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Well, we’re not quite halfway in the competition and it’s too early to legitimately speculate on Wallaby squads but – what they hey – it’s always fun and let’s admit we’ve all been doing it mentally since Round 1. So let’s illegitimately speculate, shall we?
As this is an opinion site, below are unabashedly my opinions on each Wallaby spot. I’ve started with the backs in a vain attempt to hide my ignorance regarding the relative merits of front rowers until the end.
FULLBACK
My pick: Kurtley Beale
Other contenders:
– Adam Ashley-Cooper
– Cameron Shepherd
– Mark Gerrard
Beale hasn’t had the best season so far. He’s trying. But it seems like desperation a lot of the time. For mine there usually hasn’t been enough lead up work to break the defence up a bit. He’s still easily the best fullback in Oz at the moment, plays well with the likes of Cooper and O’Connor and definitely has that X-factor.
Cameron Shepherd is tenth in linebreaks and seventh in linebreak assists. Also tenth in kicking metres, so he is making a case for himself as handy backup to either fullback or wing.
WINGS
My picks:
– Digby Ioane
– Drew Mitchell
Other contenders:
– Lachlan Turner
– Rod Davies
– James O’Connor
– Cameron Shepherd
– Nick Cummins
– Adam Ashley-Cooper
Ioane is first in the competition in linebreaks and Drew Mitchell seventh (but the third highest Aussie behind Ioane and Quade Cooper). He is also sixth in offloads. Ioane has more run more metres than any other Australian player and fifth most overall.
Mitchell has the most tries of any Aussie (admittedly only three) and third most linebreaks of any Aussie (behind Quade and Ioane and seventh overall).
I think, therefore, Mitchell and Ioane have got to be in the starting side. Drew obviously on the wing. Ioane either at wing or 13 but I have other ideas for 13 – see below.
OUTSIDE CENTRE
My pick: Stirling Mortlock
Other contenders:
– Digby Ioane
– Adam Ashley-Cooper
– Rob Horne
Ioane I’ve mentioned previously. Interestingly none of the others mentioned above features in any of the top 20 lists in terms of linebreaks, assists, runs, metres, etc.
Given the youth and, shall we say, exuberance of the rest of this team, I think you need an old head somewhere in the backs. And what better old head than Mortlock? I wouldn’t have called this earlier in the season, but I have completely flipped around on this one – Mortlock for the 13 jersey and to captain the side. C’mon!
INSIDE CENTRE
My pick: James O’Connor
Other contenders:
– Matt Giteau
– Berrick Barnes
– Stirling Mortlock
– Adam Ashley-Cooper
– Digby Ioane
O’Connor is third best of all the Aussies in terms of running metres (behind Ioane and Pat McCabe) and is kicking them between the posts pretty regularly now which further enhances his claim for a starting spot. Question is, where?
He features in the top 20 in terms of linebreaks but not in terms of linebreak assists or offloads. That’s probably a case for not putting him at 12 and instead on the wing, I know, but his passing looks a lot better to me after watching him at 10 so far this year. And he tackles like a demon so I’m one of the ones calling for him to play in the 12 jersey.
FLYHALF
My pick: Quade Cooper
Other contenders:
– James O’Connor
– Berrick Barnes
– Matt Giteau
Surprisingly for a guy more known for his running and passing game, Cooper is the second most prolific kicker in the competition (behind only Danny Cipriani) and is third highest in kick metres (behind Cipriani and Morne Steyne). But he is also third in try assists, third in linebreaks and fourth in linebreak assists.
He does have a high number of turnovers too – fourth in the comp – and you know he is going to have the odd brain explosion but he also definitely has that X factor and if fit has got to be the Wallaby 10.
The rest are warring for who is Quade’s backup, to be honest. The winner is probably O’Connor, but I think he has got to be given a starting spot in some other position so perhaps the actual guy on the bench is instead Barnes?
