooper grow a few inches so we could play a #6 Pocock #7 Gill #8 Hooper back row. The sheer havoc they would wreak really makes that lack of height a cruel reality. Pocock would only need to improve his carrying game a bit, he's already one of the best defensive players around, and Hooper's sheer aggression would suit him perfectly at #8.

which he wouldn't be if he had a 10 (he'd be wherever KB was at the time) on his back and none of which were 1st phase: is this just another thread aimed at getting JOC into 10 or 12?

Gill may one day be better. But at the moment Pocock and Hooper are the top two, by some margin.

That must have nearly killed Querty not picking Waratahs.

Not a shabby looking side though.

And me. Looking forward to next Monday's Wallabies.

Just for comparison sake, here is Gagger's team of the week from the front page:

For the most part it's pretty close to qwerty's picks...

I also made the comment elsewhere that you probably could've flipped a coin between Carter and Fardy for that second lock spot.. Pyle obviously claiming the first...

It was a tough week for flyhalves with no one really standing out...

Yeah couldn't decide between Fardy and Carter at all.

I like seeing no tah players in there. Lol. Good for a change

It's because of his Quade hate. There is is laid bare for all to see.

Was Quade the best 10 on the weekend though?

All his best involvement was in the last 20 minutes when the Brumbies had it pretty much sewn up.

It's certainly about the hardest position to award out of the four people who played 10 as none of them had particularly good games.

I'm no fan of QC but I'd probably give him the nod.
I think Toomua is going to challenge him shortly, however.
And if we're not worrying about where they actually played the preceding weekend then Lilo and Higgers come into contention.

He was the best of a poor bunch. If someone was better why didn't qwerty pick one of them? Rather than a player out of position and going against his own rules of the thread. I'm sorry, this was a good idea, but the thread has already lost credibility.

What rules? I said flexible in positions, maybe you should watch the game again because JOC pops up in the 1st receiver role more than once. I bet if you even asked Hill he'd say that's a plan.

My bad, must have skimmed over your flexibility with positions part. Fair enough then!