So, after all our pontificating and bickering, we have a Wallabies squad to face France. There’s 32 of them in the squad.
Of those selected, four are new and 21 come from the playoff-bound Brumbies and Waratahs.
Surprises, thankfully, were few and far between, with those heading overseas put out to pasture, the rising Force’s presence felt and the second row, home to three of the uncapped folk (and aged 24, 23 and 22), the area of obvious inexperience.
Ewen McKenzie’s hand has been forced by injuries to experienced mainstays like Quade Cooper and David Pocock, as well as those fighting for spots such as Joe Tomane, Liam Gill and, more recently, Luke Burgess and Kyle Godwin.
There will be few complaints. Brumbies fans may wonder what Robbie Coleman and Jesse Mogg, with 12 tries between them this season, have to do to get a spot.
‘Tahs fans would press the cases of Dave Dennis or Benn Robinson, Melburnians Mitch Inman and Toby Smith and Force fans that of Angus Cottrell.
But these are minor issues, it is largely the squad we expected. McKenzie hasn’t upset his improving apple cart – after losing players to injury and the lure of the game overseas, this is constrained continuity.
Questions, inevitably, remain unanswered. While the names are largely as expected, much of the squad’s intrigue surrounds the positions those names have been assigned.
McKenzie told us that the designations were made for the benefit of ‘the armchair selectors’ – that’s us.
Most eye-catching is Kurtley Beale’s selection as an outside-half and Matt Toomua as a centre, despite the former cutting his teeth at 12 all year and the latter being Australia’s form fly-half.
But this is merely more continuity from McKenzie – ahead of the World Cup, he clearly fancies a maverick talent, in the shape of Cooper or Beale, inside the safe pair of hands that is Toomua, and the ability of the free spirit and the ferocious tackler to inter-change.
Elsewhere, Scott Fardy is selected as a flanker, despite playing all but two Super Rugby games as a lock (the last time he packed down at six was March 15). The 13 shirt would appear to be Tevita Kuridrani’s after Adam Ashley-Cooper was named in the back three.
While McKenzie’s ideas won’t be set in stone, these positional picks give an insight into how we can expect the side to look on June seventh at Suncorp.
McKenzie is likely to pick a team before picking a captain, which makes the question of who’s skippering his ship is especially interesting. Stephen Moore, who’ll rarely play more than 60 minutes, and Michael Hooper, who at 22 is probably still short of the maturity and experience to engage with the referee as a Test match captain should, are the only guaranteed starters in the pack.
The shape of the back line, as mentioned above, is becoming clearer but only Will Genia is a leadership candidate among those pencilled in. With Nic White looming, the eraser is dangerously close to Genia’s name.
So there’s no obvious candidate, which leads us to Scott Higginbotham – a peculiar and divisive case. He’s not played yet for McKenzie’s Wallabies, thanks to that pesky shoulder injury in 2013.
This time round, while many want him as captain, others believe he’s not worthy of a place in a congested back-row containing Fardy, Wycliff Palu and Ben McCalman. How does Ewen solve a problem like Higgers?
There are accusations that the big Rebel strolls around the park too much, that he’s not consistent enough, that he operates on the fringes of the game and that he’s indisciplined.
Unfortunately for Higginbotham in the final department, the stats don’t lie – nobody has given more than his 23 penalties away this season. The Rebels no. 8 was at it again on Saturday in Brisbane – binned for a barge in the first minute and involved in a tussle in the last. Pull your head in, Scotty.
Yet, the adoration and admiration received by Higginbotham in Melbourne is the sort normally reserved for footballers of a different code. He’s an inspirational figure at Australia’s newest franchise and, at times over the last two years, has looked like he’s hauling them forward (and that’s most definitely the direction they are moving) by sheer force of will.
With Higginbotham, as cliched as it sounds, you know you’re getting 100 per cent and he’s shown an ability to engage with the officials this season (unlike a certain Mr Horwill).
As a back-row forward, he’s more athletic than ever, rules the air at line-out time and tackles hard, although as that penalty counts shows, he needs to clean up his act at the breakdown.
More than ever this season Higginbotham, playing with an immense freedom that has at times been his own worst enemy, has shown touches of pure flair and class – there are few better off-loaders in the world game and even fewer forwards who set up two tries with deft kicks in their career, let alone a season, as he’s done against the Cheetahs and Highlanders in 2014.
If McKenzie has decided to go with a maverick talent at 10, he needs a captain to match. For mine, that man is Scott Higginbotham and he’ll be wearing the number eight.
No nonsense now – bring on Les Bleus.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Some interesting points to consider. I too, would have included Burgess over Phipps but Burgess is injured that is why he didn't play against the Tahs.. With Mogg, I watched his last game against the Bulls. He was like a revolving door with the Bulls running at him. The captaincy is really down to two players, Moore and Hooper. On form, Higgers, Mowen and Genia aren't guaranteed a spot and we can't have a player picked solely for his captaincy skills. It worked for Brearley but he's the only one.
