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Wallabies v. Wales 3: Team Announcement

Roscoe Tims June 19, 2012 89

No GravatarThe Qantas Wallabies team to play Wales in the third Wales Tour Test for the James Bevan Trophy at Allianz Stadium in Sydney (kick-off: 3pm AEST) has been named.

The changes to the squad include the return of Kurtley Beale to fullback and Sitaleki Timani at lock. AAC switches to wing, Rob Simmons drops back to the bench and Cooper Vuna and Mike Harris miss the cut.

15. Kurtley Beale                             (Melbourne Rebels)

14. Adam Ashley-Cooper               (NSW Waratahs)

13. Rob Horne                                  (NSW Waratahs)

12. Pat McCabe                               (Brumbies)

11. Digby Ioane                                (Queensland Reds)

10. Berrick Barnes                           (NSW Waratahs)

9. Will Genia                                     (Queensland Reds)

8. Wycliff Palu                                  (NSW Waratahs)

7. David Pocock                               (Western Force, captain)

6. Scott Higginbotham                   (Queensland Reds)

5. Nathan Sharpe                             (Western Force)

4. Sitaleki Timani                             (NSW Waratahs)

3. Sekope Kepu                                (NSW Waratahs)

2. Tatafu Polota Nau                      (NSW Waratahs)

1. Benn Robinson                            (NSW Waratahs)

Reserves:

16. Stephen Moore                         (Brumbies)

17. Ben Alexander                           (Brumbies)

18. Rob Simmons                             (Queensland Reds)

19. Dave Dennis                               (NSW Waratahs)

20. Michael Hooper                        (Brumbies)

21. Nic White                                   (Brumbies)

22. Anthony Fainga’a                      (Queensland Reds)

 

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POSTED IN » Wales
About the author: Roscoe Tims View all posts by
Roscoe Tims (aka Lance Free): A nasty, opinionated little man whose views are indeed narrow with a capital 'N'. Favourite Sport: mungo bashing. Does he ever have anything positive to say?


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Discussion

  • JimmyC

    Poor Harris

    • suckerforred

      Yeah Don’t understand that… Would have left him on the bench at least. He can cover 10, 12, 13 and 15 at a pinch.

      • commonasmud

        15 isn’t a pinch for Harris – he’s better there than at 10.

      • sph45

        Who is the alternative playmaker? Beale?

        • Ian

          Yes

  • suckerforred

    I have a question for Brumby knowledegable folks – Can Nic White play any other position then Scrummie? I have only ever seen him here so not sure if there are other talents. Why on a 5/2 bench would you have players that can only play in singular positions in the back line?

    What if Kurtles goes down? I guess AAC to full back, McCabe to Wing, Ant on to centres. If Berrick goes down? Kurtle to 10, AAC to full back, McCabe to Wing, Ant to centre. Looking almost like a game of 52 pick-up.

    One good thing – the in a recognised Lock on the bench. About bloody time!

    Oh, and is there a point to having someone on the bench that you are unlikely to use? Looking a Nic. Would love to see him have a run but it hasn’t happened in the last two games!

    • TahMan

      Yeah I would like to see him have a run also, but with I dont think you could have taken Genia off in the last two games, especially the first test. I think this week we will hopefully see more of White and more of Dennis at 6

    • JimmyC

      I like a 5/2 split. Finger can only play two positions both of which could be covered by others. Inside by Barnes or AAC and outside by AAC or Diggers. Harris should have stayed with Finger going. Only for balance not for form.

    • Brumby Jack

      Nic White can play 10 and has done for Eastwood.

    • murph

      It’s necessary to go with a 5/2 split when TPN lasts about 50 mins and Palu about 55.

    • AJ

      Makes much more sense to have Lucas there. Daft

  • TahMan

    Benny A + Deans = best mates

    • Bobas

      lets not heap him into the same bed as maafu, mum, brown and mcmalman just yet.

