NSW Waratahs flyer Tom Kingston is being tipped as a possible Wallaby this season, but who should join him on the short list for a start on the Aussie flank?
Digby Ioane surely has a mortgage on one side, even considering his recent four-match ban from Super Rugby. But if there is one wing spot available, who should it go to?
Australian wingers (and NSW players) Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner are out with injury, as is fly-half Quade Cooper. This could mean one potential winger, James O’Connor, could be handed the number 10 jumper and free up a spot.
Clouding the issue further is an injury to Wallaby fullback Kurtley Beale, and the constant movement around the backline of Waratah Adam Ashley-Cooper. Fullback, wing, centre – Ashely-Cooper has more positions than the Kama Sutra. Deciding which is his best is not straightforward.
Adding to the headaches is what to do with the Wallabies’ five-eighth spot. Should it go to the conservative Berrick Barnes or the livewire O’Connor? The pair can also play three positions – 10, 12 and 15 – so it may be case of finding space to fit them both.
The Wallabies’ disappointing loss to the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup semi-final had the backline team sheet of: 15 Adam Ashley Cooper, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Anthony Fainga’a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper.
At this stage you would say Fainga’a and McCabe might be lucky to hold on to their centre spots. McCabe, who can also play fullback and wing, may be moved around while Ashley-Cooper and O’Connor may move closer to the action.
With the Wallabies Test season kicking off against Scotland in Newcastle in June, this would be a good time to trial some new talent on the wing. The games against Wales in Brisbane will be very tough and there will be no margin for error against the Six Nations champions, or in the new Rugby Championship.
Waratah Tom Kingston has acquitted himself well this season, despite his young age and relative experience. The 20-year old Sydney Uni speedster has only a handful of Super Rugby games under his belt but has been one of NSW’s best so far. If not this season, Kingston is definitely one for the future if he keeps playing like he has.
Rugby league convert Cooper Vuna has also been touted by some as a possible Wallaby, but he needs to improve his defensive skills. A damaging runner with the ball, the Melbourne Rebel is not a strong defender and still needs time to learn the ins and outs of rugby.
Fellow convert Joe Tomane had a blistering game for the Brumbies on the weekend, scoring two impressive tries. Again, it is too early for a call up for Tomane now but 12 months down the road it could be a different story.
Perhaps the three knocking hardest on the door, along with Kingston, are the Reds pair of Dom Shipperley and Rod Davies and the Force winger Nick Cummins.
2012 could be the year for the 24-year old Cummins. The ‘honey badger’ had a great 2011, and has graduated from being a former Sevens player to being on the fringe of Wallaby selection for two years.
Davies has also been on the fringe in the past, but has suffered several setbacks with injuries. With speed to burn, Davies made his Wallaby debut in the disastrous loss to Samoa last year. The 22-year old will need to hit top form to earn another crack in the green and gold.
Davies’ Reds teammate, 21 year-old Dom Shipperley, only made his Super debut last year. A regular scorer of last-minute match-winning tries, Shipperely raced away in the dying stages of the first round against the Tahs to win the game.
He did the same for a Queensland XV rep side against Japan in 2009, again for Brothers in their semi-final against Uni in the Queensland club comp in 2011, and last year in his second Super Rugby match for the Reds against the Force in round 17. Shipperely may be the biggest bolter of all, but his genuine pace and ability to find the line is surely needed.
Whichever way the Wallaby selectors go, there are some big choices to make in the backline as the Super Rugby rounds roll on and Australia’s date with Scotland nears.
kiwidave
Guest
"Look at all the great rugby players in the last 10-12 years majority big , jonah lomu, umaga, nonu,roberts,sbw, and the new brigade, like 6’7 matt banaghan, george north, tuilagi brothers, and i could go on" Red Kev, notice how johnno lists a number of non wallaby players also. The argument I was addressing here is over whether bigger is necessarily better as johnno has attempted to illustrate. Perhaps you should read the thread and understand it before calling anyone stupid? It would appear you are unable to tell who I am replying to or are being abusive for the sake of it. By inference I actually rather approve of B-rocks proposed line up.
granville
Guest
Digby and Shipperley on the wings, i have no problem with Kingston there too, Deans should use 2012 as a rebuilding year to look for depth especially in crucial positions like the centers/looseforwards, why not give Tomane a chance against Scotland, it will benefit him and the Wallabies in the long run, give guys like McKibbin, Hooper, Charles, Palmer, Fardy, Sam Carter, Luke Jones, Hugh Pyle, Mowen, Prior, Andrew Smith and Kane Douglass a chance to prove there worth, its evident that Simmons, Samo, McCallman, Brown, Ma'afu, Saia Faingaa and at least McCabe are not test worthy at the moment, why not give Rodney Blake and older Timani another chance with the Wallabies, while using 2012 as a re-building year they should also use it to build combinations, stick to Barnes/JOC and Cooper at 10/12 and let them develop there combination.
