If Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie had to name his first Test team on form today to meet the French at Suncorp on June 7, it would be very different from the side that beat Wales 30-26 at the Millennium Stadium last November.
That team was James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Nick Cummins, Christian Lealiifano, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Joe Tomane and Israel Folau.
The bench – Tatafa Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Michael Harris and Bernard Foley.
For starters, Mowen, the captain on the day, Robinson, Douglas, Dennis, Cooper, Tomane and Harris aren’t in the Wallaby squad named last Thursday.
And just this weekend the Waratahs set AAMI Stadium alight with their 41-19 thumping of the Rebels, scoring six tries, the Force dominated the Lions 29-19, while the Brumbies were walloped 44-23 by the Bulls,
The Reds had a bye which hopefully will allow deep wounds to heal.
Those results would have made McKenzie even more aware there’s some rethinking about the squad he named, and the specific positional selections.
The Waratahs were a revelation. Not only did their on-fire forwards win 74 per cent of the ball, but their backs made a statement that they could, and probably should, be the bulk of the Wallaby backline.
Nick Phipps has thrown out a genuine challenge to Genia, Foley and Beale are the very best 10-12 combination in Australian rugby, Ashley-Cooper has the most claims on the outside centre spot, Rob Horne has been reborn as a winger of import and Folau picks himself.
So that only leaves the second wing position and that belongs to Nick Cummins, without a shadow of a doubt.
Matt Toomua?
On the bench where he can cover – 10, 12, and 15 – but not to start to break up that Foley, Beale, Folau electricity.
Then it gets interesting up front – on form.
How can McKenzie ignore the consistent non-stop efforts of Force skipper Matt Hodgson, he’s virtual man of the match material every game. On form he’s the first choice number six, Hooper picks himself at seven and then it gets really interesting.
At number eight – Wycliff Palu, Scott Higginbotham, or Ben McCalman?
As I’ve said many times before, Higginbotham is a loose-cannon liability, and with so many hot-shot goal-kickers around he’s likely to cost the Wallabies anything up to 15 points.
So that leaves Palu and McCalman, and there’s not a struck match between them, which means both must be in the 23,
Locks?
Rebel Luke Jones was a tower of strength in a badly beaten side at the weekend, he’s heading for his Wallaby debut, as is the behemoth Will Skelton. What a dynamic duo they will turn out to be.
That leaves the front row. Hooker Moore picks himself, but there are any number of combinations McKenzie can select on either side.
Scott Sio, and Slipper, loom large, with Kepu the senior prop on the bench.
All that looks good, but let’s see how close to fact those selections are.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ jameswm : yep to Skelton, becoz have u seen the french 2nd rows? Yoann Maestri Sébastien Vahaamahina are 2 big powerful men. (some commentator once said here comes the man with 10 vowels in the name :) had to count that one...) add Louis Picamoles to that and OZ as far as i can say dont have the same power unless they bring in the big boy. they do have a very good 3rd row too. dont forget Thierry Dusautoir almost picked Mccaw's pocket (some say he infact did, but that is another thread). if Picamoles held on to the ball with line beckoning last year, could have upset MIB i think. props i have no clue ma8 , just put names from above :D
Chan Wee
Guest
"" England confirm squad for New Zealand 26th May 2014 12:01 England have announced squads for the four-match tour of New Zealand next month and the game against the Barbarians. Thirty players will fly to Auckland on Tuesday, May 27, and be available for the 1st Test at Eden Park on Saturday, June 7. A further group will leave on Monday, June 2 following the Aviva Premiership final between Saracens and Northampton Saints (May 31) and the England XV v Barbarians match at Twickenham Stadium (June 1). These players will be named on the morning of Monday, June 2 (BST) following an assessment of both games. "We are excited about the squad we are taking to New Zealand and, while there continues to be challenges in selection, we will be well and truly ready for the 1st Test," said England head coach Stuart Lancaster. "It has a been good few days training and great to be able to work with a larger group of players in the lead up to the Barbarians game and the tour. "With the Barbarians game and the Aviva Premiership final to come we will make our final selection once we know the availability of all players. This group will fly out on the Monday following the Barbarians game. "As is often the case there are some players unavailable through injury and it is a shame that recently both George Ford (Bath) and Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers) have had to withdraw due to shoulder and knee injuries sustained towards the end of the season "Anthony Watson (Bath) is being treated for a hamstring injury and will continue his recovery in England before a final decision is made on whether he will join us in New Zealand on the Monday flight post-Aviva final and Barbarians game." England squad flying to New Zealand on May 27 (arrive May 29) Prop: Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), David Wilson (Bath) Hooker: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Gray (Harlequins), Dave Ward (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath) Locks: Dave Attwood (Bath), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers) Back Row: James Haskell (London Wasps), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) Scrum-halves: Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) Fly-halves: Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks) Centres: Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Henry Trinder (Gloucester), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester) Back-three: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors), Marland Yarde (London Irish) England New Zealand tour: Saturday, June 7: 1st Test - Eden Park, Auckland Saturday, June 14: 2nd Test - Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Tuesday, June 17: Crusaders - AMI (Addington) Stadium, Christchurch Saturday, June 21: 3rd Test - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton England squad for Barbarians game: Prop: Nathan Catt (Bath), Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks), Will Collier (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) Hooker: Rob Buchanan (Harlequins), Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks) Locks: Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks) Back Row: Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs), James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), Jamie Gibson (Leicester Tigers), Luke Wallace (Harlequins) Scrum-halves: Dan Robson (Gloucester), Joe Simpson (London Wasps) Fly-half: Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) Centres: Ollie Devoto (Bath), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Jonathan Joseph (Bath) Back-three: Elliot Daly (London Wasps), Rob Miller (Sale Sharks), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby) England XV v Barbarians Sunday, June 1: Twickenham Stadium ""
Justin3
Guest
B.s., he had no idea when to pass our put a man into space. He plays league and is good at it but keys not pretend anything else.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Yes Leroy really played well, especially in the 2nd half of the season. Aus wont pick any of them. Im guessing after the WC they will be forced to.