      • TahMan

        Sorry mate you are right he has served us well. In saying that, 2 seasons ago Robinson, Squeak, Alexander was a very sturdy front row.

        Alexander seems to have lost some of his skill. What do you reckon it could be?

        • Willus

          I reckon it could be a case of him being thrown back and forth between 1 and 3. Might not be able to handle it.

  • Ivan

    Why drop Harris! Who is going to cover for BB? Having a spare goal kicker on the bench is handy too. Swap Dennis for Harris.

    • TahMan

      As suckerforred pointed out, Beale can cover 10 with AAC going to 15, McCabe to the sting and fingers in the middle

      • Patrick

        And Beale can kick.

        • Ivan

          Beale is coming back from injury and starting. I don’t think we can assume that he will make the distance to be used as cover.

  • tigerland 12

    Timani? Really? Why won’t Deans pick Pyle or Douglas, it is beyond me.

    • SW

      I agree – Pyle deserves a run. The man is a absolute workhorse for the Rebs, and has a hard edge to him. He needs to be groomed as the eventual replacement for Sharpie.

      Timani has neither of these qualities. He is massively underwhelming for a bloke of his size and athleticism.

    • murph

      Not enough Waratahs

      • AJ

        Yeah! And far too many Brumbies!

      • Bobby

        Australian Rugby is a joke. How the Hell is there that many Tahs in that Team when they have performed the way they have this year. Just goes to show doesn’t matter who play for as long as its the Tahs. Horne again shows nothing at all in attack either does 1D – McCabe. AAC everytime he has access to his right hand will always run and try and fend. Sorry but 100% of teams figured that out 2 years ago. I am suprised Mitchell isn’t there replacing Digby due to him being a Qlder. And Timani has DONE NOTHING in every test match he has played. He may be big but he lacks any mental capacity. Hugh Pyle is one for the future but his ball skill is down for test rugby. Slips is better than Benny A at the moment and TPN and Robinson aren’t fit. Is this a way to get confidence back into NSW rugby so their support base doesn’t walk out the door.

    • Mart

      Sharpe and Timani is a big second row.
      I like it

  • Lee Enfield

    1. Can’t understand the selection of Alexander, Slipper is surely a better option.

    2. I would have much preferred to see 13 AAC, 14 Shipperly/Morahan, 15 Beale.
    We need some serious speed in the team, who if put into space it is shut the gate and Shipperley and Morahan are two of, if not the fastest going around.

    3. I think the team selected will still win on Saturday.

  • Colin

    What a joke? Timani???? He hasn’t done ANYTHING at international level, he is a joke.

    You drop Simmons because he doesn’t get into the hard stuff, but Timani is even worse.

    Deans what are you thinking? Dennis can cover lock aswell so there is no NEED for Simmons.

    Harris should be there for a 4/3 bench

    • commonasmud

      That last 2 games have shown that Dennis (a very fine loosie) can NOT cover lock at test level. Not that I think Simmons is necessarily the answer.

    • Lee Enfield

      Simmons is good in the lineout, we won all our linouts and pinched 3 of theirs last game This was joint effort from Sharpe and Simmons and he is also a caller. Simmons has his bread and butter squared away, as he matures and gains experience, the peanut butter and jelly will follow.

  • johnny-boy

    Here’s an interesting question. If Mike Harris doesn’t already possess Australian citizenship, which some have suggested (and if true is an absolute disgrace) will he now be taking out Australian citizenship ? This goes to the core of Australian rugby and the ARU’s integrity. Can some journalist please ask the question.

    • Dave

      You’re still on this? It isn’t necessary for WB selection. Besides which that kick made him enough of an Aussie in my eyes without needing him to go through pointless rigmarole just to please you.

      • johnny-boy

        Australian citizenship is pointless rigmarole ? Depends on your point of view I guess …..

