After six rounds of Super Rugby we have enough performance under the belt to assess the players this season. I’m going to lay down my Australian team of the tournament based on form displayed this year alone.
It’s worth noting that Super Rugby and Test rugby are different beasts. Some players suit one environment more than others. Other players aren’t doing so well partly as a result of being in poor team circumstances.
So, who would make a starting XV based on what they’ve done on the field this year?
1. Greg Holmes
2. Stephen Moore
3. Paddy Ryan
4. Hugh McMeniman
5. Peter Kimlin
6. Ben Mowen
7. Liam Gill
8. Fotu Auelua
9. Nic White
10. Matt Toomua
11. Digby Ioane
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Alfi Mafi
15. Jesse Mogg
A few notes on the selections:
Remember when Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau were 1a and 1b when it came to the best Australian hookers? This year and last Moore has shown he is the premier hooker of this generation.
Ben Mowen, Liam Gill and Fotu Auelua would make a great Wallabies back-row. There’s lots of size, work ethic and potential disruption there.
I would ask Auelua to get fitter. I’m not sure he’d go close to lasting the 80 in a Test match, he’s always blowing hard.
Picking a halfback was interesting.
Based on 65-odd minutes, Will Genia proved he is by far and away the best in Australia and probably the world when he steps up to the plate. But I didn’t feel like it was fair to pick him from only on part game.
Nic White hasn’t been as good as last year and has missed a game now, but overall has been very safe and is a good field general.
Some may point to the kind of influence Quade Cooper had in the Reds win over the Bulls and ask why he isn’t my choice over Matt Toomua. I’d rebut that claim by saying Cooper hasn’t done that nearly enough all year, while Toomua has calmly led his side around the field and done all the basics very nicely.
Inside centre was a tough choice because Ben Tapuai and Kyle Godwin are both having very strong starts to the year.
They are both wonderful on attack but Tapuai has just pipped Godwin due to his ability to stone people on defence. Tapuai also won the head to head while playing on a losing side.
Selecting some second-rowers wasn’t fun for this purpose. I literally looked through every team-sheet to try and work out where the good performances were lurking. They just aren’t there for the most part.
Going on what’s been done on the field this year, Peter Kimlin and Hugh McMeniman have stood out from a mediocre field. I’m really looking forward to some improvement from James Horwill as the season progresses because the cupboard is pretty bare.
One person to watch is Ed O’Donoghue. He’s not yet the full package but has shown willingness and ability to get involved often. He needs to become a better lineout option to be truly considered a good second-row exponent.
If you’re wondering why I selected Mafi in this side; check out some of his 109m running and 137m kicking on the weekend.
He seems to average around 30m per kick from hand. That shows he’s fairly competent in that area. And he’s reached more than 90m running in a match three times this year, for the Force. That cannot be overstated.
I didn’t come into this exercise intending to pick a bench for the team. I think a first XV is enough to get a picture of where the performances are coming from in Super Rugby. This isn’t a fantasy football experiment or a Wallabies selection.
However, I’ll admit picking a bench did cross my mind while I was putting together the first team. Then, as I thought about it, realised there weren’t really many stand-outs that leap at you beyond these 15.
Australia needs the experienced players that are flat-lining and some more of the young guns to really step up over the next couple of months.
We have two good teams in the competition but not many individuals have been performing consistently well through the early part of the season.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Wrong article meant o be on the Tahs v Force blog
jeznez
Roar Guru
Great clean out throughout that sequence of play, started with a counter ruck and all momentum was maintained with quick recycling. Great work Tahs a real team try.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Based on form to date + who I think will be in form/stay in form .... my Wallaby 22 for the Lions is: Holmes Moore Slipper (with Ryan and Alexander) Horwill & Douglas (MMM) Mowen & Gill (Smith) Palu Genia Cooper Mafi CLL AAC Kingston Mogg Bench: White, JOC, Tapauii
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Agreed Melon. Slightly off topic but I thought Horne did ok for the Tahs at 12 last week and Cheika's combo of Horne, AAC with Folau chiming in has good long term promise.
