Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Brumby Runner]

Those are some superficial attributes. What about rugby ability? Pretty poor defender that gets caught out a lot. Struggles to beat defenders, just runs into contact with admittedly a lot of intent and force but that doesn't' get you very far at Test level.

Qwerty, just who was it that missed tackle after tackle on Sefa N when the Reds played the Rebels? ATM JOC (James O'Connor)'s defense has a lot of holes in it, more so than Cummins ever had.

 

[BigSteve]

Thanks for the kind words fellas, nice to know there are others on the same wave length. You guys are probably right about cummins... JOC (James O'Connor), Horne or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) probably make the back three a bit more balanced and rounded. I forgot about McCalman as well probably have him fighting for a bench spot with Higginbotham and Timani

Samu Kerevi. The 2015 RWC will probably be a year too soon for him but his form in the poor Reds back-line has been pretty amazing. He is leading the Reds stats in line breaks/tackle busts, having achieved 14 tackle busts in the last 3 games alone and averaging 70 run meters per game in 2015.

Being a reds fan it did come into consideration, but i'd probably put him in a the group of being close but not quite there this year. others i feel in that group are Vea, Naiyaravoro, McMahon (due to poey and hoops) chris kuridrani (maybe reds bias here) etc.

 

[BigSteve]

Carter in for Simmons (about as much use around the field, but seems to have more than one brain cell).

Possibly Vaea in the 21 jersey, better ball runner for impact to help us finish strongly, but other than that, spot on mate.

Sorry Brumbieman i can't sacrifice our only genuine experienced lineout caller for someone who i believe has had no real impact in the contact zone since his first test.

 

[southsider]

Can't really take anyone seriously who thinks cummins should be in a wallabies match day 23, lovely guy and handy super rugby player but not what we need at all at test level.

If there was room I'd have him in the work cup squad purely for team morale and marketability and failing that I think the aru should send him over anyway in a sort of "beau Ryan" role, making video content for them, doing interviews etc

 

[Bairdy]

Can't really take anyone seriously who thinks cummins should be in a wallabies match day 23, lovely guy and handy super rugby player but not what we need at all at test level.

If there was room I'd have him in the work cup squad purely for team morale and marketability and failing that I think the aru should send him over anyway in a sort of "beau Ryan" role, making video content for them, doing interviews etc

You care to expand on what we do need or do you only talk in sweeping generalisations

Fair enough, Cummins is not the best winger defence-wise, and not everyone likes the fact he is direct. He is in consideration though because he is a specialist winger with runs on the board, and to my knowledge hasn't single-handedly cost the Wallabies a win.

But you know who is hard to take seriously, someone who thinks Joe Tomane, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Chris Kuridrani et al. are above Nick Cummins in the Wallabies wingers pecking order because of their defence.

TL;DR one-eyed Force supporter champions own player even though the backs are the least of the Wallabies' problems.

 

[TOCC]

Carter in for Simmons (about as much use around the field, but seems to have more than one brain cell).

Nope, Carters 2015 form has been less then impressive


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[southsider]

You care to expand on what we do need or do you only talk in sweeping generalisations

Fair enough, Cummins is not the best winger defence-wise, and not everyone likes the fact he is direct. He is in consideration though because he is a specialist winger with runs on the board, and to my knowledge hasn't single-handedly cost the Wallabies a win.

But you know who is hard to take seriously, someone who thinks Joe Tomane, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Chris Kuridrani et al. are above Nick Cummins in the Wallabies wingers pecking order because of their defence.

TL;DR one-eyed Force supporter champions own player even though the backs are the least of the Wallabies' problems.

Didn't think it was that much of a sweeping generalisation but sure, we need someone with more talent, speed, a step, a winger who realises when they are going for a try that it's actually ok if you don't make contact with their opposite number (cummins has a weird habit of stepping into his opponent as he goes for a try instead of running a overs line and going over untouched), someone who can kick, someone who can pass, someone who reads defensive patterns better

I'd agree with that although I think the hits tomane puts on May slightly put him above cummins in the defensive stakes

 

[BDA]

I don't really get the hate for Carter. To me he comes across more as 'inconsistent' than 'ineffective'. I think our big problem last year in the 2nd row was that we didn't get the right balance. The Simo/Carter combo doesn't quite work for me. I think you need at least lock who is 120kg+ who can play the enforcer role, and another that is your workhorse. I'd take 2 of each to England. I'd go with Simo (115kg) and Carter (110kg) as my workhorses. Skelton (135kg) is an obvious choice as an enforcer. I'd be looking at either Coleman (122kg) or Arnold (127kg) for the final spot.

