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Wallabies End-Of-Year Tour Squad

Brumby Jack October 25, 2012 48

No GravatarThe return of David Pocock, Stephen Moore and Berrick Barnes headlines the 30-man squad for the end-of-year tour that has been announced.

For once Robbie Deans has a positive selection headache with the return of Pocock who will battle Michael Hooper and Liam Gill for the openside flanker position.

Also returning is Barnes, who is coming back after suffering a punctured lung in the loss to South Africa in Pretoria. Hopefully his time with the All Blacks will reveal some interesting secrets.

The other big inclusion sees hooker Stephen Moore return from a hamstring injury. He will join Tatafu Polota-Nau and newly capped Wallaby James Hanson as tourists. Hanson takes the place of Saia Fainga’a whose broken hand has kept him off the tour.

Sekope Kepu and Sitaleki Timani have overcome niggling injuries from the All Blacks game and will take their place on tour.

One notable exclusion is Scott Higginbotham, who was recently suspended for a run-in with Lord Darkness Richie McCaw and would have missed at least two of the four games on tour.

The return of Wycliff Palu and Pocock has given Deans some confidence that he will be able to cover Higginbotham’s absence, with Higginbotham on standby should any injuries occur.

The tour has added importance in the make-up for world ranking positions, with the final seedings for the 2015 World Cup to be determined following the tour.

The squad:
Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Nick Cummins, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Anthony Fainga’a, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Mike Harris, Michael Hooper, Digby Ioane, Sekope Kepu, Pat McCabe, Drew Mitchell, Stephen Moore, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, Radike Samo, Nathan Sharpe (c), Brett Sheehan, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Ben Tapuai, Sitaleki Timani.

Fixtures:
Wallabies v. France, Stade de France, Paris – Saturday 10 Nov 9:00pm (7:00am AEDT Sunday 11 Nov)
Wallabies v. England, Twickenham, London – Saturday 17 Nov 2:30pm (1:30am AEDT Sunday 18 Nov)
Wallabies v. Italy, Franchi Stadium, Florence – Saturday 24 Nov 3:00pm (1:00am AEDT Sunday 25 Nov)
Wallabies v. Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff – Saturday 1 Dec 2:30pm (1:30am AEDT Sunday 2 Dec)

The opposition the Wallabies will face during the end of year tour have announced their squads for their end of year matches.

FRANCE:
Forwards: Eddy Ben Arous, Thomas Domingo, Yannick Forestier, Benjamin Kayser, Christopher Tolofua, Dimitri Szarzewski, David Attoub, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Yoann Maestri, Pascal Papé (Captain), Jocelino Suta, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Damien Chouly, Yannick Nyanga, Pierrick Gunther , Wenceslas Lauret, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles.

Backs: Maxime Machenaud, Morgan Parra, Frédéric Michalak, Jules Plisson, François Trinh-Duc, Vincent Clerc, Brice Dulin, Benjamin Fall, Gaël Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Florian Fritz, Yoann Huget, Vincent Martin, Maxime Mermoz.

ENGLAND:
Forwards: Mouritz Botha, Dan Cole, James Haskell, Phil Dowson, Dylan Hartley, Tom Johnson, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Ben Morgan, Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw, Mako Vunipola, Thomas Waldrom, David Wilson, Tom Wood, Tom Youngs.

Backs: Anthony Allen, Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Danny Care, Lee Dickson, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Alex Goode, Jonathan Joseph, Ugo Monye, Charlie Sharples, Manusamoa Tuilagi, Jordan Turner-Hall, Ben Youngs.

ITALY:
Forwards: Robert Barbieri, Mauro Bergamasco, Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Alberto De Marchi, Paul Derbyshire, Simone Favaro, Joshua Furno, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Davide Giazzon, Andrea Lo Cicero, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Antonio Pavanello, Michele Rizzo, Alessandro Zanni.

Backs: Tommaso Benvenuti, Mirco Bergamasco, Tobias Botes, Kristopher Burton, Gonzalo Canale, Edoardo Gori, Tommaso Iannone, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luca Morisi, Luciano Orquera, Alberto Sgarbi, Giovanbattista Venditti.

WALES:
Forwards: S Andrews, R Bevington, P James, A Jarvis, G Jenkins, A Jones, R Hibbard, K Owens, M Rees, B Davies, L Charteris, I Evans, A-W Jones, T Faletau, R Jones, R McCusker, A Shingler, J Tipuric, J Turnbull, S Warburton (Captain).

Backs: L Halfpenny, Liam Williams, A Cuthbert, G North, H Robinson, A Beck, J Davies, J Roberts, S Williams, D Biggar, J Hook, R Priestland, T Knoyle, M Phillips, Lloyd Williams.

TAGS » ,
POSTED IN » England, France, Italy, Wales, Wallabies
About the author: Brumby Jack View all posts by
Canberra born and bred Rugby tragic brought up on Canberra Kookaburra and ACT Brumbies Rugby. It was a choice between politics and Rugby, with Rugby the obvious winner.