Andinov
Guest
You forgot the two form players currently in the northern hemisphere 10. Brock James 12. Matt Gitau
Stin
Guest
Who's the goal kicker? White? Goal kicks put Lealifiano just in front of Taps for me....
Handles
Guest
" to put TPN on and have him knock himself out..." or "knock the ball on.."
The Bush
Roar Guru
Good team and one that really represents the form players of the tournament. To round out the the 22/23, I'd go: 16. Hanson - We simply can't afford to put TPN on have him knock himself out in one minute. Hanson has displaced Finger at the Reds and has huge potential in my opinion and will bloosem this world-cup cycle. 17. Slipper - I think he's been playing great and he can cover both sides of the scrum. 18. Lock - a problem area actually. You've picked the two (2) form locks. Horwill will come into it eventually, but right now both Rebel locks are under performing, Timani has been useless at the Waratahs and none of the Reds locks have really inspired. 19. Smith - Can cover No8 if he has to and his experience at closing out a game would be fantastic. Has been playing quite well. 20. Genia - enough said. 21. Lealiifano - can cover 10 or 12, can goal kick and has been playing great. 22. Depends on what you want to do here - AAC can cover full-back and wing so you might want to replace an outside back, move him out and put in a fresh Centre. In any case none of the other outside backs have really put their hand up, perhaps young Tomane fromt he Brumbies - has looked good whenever I've seen him.
Mick
Guest
Then you probably shouldn't have bothered posting, as you only read a third of the article.
Mick
Guest
So if you disagree on this year's form, who is your alternative? He's still the best 11 in Aus rugby by a country mile in my opinion.
Mick
Guest
Yeah, he is the foreign player for the Reds. http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/aussie-ed-odonoghue-gets-chance-as-queensland-reds-import/story-fndpt9s1-1226562166521 Bit of a funny situation, considering some of the weirdly eligilble players that some countries/states do have.
Mick
Guest
Agreed. I'm happy with the way he's stayed at 13 all season - I'm not a Waratahs fan, but as a Wallabies fan it's got to be a good thing. I hope he's never selected anywhere other than 13 again in his career. I don't mind him moving to 15 or wing if there's a mid-game injury, but only in that situation.
Mick
Guest
I reckon the above has the centres sorted - Taps and AAC sounds good. Off the last week (or 2), it's hard to see Genia and Horwill not storming into the 'form' XV very soon. Great team.
Red Baron
Guest
Disagree. Taps and Lealiifano equal out in front. You can't ignore combinations and Lealiifano has paired very well with Toomua and White. Godwin still just a bit back but still #3. Get rid of AAC and slide Taps to 13. AAC is fast becoming dead weight. Time to move on.
anon
Guest
I saw you included AAC and stopped reading after that
GWS
Guest
Must have smith
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
Cummins - disagree. He runs hard onto the ball which is what most of the Aussie back lines are guilty of not doing this year and has sound defence but is not all that solid in other areas. AAC seems to bring much the same but is technically very sound in a lot of areas which Cummins seems to struggle with at times eg presenting the ball when isolated and taking high balls. Ten Four: in what position would you pick LLF?
Crazy Horse
Guest
It's a good team based on current form. However I'd have Cummins (currently injured) at 13.
DB
Guest
I have to respectfully disagree EP - I think and have for quite some time that Tomane would be the best option at 13 for the Wallabies. If you watch his You tube clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUQ0asbR7S0 - you will see that he has all the skills. Is a massive human - is 190cm+ and over 100kg's. He has amazing strength, speed, footwork, hands and vision and unlike AAC does not mind putting his support into space although can shred the line himself. i know he plays wing but his game is perfectly suited to 13 - his defence is awesome as well. He played centre in League so their is no issue their!!
Ten four
Guest
Lealifano would be the first chosen and everyone picked around him in my team