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I was reading The Insider’s most recent article and realised that everyone likes a selection piece.
I wanted to do one too but thought the standard team list format was kind of boring so I decided to write one from the other perspective.
Which current Wallabies have already had their file marked with “No Thanks” for the Lions series and Rugby Championship in 2013?
The Three Amigos
As much as I’d like to include these three names here I don’t think that is realistic. Regardless of form or injury I expect James O’Connor to make the game-day team and probably the starting XV.
It would be a rare moment of selection bravery from Robbie Deans to leave out Quade Cooper and/or Kurt Beale but let’s live in hope a little longer.
Rob Horne
The perennial under-achiever in the centres that every commentator and former player loves to talk up has once again offered nothing in the backline for the Waratahs.
About the only good thing I can offer in support of Rob Horne is that he’s better than Tom Carter.
With the stocks rising at the Reds and the Brumbies, Kyle Godwin at the Force coming along in leaps and bounds and Adam Ashley-Cooper finally reaping the benefits of some selection continuity at outside centre you’d have to hope that Horne and his god-awful hair products don’t get a spot at camp Wallaby this year.
Nick Phipps
Phipps poor passing has been on display for all to see this season.
Certainly he hasn’t been aided by his forward pack but the lack of speed and accuracy in his delivery as well as the comparative weakness of his kicking game should see him miss out.
He might actually make the wider squad (although I’d say Matt Lucas and Nick Frisby are better scrumhalves than Phipps) but White is stronger in every facet of the game and will be Genia’s backup for the Lions series.
Not that I expect White to get any game time anyway, Genia will be playing 240 minutes of Test rugby against the Lions unless he gets injured.
You can take that to the bank.
Scott Higginbotham
Paul Cully made the telling comment that Higginbotham’s form line without Genia feeding him ball is dropping off rapidly.
He still has the skills and shows them sporadically but his lower workrate is more noticeable in the less-accomplished Rebels pack and harder working, tighter playing blindside flankers will be ahead of Higginbotham in the queue to take Dave Dennis’ starting spot (surely the Waratahs captain can’t retain the Wallaby number six jersey).
Sitaleki Timani
I’ve watched all but two of the Waratahs’ matches this season and to be honest if I didn’t read the team sheet I wouldn’t know Sitaleki was playing.
His involvement rate makes Scott Higginbotham look like a workaholic, his crash balls don’t bend or break the line and despite his impressive bulk driving the Waratahs scrum he doesn’t impose himself physically on the game anywhere else.
Add in the fact that he is essentially a non-jumping lock with poor catching skills and it is hard to see him being selected under any legitimate selection criteria.
Sekope Kepu and Salesi Ma’afu
These guys may be back as Dan Palmer, the most technically proficient tightwad in Australia, is heading to Europe (at only 24 years of age I can understand his personal reasoning but it still makes me want to bash my head against a wall and scream in frustration).
That leaves the door slightly ajar. But this year both players have been lazy around the park and suspect at scrum time – Paddy Ryan at the Waratahs, Palmer and Ben Alexander at the Brumbies and even James Slipper at the Reds are all turning in stronger performances in the number three jersey than Kepu or Ma’afu.
Is there anyone else that should be banished from the selection table this early?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.