This November, the Wallabies will play six games in Europe. Four of those are Tests and two are midweek Tour matches. Add in Bledisloe number four and that is seven games in less than a month.
You would expect Deans will play his strongest side, with maybe one or two small tweaks in the tougher international Tests to build on the good progress made during the Tri-Nations series.
But the two mid-week games, and perhaps the Test against Italy, will offer Deans a chance to include some of the fringe players in the squad.
So as an interested Northern Hemisphere viewer and even more importantly a Munster man, I’m wondering who Deans might select for these games.
Will he stick mainly with what he’s used in the past year or will there be some bold selections?
Will one or two of Australia’s successful U20s side make it on tour – like Matt Toomua or Kimami Sitauti? Will there be room for a guy like Christian Lealiifano, who is doing very well for Waikato in the NPC comp in New Zealand?
Or how about returning Internationals from abroad like Mark Gerrard or Rod Blake? Maybe a wild-card like Richard Kingii or Luke Rooney?
Parisien
Guest
But Italy lurks!
Rockin Rod
Guest
Love the bolters, John Grant after beating Hayne last night and Locky McCaffrey NSW rookie of the year
Rockin Rod
Guest
Not bad squad Cizzy i would add Dan Palmer and Keiran Longbottom as props over Weeks and Daley Fitzpatrick over Faingaa Hand and Humphries over Chisolm and Mumm Mccaffrey and Alcock over Salvi and McCutcheon Justin Turner over Kingii Rocket Rod Davies
Rockin Rod
Guest
Brian Melrose has been linked to the job
Rockin Rod
Guest
Ben, great call on Leroy. Would love to see him fullfill his potential
Derm
Roar Guru
The Wallabies have only got two tests in the UK this year - and you don't have to play Scotland or Ireland either - how difficult could it be? :)
Derm
Roar Guru
You forgot the Summer tours - they use those for development of players.
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
If it was to be a 37 man squad, I'd probably select something like, sticking close to what Deans would have- Prop- Robinson, Alexander*, Weeks, Ma'afu, Slipper, Daley Hooker- Moore, Palota-Nau, Faingaa Lock- Horwill*, Sharpe, Chisolm, Mumm, Simmons Back Row- Elsom, Pocock, McCalman, Brown, Hodgson, Salvi, McCutcheon Half Back- Genia, Burgess, Kingii First Five- Cooper, Toomua Centre- Giteau, Barnes, Faingaa, Ashley-Cooper, Horne, Chambers* Back Three- O'Connor, Ioane*, Turner, Beale, Mitchell *If fit
niwdEyaJ
Guest
Anyone know when Howrill will be back in the picture? Would be good to see him on tour along with Vickerman (i know they won't pick big V as he hasn't played any rugby in Australia yet but he's clearly capable - certainly more capable than Mummuppet). Also agree with getting Rockin' Rod Davies on tour... a speedy winger like him would suit the new style of play. Finally, I hope Deans has the sense to give S. Faingaa a rest with Polota-Nau and Moore back in the frame... Aus can't afford any more brain explosions when the pressure is on (that spear tackle against SA was disgraceful). Fully support giving A. Faingaa more game-time though, I think he performed well when given the chance...
mcxd
Guest
one person defintely on the spring tour will be bl00dy Nucifora... jobs for the boys.. how this guy keeps getting coaching jobs is beyond me ? High performance manager ? what the hell is that ? It even seems the ARU are going to turn down Todd Loudon for the wallabies assistant job vacant by Graham and give it to Nucifora ???!! honestly. rant over.
Ben
Guest
I really hope he gives Kane douglas a good run.....I think he could be the surprise that Ben McCalman was. Kane as some real shit about him...also very key that Matt Hodgson gets some more time...i cant see Bam bam continuing to play like that and not getting injured at some point...knowing our luck a shoulder recon right before RWC....also he must take Leroy with him, i am huge fan and think a tour is just what he needs to keep his fitness up and learn the trade. Going to be an exciting tour......give the NH teams a real dusting before the RWC.
