Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[Inside Shoulder]

does anyone really think that S15 form is an entirely reliable predictor of either suitability to test match footy or test form?
if you are prepared to allow that it isn't entirely reliable then an (even greater) element of subjectivity enters each selection choice.
No doubt different positions demand different weight be given to experience, test form from last (or even past) season(s), and s 15 form.
Therefore there is no right or wrong answer to almost any selection choice: its a question of judgment.
With that said this thread can now be closed down and replaced with the no doubt more contentious "Wallabies Match Day 24* man squad thread" to be followed by the "Match Day 15 man thread"

* one to be omitted

 

[Train Without a Station]

Why didn't the Reds win S15 in 2012 if Cooper is the man?

This is a few pages old, but did the Reds not lose a knock out final to the Sharks, when Cooper was suspended.

 

[Lindommer]

Enough of the Cooper urging/bashing, he's not in the squad, let's talk about those who are. How 'bout we all agree to leave Quade for another day.




BTW, I would've picked him but I'm not a selector.

 

[Ash]

Regarding Morahan, he is a very up and down player. When on fire and in form he's fantastic. Good defence, great runner of the ball, decent kicking game, nice chip on the counter. Plenty of involvements, the ball seems to come his way.

When not in form, he's just not there. Goes missing in games, misses tackles. Low involvements, and not great outcomes from them.

Early last year, he was in poor form. Not a lot of involvements and was a turnstile in defence. He improved by the end of the Super season, and was in very good form when it finished. That was at fullback.

Early this year, when he got a chance he was in poor form again. He didn't contribute much, although his defence was OK. This was at fullback.

For the last few weeks when he got a chance again, Morahan had been pretty damn good in the SA tour and against the Rebels, then sensational vs the Lions. Probably deserves his call up on a combination of form, and there not being much choice left for starting wingers outside of Mitchell. Against the Cheetahs, Morahan was at fullback, other games he was on the wing. Scored a good solo counter attack try against the Cheetahs that was called back for (unnecessary) obstruction from the Finger twins.

 

[gold heart]

Agreed this thread should only be debating players that are n the 31 man squad, based on this my this my run on side would be

1. Rodriguez
2. Lawton
3. McKenzie
4. Horwill
5. Eales
6. Poidevin
7. Smith
8. Loane
9. Genia
10. Larkham
11. Campese
12. Horan
13. Little
14. Moon
15. Gould

 

[Dumbledore]

Morahan is big and can cover fullback as well. Deans values utility.

 

[Pfitzy]

I have always thought that Morahan had the abilities to be a great wallaby. I have started to doubt that, but here's hoping the move to the force takes him to the next level.

You'd like to think that, but it may be difficult because Michael Foley...

 

[lewisr]

Morahan is big and can cover fullback as well. Deans values utility.

maybe a little too much? Speciality in a position can sometimes be a good thing and probably develops better combinations. Our entire backline apart from the wingers are essentially utilities.

 

[Dumbledore]

maybe a little too much? Speciality in a position can sometimes be a good thing and probably develops better combinations. Our entire backline apart from the wingers are essentially utilities.

I'm just giving another reason why he might have been picked. I think having utility players is one of those issues that is decided by results. If we win he's smart because of the added flexibility it gives us, let's us play a 5-2 bench, broadens a players skillset and undertstanding etc. etc. If we lose it's because the players don't have a 'best' position where they've spent the last 3-4 years honing their craft.

Like Henry's rotation program leading up to the 07 WC. It was great until suddenly it wasn't.

 

[Braveheart81]

maybe a little too much? Speciality in a position can sometimes be a good thing and probably develops better combinations. Our entire backline apart from the wingers are essentially utilities.

It's a bit chicken and egg though.

Have they become utility players because they are good enough to play in multiple positions or because other players have forced them to move around?

I'd argue that most of our backline have ended up playing multiple positions (at various levels of rugby) because they are very talented and when the need has arisen to find a player to fill a certain position it has been decided that moving a certain player who plays elsewhere is better than selecting a specialist who isn't as good.

I am sure all of them would have preferred to play a single position every single game but they're also happy to move to fill a hole and/or to gain selection.

 

[fatprop]

OK, if not Morahan, who else has had some experience in the squad and is in better form? or is in great from as a winger?

Mitchell? nup
Mogg? maybe, but his work has dropped off and he ain't a winger
Betham? too early
Crawford? too early
Ships? nup, no from
Davies? maybe

My point is that there isn't that many real outstanding options

 

[Scotty]

Okay good point. Could probably argue Moore and Genia as well. Beale hasn't played to be out of form, but you could whack a question mark up next to him. So that's, at best, four out of 31 who have been picked despite a lack of form.

There are some 50-50 selections, White and Phipps for example, but saying Deans isn't picking on form is just making stuff up.

I think there are more question marks on fitness than form:

Fitness - Barnes, Beale, McCabe, Ioane, cummins, MMM

The question on form are generally about backs not playing in the positions they appear to have been selected for:

Form - JOC (James O'Connor) (as a 10), Barnes (as a 15), Timani (picked originally), Kepu, McCabe (as a 12), Beale (as a 10)

 

[GaffaCHinO]

if Mafi hadnt gone off the rails he could have got a shot

 

[Ash]

Yeah, the next two closest wingers with "experience" were Mitchell and Davies.

Davies is in better form than Mitchell, but is a much more limited player. Davies went pretty well against the Lions for the Reds, but his limitations were also on show.

Mitchell is (was) a star, but he is not currently the player he was.

Reality is that Mogg is probably seen as more of a fullback, and his inexperience would have cost him. I would say that they were looking for a winger, which meant that Mogg was pushed further down the order. The squad already has enough people covering fullback from Deans' POV - Barnes, Beale, Folau.

 

[Slim 293]

He's pretty much exclusively picked form players. I don't think there's a single name in the squad you could point to and say that player's out of form.

Ben McCalman.

 

[Swat]

Personally I would have rather seen Mogg added to the sqaud ahead of Morahan but I'm glad that Dingo has actually selected a complete player this time instead of the abortion that was Cooper Vuna in a gold jumper.

 

[Dumbledore]

Scotty It was put out that Deans ignores Soup form. That it just untrue. Lilo, Fulool, Morahan, Sio, Kimlin, Mowen... These are all guys who are debutants, or all but debutants, who have been picked purely on the back of their Soup form.

 

[Dumbledore]

Ben McCalman.

What are you talking about? He's been fine.

 

[fatprop]

Ben McCalman.

Do you watch many Force matches?

He has been playing pretty well in a losing side

 

[wamberal]

McCalman was really good in the SS at the end of last season (before he got injured). I think he will surprise the doubters, if he gets onto the paddock against the Loins.