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The unwanted Wallabies squad

Roar Guru
26th August, 2015
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Liam Gill ought to be considered for Wallabies selection. (Photo: Sportography)
Roar Guru
26th August, 2015
51
1179 Reads

With a wealth of high-quality Australian players missing out on Rugby World Cup selection, I thought it would be interesting to debate a squad made up of unwanted Wallabies.

This turned out to be a surprisingly easy task, despite Australia’s ‘best’ 31 players being excluded due to their selection in Michael Cheika’s squad.

There was excess depth in certain positions, and overall the unwanted Wallabies look like a team that could beat the national team on its day.

Front row
1. Paul Alo-Emile, 2. James Hanson, 3. Salesi Ma’afu
Bench/squad: Ben Daley, Saia Fainga’a, Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan, Laurie Weeks

While not as mobile as Cheika’s front row, the unwanted Wallabies would be as strong or stronger in the set piece. The hookers (note there are three in the squad) are better lineout throwers than either Stephen Moore or Tatafu Polota-Nau, and Fainga’a is strong over the ball in general play.

I’ll admit I haven’t seen or heard much about Salesi Ma’afu until he recently made headlines for a road rage incident, but after two years up with the Northampton Saints he’s most likely developed into a powerhouse at scrum time and gets my leap of faith nod in the starting XV.

Naming Paul Alo-Emile in the starting side is probably cheating a little as he’s currently injured, but Laurie Weeks could cover the loosehead side without giving too much away.

Locks
4. Rory Arnold 5. Sam Carter
Bench/squad: James Horwill, Luke Jones

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Very strong here – I’d back the unwanteds over Cheika’s locks any day of the week and twice on Sundays. For the sake of combinations, I’d start the Brumbies pair, with Horwill off the bench.

Loose forwards
6. Lopeti Timani, 7. George Smith (vc), 8. Ben Mowen (c)
Bench/squad: Scott Higginbotham, Ita Vaea, Liam Gill

Liam Gill officially takes the crown of the unluckiest #7 in Wallaby history – can’t even get a break in the staring unwanteds XV!

Ben Mowen is a great leader and gets the captain’s armband. George Smith is a no-brainer at 7 and also gets the vice captain’s armband. Blindside flanker could be adjusted according to the opposition – I’ve named Lopeti Timani for a bit of size and aggression, but against Cheika’s side, I’d be more inclined to start with Higginbotham or Jones at 6, giving the unwanteds four quality lineout targets, and the backs a license to kick the ball out all day long.

Halves
9. Nick Stirzaker 10. Jack Debreczeni
Bench/squad: Nic White, Christian Lealiifano (vc), Luke Burgess

Okay, I’ve cheated again as Stirzaker is injured, so in that case White moves to the starting XV and Burgess moves to the bench. Nick Frisby comes in as the back-up 9.

Given the appallingly poor form of Cheika’s halves, the unwanteds look good here.

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Centres
12. Samu Kerevi, 13. Mike Harris
Bench/squad: Ben Tapuai, Chris Feauai-Sautia

Cheika doesn’t seem interested in Lealiifano’s versatility, but I am. Although I’ve named him as a halves benchie, he’d probably fit better into this team starting at 12 outside Debreczeni, with Kerevi on the bench for impact late in the game either as a straight swap for Lealiifano, or with Lealiifano moving to 10 depending on how the game unfolds.

I’d also make ‘Lilo’ the second vice-captain.

Outside centre is maybe a little weak, but Harris’ goal kicking would probably compensate for that if he can hold his own in defence. One of Ben Tapuai or Chris Feauai-Sautia could step up as an alternative.

Back three
11. James O’Connor 14. Nick Cummins 15. Karmichael Hunt
Bench/squad: Digby Ioane, Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Tom Kingston

While ‘JOC’ and Hunt haven’t exactly set the world on fire, they are very, very talented footballers, and with the right coach I suspect they’d miraculously find form in much the same way as Horwill transformed under Cheika.

Individually, none of the back three are any match for Folau, but as a collective I don’t think they’d be any weaker than Cheika’s picks. They’d certainly have a stronger kicking game, and probably a yard or two more pace overall.

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So, to summarise, my Australian unwanted squad would be as follows (no cheating this time, I’ve left out the injured players):

1. Laurie Weeks
2. James Hanson
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Rory Arnold
5. Sam Carter
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. George Smith
8. Ben Mowen
9. Nic White
10. Jack Debreczeni
11. James O’Connor
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Ben Tapuai
14. Nick Cummins
15. Karmichael Hunt
16. Ben Daley
17. Saia Fainga’a
18. Pek Cowan
19. James Horwill
20. Liam Gill
21. Ita Vaea
22. Samu Kerevi
23. Luke Burgess
24. Luke Jones
25. Nathan Charles
26. Lopeti Timani
27. Digby Ioane
28. Nick Frisby
29. Mike Harris
30. Adam Coleman
31. Luke Morahan/Dom Shipperley/Tom Kingston (can’t decide)

This is a very strong squad, and much more balanced than the squad chosen by Cheika.

I’d back this hypothetical squad of unwanteds to beat Cheika’s team with the right game plan and execution. It’s almost tailor-made to take advantage of the lineout and kicking deficiencies inherent in Cheika’s team, but it would take an astute coach to make it happen.

That coach? Ewen McKenzie.

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