        • Dave

          You cheeky minx you. You almost had me caught there in your clever web of words. I never said citizenship itself was pointless but citizenship to play for the WBs? Sure, absolutely. As a myriad of past selections could attest.

          Taking “Aussie” Mike Harris as an example. Under current laws he’s made himself ineligible to play for the ABs – some say he probably never could anyway – but it’s still a solid commitment to Australian rugby not to be dismissed simply because of his nationality. Even more so as there is no guarantee that selection for the WBs is assured. Why isn’t that level of commitment enough? In fact shouldn’t it be lauded?

    • Skyblue

      I agree johny boy. Which ausie lad had to miss out for this kiwi discard.cant make the abs.then play for the wbs.thats why we’l always be 2nd with 2nd string kiwis.vuna included.what has rugby come too un this country.cooper o’connor, kepu all grew up dreaming of being abs.and I think theyl trade the wb jearsy for an ab one anyday.we have a team of rockstars jus perserving theyre image not the teams. R.i.p wallabie pride

      • tigerland 12

        Troll elsewhere mate

      • SW

        Mate, O’Connor only lived in Auckland until he was five, before he and his family moved to Australia and he begun his rugby development as a boarder at Nudgee College in Brisbane. Get your facts straight chief.

      • wiggety

        Well you are kidding yourself if you think all the ABs were born and bred in NZ. If the rules changed so you could only play for your country of birth, it wouldn’t be NZ that gets stronger, it would be Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.

        I would love to see the rules altered slightly so that players can switch test teams once and permanently to their country of birth. The current rules are good for various reasons, but they do have a big negative that Pacific Islanders that get picked once or twice for NZ or Oz, but then get dropped, are locked away from being picked for their birth countries. Would love to see those one test wonders and declining stars play for the Islands after they have been discarded by the big nations.

        • JimmyC

          Only problem with that is

        • JimmyC

          Only problem with that is that more Pacific Islander players would chase the cash knowing they could come back

        • Fulltime

          I understand that both NZ and Australia would like to see this in place. Those that are no longer playing for NZ or Australia to be able to play for their home countries. The NH opposes this.

        • Skyblue

          Um check it out mate.every all black in their at the moment is nz born.cant say the same for our team.even the coach

        • Redman

          If they aint born there they are bred into good players there.

        • Dave

          @skyblue It’s true that most of the current squad of ABs are NZ born. But you have to admit that this is rarely the case. However, someone else on another topic pointed out (I think it was Old Weary) that Ben Franks isn’t, he was born in oz. Not that it matters. NZ have got great depth at the moment (when don’t they) but have never failed to take the best players that are eligible regardless of whether they were born in NZ or not. Same here in Oz.

          Picking the best eligible players for the green and gold will hopefully lead to greater success, eventually attracting those youngsters that may otherwise choose to play in any of the myriad of other football codes we uniquely have here. The wide eligibility laws are there to cover lack of depth. Something we suffer from all too much.

    • Ian

      I also heard that Obama is Muslim

  • up&under

    I dont understand the half back situation. Phipps got no game time against Scotland and gets relegated out of the squad. Now White has been picked over him 3 times and is yet to play. At least give one of them a crack!

  • Dave

    So now’s the time to have a lock on the bench. Wow. And an underperfoming one at that? And can someone tell me, what’s the point in naming the side so soon? Don’t they have until a couple of days before the game to announce it? How about a little deception for the opposition?

    Dropping Harris – that’s cold. Probably necessary to make room for Beale, but cold none-the-less. So much for rewarding performance.

    • Goddess

      “So much for rewarding performance.”

      Dingo’s punishing Mike for kicking us to a win.

      • Fulltime

        Your are kidding right?

      • Fin

        sorry to burst your bubble Goddess but there is a very real possibility that Harris will never play another test

        • murph

          Unless he signs with the ‘Tards.

