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This year we should see a more advanced Wallabies squad. With coach Ewen McKenzie settled in his new role, players returning from injury and most positions being hotly contested, 2014 should be a good year for the Aussies.
With three Australian teams in the top six in Super Rugby, this year is different from recent seasons. Selections will prove to be a positive headache for ‘Link’ McKenzie.
This year’s 40-man squad will consist of many new faces.
Seeing the strong end to last year’s Wallabies season, I can’t imagine too many changes to the final 23.
Line-up
Scott Sio
Stephen Moore (c)
Ben Alexander
Rob Simmons
James Horwill
Scott Fardy
Michael Hooper
Scott Higinbotham (vc)
Will Genia
Quade Cooper
Nick Cummins
Matt Toomua
Adam Ashley Cooper
Joe Tomane
Israel Folau
Interchange
Tatafu Polota Nau
Benn Robinson
James Slipper
Kane Douglas
Wycliff Palu
Nic White
Christian Leilifano or Tevita Kuridrani
Kurtley Beale
Luke Jones, Kyle Godwin and Pat McCabe, while strong, will just miss out.
Forwards
Scott Sio wins the number one in my opinion as he has shown impressive form and seems to be improving every game,. I would not be surprised if Link chooses to start Slipper based on experience, with Robinson only finding a bench position.
It is safe to say that Stephen Moore would be the Wallabies rake and in my opinion the captain. I would select Moore as the Wallabies captain as he is influential and has leadership qualities. He also has a mountain of Test experience under his belt and is one of the only certain Wallabies starters.
The loosehead role is where the Wallabies fall short. I would choose Ben Alexander as Slipper seems to be more suited to the tight head role.
The tight five should remain the Queensland powerhouses, Rob Simmons and James Horwill. The hotly contested back row should include the young gun Michael Hooper as a certain starter with the in-form and well liked Fardy partnering him at the blindside role.
At number eight, I would select the courageous Higinbotham to anchor the scrum. Wycliff Palu has shown devastating form earlier in the season and could be a good impact player off the bench, while Ben McCalman and Matt Hodgson have raised eyebrows and will be in the mix of this year’s squad.
Backline
At scrum half I would start the season with Genia, purely based on experience. Quade Cooper should partner him at fly half.
Many critics would suggest that Nic White starts ahead of Genia, but the problem with this combination is that you cannot have a scrum half and a fly half who are both inconsistent in defence.
If Nic White starts, then Toomua would have to shift to fly half, resulting in completely new combinations being formed.
In the centres I would select Toomua next to Adam Ashley-Cooper. Ashley-Cooper should secure the outside centre role until Kuridrani poses a real alternative. The wingers should be Cummins and Tomane, with superstar Folau remaining at fullback.
With a hard-edged coach and a competitive squad, this year could be a platform for a strong World Cup finish in 2015.
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.