After much speculation over the embarrassing series defeat and reading various insightful articles and blogs on what should be done, I believe the following presents an answer for all speculation and is something which the majority of us need to agree upon and believe in.
Michael Cheika is the Wallaby coach, Stephen Moore is the Captain, Michael Hooper and Rob Horne are the Vice captains. That is not going to change anytime soon and we all best get used to that fact.
However I don’t believe that this will be the case come 2019 World Cup time. So hence I’ve focused on two teams, the best of the current available team and the Ideal team to give a crack at the William Webb Ellis trophy once more in Japan.
Please note that the ideal team is in no way a dream team, but a very gettable team if wanted by the relevant people.
Current Areas of concerns
• Junior player development
• Super Rugby player development (Aligning with the Wallabies set-up)
• Coaching / Game plans / Scrum
• Team selections
This article will only be covering the team selection aspect, selections are based on the following facts.
• The Wallabies will always have a ball in hand approach (Unless conditions or opposition force us to change our tactics – Like we should have done last week)
• Needs to have a balance of talent, skill, X-factor, experience and maturity.
• Players who are unlikely to return to Test rugby have been excluded (Giteau/Mitchel/Adam Ashley-Cooper/Smith/Ioane)
• Assuming the available players in 2018 are not injured
• All players in the 2018 team have been developed, worked on flaws and are in-form
• Finishers are as important as the starting team
• Not considered currently injured players for the Available team
The best current available Wallabies team
Note: The number in front of each player is the number who will replace them.
1. James Slipper – 17
2. Stephen Moore (C)- 16
3. Sekope Kepu – 18
4. Robb Simmons or Sam Carter – Both can’t be in the same team.
5. Will Skelton – 19
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper (VC)
8. Wycliff Palu – 20
9. Nick Phipps – 21
10. Bernard Foley – 12
11. Rob Horne (VC)
12. Matt Toomua – 23
13. Tevita Kuridrani – 22
14. Dane Hewlett- Petty
15. Israel Folau
Replacements
16. Tatafu Polota Nau
17. Scott Sio
18. Greg Holmes
19. Rory Arnold or Adam Coleman – Both can’t be in the same team.
20. Leroy Houston or Jed Halloway – Both can’t be in the same team.
21. Nic Stirzaker
22. Samu Kervi
23. Karmichael Hunt
The only unsure selection is whether to keep Kerevi as a 12 or develop him as a 13 to replace Kuridrani (suggestions are much welcome), and since we brought Hunt to rugby union we might as well use him now to understand if he will be of any value to the Wallabies going forward (again not sure where to develop him at).
Notable Omissions
1. James Horwill – Past his prime, in between technician and enforcer
2. Dean Mumm
3. Sean Mcmahon – Can’t be in the same team as MH.
4. Liam Gill – He is lost now. Wallabies lost a trick with him. Although if Pocock suffers a season ending Injury Cheika should create a Gill law. He’s totally worth it. He can be a straight swap for Pocock in the ideal team.
5. Nick Frisby – Needs to beat Stirzaker to the bench.
6. Christian Lealiifano
7. Lopeti Timani – Needs more Super Rugby time and needs to be developed in a specific and specialized role.
8. Taqele Naiyaravoro – Needs more Super Rugby game time.
Ideal Wallabies team for 2018 and Rugby World Cup
1. James Slipper – 17
2. Stephen Moore – 16
3. Sekope Kepu – 18
4. Simmons or Carter – Both can’t be in the same team.
5. Kane Douglas – 19
6. Scott Fardy / Lopeti Timani – 8 – Higgers must be instructed and developed to play tight when he moves to six.
7. David Pocock (C) – 20
8. Scott Higginbothom – 7
9. Will Genia – 21
10. Quade Cooper – 12
11. James O’ Connor / Joe Tomane
12. Matt Tomua – 23
13. Tevita Kurudrani – 22
14. Dane Hewlet Petty / Taqele Naiyaravoro
15. Israel Falou (VC)
16. Tatafu Polota Nau
17. Scott Sio
18. Greg Holmes
19. Will Skelton / Rory Arnold / Adam Colemen – Best out of the three.
20. Michael Hooper
21. Nick Phipps / Nic Stirzaker – Best out of the two.
22. Samu Kervi
23. Keartley Beale
Notable Omissions (Aside from previously mentioned)
1. Bernard Foley
2. Rob Horne
3. Karmichael Hunt
4. Leroy Houston / Jed Halloway
The only unsure selections are the wingers. Both sets bring in two different set of skills. Maybe we could have the two sets of wingers changed according to opposition and game plan?
With a proper game plan and ability to change and adapt when needed, which I believe Cheika would have learnt and mastered by 2018, I believe this Wallaby team of 23 is the best bet to conquer Japan in 2019 with also Bledisloe along the way.
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.
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