Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will name his core squad of 25 players for the upcoming British and Irish Lions series at 2.00pm this afternoon. Join us on The Roar for live updates and comments.
The Lions named their 45-man entourage a few weeks ago and finally we will have some certainty as to what type of Wallabies team Deans is assembling to defend their home turf.
The games last night will have some impact on the final selections, especially because of injury.
Tatafu Polota-Nau had sustained a broken arm that looked very bad. He’ll be out for some time and was almost certainly going to be part of the Wallabies squad.
The other main concern is for George Smith, who injured the medial ligament in his knee and is reported to be out for six to eight weeks.
Other injury worries from that match such as Kane Douglas and Christian Lealiifano are understood to be short-term and won’t affect their selection status.
The Reds game against the Cheetahs showed that Liam Gill may still be either playing slightly injured or is now wearing down after being a shining light earlier in the year.
He’s not had the same impact in the last month. He could almost be selected over Hooper in today’s squad because he obviously needs time to recharge if he’s to play a part.
Quade Cooper had a hot and cold game in Bloemfontein when he really needed to have a blinder to further cloud the Wallabies staff infatuation with James O’Connor.
He might need to set the world alight in the Reds match against the Lions to play much of a part in the series.
It will be very interesting to see if Berrick Barnes is selected, who had a great match last night against the Brumbies but hasn’t played a lot of rugby.
The same goes for Pat McCabe who’s been back from injury much longer but hasn’t had much game time in a good Brumbies team.
There are so many unknowns heading into today’s announcement. It’s likely there will still be plenty afterwards but it could be expected that a squad of 25 players will shed some light on what Deans has on the drawing board this far into preparations.
Join us here at 2.00pm AEST for updates on the announcement and for a chance to have your say on the squad chosen.
The Roar’s finest rugby minds have already selected their first XV for the series. If you haven’t already, check out the team and stats here.
George
Guest
1. Benn Robinson 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 3. James Slipper 4. Sitaleki Timani 5. James Horwill 6. David Pocock 7. Liam Gill 8. George Smith 9. Will Genia 10. Quade Cooper 11. Digby Ioane 12. Berrick Barnes 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper 14. James O'Connor 15. Isreal Falau/Kurtley Beale
Eliah James
Roar Rookie
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/turning-his-back-on-the-west-folau-demonstrates-what-is-really-wrong-in-clubland-20130215-2eil7.html I actually didn't know about that. Who is is publicist/manager? Surely choosing to represent (let's face it, when will he be PLAYING in the Shute Shield?) one of the Western teams would have helped turn his image from 'money grabber' to being about family/community values a hell of a lot.
boonzie
Guest
Cooper in, Horne out (and I'm a tah's supporter) and don't play O'connor at 10. The rest would just be fine tuning... Where's the backup half back?!
expathack
Guest
You're going to have heart attack when Deans names the starting XV, Rob...... I think Horne's now odds on to be the run-on 12 now. Deans's comments about CL's 'versatility' really suggests to me that he'll be a bench player covering multiple positions... And to be fair to both Horne and Deans, the way Horne's played the last two weeks means it's not as ridiculous a selection as it would have appeared a month or so back.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
A brief training period? You mean weeks in camp?
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Because Cooper has proven emphatically that he plays well against NH sides...
Mike
Guest
Okay, so Gatland is trying to work out who the last six will be. The big question in his mind is No 10. The two obvious contenders for Deans to pick are Barnes and Cooper, and their styles are very different. Barnes played well against Wales last year, of all the NH countries Wales is probably the one he is most suited to, and the Lions are mostly Wales. But Cooper has been in form and he works well with Genia. And then there are Deans' public comments about JOC but Gatland has probably already classed them as disinformation. He's also wondering whether the comments about Burgess are disinformation. Then there is the shape of the backline: Will Folau be played and where? Will Mogg be one of the six? Lots of possibilities there. Keep thinking Warren.
bluerose (Rotuma Island)
Guest
MMM and Horwill will add alot of raw aggression to the Wallabies, something that we have missed in a long time.
Tembavj
Guest
So with people calling for cooper and Taps to be in, wow beside one centre and full back you have the intire reds back line.... Not under wizard coach McKenzie but under "useless" deans.... Reds can't even score tries at super level, how will they score under deans at test level?
Johnson
Guest
ha ha you have changed your opinion then, do you still think deans finds friendly journo's to help along his selections with the public:) or who is it now that deans selects his teams to please:)
Paul.
Guest
So Barnes shouldn't get picked cause he hasn't shown much recent form. Folou and Horne shouldn't be picked because all they have is recent form? There are no inside centres who have been left out that have shown both.
Justin2
Guest
That's a reflection on nh standards right now isn't it. When did they last beat a sh team?
GWS
Guest
So he's played like ten games at twelve and he's the best in the country. Bit like folau really and Barnes.
Harry
Guest
So ... at 9 we have Genia, a no brainer selection. However no backup, with Robbie making noises that he wants a bloke who hasn't even been starting for his French club side, and hasn't played international rugby in two years. In Dingo's chosen ones we have 3 contenders for 10 ... JOC played there a few times for the Rebels in their losing matches and showed he was nowhere near a complete 10. At least he's played a few full games at 10 this year. Next up, Berrick - who had a great 30 minutes last night at the back end of the game, but hasn't done a full game at 10 the entire year. Then Leoliifano, who IMO should be 12 but is being considered at 10 - CL was utterly dreadful at 10 in his one game there this year. The two best 10's this year have been Cooper and Toomua - by some considerable margin. Yet they are overlooked.
Jacko
Guest
It is called form!
Jacko
Guest
Red Kev .....Why would Mowen surprise he has been one of the form forwards all year,great leadership skills which the wallabies need, leading lineouts wins in Super competition, big motor goes all day and tough as teak.......and you're surprise!!!!!,!
Eliah James
Roar Rookie
I can't see it happening either, but I can't help but go back to the 3rd place play-off in the 2011RWC when QC did his ACL. That was the only time I agreed with Deans' selections of the whole campaign and it was because McCabe was out. Barnes got chosen at 12 and gave QC another playmaking option as well as the 'stability' man to settle it down when QC couldn't. Beale would be my choice FB with JOC on the wing but given the circumstances I'm torn between whether JOC or Izzy should be 15 with whichever other on the wing.
Eliah James
Roar Rookie
It wasn't a great look on the eve of the squad's selection when all eyes are on his defence. Robbie made a particular note of him defending in the front line, but if he's not given the chance, how will we know how much his defence has improved?
Tatah
Guest
Absolute Gold. You're right, nothing will change until the revolution. As I am a New South Welshman, please don't be late with your rent and tithes this month. I have to presume you're from Qld, and therefore I will also take half of your crops please.
dadiggle
Guest
Like with Jason Robinson he was bought from another code purely for the Wallabies. Woodwards idea's used here