Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Brumby Runner]

If Samuela Kerevi keeps impressing with his form, straight running, and power, he could be a shock selection to partner Kurindrani in the centres. Just saying:

Height: 186cm
Weight: 108kg

Think Kerevi will be will be a choice pick for the Wallabies in a year or two. ATM he will be behind To'omua, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Lealiifano at least, and maybe Godwin if he returns to form. Really can't see him in the RWC unless there is a spate of injuries.

 

[emuarse]

Makes perfect sense then. Everyone fly up to Brisbane and meet for a few hours at Suncorp. I don't think Cheika has any other option but to have these gatherings this year with time being so tight.

So steaks on down at the Breakky Creek on Sunday

 

[fatprop]

If Samuela Kerevi keeps impressing with his form, straight running, and power, he could be a shock selection to partner Kurindrani in the centres. Just saying:

Height: 186cm
Weight: 108kg

He would definitely be a shock, on current form and work rate, I reckon he is about a 5% chance at best

I would suggest Lealiifano, To'omua, Beale, Godwin & Inman are all in front of him at the moment

 

[Wilson]

I really doubt will see a kerevi kuridrani centre pairing, at least this year. However, if kuridrani goes down injured I wouldn't at all be surprised to see kerevi picked at 13, he's the most like for like replacement available.

 

[Braveheart81]

I really doubt will see a kerevi kuridrani centre pairing, at least this year. However, if kuridrani goes down injured I wouldn't at all be surprised to see kerevi picked at 13, he's the most like for like replacement available.

If Kuridrani is out injured I think Kerevi becomes a viable option to make the squad but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would easily be in front of him and I'd bet that someone like Rob Horne would be picked at 13 for the Wallabies before him as well.

Kerevi's biggest problem at this stage is his defence so I don't think he's going to be rushed into the Wallabies outside centre role.

 

[BDA]

BH hit the nail on the head. At the RWC the Wallabies will need their starting 12 to be strong defensively. To'omua is the obvious choice, probably Lilo second. Beale's defensive weaknesses probably make him more of a bench option.

He would definitely be a shock, on current form and work rate, I reckon he is about a 5% chance at best

I would suggest Lealiifano, To'omua, Beale, Godwin & Inman are all in front of him at the moment

Inman has been good hasn't he. Godwin on the other hand seems to be falling off the pace. He's just done nothing to ignite that force backline.

 

[Jagman]

Beale doesn't defend at inside centre at all, he switches with Horne. The two of them come as a unit. Either pick both of them or not at all.

 

[BDA]

While we're at it we might as well pick the rest of the Tahs' backline for continuity purposes.

 

[BDA]

World cups are won on the back of strong defence.

We've already shown that we have more than enough attacking firepower in the backs. What we need is to minimise our defensive liabilities.

 

[Braveheart81]

If we're going to pick 13 backs for the RWC, this is what I think is most likely at this point.

Phipps, White, Genia
Cooper, Foley
To'omua, Leali'ifano/Beale, Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Speight, Cummins/Horne, JOC (James O'Connor), Folau

Assuming everyone is healthy (and they won't be), there have to be a couple of big names to miss out.

The versatility of some players like JOC (James O'Connor), AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Beale may work against some of the specialists like Cummins and Leali'ifano.

 

[BDA]

Form permitting, I'd be leaning towards this back 3:-

11. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Folau

One area we really need to improve is our kicking game. Preferably we'd have two wingers with strong kicking games. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) provide that, although I concede that the running game of a guy like Speight might be too good to refuse.

Horne looks like a good bench option to me

 

[fatprop]

BH hit the nail on the head. At the RWC the Wallabies will need their starting 12 to be strong defensively. To'omua is the obvious choice, probably Lilo second. Beale's defensive weaknesses probably make him more of a bench option.




Inman has been good hasn't he. Godwin on the other hand seems to be falling off the pace. He's just done nothing to ignite that force backline.

Probably, but the if To'omua and Lilo are wounded, I think he would be selected

 

[fatprop]

Form permitting, I'd be leaning towards this back 3:-

11. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Folau

One area we really need to improve is our kicking game. Preferably we'd have two wingers with strong kicking games. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) provide that, although I concede that the running game of a guy like Speight might be too good to refuse.

Horne looks like a good bench option to me

I think we need the most effective units at catching the ball we can find. I expect the Irish approach to infest this RWC with box kicks and high balls peppering Aus every game.

We need "Cory Jane" standard units in the back three under the high ball. Also units who can then give support units time at the tackle to secure ball.

 

[BDA]

If we're going to pick 13 backs for the RWC, this is what I think is most likely at this point.

