Australia A - Back on the Cards

[Wilson]

Not sure how many will drop back from the main squad, Schmidt seems to like to have a fair few players in reserve at the warm up in case of emergencies. It may mean some shuffling of the squads initially to get the fringe guys more game time, while a few experienced reserves end up held in case of emergencies only to drop out of the squad once the A tour is done.

Either way, I think there are a fair few 10s in front of Meredith for the A side - Edmed, Creighton, Debreczeni, McLaughlin-Phillips, Bowen and Max Burey are all likely to get the call up first. Guys like Edmed, Creighton and Burey are of a similar age with a lot more experience, (Debreczeni older with a hell of a lot more) and even Bowen and McLaughlin-Phillips have significantly more minutes of super (and under 20s). The A squad probably only needs 2 of those guys (maybe a 3rd if they're happy to use them as a utility), but might also have emergency 10 coverage from Stewart, Campbell or someone else depending on selections that leaves them happy enough to leave it at 2.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Yes they do need to be careful they don’t fall into a similar position as they have in the past where the “A” team is getting plenty of game time, then Australia A is basically the “C” team and you end up with all these guys in the middle not getting game time anywhere as they are on fringe of main squad. Guys like Hooper, Nasser, feluai, toole etc

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Edmed would be the obvious Australia A ten wouldn't he?

You'd think so. Especially given he will be match fit. A few of the Force players might get a chance to put their hand up given they are in SA right now playing. Although I still think it's for youth and Wallabies so a guy like Burey doesn't necessarily fit my personal belief in who should be picked.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Will the Aus A games be played on the same day as the tests? I would have thought they would be mid-week games. If they are mid-week then it would seem to me to be possible for those main squad members not being used in the test matches to play for the Aus A Team and still be available for the test warm up.

Especially as Mr P says, those players really need game time too or they will suffer.

 

[Wilson]

Aus A games are Friday 8th of November (Bristol) and Sunday 17th November (England XV). The wallabies are playing at Twickenham on Saturday the 9th and Cardiff on Sunday the 17th, So there maybe a little room for cross over on the first weekend but no chance of it on the second.

 

[Strewthcobber]

There's only two games. The Bristol game is on Friday before the England game and the England A game on Sunday after the Wales game

 

[kiap]

Fixtures:

8 Nov: Bristol Bears v Australia XV @ Ashton Gate

9 Nov: England v Australia @ Allianz Stadium,

17 Nov: England A v Australia A @ The Stoop

17 Nov: Wales v Australia @ Principality Stadium

24 Nov: Scotland v Australia @ Murrayfield Stadium

30 Nov: Ireland v Australia @ Aviva Stadium

 

[Adam84]

Fixtures:

27 Oct: Warmup Match: Saitama Panasonic Wildknights vs Reds @ Kumagaya

4 Nov: Saitama Panasonic Wildknights vs Reds @ Kumagaya

8 Nov: Bristol Bears v Australia XV @ Ashton Gate

9 Nov: England v Australia @ Allianz Stadium,

17 Nov: England A v Australia A @ The Stoop

17 Nov: Wales v Australia @ Principality Stadium

24 Nov: Scotland v Australia @ Murrayfield Stadium

30 Nov: Ireland v Australia @ Aviva Stadium

31 Jan: Bristol Bears v Reds @ Bristol

7 Feb: Ulster v Reds @ Ulster

I included the Reds games as well; all of the above probably explains why the Reds took a Rd 1 Bye in Super Rugby.

 

[Strewthcobber]

A couple of Super Rugby trial games.to slot in there somewhere too

 

[Armchair Selector]

Does anyone know when the squads will be announced?

 

[Wilson]

Australia A to play a Japan xv on the 18th of October:

Australia A to play Japan XV in October

www.rugby.com.au

2 weeks after the end of Super AU is great timing for this.

Could also be a good opportunity for Les Kiss to coach as part of his transition into the wallabies role, though there is a Reds game against Panasonic a week later which might make it difficult. It would make for a good chance for Hilton to run the show at the Reds for a game if he's the leading candidate to take over from Kiss though.