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Discussion

  • Brumby Runner

    No real surprises given that players outside the TRC/Bledisloe squad haven’t been playing recently, but no Cadyn Neville is disappointing. I was also hoping Ben Mowen would make the squad at least for his leadership qualities. Hard to say who would have missed out, but it wouldn’t have been the first time some established players were rested from the eyt to allow others to be blooded.

    • JimmyC

      More established players being left out for Mowen or Nevill ? The only locks or backrowers you would call established would be Sharpe, Simmons, Palu, Samo and Pocock. Two coming back from long term injuries and another is the captain. That rules out any chance of that kinda thing. What if Shape went down against France. Would you be happy playing a rookie locking pair against England?

      • Brumby Runner

        My suggestions would be Barnes and either Samo or Palu, and have one extra forward and one less back. I think Berrick’s days are over and he is unlikely to figure in the backline for the tests unless there is a spate of injuries. Palu and Samo are similar players; Samo again is getting on and Palu is an injury waiting to happen. Giving Mowen a chance in lieu of one of these would be an investment in the future.

    • Mart

      Either way Mowen offers more than Dennis!

      • JimmyC

        Mowen does not have the ability to play lock so I disagree.

        • DC

          That doesn’t mean anything. By what you are saying, you may aswell say Lucas ‘offers more’ than than Genia because he can play more positions in the backline, and that’s madness.

        • bill

          Hasn’t Mowen played lock before as cover? He can’t be any worse at it than Dennis.

  • Mart

    No Higginbotham at all? wtf

    • Brumby Jack

      Higgers is on standby in case of any injury.

      It looks they think they have enough cover at 8 with Samo, Palu and if need be Pocock to play there.

      • Timbo

        Also i’m sure Timani could cover 8 in a pinch.

      • Mart

        Isn’t Higgers a 6?

        • Brumby Jack

          Depends who is coaching him at the time

    • Old Weary

      Of course Higgers would be excluded.. he touched up Dean’s old mate…

      • Jay-c

        Your a reds supporter and about 17- right?

        • BloodRed

          Higgers is a Rebel now.

  • Jay-c

    Seeing how nick cummins faced the haka bought him a starting place on the wing for every game of the tour (form permitting) as far as I’m concerned!

    • Brumby Jack

      The Honey Badger is ready for Europe.

      But is Europe ready for the Honey Badger?

      • jrsONE

        Will Robbie have to declare his Honey Badger at customs?

      • cantab

        I sometimes wonder how much people really like/rate Cummins or if they are just big fans of ‘Honey Badgers’ in general. (like maybe they had one as a pet growing up)

        • Guy

          I think he has earned his spot, and should be given a crack. Every match he plays he is 100% committed. He has great skills, speed, and power… There have been a few moments where bad decisions were made, but this does not place him outside of the rest of the candidates.

        • Nutta

          I think most backs are limp-wristed fairies who haven’t the heart/brains/guts to be a proper Pig – which is the aspirational Mt Everest of playing rugby (as everyone knows).

          I actually caught one of them ordering a “Fruit-tingle” in the Star Hotel in Tumut once. On enquiry he told me it wasn’t a kiddies lolly, but was a drink. That’s when I stopped trying to rationalise their existence. Now I don’t even acknowledge them as team-mates. They are merely the special friends who sit up the front of the bus and then follow us Pigs around the field and kick the ball away every now and again.

          But every now and again a fairy comes along that makes me rethink that philosophy:
          Horan, Nathan Grey, The Herbert Boys, The Staniforth Boys, Morty, Joe Roff, Clyde R’borne, Rob Egerton are some who spring to mind. Maybe not all world-beaters, but fair dinkum “goers” who really should have been Pigs (maybe they had over-protective mums)

          This Cummins bloke is a goer. I reckon Cummins may enter that group if given a chance. Perhaps McCabe could too. They have guts those 2. The rest are fairies.

    • Mart

      Agreed. It looked like he loved it
      The whole moment

    • bill

      He’s improved a fair bit since last year but his handling has been crap so far this test season, I’d prefer someone else in the squad.

      Be better off having Higgers in that wing position.

      • Brumby Runner

        Bill, I think you’re being a bit tough – HB has been a stadout in Perth for a few seasons. I think there are many supporters who don’t really see any good in players from teams other than the one they follow until belatedly they are included in the Wallabies. That might explain why some would like to see the entire Reds team picked for the Wallabies.

        I can remember HB dropping one pass (from Samo I think) that was aimed behind his left shoulder while he was almost at full speed. Other than that he may have dropped one or two high balls, but caught many more and was more proficient under the high ball than AAC, Beale, etc (but not Genia who is the best).

