On the second of June the Wallabies will take on Scotland in their first international match of the year at Newcastle. It will be a chance for the Wallabies to avenge their 9-8 loss to the Scots at Murrayfield in 2009.
Also, it will be a chance for Robbie Deans and his new coaching team to broaden their horizons in terms of selection, with many selection headaches.
Poor form, injuries, new kids on the block, and a resurgence from others, will all cause Robbie Deans to think very carefully about who to expose to international rugby this year.
The match against the Scots, primarily, has been forecast by Roarers and other media as a chance to see new blood, while the squad for the Wales games should be Australia’s best possible.
There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing an inexperienced squad against the Scots.
We all saw what happened against Samoa last year when we underestimated the opposition and were totally embarrassed.
Out of that squad, only Pat McCabe received promotion, and although he played admirably, he lacked the x-factor to help bring home the William Web Ellis trophy.
The squad against Samoa devalued the Wallabies jersey and disrespected Samoa. The same must not happen again against Scotland. That said, the World Cup is a long way away, and it will be a good opportunity for a few new kids on the block to be exposed.
If Australia wants to give more players international exposure, an Australia A team should play more often, but that story is for another day.
This poll can be for a few squads. One for the Scotland test, one for the three Wales tests, a best team overall (one that could play in the Tri-Nations this year, meaning injured players can be picked) and an Australia A team.
You don’t have to have a team for each category, just whichever ones you like. You can create whatever team you like, with players out of position, players out of left field or players who I haven’t included below.
Simply leave a comment with your respective team or teams in the comment section below.
I have created a (not-so) shortlist below of 82 players. Bear in mind that James O’Connor is out for the Scotland Test and at least one Wales test, Quade Cooper is expected to miss at least the Scotland Test, and Ben Tapuai, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell, Matt Toomua, Dan Vickerman and Jono Lance will miss all the Tests.
Props: Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Dan Palmer, Ben Alexander, Pek Cowan, Salesi Ma’afu, Rodney Blake, Paddy Ryan.
Hookers: Tatafu Palotu-Nau, Stephen Moore, James Hanson, Saia Fainga’a, Nathan Charles.
Locks: Kane Douglas, Sitaleki Timani, Dan Vickerman, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter, Nathan Sharpe, Luke Jones, Hugh Pyle, Sam Wykes, Toby Lynn.
Blindside flanker: Rocky Elsom, Lopeti Timani, Dave Dennis, Scott Higginbotham, Ben Mowen, Matt Hodgson, Jarrod Saffy.
Openside flanker: Chris Alcock, Liam Gill, Beau Robinson, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Michael Lipman.
Number 8: Radike Samo, Jake Schatz, Wycliff Palu, Fotu Auelua, Ita Vaea, Ben McCalman.
Scrumhalf: Will Genia, Brendan McKibbon, Nic White, Nick Phipps, Richard Kingi, Nick Frisby.
Flyhalf: Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Christian Lealifano, James O’Connor, Matt Toomua.
Inside centre: Pat McCabe, Ben Tapuai, Mike Harris, Tom Carter, Jono Lance.
Outside centre: Andrew Smith, Anthony Fainga’a, Nick Cummins, Rory Sidey, Mitch Inman, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Tevita Kuridrani, Lloyd Johansson, Stirling Mortlock.
Wing: Joe Tomane, Henry Speight, Digby Ioane, Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Alfie Mafi, Cooper Vuna, Tom Kingston, Mark Gerrard, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell.
Fullback: Kurtley Beale, Jesse Mogg, David Harvey, Bernard Foley.
This is simply a poll, so negative comments aren’t needed. The team will be published once all votes are in. Select away Roarers!
Ian
Guest
Best Team: 1. Benn Robinson 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 3 . Ben Alexander 4. James Horwill 5. Nathan Sharpe 6. Scott Higginbotham 7. David Pocock 8. Wycliff Palu 9. Will Genia 10. Quade Cooper 11. Digby Ioane 12. James O'Connor 13. Pat McCabe 14. Drew Mitchell 15. Kurtley Beale 16. Stephen Moore 17. James Slipper 18. Hugh Pyle 19. Matt Hodgson 20. Nic White 21. Berrick Barnes 22. Adam Ashley-Cooper Current Team (due to injuries): 1. Benn Robinson 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 3 . Ben Alexander 4. James Horwill 5. Nathan Sharpe 6. Scott Higginbotham 7. David Pocock 8. Wycliff Palu 9. Will Genia 10. Kurtley Beale 11. Digby Ioane 12. Berrick Barnes 13. Pat McCabe 14. Nick Cummins 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper 16. Stephen Moore 17. James Slipper 18. Hugh Pyle 19. Matt Hodgson 20. Nic White 21. Dom Shipperley 22. Joseph Tomane/Jesse Mogg
Rouaan
Guest
Fotu Auelua is a must for the June tests. Nick White and Kingston can be added to the WCup group. Lealiifano to cover for the 10 position. Other than that, no new faces...you neeed to build a group who plays together as often as possible in order to challenge the All Blacks. After their WCup win Graham Henry said:"It was a 8 year project". It is difficult enough to beat them, so build momentum (trust, confidence, combinations etc) with the incumbents. NZ and South Africa will experiment/change their WCup groups and will struggle for momentum in the 4 Nations when under pressure in the last 15 minutes of close tests, that is when tried and tested combinations can beat them. Wallabies need to forge world leading combinations over the next 4 years and the young talent must earn the jersey. One cannot get carried away with the Brumbies' and Reds youngsters for tests. Test matches are for HARD MEN. The coaches must just find ways to harness the hunger and passion from the incumbents come June. Horwill said last year they want to take the Nr 1 spot from NZ. You can't do it by experimenting, only by building and growing.