mikeylives
Guest
Based on..... *cue tumbleweed*
Daz
Guest
That's easy for him because he never passes. And sure sometimes you need someone to pin his ears back and just go for it but you also need someone with some spatial awareness and the ability to set someone else up if he can't do it himself. But I do love his swan dives when he does get over the line. In fairness he is probably just being considerate to his third party sponsor and giving them as much camera time as he can. Some think he is the best in his position. I say we can do better than that. Or as many say we can just keep doing the same ole same ole........
Birdy
Guest
Wow!!! I can hear the giggling in NZ from 12,000 miles away.
AussieinNZ
Guest
Foley looked ok in an all star team but he is not even close to an international standard first five.
DMac
Guest
How many chances can Alexander get? Guy can't scrummage at test level.
Brendan Buckley
Roar Rookie
Team could be; 1.Sio, 2. Moore, 3. Slipper, 4. Fardy, 5. Horwill, 6. Higginbotham (c), 7. Hooper, 8. Palu, 9.Genia (vc), 10. Foley, 11. Cummins, 12. Toomua, 13. Ashley-Cooper, 14. Horne, 15. Folau. Bench: Charles, Alexander, Kepu, Jones/Skelton, Hodgson, White, Beale, Kirundrani.
Jimbo81
Guest
It's our best squad since 2003. Massive potential. Grab your ankles NZ. Here comes the Wallaby pain-train!
Birdy
Guest
Hey Mike; I'm thrilled if Aussies think things are going brilliantly - with a bit of luck the Wallabies will arrive in London in 2015 with the same attitude as they ran out in Marseilles in 2007 ( who can forget the Lote Tuquiri wink or the sense of boredom players, fans and commentators seemed to have about the 'chore' of disposing of England before the real stuff started). In fact I'll do my bit to help: The Wallabies have selection issues because there are 4 titans of the game competing for each position.
Mike
Guest
Nice joke, ha ha, thanks for the entertainment. AAC is very much the team player, and importantly he understands when NOT to pass - something others should also learn.
Brendan Buckley
Roar Rookie
WTF is Horwill not being picked in every Aussie Team. Horwill should be picked well before Simmons, Fardy, Skelton etc. He is the man in the lineouts and runs the ball very strongly. He has to be starting no.5
Daz
Guest
With all due respect to AAC and his mum, he and Horne should not even be in the squad. Neither even look to see where their support is once the white line fever takes hold of them. Neither try to bring it round to make it easier for their team mate, the kicker to convert. They are not team players.
Garth
Guest
They still have to qualify, and they had a big scare the other day.
MiB
Guest
Fardy is a certainty, no doubt. And as much as I hate playing guys out of position, he is a tried and tested Lock who would do a fine job in the Wallaby engine room. If there's one thing the Wallabies have lacked the last few years, it's a bit of mongrel up front. The more you can squeeze in, the better. For that reason (and given the lack of form for senior locks), I'd play Fardy at #5. Simmons I can understand if you're going for continuity and a notable lineout caller, but not Horwill. Horwill was immense a couple of years ago but, like Genia, has lost his way. You could select him for his size back then but that isn't enough this year. I'd go the AB way with Skelton and introduce him gradually to the test arena via the bench. He will be a wrecking ball if brought on around the 60th minute mark, however would tire quickly if in the run-on 15. 4. Simmons 5. Fardy 6. Hodsgon (c) 7. Hooper 8. Palu 19. Skelton 20. Higgers ?
Mike
Guest
Russia also have a pretty good idea who their team will be. Just saying... ;)
jameswm
Roar Guru
Chan Wee you think they'll choose Skelton ahead of Jones? Whilst I'd consider starting those props, I doubt Ewen will. Maybe Slipper at LH. For mine Sio is a must-pick - he has been sensational this year and deserves a lot of test experience. I guess he can come off the bench in thne first test (with Slipper starting) and then start the 2nd. If that is the idea, that wouldn't worry me. Ditto the Qld locks. I don't think they deserve to be there, but both can start and the one who doesn't perform gets benched (or worse) for the 2nd test. I'd assumed big Willy wouldn't make the 23 for the first test, but you never know.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Combesy : very much doubt EM will experiment in the first match. He will use tried and tested players as much as possible. maybe by the 3rd test , depending on the scoreline will use the newbies. Am not sure if he will risk a series loss for the sake of building depth and giving exposure to potential world cup players. OZ public would not be sympathetic to more losses at home. 1.Sio 2. Moore (C) 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Horwill 6. Fardy 7. Hooper 8. Palu 9.Genia 10. Foley 11. Cummins 12. Toomua 13. Kurindrani 14. AAC 15. Folau 16. Charles 17. Slipper 18. Alexander 19. Skelton 20. H'botham 21. Phipps 22. Beale 23. McCabe