        • Lee Enfield

          I disagree. He is an absolute sharp shooter, and that is something the Wallabies need. He can, did and would win matches off the back of his boot, think Morne Steyn, Jonny Wilkinson.
          He will continue to develop his skills at the Reds, and after another season, will be a viable fulltime option at 12.
          I can honestly see a backline of Genia, Cooper, Ioane, Harris, Tapuai, O’Connor, Beale in the not to distant future.

        • Fin

          Lee IMO your team is too heavily weighted on individually skilled players and not enough on guys that run hard and defend well. As I suggested in a response to a previous write up (that you replied to), I believe that at test level you want a ball player at 10 one at 15 and one on the bench, you want your 12 and 13 to be defensively strong with the ability to get over the advantage line, whether it be by footwork or hard straight running and 11 and 14 to be big fast able to maintain their feet and be solid under the high ball. By my reasoning Deans often selects AAC and Digby the wrong way around. Digby is naturally a 13 and AAC is best in the back three. I do think Harris is capable at test level just probbly at 6 or 7 in the pecking order. my backline would be-
          9 Genia
          10 Beale
          11 Tomane
          12 McCabe ( Finger or horne would also be acceptable )
          13 Digby
          14 AAC
          15 JOC
          with the bench being White Cooper and one of the unused 12s

        • Lee Enfield

          I understand what you are saying. In my opinion the Wallaby backline looks at its best with individually skilled players. We have struggled to score tries despite having a mountain of possession.
          I agree Ioane at 13 would be ideal, but I think Cooper is a better 10 than Beale, and Beale is the best 15 in Australia and posssibly even the world at the moment.
          When we have had Genia, Cooper Barnes at 9, 10, 12, the backline has looked red hot. I see Harris easily being able to replace Barnes in the near future to perform the same role.
          I like the idea of having huge amounts of individual skill in th backline, yes it is high risk, but, how many times have Cooper, Beale, Ioane, O’Connor created somthing out of nothing.
          Our forwards cannot always be relied upon to create a platform for a traditional backline to work effectively. Having players like Cooper, Beale, O’Connor, Ioane, allow us to mask our inconsistant forward pack and take advantage of any broken play or poor defensive alignment.

  • Robson

    The fact that Deans doesn’t omit players that we think should be dropped and persists in picking players that we don’t think deserve to be, doesn’t make him a bad coach.

    Their consistenlty bad performance once on the paddock does make him a bad coach. And he’s been bad for a long time.

    Looks like Alexander grew up in the same shadow as another prop called Ma’afu who couldn’t play his way out of the Wallabies if he was given a million bucks to.

    If Ben Alexander comes on and collapses a scrum from which the Welsh kick a crucial penalty again on Saturday, Deans should get on the first plane home. And that’s the first time I’ve said that. Better still he should catch the first plane to Siberia. Nobody wants him back here either.

    I feel a bit sad for Harris. Despite a couple of ludicrous hate posts about him, he did nothing wrong last Saturday and, in fact, one thing very, very right. But Timana for Simmons??

    Nothing like changing apples for apples when you want a different bite of fruit.

    • Robson

      He came off the bench and wasn’t concentrating on the job. My memory tells me that you certainly go back when your locks aren’t pushing or are mistiming their shove, but you don’t collapse if you are focused on your own job first, which is to get your engagement right.

      And I’m not an Alexander hater, I don’t know him, but what I do hate is that totally unnecessary penalty he gave so cheaply away.

      Having said that I have some big issues about the way scrums are being officiated these days with these insanely protracted
      “crouch’, “touch”, “pause”, “engage” commands.

      But that wasn’t Alexander’s issue on Saturday.

      • Robson

        Above post was meant to be after Pedro’s not before it. I got the engage wrong that time.

  • Pedro

    For all those people hating on Alexander, why not wait and see how he goes with two legitimate second rowers pushing behind him. He’s not the greatest scrummager in the team but he’s been pretty decent over the years and it’s probably one of the hardest things to come off the bench as a prop. He’s also been one of the most consistent performers for the Brumbies this year and even though I rate Palmer I think Alexander offers more from the bench, so who else is there?

