With all the buzz going on around the announcement of the Wallabies squad a few days ago, I have decided to hop on the bandwagon and share my take on how our 23 should look like for the first Test against the French.
Let’s start with the front row, the choice of James Slipper and Ben Alexander with Scott Sio and Sekope Kepu on the bench is a rather conservative one.
However, it is my opinion that Australia is in dire need of a strong Test-quality tight five. Scrummaging has been an issue for the Wallabies for a long time and it will continue to be an issue until we get some real talent coming through from Super Rugby level, especially in the prop department.
I took this mindset with me when selecting my starting locks. The inclusion of Rob Simmons was imperative due to his line out calling. It’s also worth noting that though his form was nothing extraordinary during Super Rugby, it was not poor either, so he deserves at least one or two starts to redeem himself in the Test arena.
My exclusion of James Horwill in favour of Luke Jones will probably be a controversial one, though. Horwill has been very disappointing in his loose play for a while now, so I don’t see the harm in blooding in a promising young player as early as possible, especially since the rest of the pack is experienced.
The back row is quite straightforward due to the tight holds that Scott Fardy and Micahel Hooper have on the number six and seven jerseys respectively. I chose Wycliff Palu at eight as I share Phil Waugh’s sentiment in that he is integral to giving his side good go-forward ball. Big, imposing, destructive runners who consistently get over the gain line are just what the Wallabies have been lacking these past few years. And with Palu starting at the base of the scrum and Will Skelton most definitely coming off the bench, that problem has been partially rectified.
Palu’s match fitness is indeed questionable so Ben McCalman will most likely get 20-30 minutes of game time, either at six, seven or eight. The beauty of this Wallabies back five is it’s versatility. Fardy and Simmons can play both lock and blindside while McCalman can possibly be used anywhere in the back row.
Now on to the backs where most of the selection headaches lie. My selection of Nic White at scrum half took a lot of thought. Will Genia is a world-class player, no doubt. If you look at my profile description, you would see that I had indeed penned him down as my favourite player. However, I think it’s safe to say that he’s not in the form of his life right now. White is very close behind and has three big advantages going for him – general kicking, place kicking and his combination with Matt Toomua.
Especially with Israel Folau not being too proficient with the boot and Kurtley Beale inconsistent with it, White’s boot in general play would be paramount if a territorial game plan is required.
Furthermore, with Beale and Matt Toomua as the halves combination, his place kicking would also be vital. Speaking of Toomua, a team that will assemble less than a week before the first Test needs combinations to form as soon as possible. That’s when the relationship between White and Toomua will come in handy. Though Toomua will be playing at second five-eighth, he will doubtlessly slot into first receiver from time to time, making a solid partnership there very useful.
Kurtley Beale at 10 would provide the creative spark that the back line needs, which I fear Bernard Foley just may not be able to deliver. Both Pat McCabe and Adam Ashley-Cooper have to be somewhere in the team so I decided to chuck them onto the wings. I personally feel that Ashley-Cooper should be starting at outside centre but Ewen McKenzie doesn’t seem to see it that way with Tevita Kuridrani being the only 13 named in the squad.
With so little time for preparation, McKenzie must find a balance between tinkering with promising new combinations and making sure some existing combinations from Super Rugby follow through.
Hopefully a 3-0 series whitewash will result.
Here is the side I would pick:
1. Slipper
2. Moore (vc)
3. Alexander
4. Jones
5. Simmons
6. Fardy
7. Hooper (c)
8. Palu
9. White (k)
10. Beale
11. McCabe
12. Toomua
13. Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Folau
Reserves:
Polota-Nau
Sio
Kepu
Skelton
McCalman
Genia
Lealiifano
Horne
Andy
Guest
Thats a fair point. Compared to NZ and Sa they are not great but to the rest of the world they are ok. I would go with Sio at LH personally. TH's a real flip of the coin
Chris Murray
Guest
Gay, it's great to see the Force doing well but Tests are a big step up and wholesale changes fraught with danger.The best I them will get there if they keep their form going.
Chris Murray
Guest
Mate, that gives us ONE line out jumper (Palu!). No way.
Chris Murray
Guest
I think you're very close to Link's thinking. I would do it with Kepu over Alexander, Jones over Horwill, White over Genia and Foley over Beale - but so what. Bench will be very interesting.
