Rugby World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer has urged the Wallabies to punt on the rest of their injured stars after prop Benn Robinson’s miracle bid to make the tournament fell flat.
Robinson will have knee surgery on Tuesday after giving up hope on an unlikely comeback from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in time for the showcase event’s kick-off on September 9.
The 42-Test frontrower was only seen as an extremely slim chance of selection after suffering the injury before the Samoa Test last month but was devastated to miss a second straight World Cup after being an unlucky late omission four years ago.
“Heading in for surgery tomorrow !! Pushed really hard to make it but knee just isn’t right !! Very disheartening !!” Robinson tweeted on Monday night.
The world-class loose-head’s scratching opens the door for Salesi Maafu or Ben Daley to snare the fourth prop’s spot in Australia’s 30-man squad, to be named on Thursday.
Sekope Kepu and Ben Alexander, who impressed in the 14-9 victory over South Africa in Durban on Saturday, as well as returning Queensland tight-head James Slipper are seen as certainties.
Slipper (ankle) and fellow Reds prop Daley (shoulder) are among seven grounded Wallabies who will undergo fitness assessments on Wednesday before coach Robbie Deans makes his final selection.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, No.8 Wycliff Palu, winger Drew Mitchell, playmaker Berrick Barnes and centre Rob Horne, all viewed as potential Test starters during the Super Rugby season, are also under clouds.
While some former players have cautioned against selecting too many injured stars, Dwyer believes Australia simply won’t win in New Zealand if they leave several of their rehabbing big guns at home.
“It think we need all our best players if we are going to make a good fist of this,” Dwyer told AAP on Monday.
“We’re not that good that we can play without them so the sooner they get back the better.”
Queensland coach McKenzie expects some big names to be disappointed as Deans and fellow selectors Jim Williams and David Nucifora will be wary about choosing all the returning stars.
McKenzie said the difficult task was also complicated by the number of frontrowers on the casualty list, while there was no guarantee an explosive running player like Mitchell would return near his best in time.
“I’m sure that will be front of mind in their deliberation,” he said.
“It’s where (players) are confidence-wise as much as anything else; you can be physically fit but whether you have the confidence to take that into the fray.
“The confidence is not going to be there on day one.
“There’s no doubt they can take some but they’ve got eight guys in the same category.”
Singsling
Guest
Why would you do that? Taking nothing away from Holmes but Daley was selected ahead of him for every Super15 game this year and the Wallabies have a number of props that can play both sides if thats what you are worried about.
Trent Waller
Guest
Hugh Pyle and Greg Holmes are the best tight forwards in the country not to make the extended squad. Second Rowers Pyle and Wallace-Harrison were very unlucky. Vickerman is a massive gamble and Timani isn't in the same league as these class forwards. Holmes showed more in the Super Rugby Final then Cowan or Ma'afu did all year. Palu is the most over-rated player going around. If he is selected I hope it's at the exspense of McCalman and not Samo.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
If he is there as a mentor he should be part of the Staff. He hasn’t been physical at all this year, he has been too slow to rucks or not at all. Whats more he has buggered up the line-out each time he has come on, which is supposed to be his strength. If we do need to use 4 locks, then Pyle has shown he can add more than Vickerman. Plye only has SR form, you are correct, but Vickerman has no form what so ever.
PeterK
Guest
Vickerman as the 4th lock adds the most value, just for his great experience and mentoring of the lineout. Also after Horwill is the most physical lock. Pyle was very good in the super rugby, better than Wykes, but they are far too green to rely on in the RWC, forwards more than backs need battle hardened experience.
baybum
Guest
bob is right - australia need their best experienced players there, improving, to stand half a chance of beating the english, or ab's..... No question that this includes all the usual suspects....and if faingaa even makes thye bench as a scrape god help you!
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Vickerman could win us a world cup? Based on his amazing performance at the 2007 RWC and his economics degree?
jameswm
Guest
If you'd go for Pyle ahead of Vickerman, all I can say is thank god you're not picking our team. Pyle is promising and had a good S15 season, but nothing more. He's not going to win us a WC. Vickerman could.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
“I don’t get this whole “Vickerman shouldn’t go” vibe. We’re there to win. Simple. We pick our best team.” 100% correct - Vickerman is not our best team. Pyle has shown much more than anything Vickerman has this year.
jameswm
Guest
I don't get this whole "Vickerman shouldn't go" vibe. We're there to win. Simple. We pick our best team. There is no room for rewarding loyalty, or encouraging young guys. If the young guys miss out, what it tells them is they have to improve. I cannot believe that any of you genuinely think that picking Pyle, or Wykes ahead of Vickerman strengthens our team and improves our chances of winning. As for the not picking injured guys - the whole point is they won't be injured for the WC. If they get re-injured, then they can be replaced with the lesser players. They will be short of match fitness, but frankly a fit Palu short of match fitness walks over McCalman at his best. If you consider the returning guys as in positions 23-30 in the squad, then it's worth the punt of them getting back to their best to carry them. No question. Picking them and relying on them as your go to guys might be different, but picking them as squad players with the hope they get back to their best in the easier pool games, that's smart.
the other Steve - and AB fan
Guest
The Wallabies face five more matches until the quarter final stage - hope the injuries don't mount up in the pool round or it could mean a early exit. Do the other contenders have the same problem of a smallish pool of fully fit players and needing some players carriying injuries to be included?
