The Wallaby selectors did a pretty good job naming a 27 man train-on squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship, with the exception of Andrew Smith, Zack Holmes, and Dom Shipperley.
I look forward to the day the 194cm, 104kgs outside-centre Smith gets a crack in top company.
He’s proven his worth alongside Wallaby Pat McCabe at Super Rugby level for the Brumbies, and it’s an odds-on bet he’d raise the performance bar wearing gold.
It beats me why so many Roarers have little time for Holmes and Shipperley, who have served the Brumbies and Reds respectively with solid and consistent rugby, with flashes of brilliance that wins games, invariably at the death.
Holmes is no Mark Ella, nor is Shipperley a David Campese, nor is anyone else for that matter in those elite categories.
But both have talent that demands recognition in higher company, like utility-back Nick Cummins, centre Mitch Inman, with locks Cadeyrn Neville and Hugh Pyle, who made the 27 cut.
Cummins has proved to be a handful for opponents, despite the fact he doesn’t see much ball with the Force. A strong runner and defender, he will be just as big a handful in higher company.
Inman has done for the Rebels this season what Andrew Smith has done for the Brumbies with consistent performances highlighted by powerful all-round talent.
And with the Wallaby lock stocks needing an injection of power, height, and ball sense, Neville and Pyle are outstanding prospects. Both are big units – Neville 202cm and 120kgs – Pyle 201cm and 116kgs – and they are already finely-tuned as a combination at Super Rugby level with the Rebels.
The added bonus – both are mighty quick for big men.
It’s worthwhile noting that out of the seven players I’ve mentioned, five had to leave their home base Sydney to be recognised.
The Waratahs let the quality quintet slip through their fingers when they were right under the selector’s noses – Neville (Manly). Pyle (Warringah), Inman (Sydney Uni), Holmes (Norths), and Smith with Norths and Manly.
Little wonder the Waratahs are a basket case, yet 13 of the 27-strong squad are Waratahs.
Go figure.
The squad contains no Reds, still on Super Rugby duty, nor injured players – James O’Connor, James Horwill, Wycliff Palu, Christiano Lealiifano, Chris F’Sautia, and Joe Tomane.
But quite a few of the new faces will get a run in the Rugby Championship in a changing of the guard, which can only be good for Australian rugby.
Roy
Guest
Thanks David for suggesting Zack Holmes...Ma Nonu stuffed his shoulder at the 30 minute mark and from then on could hardly lift his arm but in the absence of any other 10 s played on...putting the team before his well being . I would like to see How many of your Wallabies could play with one armed for 50 minutes... He has the courage and character to prove your readers wrong...don't forget he has played very little rugby and will get a lot better... I see what you see in him Talent .
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I think the waratahs players selection in the national squad is all to do with the rings on their fingers rather than any merit they have earned this year which as we all know has exposed them as the fickle/self-interested performers they are.
Jutsie
Guest
Mickybly has nailed it!
Dan
Guest
is that the same Crusaders that got beaten by the Rebels??? OK must be differant ones cool.......
Justin2
Guest
They reckon QC can't tackle, I've seen Holmes let in some of the softest tries imaginable lately. Lord I pray, just for you ;)
Nipper
Guest
I would love to see Cummins get a crack at 13. He played very well there when he played a few games there with the Force (in fact, I still don't quite understand why they didn't stick with him at 13 - it's not like the Force wingers saw the ball at all!). He's a strong ballcarrier and strong in defense as well. I understand that defending at 13 is a whole different ballgame than at wing, but he handled it well at SR level.
Larry
Guest
now we're really racing to the bottom, Seymour is absolutely offensive.
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
It won't preclude Murphy from international services if Ireland come knocking, however. And he's gone on the record as saying that he'd consider playing for Ireland if he couldn't get a job with the Wallabies. I'd like to think that the IRB will give him the green light, but I just hope that he doesn't get the Radike Samo treatment from the ARU. You know, how they gave him a few games back in 2004 before proceeding to ignore him for the better part of the next decade. He couldn't play for Fiji, and wouldn't be selected for the Wallabies. It was mean-spirited, and probably a factor behind his move to France in '06.
honeybadger
Guest
KPM. Mate, you really need to get a life- I think your bias against the Reds is because of the fact you spend too much time blogging trather than actually watching any games!
the Bone
Guest
I would have WF Ben Seymour ahead of Holmes
Rabble
Roar Rookie
Vuna reminds me of Forrest Gump playing American Football - you can't pass the ball to him, but if you place it in his chest and tell him to run (and maybe point him in the right direction), then he is handy. But yeah, he can't catch, pass, tackle, read defence/the play, kick, etc. He is big and fast and hard to tackle though. Shipperley is a great Super Rugby winger, and has all the skills and ability, but I just think he's too much of a lightweight for Test rugby, and can't compete (let alone dominate) in physical contact at that level. Ioane has got the one wing spot obviously, and I just hope Mitchell can one day return to the player he was 2 years ago, as he was the complete package.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think Alexander will be the bench TH at Brumbies next year - Murphy, Moore and Palmer as the preferred starting front row. Reserve LH would go to Yanuyanutawa. Young Sio the final bloke outside the match day 23. I feel for Murphy, if his appeal doesn't come through he has to wait until May 2014 which means he wouldn't be eligible next international season either. Bit harsh on 24 yr old Australian citizen who has lived over half his life in Oz to be told he has to wait three years for eligibility.
Larry
Guest
Holmes? Please. I'm not sure what your agenda is with him, but he is at best a good club footballer. There's no doubting he was courageous in playing on on Saturday with a trashed shoulder, but I'm hard pressed to see a single other quality he has which is worthy of a spot in a super rugby side, let alone a wallabies squad.
PeterK
Roar Guru
First of lets put the brumbies performance in perpective. They did NOT beat ANY of the sides that made the finals. Yes the team exceeded expectations but the players mentioned did not dominate any games or even win any against the good teams. Holmes would be behind (in my order) Cooper, JoC, Beale, Barnes and Lucas for 10. That would be why he is not in the sqaud. Smith is an avergae journeyman. For 13 my preference would be Cummins (or on the wing ahead of Shipperly). Also McCabe and Faingaa and AAC and even Horne would be ahead of Smith. Hence why he is not picked. Lets see how the brumbies go next year when they have to play stormers and crusaders.
Markus
Guest
It will be interesting to see the outcome of Murphy's appeal to the IRB. He is an Australian citizen, and grew up here before his parents moved back to Ireland at about age 13-14, so it seems odd he doesn't meet the IRB requirements. Unless Alexander sorts out his scrummaging he could very well be benched behind Murphy at LH next season.
Red Kev
Guest
Vuna sure can shred defenses - usually the Rebels' and the Wallabies' defenses.
Markus
Guest
Smith (Andrew) does also not have the tackle-breaking of a Mortlock, or the vision/co-ordination of a Conrad to make up for the lack of pace. He is a good player, but not a great.
The Bush
Roar Guru
KPM, I prefer to take the approach of contributing with my comments... JOKING!
frisky
Guest
Despite being a Brumbie supporter, I hate to say it but Shipperly would be my first choice as a winger in my side.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
They say that about Conrad Smith also. He still manages to be the best in the game atm.