Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Dave Beat]

Mods;
what about a RWC thread?
what about replacing the Lions Tour 2013 with RWC 2015?


1 Slipper
2 Moore
3 Kepu

4 Simmons
5 Skelton

6 Fardy
7 Hooper / Pocock - pending
8 Palu

9 Phipps
10 Cooper / Foley
11 ????
12 To'omua
13 Kuridrani
14 Speight
15 Folau

16 TPN
17 Sio
18 Prop
19 ??? lock - swap with Skelton subject to opposition / game plan.
20 Hooper / Pockcock
21 Higgers
22 Genia
23 Giteau / AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) / JOC (James O'Connor) - versatility.

First "person" picked - 24 George Smith.

 

[Tomikin]

Suppose I will have a crack.

1. Slipper
2. Moore (c)
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Skelton
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. Palu

9. Phipps
10. Foley
11. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12. To'omua
13. Kuridrani
14. Speight
15. Folau

16. TPN
17. Sio
18. Holmes
19. Carter
20. Hooper
21. McCalmen
22. White
23. JOC (James O'Connor)

 

[Viking]

Yes - atm I'd rate Horne and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) ahead of JOC (James O'Connor). The next 6 or 7 games will be crucial to each of them.

Except I think they are fighting for different roles. With Folau a lock in at fullback the winger roles should be 11. Specialist 14. Second Fullback.

So essentially it is:
Specialist - Speight, Tomane, Horne, Cummins - fighting for one wing.
Second Fullback - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), JOC (James O'Connor) - fighting for one wing.

A back three of Folau/Horne/Speight is very unbalanced. Who can kick?

Your probably more likely to see both AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) on the wings then 2 in-form specialist wingers.

 

[Joeleee]

I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would be on one wing over JOC (James O'Connor). People speak of JOC (James O'Connor) always performing at Test level, but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is Mr Consistent as well, and has been doing it far more recently. Both are probably not in the best form of their lives at the moment, but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has more runs on the board recently, and unless Mr O'Connor raises his game (not out of the question), I would take Coops over him.

As for the bench, it's probably going to be two of a few different utility back options. O'Connor, Beale, Horne, Giteau, Lealifano, or Cooper might even be a roughie to cover 10/12, as Cheika seemed to be somewhat open to that idea last season.

 

[Wilson]

If the rumour of cheika's big offer and big plans for cooper are true don't be surprised to see him start from the get go in the rc. Of course big plans may mean he intends to play him somewhere other than flyhalf - for example if chieka wants a creative inside centre like he has with Beale, quade would be a better option at test level. Not sure how I feel about that but I just get the feeling 'big plans' involves something new.

 

[Hans]

Cheika has shown at the Tahs he has a thing for taking a 6 2 bench. Given one of the 2 backs is going to be a half, either White or Genia, the other back has to have serious utility value. I can see him Using Beale, Possibly JOC (James O'Connor) (as much as he is a crap utility) or my personal favorite Giteau. Beale can't tackle, and i can't stand him at 10 as he crabs sideways way to easily, Giteau is a more complete package for the whole back line. However, with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) likely to be on a wing, he covers the outside portion, so your bench man may be cover at 10 and 12 only, so up goes Giteaus stocks as does Beale and possibly Cooper. JOC (James O'Connor) is the unlucky man here.

JOC (James O'Connor) hasn't done much to impress on the wing, and i expect one wing will be AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) due to his past honours and general consistency (plus utility value) the other will be a specialist likely between Speight and Horne, depending on who makes the most of the next 8 weeks.

Interesting to note Nick Cummins has vanished from discussions for a wing berth

 

[Scrubber2050]

Phipps, Stirzaker, and White, wipe the floor with Genia in terms of passing speed and accuracy.

genia gone or should be gone.
Phipps then white then Frisby - yes the Pickle

 

[fatprop]

Interesting to note Nick Cummins has vanished from discussions for a wing berth

playing for 12 months straight can have that effect

 

[fatprop]

genia gone or should be gone.
Phipps then white then Frisby - yes the Pickle

There is a really great piece of analysis on the front page on Betham's try.

It highlights what Cheika is looking for in a 9 (and has in all his sides), and across the field in the decision making and work rate

When it comes to the 9, he wants someone who will quickly get to the breakdown and then get it away. He expects the team to be working hard within his system to be the option when the 9 lifts his head.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Suppose I will have a crack.

1. Slipper
2. Moore (c)
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Skelton
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. Palu

9. Phipps
10. Foley
11. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12. To'omua
13. Kuridrani
14. Speight
15. Folau

16. TPN
17. Sio
18. Holmes
19. Carter
20. Hooper
21. McCalmen
22. White
23. JOC (James O'Connor)

Good side - Forwards 100% agree - Pocock must be a certainty now Both Hooper and Pocock unlikely in the 23 so IMO Hooper willsit out.
Still think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), will not be run-on and JOC (James O'Connor) will not make the 23 (certainly based on form)

 

[Floggn']

1. Slipper
2. Moore (c)
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. McCalman

9. Phipps
10. Cooper
11. JOC (James O'Connor)
12. Giteau
13. Kuridrani
14. Speight
15. Folau

16. Hanson
17. Sio
18. Holmes
19. Skelton
20. Palu
21. Hooper
22. Genia
23. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

You don't need a back up 10. TPN is just too bad at lineouts to risk. Giteau is a real goal kicker. Hooper to come on in the last 20 tandem with Pocock to cause havoc with tired bodies on the ground. The backline is one that would be feared. Skelton to replace Horwill with 15 to go. Holmes to replace Kepu with 25 to go and Sio for Slipps in the last 10 if required.