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Really the only players coming back form injury who should be considered are Daley, Slipper and TPN. This is only because there is a lack of front row depth. None of these players would be starters, however I would rather them on the bench than the alternates - Cowan, Faainga and Ma’afu. Vickerman shouldn’t go to the cup but the ARU won’t want to have egg on its face after splashing out the cash for him. Pyle should be the 4th lock option with Horwill, Sharpe, Simmons & Pyle. Thats 2 jumpers and 2 carriers. How Timani is even in the frame boggles the mind. Palu has only ever shown international form in 4 games in 2009. He was also shown up as a bit of a pansy in 2007. How a bloke like him who is 120kg + can have off games like he does shows how fragile he really is. As unfortunate as it is for Mitchell, you need serious game time as a winger to get back to international standard. He will have no power in his legs and could be a liability in big games. Horne shouldn’t even be discussed. He is young and has potential but has done nothing in all bar 3 or 4 SR games. His time will come if he is patient. I am not a Barnes fan and I think he is massively overrated, however he could possibly squeeze into the team. Its him or Giteau realistically. Either way I am looking forward to the excuses by Deans and the ARU as to why 4 years of building for the cup was unsuccessful.
darwin stubby
Guest
yip I agree with that call - selecting unfit players is placing yourself behind the 8 ball from the word go .... maybe there is a case for 1 or 2 given the depth of talent issues... but when you're talking 7 - plus Vickerman - that's over a quarter of the squad that'll have had little to no rugby ... I can't see how anyone could make a case for Palu or Horne - all the front row options need to be 100% and that includes TPN - otherwise he'll do what he normally does and get injured and remain injured, Mitchell is a massive risk ... Barnes is probably the only one worth considering
Jiggles
Roar Guru
It appears Bob hasn’t learnt his lesson of picking unfit out of form players for a world cup. Bob was always an average coach who got lucky with the players of the time.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I have had some time to think about my selections and Jameswm you are right Samu for McCalman and I would love to say Holmes but he is not in the picture sadly. Another selection that I could have had, would be to sub Beau Robinson for Hodginson but I don't think that will happen. To tell you the truth I had more difficulty with the backline than the forwards, I'm not convinced that Horne is right for the job I would have had Mike Harris any day rather than Horne but Harris is not in the picture either.
jameswm
Guest
Samo for McCalman and I'll take that team. I'd also go Holmes marginally ahead of Daley, but it's close.
jameswm
Guest
Sure. But I think we'll be better with him. And I agree with Dwyer that the rest are crucial, esp TPN and Palu, and to a slightly lesser extent Barnes. Mitchell earlier in the season was brilliant and consistent.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
All will be revealed on Thursday. However I would go for Daley as the front row pick with Slipper, Kefu and Alexander. TPN picks himself with Moore and Faingaa as the back up. Horwill, Sharpe, Simmonds and Vickerman in SR then Pocock, Elsom Higginbotham, Palu, Hodginson, McCalman, BR. Genia and Burgess HB Cooper and Barnes FH McCabe, Faingaa, AAC, Giteau,Centres, Ioane O'Connor Mitchell, Horne wings Beale FB. Gee its hard even for a mere mortal such as I to pick the team, I got to 28 and then threw in a couple that I wasn't even keen on to make up the 30
Rhino
Guest
Sorry Bob, but I think we'll be fine without Rob Horne.
niwdEyaJ
Guest
yep, we need TPN back gong hell for leather from the start with Moore replacing him when he's worn himself out... Slipper and Daley will need lots of game time in the pool matches to get their conditioning up to par - good opportunity to rotate rest games for Kepu and Alexander. Same goes for Palu (needs lots of game time) as I'd like to see him share the No8 duties with Samo (between them, they can put in a mean 80mins). Berrick would be nice to have on the bench I think - I'd like to see Faingaa at 12 and McCabe at 13 with Berrick coming on for the last 30 mins when the game opens up a little... not convinced about Rob Horne or Drew Mitchelll... What has Horne ever done at international level to warrant a spot ahead of some of the other guys that have played all season? Personally, I'd have Tapuai, Harris or Morahan (reds factor) or AAC, Giteau (experience factor) ahead of Horne. Mitchell was in great form before he got injured but before that he was ordinary and on the verge of getting dropped from the wallabies so the assumption that he'll kick on from where he left off before the injury is long hop... happy to be proven wrong but either way, i'd rather have Ioane & JOC on the wings and keep some more versatile players on the bench such as Barnes, Giteau and AAC....
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
For once he's probably right. Those are some crucial missing players, especially Palu and TPN.