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.
Masilo Tomai
Roar Rookie
this team is good however Kuridrani has shown to be a solid No. 13 last year and Ashley-Cooper can be used as a wing while Tomane shifts to the bench.
Dandaman
Guest
Might as well have a shot at this. Team and wider squad for French tests only. Trying to get a balance between experience and form to come up with a team that can win against the frogs. ABs and SA down the track but we need answers to the question of how to beat them. Sio Moore Alexander Simmons Horwill Fardy Hooper Higgers Genia Cooper Cummins Tomua Kurindrani AAC Folau Slipper Kepu Polota Nau Jones Hodgson White CCL Wider squad would include Emile, McCabe, Skelton, Tomane, Gill, Paul, McCalman, CFS, Godwin, Inman, Cottrell, Hansen, Mogg.
Nate
Guest
Sio Moore Kepu Horwill Jones Fardy Hooper Higgers White Toomua Beale Kurindrani Cummins AAC Folau
Danny Shaz
Roar Rookie
Higginbotham has returned and wallabies missed that big time, when he is on the field all the other players lift and Mach his aggression. Scott Sio has been inform and finally the wallabies have a secure anchor on one side of the scrum, we suffered in the scrum last year, by having Scott he can patch it up a bit. On the bench we have good impact with the return of Tatafu and Palu. The debutants last year were still getting used to test level, this year they will just rip in, and the team culture just built up on the spring tour by Mckenzie and it will remain there for a big year ahead. Later on in the year we will introduce big locks such as will skelton and Luke Jones who will be ready for RWC. Has this answered your question? These are only positive signs for a big lift.
Danny Shaz
Roar Rookie
Higginbotham has returned and wallabies missed that big time, when he is on the field all the other players lift and Mach his aggression. Scott Sio has been inform and finally the wallabies have a secure anchor on one side of the scrum, we suffered in the scrum last year, by having Scott he can patch it up a bit. On the bench we have good impact with the return of Tatafu and Palu. The debutants last year were still getting used to test level, this year they will just rip in, and the team culture just built up on the spring tour by Mckenzie and it will remain there for a big year ahead. Later on in the year we will introduce big locks such as will skelton and Luke Jones who will be ready for RWC. Has this answered your question? These are only positive signs for a big lift.
RF
Guest
Apart from Le Roux I don't doubt that back line has a superior archaeological value compared to the Wallabies. You might as well bring Victor Matfield back...
Hopperdoggy
Guest
With a fork and knife or the Oxford St type of eat?
Harry Jones
Expert
Actually, I think we agree. SA retains edge over OZ; and until proven otherwise, NZ is the champ. However, I think Meyer has the answer now; we will see.
Firstxv
Guest
Danny, Between this side and last year, where is the specific improvement in this squad over last year? All but 2 or 3 were there last year, contributing to very poor results. Now either the same players have improved, or incoming players are superior to those not there again this year- Higginbotham for me the most missed player from last year. Just don't see anything significantly different, and thats what is needed to turn last yeras results around, Oz simply not competitive prior to the easier northern tour.
Firstxv
Guest
beg to disagree Harry. Of the three I believe the AB incumbants are ALL playing very high levels of rugby at this point in time. For me Oz dont have one thing going for them that sees them better than last year, other than some ok sxv team form. SA have 4 out of five sides at the wrong end of the tourny, the other about to slip down the table. Theres nothing to suggest a win vs the ABs is likely this year other than the matches have yet to be played. The boks will still be exploited by their big boys unable to figure in broken play as tacklers and putting players into space. They tried the open game last year but were exposed big time when the ABs weaved in and through their defences, Feterika's try typical of individuals failing to secure the ball carrier. The AB's pass and support game done at pace is something the current Bok side hasnt an answer for, and trying to adjust the existing side to it is a huge ask. Agree SA will have enough to stay ahead of Oz but with their players mostly playing bottom of the table rugby theyll need to lift acclimatise to the more competitive test arena very quickly.
