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Seeing as some don’t seem to have a clue what he’s doing when selecting a team I thought I’d have a crack at it and try to actually account for all the necessary skills required in certain positions and across the whole team.
Firstly, there’s a few players who have been left out of the Rugby Championship squad who I would have liked to include, but we’ll stick to reality and who’s actually available for this one.
Secondly, by all accounts George Smith will be called into the squad after Game 2 of the Rugby Championship so he will be included in this process along with James O’Connor, who is reportedly still a chance to be called up after Game 2.
So, here goes, hopefully some of you will agree with me…
The front row:
For me this was actually one of the more difficult choices as the Reds front row definitely deserves to start on form. I think the likelihood of James Hanson being selected ahead of Stephen Moore is incredibly low especially considering he has been be named captain, which I don’t have an issue with. He deserves his spot based on years of consistent form.
This being the case I see no need to keep James Slipper and Greg Holmes together so I would go with the incumbent front row of James Slipper, Stephen Moore and Sekope Kepu because of Kepu’s impact around the park and his size, his scrummaging has been solid enough to justify this.
Reserves: Scott Sio, Hanson, Holmes.
The locks:
This is where coach Michael Cheika has left himself a little bit high and dry, with the selections of Dean Mumm and Dave Dennis over Adam Coleman and Lopeti Timani quite puzzling to say the least.
I’ll do my best here.
Rob Simmons has a lot of detractors, and for good reason, he does not have enough of a physical impact around the field for an international lock, but we need, I repeat need, to have a good lineout lock (and four props in the 23, but that’s another story…)
Simmons is the best we have, and his selection being necessary means we need someone to make up for his physicality.
Enter Will Skelton.
Sure he may not have the same success he’s had for the Waratahs against the All Blacks or the Boks, but he’s proven he can play 80 minutes this season and I think it would be incredibly foolish not to give a 2.03m, 140kg lock with his skill a run to at least see if he lives up to the hype.
Reserves: Arnold, Dennis (only because there isn’t a better option).
The loose forwards:
Scott Fardy gets the nod at blindside, he’s always a solid performer, he offers an option at lineout time and as much as I’d like to play both Higginbotham and Palu, we really can’t afford to play two players that play that loose. It would leave us with only two genuine lineout options.
Higginbotham or Palu at number 8 is a tough decision, so again I’m going to place a high value on the lineout and go with Higginbotham to give us a third jumper (and a second caller).
Our set piece really needs to be on point going into the World Cup and in general if we want to a be successful team.
Lastly the pivotal openside position… I like Michael Hooper, I really do.
He’s strong ball runner, great at link play and always gives it his all, but in reality, he’s not a number 7, he’s a blindside that’s too small to play there and for that reason and because Pocock is one of, if not the strongest player over the ball in world rugby, Pocock is my choice.
Reserves: Hooper, Palu, Smith.
The halves:
Now we’re getting into the real contentious stuff eh? With no Nick Stirzaker, and Nic White in atrocious form, that leaves Phipps and Genia.
Now say what you will Waratahs and Reds fans, neither of these guys are in form. Phipps was below his best for the whole Super Rugby season, while Genia showed glimpses of his old self, but was far from perfect.
To me that means we must drop back to potential and previous performances for the Wallabies, and we’d all be lying if we selected Phipps on this criteria, therefore Genia gets the nod.
Now as far as form at flyhalf goes, you could probably say Christian Lealiifano actually deserves this spot. But unfortunately for him he doesn’t have the incumbency and he doesn’t have Cooper’s x-factor, meaning he may well miss out on a place in the 23 all together.
The most likely choice is Bernard Foley or Quade Cooper. Lets remove personal bias from this for a second and consider that based on the fact that Genia should start ahead of Phipps.
Despite what some will say, Foley needs a second playmaker to be at his most effective. That’s likely to be Matt Toomua who he does not combine well with, so Cooper should start as he doesn’t need a second-five and gels quite well with Toomua.
Reserves: Phipps, Foley.
The centres:
Tevita Kuridrani has a lock on 13, even if his form has been down a little this season.
Adam Ashley-Cooper doesn’t have his line-bending ability. Although he does make some breaks, his one weakness is that somehow after 104 caps he still hasn’t learnt to pass. He’s a fantastic player, but the fact that he rarely passes or passes too late is a glaring issue with his game.
I’d really like to see Samu Kerevi line up at 12. As many people have said we’re the only top team still employing a two playmaker system, and I think it’s time to move on now that we finally have a big strong ball runner at 12 that knows how to pass and offload (and even kick a little).
Reserves: Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper.
The wings:
The form left winger of Super Rugby has been Joe Tomane, and as solid as Rob Horne is in defence we need size and speed in attack. Horne is too slow and small to make breaks against the All Blacks and the Boks.
Tomane isn’t the greatest defender, but he’s also not a liability. If we are to abandon the two playmaker system we need a solid boot at the back, therefore we need either Drew Mitchell or James O’Connor on a wing.
I’m inclined to go with James O’Connor solely because I think he’s got an older Mitchell beaten for pace and he’s right footed. I want to play Tomane on his preferred side.
So James O’Connor just takes the right wing spot.
Reserves: Mitchell, Speight
Fullback:
Israel Folau. I don’t think this one’s even worth debating.
Reserves: Beale (He shouldn’t be anywhere near 12 for The Wallabies and Adam Ashley-Cooper and Mitchell are covering other positions, I would shift James O’Connorto fullback first if Folau were to get injured though.)
Team:
1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Will Skelton
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock (vc)
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper (gk)
11. Joe Tomane
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. James O’Connor
15. Israel Folau
Bench:
16. James Hanson
17. Scott Sio
18. Greg Holmes
19. Rory Arnold
20. George Smith
21. Nick Phipps
22. Bernard Foley
23. Adam Ashley-Cooper
Omitted options:
Matt Giteau – Considering how many times he made crucial errors, whether it be in general play, or missing simple kicks that cost us games in the past, I just don’t see how at 32 he’s now somehow an ‘improved player’. I can’t name a single person that has come back from Europe a better player.
Admittedly I’ve barely seen him play for Toulon, but I just don’t understand the hype. I’d like to be proven wrong because he’s undoubtedly talented, but it just seems unlikely.
Rob Horne – Too slow to be a winger at international level and too many people ahead of him at 12/13.
Taqele Naiyaravoro – Would be nice to get him capped against Argentina or something but he’s to raw to face The Boks or NZ.
Dean Mumm – No. No. No no no… No.
James Horwill, Nic White – Too out of form.
Tetera Faulkner, Christian Lealiifano, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Toby Smith – All just too far back in the pack.
Finally, I’m aware that this team contains eight Reds in total and as I’m sure some of you will jump on this I’d like to quickly justify these selections in isolation.
Slipper, Hanson, Holmes and Kerevi all unarguably deserve their spots. Simmons is necessary and as for Genia, Cooper and O’Connor, there’s no one knocking the door down to be picked in the halves so I picked the two most talented players we have.
O’Connor is the only one that probably doesn’t deserve to be there, but he is also necessary unless you put Adam Ashley-Cooper on the right wing, but his kicking is not anywhere near as accurate as O’Connor’s and having O’Connor on the field provides a back-up goal kicking option.
So what do you think Roarers? What changes would you make to this team for the Rugby Championship and onwards to the World Cup?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.