Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[fatprop]

If Giteau was eligible I'd have him in the squad in place of a third halfback, mostly for his versatility/experience, but he wouldn't make my starting side.

Drew Mitchell would be no where near the my squad. If you're an outside back you need to prove you can match it in Super Rugby with the heavyweights. He hasn't done that for years.

And do you really think Gits would make himself available for a role as 3rd half/utility dirt tracker?

 

[BDA]

Not sure. I've read a lot of comments from Giteau admitting that he had his head up his arse when he was in Aus, and how going to Europe has made him more mature.

I wouldn't describe his position in the squad as a "utility dirt tracker". I'd probably have him on the bench covering 9/10/12 (rather than Beale). That's a pretty good role to have.

 

[fatprop]

Not sure. I've read a lot of comments from Giteau admitting that he had his head up his arse when he was in Aus, and how going to Europe has made him more mature.

I wouldn't describe his position in the squad as a "utility dirt tracker". I'd probably have him on the bench covering 9/10/12 (rather than Beale). That's a pretty good role to have.

he ain't a 9

 

[Braveheart81]

It's interesting how quickly Skelton has gone from being almost unselectable in most people's eyes (mostly due to scrummaging on the EOYT) to being almost a lock (no pun intended) in the starting XV.

 

[RugbyReg]

he ain't a 9

you reckon? Perhaps not anymore due to age. but I still maintain that his time at Wallaby 9 was bloody good.

 

[barbarian]

He hasn't played 9 for at least 5 years. Would be a huge risk, even as a third stringer.

 

[fatprop]

you reckon? Perhaps not anymore due to age. but I still maintain that his time at Wallaby 9 was bloody good.

I don't think he would have the legs to play there anymore, he is playing plodding French rugby.

I expect Phipps, Genia and White to be on the plane

 

[BDA]

well it's all hypothetical anyway. I just tend to think you'd be better off having Giteau in the squad than taking a third halfback (who will most likely do sweet fuck all for the whole tournament).

You might be right re Giteau no longer being able to slot in at 9.

 

[TOCC]

It's interesting how quickly Skelton has gone from being almost unselectable in most people's eyes (mostly due to scrummaging on the EOYT) to being almost a lock (no pun intended) in the starting XV.

I didn't like Skelton because of his fitness, I said at the time that he needed to improve because you can't afford to carry a player who can only play 60mins of rugby through a Rugby World Cup campaign.. Now to his credit he is playing 80min regularly and more importantly his workload isn't dropping off towards the end of the match like it did through last year and his first couple games this year.

I also think his rise at the selection table has to do with the fall of Horwill and others not stepping up from 2014 form.

 

[Braveheart81]

I also think his rise at the selection table has to do with the fall of Horwill and others not stepping up from 2014 form.

Most definitely.

There has been a huge void this year at lock based on Horwill's poor form and newfound interest in playing cards as well as Simmons' injury and Carter's mediocre form.

It's good that Simmons has hit the ground running since his return. We need him to be playing well because he will be a starting lock if healthy.

 

[fatprop]

I also think his rise at the selection table has to do with the fall of Horwill and others not stepping up from 2014 form.

The frustrating thing about his form is the glimpses of quality before the idiocy

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

For me Skelton had to tick the box of being an 80 minute (or close to it) player consistently before I was sold. He's done that now and the improvement in his overall play this season has been very pleasing from a supporter's point of view. His performance against the Canes on the weekend just emphasised how far he's come and that he'll be a real asset come RWC time.

 

[BDA]

Scrum technique is still a question mark for Skelton. He looks to have improved significantly this season, but Super Rugby can be deceiving. We'll know more in that regard once the test season starts.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Agree that scrummaging is something that we should still be worried about, but I don't see a lot of other alternatives at the moment.

 

[Gnostic]

Well constructed, out of interest if Giteau & Drew Mitchell were available how would they fit in, plus all this talk about JOC (James O'Connor) being a must have a couple of years back he isnt getting much of a mention at the moment?

Giteau hasn't played Super Rugby for 4? years now. He might be the greatest player in the Top 14 but as far as I'm concerned I just don't rate the rugby as the proving ground it should be. If it was the French side would be far better than it is, hell it should at least be mediocre and it wasn't even that this year.

As for Mitchell, no. We need a winger option that has a effective kicking game. Speight is a genuine finisher and a must pick but his kicking game is poor. With Folau being a very average kicker we need a solid kicking option on the remaining wing. Hence my selection of Morahan or JOC (James O'Connor). Cummins is not in consideration for the same reason and he cannot be selected over Speight. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) gets the nod for mine ahead of Kurindrani, even though I rate the latter as a better 13, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) provides another kicking option, though a valid argument can be made with both Foley and To'omua able kickers AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could drop to the bench and Kurindrani take the spot.

I make no apologies either for my preference of McMahon at 6. I would take him over Higgers, simply because for an equal workrate McMahon has a far greater impact. He makes a lot of metres ball in hand, wins turnovers and defends like a terrier.

 

[JJJ]

It's harsh to judge a player on 15 seconds of a winning game, especially a prop in open play, but 60:15-30 was a pretty eye-catching interlude from Benn Robinson. For a while after that too, now that I watch it. I value the setpiece more than open play in a prop's resume, but that really was a wtf moment. Looked more like a new referee trying to keep out of the way of play than an international forward. Was he injured?

 

[Floggn']

It's harsh to judge a player on 15 seconds of a winning game, especially a prop in open play, but 60:15-30 was a pretty eye-catching interlude from Benn Robinson. For a while after that too, now that I watch it. I value the setpiece more than open play in a prop's resume, but that really was a wtf moment. Looked more like a new referee trying to keep out of the way of play than an international forward. Was he injured?

I would have Holmes over Robinson these days. Especially because he can play both sides.

Edit: Sorry after reading your comment again. I am not sure if you are advocating for Robinson to be in the 23 or not.

 

[cyclopath]

I would have Holmes over Robinson these days. Especially because he can play both sides.

Edit: Sorry after reading your comment again. I am not sure if you are advocating for Robinson to be in the 23 or not.

Not, I think.

 

[Wilson]

The only way I see Robinson in the 23 or on the plane is if one of slipper or sio is injured. They're both better around the ground and at scrum time than him and I'd think our 5th prop will have to be able to play tighthead.

 

[BDA]

I make no apologies either for my preference of McMahon at 6. I would take him over Higgers, simply because for an equal workrate McMahon has a far greater impact. He makes a lot of metres ball in hand, wins turnovers and defends like a terrier.

I love McMahon, but IMO he's basically the same player as Michael Hooper. Cheika tried playing both of them together on the EOYT and it was a failure.