    • Lee Enfield

      James Slipper.

    • murph

      Slipper and Holmes

    • Bobby

      I agree I think Holmes is the most under rated prop in the country right now.

      • murph

        He has been for years. He had a cracking debut series against England & Ireland in 2006, picked up an injury and never saw a Wallabies jersey again, despite Knuckles & Dingo persisting with the likes of Dunning, Shepherdson, Maafu, Baxter ad nauseum. Funny how some players get chance after chance while others simply don’t

        • jrsONE

          Murph, you have passed up an opportunity to take a swipe at the Tahs. Surely we can blame them for this?!

        • murph

          Not having a go at the Tahs. If I were a Tahs supporter I’d be embarrassed at the ridiculous favouritism afforded to a bunch of underperforming big heads at the expense of the players and fans who expect selections to be made based on boring stuff like form

        • murph

          It’s amazing that Tard supporters are quite prepared to boo the same group of players whose Wallabies selection are now going at great lengths to defend

  • Tim

    I don’t think you can blame the 2nd row for Alexander’s scrum penalty. They weren’t going backwards, he just didn’t get the bind right and went to ground. That’s not the 2nd row.

    • Robson

      Exactly and that isn’t the only part of his technique which is faulty.

  • Patrick

    Slipper for Alexander.

    Alexander comes on last test, first two scrums he gets pinged for collapsing them after we’d been doing fine all night…. I’m not saying it’s his fault – but he is a marked man by the refs.

    Why is it that these days a prop can’t play for 80mins? Robinson came off and looked absolutely fine?

    • Patrick

      Still not me but I pretty much agree, I wish that he was given a run at loosie though!

      Unfortunately Kepu is a Tah and doesn’t do 60 minutes.

      I would really like to see Kepu TPN Alexander (-Sharpe Pyle) with Palmer and Moore (and Simmons) on the bench.

      I don’t think Pyle has done badly but I wouldn’t mind having him rested a bit more and having Pyle get a real crack at it. I think Palmer absolutely deserves a crack and Alexander deserves a crack on his good side.

  • robbo

    The scrum went to shit starting when Moore came on, went downhill further when Dennis moved to lock when they brought on Hooper and Alexander was just the icing on the cake. The Welsh still had their starting front row on at that time and Fat cat had had a few lucky escapes up to that point. It went back to about parity when the Welsh replaced their tight head.

    Alexander has consistently shown himself to be one of the three best props in Australia, even when forced to play out of position. He gets picked because he can play either side, as can Kepu, which gives Deans great flexibility.

    For mine, Alexander is a better loose head than Benn R, but rarely gets the chance to proved it and, he is about 5 x better than him both in the tight and the loose.

  • Jimbo81

    Why does Deans keep getting it wrong? Doesn’t he watch the super 15?

  • RockyElboa

    Let me start by saying that I love KB, I have been following him for a long time and still love him even though he left me and went to Melbourne.
    Let me also say that I have no opinion on his guilt or innocence for the charges that have been brought against him, however…

    I don’t understand why he has been cleared to play, would it be unreasonable or a bad precedent to set that if you have charges pending against you that you can not be selected to play for the Wallabies?
    I understand the ARU suspending their own inquiry but the suspension of this inquiry under these circumstances should not be grounds to allow a player to be selected.

    Saying that, I hope KB is cleared of all charged and smashes the Welsh on Saturday night.

    • Lee Enfield

      Why should he be punished for a crime he has yet to be found guilty of. Secondly, if he is found guilty, why should he be punishd twice for the same crime. The courts will decide the appropriate punishment, I don’t see why he should then receive further punishment from the ARU before or after the court hearing.