Bakkies
Guest
KPM i am lost. I never mentioned Vuna
rl
Guest
On my quick review of Rugby Stats last night (not that stats are the be-all), it would appear that Digby is well out in front in terms of tackle effectiveness among Aussie wingers. And its daylight to the rest. Davies is not the only speed-hump out there. Maybe McCabe should get a run on one wing based in part on his defensive abilities? (I know you pick your wingers on the finishing ability, but he's no slouch in the pace department, has played in the outside backs, and maybe would benefit from not having the pressure to create a play or bend the line?)
RebelRanger
Guest
Can everyone please stop referring to NickCummings as the 'Honey badger'. I'm guessing its a self imposed moniker as his Wikipedia states he's written songs, poems and childrens books about Honey Badgers. This is a bad ass name and Cummings is not bad ass. He got fended off by Gerrard on the weekend, something which would never have happened to Tyrann Mathieu.. He is a horrible defender and even worse on attack. In the animal kingdom he's more of a honey bee. Irrelevant.
Justin
Guest
Yeah Shipperly is actually pretty big and will fill out more as he gets some seasons under his belt. His defence from what I have seen is very good and has pulled off a number of try savers near the line. I have big hopes for him, he looks a likely type with enough toughness to go all the way and not be intimidated.
Justin
Guest
B-Rock - I am genuinely glad to see Horne putting games together now. He deserves it after the injuries that have stalled his career. However if just being a solid player at S15 level is enough to make the Wallaby 15 then I have grav concerns. He is missing a stack of tackles this year. At times I believe he believes he is bigger than he is and tries to smash blokes into the middle of next week and ends up missing the tackle. He should be going low and hard at the hips. I think he goes to high too often trying to make the big play. He hasnt made a break in a game since U10s so I really dont see how he is a certainty. I would like to see him live up to his potential because right now he isnt even close from what I have seen.
Justin
Guest
B-Rock I think you would have Johnno's men covered. They wouldn't be able to manufacture a try in a month of Sundays.
Justin
Guest
So the Short Blind moniker is there for a reason ;) Its a defensively excellent backline, offers thrust in the midfield and plenty of creativity as well and plenty of speed.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Hes defending probably the toughest position on the field at 13 and puts on 1-2 big hits per game. IMO he does go looking for work and is effective when he gets there. For mine he has a good mix of pace, strength and timing. Saying that, he has had a solid defensive 12 lining up next to him - either Carter or Barnes to date so hasnt had to cover for others too much. Horne cops a lot of criticism on the roar, much of it unfair IMO - he is a very solid player in attack and defense and has managed to stay injury free this year to date *touching wood* so is firming as a WB squad certainty and borderline starting XV player, depending on where AAC plays.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Ahh - thats why hes not showing up on google... Even so, I dont think Dellitt would start for most super rugby teams, let alone the Wallabies
Rory
Guest
yeah good point, give tupuai faster ball and more ball
Short-Blind
Guest
Farkk Justin I'm scared how much u think like me about rugby (sorry had a few) - what a back line if only Deans had the balls.... If I see McCabe anywhere in yellow this year I'll be so pissed off (unless he has a blinder of a season and is only considered at wing). I really think we have the t.alert to do the ABs if the bloody selectors have half a brain. I'm really thi king now that Deans has NFI at this level given what J. white has shown what a good coach can do at the brumbies (so far).
Tui
Guest
Iaone is the best winger in the world for mine imagine him with a centre pairing like the AB's have. Bieber has also been very good. Beale was only good at Test level for one season last season I thought he was actually quite poor. Dagg has a better all round game and Daggs booming boot is miles ahead of Beales.
Who Needs Melon
Guest
3 good points. - AAC would be a pick-and-hope selection... again. - Foley has impressed me so far... but still very early days. - McCabe and AAC and, prior to that, Digby (i.e. all non-passing centers) was a failed experiment.
sittingbison
Guest
johnno meant Pat Dellitt from Force
rl
Guest
Injury aside, it's worth considering Will. He's a very reliable defender. Recent weeks have shown he might not be a great play-maker, but he's had big boots to fill, and not getting great ball from his pack. 12 and 15 are his favoured positions. As Justin says, maybe not enough time there in the big leagues to get an accurate read?
rl
Guest
Yeah, excellent is prob a bit much. Had a quick gander at Rugby Stats and it isn't pretty for him with 9 missed tackles, at around 45% effectiveness. Interestingly, Horne is doing a mountain of defensive work - the only back in the top 20 for tackles made, is leading the comp for missed tackles, but (after a shocker against the Reds) is sitting around 65% effectiveness overall. Are teams singling him out for attention, or is he covering for others?
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Davies was rocket fast but that did not stop him from being exposed like a school girl against Samoa.
jameswm
Guest
Gerrard? Sure, if you're picking the slowest team available.