        • bill

          I was critical of Cummins before this year as being a straight up and down runner in offence, when the force moved him to out centre…well, he tore the reds a new one with his stepping,. Point is I think he can improve but he was pretty woeful in these tests, I think he’d be better served getting more experience and practice at ball handling than being chucked in the deep end and found wanting as he has been so far.

          But given that Robbie seems to like doing this to players… it’s fine with guys like O’Connor who can cope, but with guys like McCabe and Cummins it’s shit.Sure they learn from the adversity of it, doubt they learn any faster than otherwise and in the meantime we get a little sea anchor on our performance while they catch up.

  • ooaahh

    The honey badger is ready for the Lions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iksnk1YVkac

    • Larkhage

      the honey badger is just badass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

      • muffy

        In was camping in Mana Pools in Zimbabwe and a Honey badger came in the tent, I pinned him square in the head with a can of baked beans (from the safety of my sleeping bag of course), he didn’t even flinch, ignored me and carried on going through my food!

        Those little bastards are as tough as they come!

        Apparently they don’t get very well fed at the western force….

  • Damo

    Wouldn’t mind having a look at Pocock and Hooper in the same side and Tapuai at 12

    1. Robinson
    2. TPN
    3. Alexander
    4. Sharpe
    5. Timani
    6. Pocock
    7. Hooper
    8. Palu
    9. Phipps
    10. Beale
    11. Ioane
    12. Tapuia
    13. AAC
    14. Mitchell
    15. Harris

  • AF

    Wheres deusetouir for France?

    • Brumby Jack

      Dusautoir has a knee injury or “twisted internal lateral ligament with a slight tear”
      and out for all of their matches.

  • PR3

    James Stannard anyone? He’s a good player. Not a 100% test player but the tour experience would be good for him and Aus rugby overall. I’d like to see guys like that on this tour (Neville, Scott Fardy, and Chris Sautia)

    • Brumby Jack

      Stannard is now playing over in Japan so isn’t eligible.

  • Grease gun

    Damo, unless you use the honey badger, you’ve only got two, possibly three, line out options.

    • BloodRed

      Honey Badger is a winger. Not likely to jump much in the line out.

      • muffy

        Didn’t the Winger jump in line outs years ago?

        Recon – the Badger would be a great line out option, nothing the AHB (Australian Honey Badger- a rare but pugnacious animal found in pubs and fields of Western Australia) cant do

        • bill

          If you watch the grand slam from 84 I think they had a winger chucking the ball into the lineout.

  • Gunner

    Glad Higginbotham is out, a pity the ARU didn’t say they were leaving him out because the IRB ruling was not harsh enough. If he wants to belt someone do it in open play not when his target is tied up on the ground, but then, if he’d done that – he’d miss the tour because he was in a coma…….

    • muffy

      Shouldn’t you be in school, this time on a Friday?

    • bill

      That’s right, Higger’s hit him while McCaw was on top of him. Well done to McCaw for not responding. Of course Paul Carozza couldn’t respond because he couldn’t distinguish between Richard Loe’s elbow and his own nose, Loe was on top. Bit of a difference in both the intent and the execution.

  • Pedro

    It’s pretty shitty that all but one of the fixtures is played in the daytime, meaning 1am here. Just like South African games.

  • J

    Ben Lucas instead of Sheehan anyone?

  • Luke

    Rob Simmons is such a plodder at test level. I would’ve thought Hugh Pyle was going to get a go on the tour. Couldn’t hurt.

    • bill

      Oh ye of little faith. I seem to remember the super 15 this year and Rob having one of his few good games against the rebs, gave your boys a towelling. Simmons has been pretty inconsistent this year though, good games followed by disappearing acts.

      • Luke

        I’m not even a rebel supporter so not sure how you could come to the conclusion that my preference for Hugh Pyle was parochialism.

        All I’m saying is that he should’ve got a shot on tour because from what we’ve seen of Simmons, he has a low workrate and doesn’t dominate at the collision. And maybe Pyle can prove different.

    • Brumby Runner

      Luke – I’m with you. I think Sharpe’s replacement if he retires will be between Simmons and Pyle, and my preference is for Pyle. Both provide good lineout options but Pyle plays a much more ‘in your face’ game. I just think that the change should already have been made, despite all the love for Sharpie being shown here and in the press lately.

  • johnny-boy

    The dumbest decision is not taking Ben Mowen. I hope he really rips it up next year just to show them

  • Nutta

    I have to back those calling for Mowen. I am a big fan of Palu & Samo (Samo’s try vs AB’s last year actually brought tears of happiness to my eyes. I watch it and Owen F’gans World Cup try on YouTube to cheer me up regularly). But surely Samo at least and possibly Palu won’t be about for much longer so an eye to the future surely?

    Not sure what else the bloke has to do. He’s big, fit, strong on the ball, leads, very handy defensively, a good lineout option, smart…

    Did he do something to get blacklisted? Does he have form somewhere?

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