HALFBACK
My pick: Will Genia
Other contenders:
– Nick Phipps
– Luke Burgess
He didn’t have the best start to the season but has really found form again the last couple of games. In any case, I don’t think I need to quote stats or anything to convince anyone that Genia is still the number one halfback in Australia at the moment, do I?
The question then is, who is his backup? Phipps has had good games the last couple of weeks but will need to continue to show form in order to oust Burgess.
NUMBER 8
My pick: Ben McCalman
Other contenders:
– Wycliff Palu
– Ben Mowen
Obviously we haven’t seen much of Palu yet this season. McCalman has the third most runs of any Aussie, so he’s obviously making an effort. Neither Mowen nor Palu feature in the top 20 lists this season for different reasons, so for mine it has to go to McCalman. Only other alternative is to pick a player like Higginbotham or Saffy, but I’d like my No.8 to have been playing No.8 before I stick him in the Wallaby squad.
FLANKERS
My picks:
– Jarrod Saffy
– David Pocock
Other contenders:
– Richard Brown
– Matt Hodgson
– Ben McCalman
– Julian Salvi
– Ben Mowen
– Scott Higginbotham
– Rocky Elsom
– Beau Robinson
Okay, now I know we haven’t seen much of Pocock. But you know if he’s fit, he’s going to force himself into the squad, don’t you? And almost certainly in the No.7 jersey. So that leaves the No.6 jersey…
I don’t think Elsom will overtake the other contenders. Saffy has made more tackles than any other player in the competition. And he is eighth in terms of number of offloads. He’s earned himself a shot at the No.6 jersey as far as I’m concerned. So long as he keeps it up of course.
LOCKS
My picks:
– Nathan Sharpe
– James Horwill
Other contenders:
– Sam Wykes
– Alister Campbell
– Hugh Pyle
– Mark Chisholm
– Dean Mumm
– Adam Wallace-Harrison
– Rob Simmons
Sharpe continues age like fine wine. He has made the most runs of any player in the competition. As I mention below, Ged tops the competition in the number of pick and drives but Sharpe is the only other Aussie in the top 10 – although Wykes is 11th – the rest are all New Zealanders!
For mine, Sharpe and Horwill are the standout locks. Wykes is pushing his case but, as with all newcomers, needs to continue to show a consistency if not improvement in form.
LOOSEHEAD
My pick: Benn Robinson
Other contenders:
– Pek Cowan
– Ben Alexander
I don’t think any of the props have set the world on fire. I’m not going to profess to know too much about this area and have stuck with a name I know, but views to the contrary are welcome.
HOOKER
My pick: Tatafu Polota-Nau
Other contenders:
– Stephen Moore
– Saia Faingaa
– Ged Robinson
Nobody is going to seriously argue with Tatafu as first choice hooker, are they? I know he has had issues with lineouts in the past, but he seems to have been put those days behind him.
I’m going to hope and assume that Stephen Moore returns to his best and he’d be my backup. Ged tops the competition in number of pick and drives and he’s been playing very well. He does have high number of turnovers too though – second in the comp.
TIGHTHEAD
My pick: Dan Palmer
Other contenders:
– James Slipper
– Sekope Kepu
– Salesi Ma’afu
Toss up between any of the top three here. At a guess, I’d pick Palmer or Slipper, but more educated views welcomed.
So from the comfort of my armchair the team I think I would deploy for the World Cup for the Wallabies barring injury is:
– Kurtley Beale
– Digby Ioane
– Drew Mitchell
– Stirling Mortlock
– James O’Connor
– Quade Cooper
– Will Genia
– Ben McCalman
– Jarrod Saffy
– James Pocock
– Nathan Sharpe
– James Horwill
– Benn Robinson
– Tatafu Polota-Nau
– Dan Palmer
Reserves:
– Stephen Moore
– James Slipper
– Sam Wykes
– Wycliff Palu
– Luke Burgess
– Berrick Barnes
– Adam Ashley-Cooper
Have I gone mad? Have I lost the plot with my forwards selections? Comments?
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.