Gay
Guest
How do you only name 2force players in the australian team when there is a very real chance the brumbies want even make the play offs this year, at some stage you have to take the boys from the west for real. When the game needs a hard nose to go and get the ball you want see hooper getting it he'll be out in the back line, will hodgo is in scrounging for a turn over
Bruce Lee
Guest
4 fardy 5 Skelton 6 higginbottom 7 hooper 8 Palu How about Fardy and Skelton as locks with higginbottom as 6? fardy is pretty much same size as horwill and Simmons. Having him as lock means you lose little in terms of his work around the rucks. So am extra flanker in effect. Nothing lost in pack size. Having higginbottom at 6 gives u a solid line out option lost by Skelton. Higgins bottom or fardy can call the line outs. Added weight of Skelton balances out fardy. The combo of Palu, fardy , higginbottom and Skelton is The most aggressive tough combo we have For the bench , I wouldn't say there is much between horwill, jones and Simmons. Maybe horwill for the experience to steady the ship in final quarter of game (especially if moore is captain and has come off for TPN in last twenty). HowwiIl can come on as "pack leader" for last twenty I think MOORE should be captain with an eighty minute vice captain. Maybe toomua
mick
Guest
Dru's cred went out the window when he said he'd pick Phipps.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I havent done this before but here's my 15 Wallabies Sio Moore Alexander Skelton Horwill Fardy Hooper Palu Phipps Beale AAC Kurindani Toomua Horne Folau
Obols
Guest
You have 5,6,7 and 8 correct. But there is no way you would start without the experience of hoe will and genia. Cummins is the incumbent wing and has been playing well.. There is one wing spot available and if AAC is not 13 he will fill that spot. Ther is also no way higginbotham will not be on the bench.
snowman
Guest
He will only play the "plodders"in the first test, and everything onwards will be judged on that-same with the reserves, will have to perform to get the promotion
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Except when Horwill played for Links Wallabies and his form was horrible so he then lost the captaincy and he was dropped from the 23 that is. Same with Genia, who was also dropped from Links Wallabies. I doubt Cowan will play anything but loosehead.
Louie
Guest
You must be French, ignorant or just kidding... Australia 2-1. We will lose the scrums but win the contact and breakdown with our rubbish forward pack and open em up like melons in the backs. Why not 3-0, because they are French and we are Aust..never quite know what ya gunna get. I fear we are still some way away from consistency, partly because we lack a really good TH.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Its called best option. Horwill was top quality at his best and so was Robinson and the reason they keep getting picked is because there are no better options. The reason for those ABs players getting so many caps is the same, they have been considered the best option.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Ive seen McCabe play 13 and 12s and 13s are usually reasonably comfortable switching, depending on the player. Take Burrell for England for example, played 12 all season for his club and then 13 for Eng. J.Davies used to do the same and de Villiers is comfortable in both. Some players dont switch well, C.Smith wouldnt be the best 12 and Twelvetrees wouldnt be the best 13 but players like McCabe are suited to 13 imo, probably more than 12 imo. I would like to see McCabe play 13 for the Brumbies.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
For what reason? He hasnt made a point, hes just said that he shouldnt be on the bench without explaining why. Im pretty sure that Horwill is a bench option and I see no reason why he shouldnt be. Hes played off the bench many times for Aus.
Magic Sponge
Guest
They cant just pick the same old plodders in the forwards If Link goes conservative for the French tests then we will do nothing for the World Cup as he is virtually saying this is as good as it gets. It just wont be good enough. Now is the time to blood new wallabies. Alexander , robinson, Horwill how did they get so many caps, like record cap in their position yet they are still not much chop. Compare this to NZ where there record positional cap holders are the cream of the crop. That is just poor selection from wallaby selectors.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Dru's point is valid.
jameswm
Guest
Sionever plays TH. Can't work.
jameswm
Guest
I think Jones starts off the bench for the first test. If one of the Qld locks doesn't perform, he goes out of the 23 and Skelton to the bench. I agree that there's no point having Horwill or Simmons on the bench. Use the bench to blood Jones and Skelton. Let the more experienced Qld locks start off the match.
bennalong
Guest
Horwill and Simmons will start. This idea of form is just that.....an idea! As Dru says you have to have some consistency. We know Simmons will start, and for me that means former Wallaby captain Horwill will be along side. They've been playing in a team that's lost its coach who just happened to be Link. He will believe they'll respond when playing for him and he's probably right. Same applies to Genia, even though we know we have a Tahs 5/8 giving Phipps a leg up. With Slipper and Moore, (ex Qld) and Horwill/Simmons, Genia recovers some points in foreward management. You keep hearing Beale at 10 but I hope it's Foley with Toomua and kurindrani, AAC and the Honeybadger on the wings as before. Will it be Palu 8 and Higgers 6 ? Ben A tight head? or will Cowan or Kepu convince Blades to try someone else ? I'd like to see Cowan given a crack!