Echoman
Guest
Given Higginbothom is probably the only player in your squad who would make a Southern Hemisphere team on merit (reserve 6 or 8) you need space some where for him. Gill is good and you always have good locks - front row are rubbish across the board, and Genia isn't even best 9 playing for Reds at present let alone in top 3 in Aus. Cooper being injured may be the best thing for Wobbly rugby - hes been worked out by ABs and SAF. Mogg - great 15 at Super level but his kick and run approach is suicide at test level against good teams. Best of luck with the French.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Chivas, I think I agree that Hooper shouldn't be WB's captain. My only doubt is there because I am not sure who I want there. I do want to say that you do him a disservice by saying he isn't vc of the Tahs. When Dennis is not on the pitch he is the named captain so is clearly next in line there. Indeed when Dennis missed the Refs match he was named as the starting captain. http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/News/NewsArticle/tabid/157/ArticleID/11007/Hooper-to-captain-NSW-after-Dennis-withdrawn.aspx
Shockingstuff
Guest
You summed it all up with this "There are accusations that the big Rebel strolls around the park too much, that he’s not consistent enough, that he operates on the fringes of the game and that he’s indisciplined." Add selfish ball hog to get on the score sheet along with generally being useless this season to that list and you have hit a hole in one. So many times the better and easier option would have been for him to pass but he keeps it himself, luckily has resulted in a few pies but so many go wanting due to his self man attitude, those tries wont come so easy at international level and he'll just end up wasting opportunity which the wallabies will struggle to get many of this year.
gary
Guest
You have hit it right on the head and this is why I am getting tired of the roar. Go the Wallabies !!!
Toomuaforpresident
Guest
Toomua is the next Horan
MiB
Guest
If Fardy must play at #6 .... 4. Jones 5. Skelton 6. Fardy 7. Hodgson 8. Higgers (c) 19. Simmons 20. Hooper
MiB
Guest
If not Fardy at lock, then who? You can't start Jones and Skelton together (too inexperienced). As much as it pains me to say, not one Reds player warrants selection in the 15 (except Cooper, pre-injury). The captaincy issue is a big one. I think most of us agree there are only 2 or 3 realistic options; Moore, Higgers and AAC. Hooper isn't ready yet, he needs to grow and exhibit a bit of battle attitude before any other international side will be intimidated by him leading the team. This would be my 23: 1.Sio 2. Moore (vc) 3. Kepu 4. Jones 5. Fardy 6. Higginbotham (c) 7. Hooper 8. Palu 9.Phipps 10. Foley 11. Cummins 12. Toomua 13. Kurindrani 14. McCabe 15. Folau 16. Charles 17. Slipper 18. Alexander 19. Skelton 20. McCalman 21. Genia 22. Beale 23. Ashley-Cooper
Colin
Guest
-- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Colin
Guest
Mcallman has come up short previously but you can't compare. He has bulked up 5 kgs this year and you can see the difference it's making with his busts and tackles, yes higgers is better in line outs however we have lots of other options come line out time. I think in structured play Big Mac is far better, game line drive is what the wallabies need most come World Cup time when defences will be well set, we need loose forwards who can defend the breakdown well and break the game line to give the team forward momentum and most importantly not leaks penalties for me on current form Mcallman and Palu are far more compelling than higgers!! -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
TK
Guest
No wasn't having a go at you Short Blind, really just a bit of a piss-take of the post above. Cole, as I said above I've got no problem with opinions being expressed. As a regular Roar reader I read 100's a week that I disagree with, I don't have a problem with that, just found the tone mildly annoying.
jason8
Guest
Theres no problem... he is your classiest no 8 - play him
Short-Blind
Guest
I am because I agree - Hooper will be the next outstanding Wallaby captain. I agree strongly about what Sandgroper is saying and I hope Hooper has that tactical smarts element to in his game - the only way to find out is try him....because we know that Horwill, Genia and others don' t have it. Remember the last time we beat the ABs in Brisbane before the 11 RWC. The best captain, of the best team of the decade (Ritchie) didn't change tactics in the first half when they were getting smashed. The pep talk by the 3 amigos at half time re-jigged the tactics and in the 2nd half they played tight pick and drive and nearly won the game. Point is even the best captains can struggle with tactic changes mid - game. Though my 17 year old captain in a champion schoolboy league team didn't.......
Short-Blind
Guest
Gee TK if your cracking me I'd be a little 'pissed'. I love Beale - he is a top level athlete who has played way above the level I ever did. That doesn't make my perceptions of his play invalid though - they are only individual perceptions and some other blokes on this site agree. I truly hope he comes good however its only the AB selectors who will be hoping he is picked at 10.
Short-Blind
Guest
Morsie, Ritchie used to be a 'penalty magnet' but after a decade at the top he has mastered the dark arts and there are only about 2 refs in the world who dare penalise him (much to my frustration). HIggers on the other hand seems to annoy most refs.
Short-Blind
Guest
Fair enough Combesy - I just think that when both of them are at their best Hooper offers that bit more (attack) than Poey and the pilfering that Poey does above what Hooper brings does not make up for that. So unless Poey learns to attack and link a little better I just wouldn't pick him ahead of a fit Hooper. Also Hooper is younger and getting better every year. Agree to disagree on that one :)
Chivas
Guest
There was talk, but you assume where there is smoke there is fire. Secondly leaders make decisions that aren't always popular with everyone, but they always lead. Secondly I doubt he receives accolades from coaches for no reason. So as I say easy to believe the press. Much the sane way as some think Wuade who can do no wrong was justified in his toxic comments.... Personally I think Mowen is an outstanding captain as can be seen by the success the team had on the EOYT. How is that fact overlooked, because it isn't so interesting I would suggest.
Yogi
Guest
Yogi
Guest
Tahs scrum and robinsons form have dived since last year because of the rule changes.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Carn the Rebels.