With the final round of Super Rugby until the International series break upon us, it’s time to evaluate who’s done enough to earn a spot in the Australian team for the first Test against France.
The Wallabies team announcement is just around the corner, and we’re opening up the floor to Roarers to pick their own team that will run out against the French. We’re giving you the chance to be Ewen McKenzie for the weekend. Go on! Pick a winning Wallabies side and we’ll announce who made the cut on Monday.
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie (the real one) has narrowed his selections down to a squad of 32 players, but who occupies those positions when it comes time to run out at Suncorp Stadium is another issue altogether.
Quade Cooper is the most notable omission from the squad, with the Reds fly half likely to miss this series and the remainder of the Super Rugby tournament.
That leaves a couple of Waratahs battling it out for the number 10 jersey, Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley, that’s if you believe Ewen McKenzie’s categorisation in his squad details.
There’s no doubt that the Brumbies Matt Toomua would do a good job in that jersey as well, but he’s been listed as a centre, and will battle Christian Lealiifano for the 12 jersey.
The only outside centre listed it Tevita Kuridrani, with Adam Ashley-Cooper his strongest competition for the spot.
In the forwards, there are a number of props who could all push for the spot, including 22-year-old Brumby Scott Sio.
Concerns in the front row for Ewen McKenzie, and the armchair selector, include Ben Alexander’s relegation to the bench and the Reds’ horrible form to go with James Slipper’s suspension. Are his past performances enough to see him earn a call-up to the Wallabies?
The locking position is another point of contention. Many think James Horwill hasn’t done enough to keep a spot in the side, and his competition will come from youngsters Luke Jones and Sam Carter. Rob Simmons has also suffered a drop in form at the Reds, which will bring hulking Waratah Will Skelton into the mix.
Who are the bankers in this squad? Well, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who could shift Israel Folau from the 15 jersey. He’s possibly the best player in the Super Rugby competition this year and is an invaluable attacking asset. He has already equalled Peter Hewat’s record for most tries scored for the Tahs in a year, and will surely look to break it in the coming weeks of Super Rugby.
Stephen Moore will also be hard to shift from the hooking spot. The only question with him is whether he will also be handed the captaincy, with Horwill’s position under threat.
Michael Hooper has been on fire for the Waratahs so far this season, but Western Force skipper Matt Hodgson has been possibly the most influential player in Super Rugby this year. Will this earn him a recall to Wallaby gold?
But now it’s up to you. Pick who you think should make it into the Wallabies side for the France Tests, and we’ll announce The Roar’s Wallabies XV results after the weekend.
Yogi
Guest
he wasn't invisible against the chiefs.
pick & go..!!
Guest
Peter Hughes, Your opinion on Palu Sounds personal?
Peter Hughes
Roar Rookie
Why is PALU listed at all and why did so many people pick him. For 10 years its been the greatest mystery in Australian rugby that Mr Invisible has been so consistently ineffective, low work rate & lacking in mongrel at test level but yet has played so many tests. And every time he does he's a passenger, the Wallabies biggest single weakness and is literally invisible for whole games. Mr Invisible has been hiding there at everyone of the Wallabies worst performances in past 10 yrs. He's big & useless. He does not bend the line at test level, he does not offload, he does not tackle, he doesn't win lineouts or turnovers. He does go missing every time the going gets tough & he does give away many stupid penalties. He is the soft underbelly of the Wallabies. When will people learn its very possible to be so big and yet so ineffective. PALU is the perfect example imo.
Westie
Guest
They have earned their spots.
Internal Fixation
Guest
I put Horwill in purely because I think we can carry his poor Super form against France and see if he improves - like Nonu in the ABs a few years ago - he has earned that chance. Nonu obviously stepped up a gear but if Horwill can't we need to look elsewhere for the RC.
jameswm
Guest
Maybe this is why his form has dropped off.
Matt7
Guest
Slipper Moore Kepu Horwill Simmons Fardy Hooper Palu Genia Beale Cummins Toomua Kuridrani AAC Folau TP-N White Sio Cowan Jones Higs McCabe
Scott
Guest
While no one wants to see a player injured it may well be a blessing in disguise that Alexander is out for the France series and Weeks has been add to the extended squad. I would have preferred Longbottom but fortunately he has decided to look for opportunities in Europe. I wonder if he was on McKenzie’s radar, and if so if Longbottom knew it??? So Slipper and Kepu have firmed I think as the THPs for the first Test.
Harry
Guest
After the weekend, certainties: Moore at 2 Fardy somewhere 4,5 or 6. Hooper at 7 Toomua at 10 or 12 Cummins on one wing AAC at 13 or 14 Folau at 15 That's in the starting 15. Add Genial for the 23 and probably Slipper but the rest contentious. Don't know whether that's good or bad! Good to have genuine competition and alternatives for once though. Only tighthead, wings and locks look a little thin. The rest up for grabs.
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
Totally agree.
jutsie
Guest
play better the hooper?
Mike
Guest
I would be starting Horwill. He does a lot of good work in tight that is not appreciated. I still have my doubts about Simmons. Kane Douglas and Luke Jones also work well in tight. My main concern is that coaching issues from last season aren't repeated - no meerkatting in the scrum, defence to be a priority rather than an afterthought, and remembering that you have to go forward to earn the right to go wide. Lists of "lock ins" rarely mention Scott Fardy, which surprises me. I personally think he should be played at lock, but happy enough with him at 6. But either way, he is a must have. We must win at least parity at the breakdown. Other things can flow from that.
kombiutedriver
Guest
+ 1
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Alexander was only on the bench to rest an injury, not on form.....that injury has now ruled him out for the series according to the Canberra Times thus morning.
Joe Blow
Guest
A couple of things shone through from this last round of Super rugby for the Wallaby selectors. Ryan > Kepu at scrum time Palu should start at 8. Skelton is not ready to play a test but it will be good for him to be around the squad. Genia has still got it Foley should be our starting 10 AAC should be at 13 Nick Phipps will be very unlucky to miss out on the 23
Graeme Smith
Roar Rookie
I agree. I can't see Kurindrani in the 23, unless it was to put AAC at wing. Our wing stocks are pretty low at the moment, but I'd still rather AAC at 13 and either McCabe or Horne on the wing, with the other on the bench to cover 11-14. Beale also on the bench covering 11, 12 and 15, hopefully coming on with 20 to go at 12 recombining with Foley.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Wouldn't have McCabe near the team. he is a hard runner and rugged defender but rarely kicks and even more rarely passes. We know Cummins can't kick but he does set up other team members. On form, White should be picked. Genia had a great game last night but his form hasn't been good apart from that. AA-C has been the form 13 all season, why shift him to the wing? I'd also play Palu over Higginbottam.
Marc Dellapia
Guest
9 Genia, 10 Quade 11 Ioane 12 Folau 13 JOC 14 Cummins 15 Beale
PiratesRugby
Guest
He's not good enough. Great player at provincial level but not up to Test standard. And he's competing with Hooper, a proven Test performer. On the bench he can only cover 7.
Scrum Importance
Guest
The starting team looks pretty settled from what i can tell but can someone enlighten me as to what Kuindrani has done to be ahead of AAC? I am a an naive front rower but AAC always straightens the attack, makes regular line breaks, gets turnovers and never misses tackle. I don't ever remember seeing Kuindrani having the same impact yet he seems to be the front runner in a vital position.