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The latest Wallabies squad and starting XV have been announced. Let’s look at the origins of the players. There are twelve Queensland-born players in the 22 man squad, and eight in the starting team.
There are eight NSW born players in the squad and five in the starting team. There are two ACT born players in the squad and two in the starting team.
My observations are as follows:
1. Queensland born players dominate the current Wallabies squad and starting team.
2. Queensland have 50 per cent more players than NSW in both the squad and starting team.
3. Of the eight NSW players, only 50 per cent of them (Robinson, Maafu, Horne and Beale) were born in Sydney, rugby’s largest junior and senior player base.
4. The squad contains four, or 18 per cent (and possibly five if you count O’Connor, 22 per cent), players (Mumm, Pocock, Genia and Cooper) not born in Australia, three (or four if you count O’Connor) of whom have qualified for the Wallabies by residence.
I can only conclude that this team profile does not reflect its foundations and talent pool. It could be an aberration.
Alexander, a NSW origin player, replaces Maafu, a NSW origin player. Ioane, Victorian born, dilutes every one. Horwill replaces Mumm and Hynes replaces Mitchell.
The net result is that Queensland gains one player in both the squad and the starting team.
Wallabies squad for the 2010 Tri Nations.
1 Benn Robinson, (Sydney) NSW
2 Saia Fainga, ACT
3 Salesi Ma’afu, Sydney NSW
4 Dean Mumm, (NZ born) NSW
5 Nathan Sharpe, Qld
6 Rocky Elsom (capt), Qld
7 David Pocock, (Zim) Qld
8 Richard Brown, Qld
9 Will Genia, (Port Moresby) Qld
10 Quade Cooper, (NZ) Qld
11 Drew Mitchell, Qld
12 Matt Giteau, ACT
13 Rob Horne, Sydney NSW
14 James O’Connor, Qld
15 Adam Ashley Cooper, (Central Coast) NSW
16 Stephen Moore, Qld
17 James Slipper, Qld
18 Rob Simmons, Qld
19 Ben McCalman, (Country) NSW
20 Luke Burgess, (Maitland) NSW
21 Berrick Barnes, Qld
22 Kurtley Beale, (Sydney) NSW
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.