Phipps, White, Genia
Cooper, Foley
To'omua, Leali'ifano/Beale, Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Speight, Cummins/Horne, JOC (James O'Connor), Folau

The reality is at least 1, maybe more of these players will be injured come September. I know which one of those centres I'd leave out, but I also know which ones Cheika prefers.

The wingers are really hard to select. So much talent there. I know Horne is a favourite of Cheika, plus he's versatile. I'd say he's more likely to get a spot than Badger or Speight. Badger or Speight is a really tough selection, and will probably come down to form. Speight is more of an attacking threat, but Badger is a player that fits the 'Cheika mould' to a tee. solid defensively and really aggressive/passionate. Also I think it'd be a plus for the team to have a guy like Badger in the squad, because he's down to earth and wears his heart on his sleeve

The other option might be to go with 14 backs and 17 forwards. only take 9 players from no.4-no.8 (3 genuine locks, 4 genuine backrowers, and two versatile 6/lock). We probably only need 3 genuine locks. Against the likes of England and Wales, you'd need genuine locks starting but for the minnows you could easily get away with a 6/lock. The selections could be something like this:-

Carter
Simo
Skelton
Jones
Fardy
Hooper
Pocock
McCalman
Palu

perhaps not ideal but possible. a bit risky maybe

 

[Braveheart81]

I reckon if Cheika was looking through his potential players now, he'd be thinking about his first choice backline and then looking at who his second and third choice is in each position.

Someone who might be third choice in 3 positions could oust someone who is second choice in only one spot.

It would be interesting to know who is behind Folau at 15 and who Cheika considers his third choice 10.

The point raised about needing back three players who can kick could mean that there is only one spot for a Speight/Cummins style specialist winger. It's foreseeable that there isn't even a spot for one of them depending on what Cheika is thinking.

I wonder if it will become public who the players are that Cheika gathers this Sunday for a meeting? Given that it only sounds like only 25 or 26 players will take part, I wonder if it's just a NSW/Qld thing in Brisbane and includes a whole lot of potentials rather than being probables from every team.

 

[Jagman]

I'd also be tempted to pick Harris based purely on his goal kicking but also that he is a decent defender. How many world cup finals are won by scoring more tries than your opponent?


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[Tomikin]

What Slipper does do however, is put his game up a gear when he's wearing the gold. Good scrummager, and very mobile around the field. Its like he and Hooper could almost be centres.

Yeah, be tough on Slipper, but I want them both fit and firing come WC time.. Anyone ever know why Slipper was moved back to LHP when he was mostly a THP for along time ?

 

[Braveheart81]

I'd also be tempted to pick Harris based purely on his goal kicking but also that he is a decent defender. How many world cup finals are won by scoring more tries than your opponent?

Three of the seven (including Australia's two wins). The tries in the other four were equal (two of them had none).

Harris is a good goalkicker but I really don't see that earning him a spot in the squad.

 

[Jagman]

Two of Australia's wins were basically in the amateur era. The 99 RWC was won when we defeated SA in the tight semi which was also really close though I'm not sure how many tries were scored. Harris might not earn himself a spot but others might hand it too him if a viable goal kicking option doesn't present themselves. Lilo in 2013 form would put an end to it.

It's easy to say looking back but I think there were some lessons to be learned from the last RWC. O'Connor was kicking great back then so goals were not an issue but I think Gerrard and Waugh would have really enabled the Wallabies to play better in wet weather stagnant conditions (without Pocock) like in the loss to Ireland, even though they didn't deserve to be in the 30 man squad compared to the players they were competing against.

 

[BDA]

I don't think we can afford to carry a player just because they are a good goal kicker. Some nations do, but those nations don't rely on scoring tries like we do.

Lilo is the only player that might win a spot on the basis of his kicking ability, but that will depend on how he performs for the Brumbies this season. Early signs suggest he's back to his 2013 kicking form, when he was a real asset to the wallabies, rather than his 2014 form. In Lilo's favour is that he's one of our best 12s, and also has some versatility (10/15).

Harris wouldn't register in the top 5 in any position from 10 to 15 IMHO.

We have plenty of decent kickers among our top choice backs. Foley and Cooper will probably share the duties, but you also have JOC (James O'Connor) who is actually a quality kicker these days, as shown on the weekend, and he's kicked Australia to victory in world cup games before (2011 QF). I'd say those three will be plenty.

I think Cheika's approach to the world cup will be to score tries, rather than win by penalties. It makes sense given the players at his disposal and our approach to the game. It might fail spectacularly, but at least it'll be entertaining. So I think he'll choose his backs and then pick the kicker, rather than the other way round.