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This was originally going to be about having one last guess at which six additional players might be joining the Wallaby squad this week, the names of whom will be officially unveiled at midday today.
Like all good squad announcements, though, those names came out well ahead of time.
With six new faces checking into their Caloundra base with the rest of the squad on Sunday afternoon, the secrecy was gone, and even with the token ‘more players may yet arrive’ offered as word started getting around, the announcement had essentially lost its relevance.
Robbie Deans even confirmed on Sunday afternoon Quade Cooper would not be one of the six, and one of the new arrivals, Kurtley Beale, would be.
Along with Beale, the Brumbies trio of prop Scott Sio, midfielder Pat McCabe, and versatile forward Peter Kimlin also checked into the Pelican Waters Resort, as did repatriated scrumhalf Luke Burgess, and convalescing Reds winger, Digby Ioane. Reds hooker James Hanson was also brought in as training cover.
The word on Ioane was that he wasn’t necessarily one of the ‘Wallaby Six’, as I termed them a few weeks ago, but rather he’d continue his recovery in the hands of the Wallaby medicos.
By mid-afternoon yesterday, we’d also learnt McCabe and Kimlin had been officially added to the squad, rapidly reducing the amount of speculating left to be done.
Kimlin’s call-up is well deserved after a really strong year, and comes four years after his last appearance in a Wallaby jersey. He was convinced Hugh McMeniman would get the call, and was in holiday mode on the South Coast of NSW when he got the call. Kimlin’s confirmation would leave just three spots left to be confirmed.
Make that two. Maybe.
Not two minutes after I typed that previous paragraph, the following tweet popped up in my timeline:
Hugh McMeniman has joined the @QantasWallabies squad on the Sunshine Coast. Full squad will be confirmed this afternoon. #OneTeam #LionsTour
— Qantas Wallabies (@QantasWallabies) June 10, 2013
So McMeniman was in, as well, probably as the extra lock I thought two weeks ago was missing. Kimlin’s impressive display against the Rebels on Friday night, wearing Ben Mowen’s no.8 jersey, must have been the ticket for the remaining backrower spot, with the added benefit of being able to cover lock as well.
All of a sudden, Dave Dennis doesn’t look like such a bench certainty.
The final spots were confirmed later yesterday afternoon, with Sio and Ioane officially taking the final places in the squad. Rather surprisingly, given the effort involved to make him eligible, Luke Burgess missed a spot in the squad.
So now, at least that part of the debate can be concluded. So let’s get on with working out a way to beat the Lions.
On that point, presuming Beale is now also a flyhalf option, this represents an opportunity to at least attempt to play expansively against the British and Irish Lions, as the Reds did to some degree of success on Saturday night.
You’d like to think the Wallaby forwards would be able to lay much more of a platform than the Super Rugby-level Reds did, and thus, the McKenzie blueprint shouldn’t be thrown out on principle, or because the Reds lost.
Whatever we think of Beale’s inclusion in the squad, and whatever we think about the circumstances Beale has found (or placed) himself in this year, he presents a different level of dynamism in the no.10 than James O’Connor. That much was evident when Beale made his most recent appearance off the bench for the Rebels.
In fact, Beale at flyhalf and O’Connor on the wing might even lessen the impact of Ioane missing the first Test if he loses the race to be fit.
Berrick Barnes could hold his fullback place from the Spring Tour last year, meaning the only toss-up for Deans might be whether to play McCabe at inside centre, or try something new and slightly daring by naming Christian Lealiifano for his Wallaby debut.
That might just be wacky enough to be a genuine option.
And another thing…
It was really disappointing to read comments on Sunday afternoon after Cooper’s omission was confirmed that Wallaby fans were openly declaring their desires for the Wallabies to lose the Lions series and, as a flow-on, that Robbie Deans would be removed as coach.
For starters, there’s never been any indication a Lion series defeat would immediately cost Deans his job. In fact, ARU CEO Bill Pulver has clearly stated no decisions regarding the Wallaby coaching role would be made until later in the year. Deans’ contract runs through until the end of 2013.
Let me be clear, I completely understand the frustration around selection and playing style that will inevitably be presented in response to this point. I share a lot of it myself.
However, that’s still no justification for wishing failure and a loss of employment on anyone. Rationally express any lack of confidence in the squad you may have, by all means, but wishing failure on anyone is rather distasteful.
Personally, I find that to be one of the lower human character traits there are.