Harry Jones
Expert
I think OZ will trend up, but so will SA. NZ will have a real fight on its hands to retain the RC. Between OZ and SA, I see it playing similarly in results, but much closer on the scoreboard. Maybe a 20-13 or 17-10 SA win in SA, and a nailbiter in OZ, but SA just having enough to stay ahead of OZ. For RWC 2015, I can easily see OZ making a lot of noise; but the same old issues remain: props, locks, and (lately) scrumhalf; force in the tackle; and tactical nous.
s.t.rine
Guest
Don't agree because we don't have a decent, let alone world-class, scrum half. Genia is readable by opposing back-row & his kicking is woeful Sorry, don't buy the Wallabies winning Bledisloe OR making #2 in the world. S T
Chan Wee
Guest
@ biltongbek : of course they are :) got better nick-names (honey badger lol) ), better tats , better hair (love the Afro on one of the boys), better sound-bites at interviews, even better sounding acronyms (JGITF) ...... it's a tv producer's dream cast :P
"I believe our backs are vastly superior to the Boks and our loose forwards on par" I don't even know how to respond to that without being smug. ;)
Harry Jones
Expert
RF: Strange conclusion (OZ backs vastly superior to Bok backs) if you watch the two OZ-SA Tests from 2013, and realize that the cast of characters won't be that different. I would say it's pretty even; most rugby experts would probably struggle to pick seven Wallabies before they picked one Bok (e.g. Habana, le Roux, JdV, FdP hard to dismiss as "vastly" inferior).
Brian
Guest
I think that lineup is pretty good. I agree with the argument for the halves combo, if you pick Nic White, Toomua must be at 10. But if you Pick Cooper, Genia must be at 9. The selection of that half pairing really depends on which player (White or Cooper) is the better fit. Personally, I would select Cooper at 10, with Toomua outside him. Cooper is struggling a little at the Super level because he has essentially no running options or game plan. Coaches seem to just expect him to "make something happen." That being said, At test level, with AAC, Folau, Tomane, Kuridrani, Cummins, and forwards who have some go forward in them, he will excel. Plus, having Toomua outside him takes pressure off because there is another playmaker there who is solid on defense.
Danny Shaz
Roar Rookie
Scott Fardy is too short to be a lock in Australian rugby and was a blindside revelation last year. Mccalman only plays his good rugby at eight but is outplayed by Higginbotham. All Emile is good but inexperienced, if he earns a test spot it will be well deserved but he would start off on the bench. Saying that I do expect Alo Emile to start by the World Cup as he is Aussies rising loosehead and is outplaying all the other options we have.
Danny Shaz
Roar Rookie
Scott Fardy is too short to be a lock in Australian rugby and was a blindside revelation last year. Mccalman only plays his good rugby at eight but is outplayed by Higginbotham. All Emile is good but inexperienced, if he earns a test spot it will be well deserved but he would start off on the bench. Saying that I do expect Alo Emile to start by the World Cup as he is Aussies rising loosehead and is outplaying all the other options we have.
The Bleat
Guest
Fair enough, got a bit ahead of myself and you are probably right, but it comes with a great deal of risk.
Aussie James
Guest
Without being rude I don't like this team one bit. To me it possesses to many players who are out of form. I love the way the reds play but on their form this year many of their players should get the chop, same with some of the tahs. The force also need more recognition in the national team and their character is something we should try to take - and add a few try scoring creators and known winners from the brumbies. From that I'd make my team 1. Scott Sio 2. Stephen Moore 3. Alo Emile 4. Scott Fardy 5. Luke Jones 6. Ben McCalman 7. Michael Hooper 8. Scott Higgenbotham 9. Will Genia 10. Matt Toomua 11. Nick Cummins 12. Kyle Godwin 13. Tevita Kurandrani 14. Kurtley Beale 15. Israel Folau I reckon it would be very hard to eat and has one eye on the World Cup! Try to give me an explanation why it wouldn't work!