One of the things I liked about BS's team is the size/weight of the pack. I'm no scrum expert, but I'm a big believer in having as much weight as possible packing behind our front row. Some people on this forum have espoused the theory that the weight of the pack has little impact on the strength of the scrum. From what I've observed over the years I'm not sure that's completely accurate. Obviously the scrummaging technique and strength of the props (and perhaps to a slightly less extent the hooker) seems to play the biggest role in deciding which scrum dominates, regardless of pack weights. However, from what I've gathered, having a strong 2nd row pairing behind the props, and plenty of drive from the Backrow plays a big role in allowing the props to dominate their opposition. I think this is important for us because, due to our relative weakness in this area, we need to be looking at every way possible that we can maximise the strength of our scrum. At full strength, our front row will match up pretty well against the likes of England but if we play a substantially lighter pack, I believe our scrum will struggle hold its ground. We need to be looking to put out a pack that is 900kg+, no less, more if possible. I genuinely believe that our world cup campaign will live and die on how we scrum against England and Wales, and it's little things like this that we need to consider.

I was not the only one shaking my head when Cheika chose a lightweight pack against England last year (from memory it was less than 890kg). I believe England's 8 was about 920kg. Granted our biggest problem was that our 8 didn't scrum well as a unit (which is the most important area of focus), but when you give away such a significant weight advantage against a team that intends to drive you backwards in the scrum you're asking for trouble.

We are kidding ourselves if we think England aren't going to keep to ball sitting in the scrum as long as possible on their own feeds, and the NH refs will let them do it.

The pack that BS named would weigh in somewhere around 935-940kg. If that 8 could scrum well as a unit, with the likes of Slipper and Kepu at prop I'd say England will have some difficulty moving us backwards.

 

[Jagman]

I think Mumm has a good chance of being Simmons' understudy. No one else has test lineout calling experience. This is, however, assuming that the raving revues he's been getting in Europe actually mean he's better than last time he played a test match.


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[Slim 293]

Fardy is calling for the Brumbies this year.............

 

[KOB1987]

I'd expect that to continue into the Wallabies especially if the uncertainty around the locks continues. Fardy is the most likely forward outside Hooper to play 80 minutes. The jury is out on Simmons obviously but of the Aussie locks who have been playing super rugby so far this season Jones & Skelton are the best performers.

 

[Jagman]

Fardy is calling for the Brumbies this year.....

Yes and that's a very good thing considering he's an automatic starter for the wallabies BUT, and I'm just going on comments from people like Nathan Sharpe, it seems that Test level lineout calling is entirely different beast which is why I can't see Mumm missing out on a squad spot or at least a place on Chieka's speed dial.


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[KOB1987]

Yes and that's a very good thing considering he's an automatic starter for the wallabies BUT, and I'm just going on comments from people like Nathan Sharpe, it seems that Test level lineout calling is entirely different beast which is why I can't see Mumm missing out on a squad spot or at least a place on Chieka's speed dial.


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is there someone here that can verify and explain why this would be?

 

[wamberal]

What about Kane Douglas?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Yes and that's a very good thing considering he's an automatic starter for the wallabies BUT, and I'm just going on comments from people like Nathan Sharpe, it seems that Test level lineout calling is entirely different beast which is why I can't see Mumm missing out on a squad spot or at least a place on Chieka's speed dial.


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If Mumm is in the squad I'll seriously consider giving the game away, at least at test level. No problem if he comes back to the Tahs.

 

[BDA]

Has Higgers called at Test level? - If he has, it's certainly something that might tip the scales in his favour come selection time. He's a fringe selection at best at the moment.

 

[Slim 293]

Yes and that's a very good thing considering he's an automatic starter for the wallabies BUT, and I'm just going on comments from people like Nathan Sharpe, it seems that Test level lineout calling is entirely different beast which is why I can't see Mumm missing out on a squad spot or at least a place on Chieka's speed dial.


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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall Mumm ever calling the lineouts for the Wallabies...........

In the years Mumm was around the job was performed by Vickerman or Sharpe, except for the 2009 EOYT where Chisholm, with no experience, took up that duty..........

Quite frankly, I don't see why Mumm would be considered at all.

 

[Slim 293]

Just an update on that point, Mumm only played test rugby between 2008 - 2010, mostly off the bench............

From a quick glance at ESPN Scrum stats, the only game where one of Vickerman, Sharpe or Chisholm didn't start a test was against Italy in Melbourne in 2009 where Sharpe was rested on the bench...........

Mumm was paired with Horwill in the second row, but without digging up that game and watching it I couldn't tell you who called the lineout.............

The point being, this is likely the only time in his career where Mumm might have called the lineout, for about an hour, at test level.

Edit: He called the lineout against France in 2008 in Brisbane when Sharpe and Vickerman where injured. In an article related to that game he claimed to have not called a lineout since playing for Sydney Fleet in the ARC.

 

[qwerty51]

I wouldn't pick Mumm but it's obvious why possibly Cheika wants him. He has experience, right now the only experienced lock is Simmons that is near certain to be in the squad.

 

[Slim 293]

Does Cheika actually want him?

This was reported in the Oz last month:

It still is unclear, even to Cheika, whether Dean Mumm (196cm, 109kg), will come into the Word Cup mix, either at lock or blindside flanker. Cheika has handed over recruitment to new Waratahs CEO Greg Harris and admitted to being a little surprised when the announcement was made earlier this week that Mumm, the Exeter captain, would be returning to Sydney to play club football after winding up his commitments in England.