Selector
Guest
My 30 man squad + 10 Shadow players (No injuries) Props: Robinson, Alexander, Kepu, Palmer - Slipper Hookers: Moore, Poluta Nau - Hanson Locks: Horwill (c), S Timani, Pyle, Carter - Simmons Backrow: Higgimbotham, Pocock, Palu, Alueau, Hooper, Dennis - Gill, Elsom H/B: Genia, Lucas, McKibbin - Kingi Fly Half: Cooper, Lealiifano - Barnes Centre: O'Conner, McCabe, Ashley Cooper, Tapuai - Cummings, Harris Wing: Ioane, Shipperly, Gerrard - Davies F/B: Beale, Mogg - Morahan Best 22 Robinson Moore Alexander Horwill (c) Pyle Higgimbotham Pocock Palu Genia Cooper Ioane O'Conner Ashley Cooper Gerrard Beale Poluta Nau, Kepu, S Timani, Alueau, Lucas, Tapuai, Mogg
Red Kev
Guest
It's the fact the one he bombs is a crucial one that annoys me. TPN is only a marginally better scrummager than Moore but a far lazier player around the park. The day will come in the next year or so that Hanson's scummaging improves to the point that his general play puts him ahead of TPN.
jameswm
Guest
Yes, preconceived notions indeed. TPN will go 3 games without missing a lineout throw, but then when he misses one, everyone notices and the reputation's back. As I've said, Moore misses more throws by a good margin, but doesn't have the reputation for being poor at it.
Greg ACT
Guest
It pains me to say it as an ACT boy but you've got to be impressed by those young kids Schatz and Gill from the Reds. Their work rate and skill. Surely they'd be in consideration if they're looking to the future.
Uncle Eric
Guest
Come on fellas, said (typed) with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek!! I'm nudging 58, with two dodgy knees and I reckon Carter couldn't run out of sight of me in a week.
Red Kev
Guest
You won't change perception on that - no matter how many games he plays well. Adam Thomson gets the ball on the wing more often than Scott Higginbotham does but people have preconceived notions that can't be changed. He does a lot of ruck and tackle work, so much so even the NZ commentators made of note of how effective he was being at the breakdown last weekend. Higginbotham's game at no.8 for the Reds against the Blues was more effective than Palu's for the Waratahs against the Crusaders - that may be a reflection of the opposition, unless McKenzie plays the same backrow this week we won't know for sure.
bluerose
Guest
just be clear Adam Fijians are not Polynesians (if you referring to Kuridrani)....they are Melanesians
bluerose
Guest
they should allow him to train with the Wallabies, let him rub shoulders with the test players, it may even give him more fuel to improve
Max Power
Guest
Tapuai won't be fit either will he after breaking his collarbone?
Jutsy
Guest
Well I dont see any other options at 12 who would have changed our results at the world cup. It's clear for all to see this year that Barnes is hopeless and JOC is defensively weak, maybe Deans knows his players better than us armchair critics.
Justin
Guest
Great Squad mate, I like Jones in the row by the way! I love that big prick he is going to be a ripper!
Justin
Guest
True. You can just see it if McCabe plays well that all the nuffies will say Deans was right all along. No, no and no. McCabe was not a test 12 last year.
Justin
Guest
True
Justin
Guest
Couldnt agree more...
Justin
Guest
Brett - He is an immense man, with immense power. I dont like, and normally dont, to rave early about a player until I have seen them perform consistently by this bloke has something to offer at test level
Justin
Guest
James - starting to see your love for Vaea ;) The kid can play but I think he maybe a super sub for the moment. But a mighty fine one right now.
Adam-15
Roar Pro
don't rate Higginbotham? i havent seen much of mowen this year but higginbotham has been on his game and hasn't seagulling at all from what ive seen
Sabe
Guest
I agree "who needs melon", a team fairly close to the real deal