Hawko
Guest
Given that Chambers and Horne are injured and will not tour, the biggest problem is who we will take as back-up to AAC? Maybe this is how Ioane will be eased back. Other than that its who? Cummins? Inman? Anesi? We have a major problem with depth at 13.
Rockin Rod
Guest
What about Van Humphries or Ben Hand
Rockin Rod
Guest
I would take this young kid called Locky McCaffrey. We have seen what McCalman has done and Tahs released him to keep McCaffrey. Justin Turner would be my bolter if fit
jiggles
Guest
Stash do not quote me on this but I think Ioane is not available for the EOYT. If memory serves me correctly the injury was not that flash. For Turner's sake he needs to get out of NSW, Chris Hickey Destroys wingers! Poor coaching at the provincial level has really let him down. on your last point - time remaining until the world cup. on the contrary I think the build up in terms of games is perfect. 6 games left this year - tinker a bit more with the forward pack, and bring back those guys who are out with injury. Bring on chambers and davies (fit?) in the back line perhaps, oh and give gtieau time on the pine. Super Rugby - they have 18 rounds to get the rust out and get the fitness base down. 4 3N matches - Deans should pick his "world cup team" from match 1, based on 40% EOYT form and 60% SR form. if blokes have a shocker, then bench them match 2. otherwise these combinations should be left to develop. backline should be picked with a consideration for state combinations. I get the feeling a lot of reds could be in that backline. they have 4 matches to make those combination stick in the 3N, plus "practice" matches against Russia, USA, Italy in the pools. The game against Ireland should be a challenge but they should do it, primed and ready for knock out rugby where all it takes is 3 wins on the trot! there is still a lot of ruby between now and RWC to build form.
Stash
Guest
Ioane is a devastating runner - will he be available for the EOYT? O'Connor gets a lot of stick from Wallaby supporters, but he is notching up the tries and coaches LOVE tri scorers. Look at Rocko, past his best but his past scoring record keeps him in the All Blacks. Turner was very good last outing, what to do with him? Beale has had a couple of very good games - but also some terrible blunders. I have question marks whether we have seen his best, or his worst and if he can be consistent. I know Wallaby supporters keep saying "when our first team gets back on the paddock". But there's not really a hell of a lot of time for the previous starters to get fit, healthy and to get the rust out of the system and back into the furious pace of international rugby. It a bit like the Ali William syndrome, when fit Williams was always the first picked - but now with the World Cup so close, will he even make it to the bench (Henry has even told him to go to Europe to get game time!!). Are Wallaby supporters concerned that the clock is ticking and their supposed first team are in desperate need of time on the park?
The Other Reds Fan.
Guest
If they had the money, they should start sending an experimental team to Japan/Canada/ USA at the same time as the main tour.
The Other Reds Fan.
Guest
What about Shepherd? I would take him before Horne if fit.
jiggles
Guest
thats a very valid point Stash, Do you think its possible that in a perfect world with all players fit and ready, some blokes in the team against the All Blacks last weekend will not be there come RWC time? I am talking about the backs really, as we all know the first choice forwards out injured. perhaps Chambers at 13 (a real specialist 13 IMO and best australian S14 13), Ioane on the Wing, AAC at fullback for example? then this throws up the conundrum of were to stick Beale? playing his best footy ever at fullback. perhaps AAC on the wing and Beale at full back, with JOC running utility on the bench to make way for Ioane? The Forwards are pretty straight forward (for lack of a better word) as to who should be in the team when its at full strength, the backs pose a bigger issue, and it should really come down to combinations.
Stash
Guest
To be honest the Wallabies need to racket up there win ratio and get some confidence into the team. The All Blacks travel better than the Wallabies so the test in Hong Kong will likely be a loss. That leaves just 4 actual tests - plus 4 Tri Nations games next year (Do the Wallabies have any more games than that?). Deans has got one of the most youthful teams at this level. They really need to bond as a group and get more experience. Your looking for experimentation - but Deans has been experimenting for 3 years. What you see is what you get. Deans has hardly got the time to find the right combinations with his existing players.