 

[Braveheart81]

You don't need a back up 10. TPN is just too bad at lineouts to risk. Giteau is a real goal kicker. Hooper to come on in the last 20 tandem with Pocock to cause havoc with tired bodies on the ground. The backline is one that would be feared. Skelton to replace Horwill with 15 to go. Holmes to replace Kepu with 25 to go and Sio for Slipps in the last 10 if required.

TPN's lineout throwing has been file for a while now. He certainly had issues years ago but it didn't cause him to be left out then and it won't now.

Has Giteau kicked for goal much in the last few years? Halfpenny is the current kicker, Wilkinson is the previous kicker and JOC (James O'Connor) did some goal kicking for Toulon last year. He has certainly kicked goals for Toulon in the past but he is by no means the regular kicker.

I'm not convinced Giteau would end up being the goal kicker even if he was in our starting XV (which I doubt he will be).

 

[Floggn']

TPN's lineout throwing has been file for a while now. He certainly had issues years ago but it didn't cause him to be left out then and it won't now.

Has Giteau kicked for goal much in the last few years? Halfpenny is the current kicker, Wilkinson is the previous kicker and JOC (James O'Connor) did some goal kicking for Toulon last year. He has certainly kicked goals for Toulon in the past but he is by no means the regular kicker.

I'm not convinced Giteau would end up being the goal kicker even if he was in our starting XV (which I doubt he will be).

True but Gits still kick fairly regularly when Wilkinson was off. I am not sure if he went when it was only on one side of the field or not though but the games I have watched when he has kicked he has been very good. The other thing I forgot to mention which I think is as important is the absolute must of having a good left foot kicket in the team.

 

[RugbyReg]

Are we happy with Fardy's work? Is he playing well?

Or are people picking him for past reputation and because there is no one else?

 

[Brumbieman]

There is a really great piece of analysis on the front page on Betham's try.

It highlights what Cheika is looking for in a 9 (and has in all his sides), and across the field in the decision making and work rate

When it comes to the 9, he wants someone who will quickly get to the breakdown and then get it away. He expects the team to be working hard within his system to be the option when the 9 lifts his head.

His understanding of how to put the ball out in fron of his target, and draw them onto it, is excellent.

That whole sequence would have been butchered when Betham scored, if that pass to Beale wasn't so far out in front of him. Kurtley had to put the hammer down just to reach it, but it's the explosive whip effect on Betham that glets him hit the gaineline before the Canes even stepped forward.

Excellent passing, if someone could get it through Genia's ego that THAT is what he needs to be best at, rather than point at the ruck with his hands in the air, he could regain his previous form.

 

[Floggn']

Are we happy with Fardy's work? Is he playing well?

Or are people picking him for past reputation and because there is no one else?

That's a fair point I was actually weighing up putting Palu at 8 and McCalman at 6. But yes there was reputation put into consideration but I also think he is starting to hit his straps. But I think a big backrow such as a Palu/McCalman with a 'on the baller' like Pocock would work just like it did in '99 so that might be worth having a go. BUT if you just have Hooper on the side you have to have Fardy there.

 

[Braveheart81]

Are we happy with Fardy's work? Is he playing well?

Or are people picking him for past reputation and because there is no one else?

I think he's somewhere in between currently. I thought his first few games this season were stronger than his last few.

He'd be my first choice 6. Higginbotham would be my second. As has been discussed in the other thread, I'd give Pocock and Hooper a go at 6 and 8 once though to test it.

 

[barbarian]

He'd be my first choice 6. Higginbotham would be my second. As has been discussed in the other thread, I'd give Pocock and Hooper a go at 6 and 8 once though to test it.

Pocock at 6 and Hooper at 8....... does that mean what I think it means.......

TRIPLE OPENSIDE MADNESS!!!!!!

You've sold me BH. But which of Gill, Hodgo or McMahon plays 7?
.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yeah, that 6 and 8 bit might have been a typo.

It's the old Richard Graham double bluff though. You name Pocock at 6 and Hooper at 8 and then you run out with Nick Frisby playing prop or something.

 

[Floggn']

Yeah, that 6 and 8 bit might have been a typo.

It's the old Richard Graham double bluff though. You name Pocock at 6 and Hooper at 8 and then you run out with Nick Frisby playing prop or something.

Yeah, that 6 and 8 bit might have been a typo.

It's the old Richard Graham double bluff though. You name Pocock at 6 and Hooper at 8 and then you run out with Nick Frisby playing prop or something.

Brilliant!! It can't fail......