      • bill

        Beale seems ok, and sports stars are marked men if they go out, but would you want a David Nalbandian or that wanker aussie swimmer representing your country or team. Would you cheer for them?

        I don’t think this will amount to anything, and Beale doesn’t present himself in the way those two blokes do, but if he did the aru would be obligated to shift him.

    • Gumby

      Unless he has been found guilty of something he should be allowed to play. He has only been charged; the evidence hasn’t been tested. Innocent until proven guilty; of course he should play.

      • murph

        normally I’d agree but it’s also not unusual for people to be stood down pending a hearing

  • tommy

    Opinions on Sharpie staying on another year in light of career best form & a Lions tour next year?

    • TahMan

      I think he has agreed to play till the end of the Rugby Championship not a full year

    • Patrick

      I too would love him to go on the spring tour and the Lions tests. Even if he only plays off the bench in the tests, or if he captains the midweek team, he would just be invaluable to the squad and closing out the big games.

      I’d probably want to see him put in 80 mins in the first test of the Lions series too, unless by then Horwill and Pyle are absolutely killing it.

  • Disco

    I’d prefer to see Hugh Pyle & James Slipper in the Squad over Timani & Alexander.

    Kiwis love pointing out any Kiwi that plays for the Wallabies but forget all the Aussies that fill their league team & all the Islanders that have played for the All Blacks over the years.

    There’s one kiwi I’d like to see the back of and that’s Robbie Deans.

    • Redman

      It takes a kiwi to get us over the line…whats the world coming too

      • murph

        In spite of the best efforts of another Kiwi

  • Roscoe Tims

    Haven’t times changed? I remember the days when everyone used to bleat about Sharpie being soft and a seagull, and questioning his fitness for Wallaby selection…

    • Patrick

      Times, perhaps, or his form. My view is that he’s hit a real purple patch these last couple of years (and absolutely should have been pivotal to the RWC team).

      I don’t think he was playing as well three years ago – maybe it’s actually the team changing around him but since he was as good at the Force as for the Wallabies recently I’m not sure. I think he’s just playing with nothing to prove but with a lot of experience, hunger and pride.

  • Nutta

    Dingo baffles me. He has a thing for up & comers and that’s all good. I don’t always agree but I get it. So why keep on with Ben A when he has options like Slipper and Palmer? With Keps trotting about who can cover No1 in a pinch (but is a FAR better prospect at 3), why deny up & comers who are desperate for test experience in a dead-rubber game (yes I know we want 3-0, but we’ve already won the serise) just before we head into a 4 way tournament against teams all whom have extremely capable scrums (and thus attrition will be high)? Perfect chance to bring along development with minimal risk

    • Nutta

      Sorry. Just re-read all posts above and realised the topic was covered and done to death.

      Excessive use of scroll when I got frustrated seeing the side.

      Giving myself an uppercut…now.

    • Blinky Bill of Bellingen

      ‘Done to death’ it may well be but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth saying over. I get where the supporters of 3-0 are coming from. However at times you have to look at how best to use your opportunities and for me the best use of the 3rd test is get things moving in readiness for the Quad-N.

  • Fulltime

    Ok! after all these comments and analysis, what result can we expect on Saturday. Look at your balls, the crystal ones please.

  • Robson

    I hope it doesn’t mean anything for the Wallabies, but an Irish “mentalist” in NZ has looked into a crystal ball and predicted that Ireland will end their drought against the ABs on Saturday and win the test.

    He has some good form too – predicted (in a sealed envelope) before the 2nd test that the ABs would win by two points and got a couple of correct results in England as well.

    But he aint said anything about Wales v Aus on Saturday yet. Probably doesn’t gaf about Wales playing anyone.

  • Robson

    Ooops got carried away in previous post so to answer “Fulltime’s” question, I looked at a crystal ball somewhere the other day (in the TAB I think) and it was picking Wallabies by 14. I think that’s a shade generous, so will go for Wallabies by 8.

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