It’s almost here. Ewen McKenzie will announce his Wallaby team to play against France this week, and we thought we’d beat him to it.
We received well over 500 responses from Roarers who wanted to pick their team to take on Les Bleus, and we’ve come up with this team – The Roar‘s Wallabies XV to play France.
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. James Slipper
4. James Horwill
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. Bernard Foley
11. Nick Cummins
12. Matt Toomua
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Rob Horne
15. Israel Folau
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. Sekope Kepu
18. Pek Cowan
19. Luke Jones
20. Scott Higginbotham
21. Nic White
22. Pat McCabe
23. Kurtley Beale
Well picked Roarers! This looks to be a very good side.
Looking at the figures, it was very clear that there were a few very contentious positions.
Lock was one of those, with Reds duo Rob Simmons and James Horwill tallying the most votes in the individual locking positions, but the Rebels’ Luke Jones getting more votes overall.
Should we then give one of the locking spots to Jones? In the end we decided to give Jones a spot on the bench as he was the only one to be given a go at both the 4 and the 5 jerseys, but couldn’t quite get enough votes to pip Horwill or Simmons. Either way, it was a contentious one, particularly when a lot of people picked hulking Waratah Will Skelton for the bench.
Outside centre was another close call, with in-form Waratah Adam Ashley-Cooper earning the spot over Tevita Kuridrani with 53 per cent of the vote. Clearly Ashley-Cooper’s strong Super Rugby form has earned him this spot in Roarers’ eyes.
AAC will be partnered in the centres by Matt Toomua, who clearly won his position.
The halves pairing was also surprisingly a landslide. Bernard Foley got the nod to start at 10, and will most likely assume the goal-kicking duties for the side with no Lealiifano at centre. Will Genia’s rejuvenated performance against the Highlanders allowed him to hold his position at scrum-half too.
Scott Sio and James Slipper have been entrusted with combating the French scrum, and Stephen Moore will take the reins as skipper, having been chosen in a tight one over Matt Hodgson.
Unfortunately for Force skipper Hodgson, his many votes for captain didn’t translate to a gig in the starting team, with Michael Hooper winning out comfortably. Both players have had tremendous domestic seasons, and neither would let the gold jersey down if selected.
Scott Fardy absolutely killed it at blindside flanker, Higginbotham didn’t come close. Nor did he push Wycliff Palu for the number 8 position.
With Ashley-Cooper already picked for outside centre, we had to disregard the votes in favour of him being selected on the wing and go with the Honey Badger (who got the most votes by a fair margin) and Rob Horne, who caps off a remarkable start to 2014 with a Wallaby starting berth.
Last in the starting line-up, but certainly not least, is Israel Folau. No one came close.
Wading through all the names for the bench was a bit of a nightmare, but you have the results above, with Higginbotham just pipping Ben McCalman, and Beale and Pat McCabe getting the back spots.
What do you think Roarers? Is this the team to beat France?
The full statistical breakdown of who you chose in what position is below.
Scott Sio | 326 | 63% |
James Slipper | 140 | 27% |
Pek Cowan | 31 | 6% |
Other | 23 | 4% |
Stephen Moore | 500 | 97% |
Tatafu Polota-Nau | 8 | 2% |
Nathan Charles | 9 | 2% |
Other | 1 | 0% |
Sekope Kepu | 190 | 37% |
Ben Alexander | 91 | 18% |
James Slipper | 221 | 43% |
Other | 14 | 3% |
James Horwill | 245 | 47% |
Sam Carter | 55 | 11% |
Luke Jones | 205 | 39% |
Other | 14 | 3% |
Rob Simmons | 322 | 62% |
Luke Jones | 78 | 15% |
Will Skelton | 104 | 20% |
Other | 15 | 3% |
Scott Higginbotham | 85 | 16% |
Scott Fardy | 423 | 82% |
Other | 10 | 2% |
Michael Hooper | 479 | 92% |
Matt Hodgson | 38 | 7% |
Other | 1 | 0% |
Wycliff Palu | 252 | 49% |
Ben McCalman | 110 | 21% |
Scott Higginbotham | 149 | 29% |
Other | 7 | 1% |
Will Genia | 350 | 68% |
Nic White | 107 | 21% |
Nick Phipps | 60 | 12% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Bernard Foley | 385 | 74% |
Kurtley Beale | 57 | 11% |
Matt Toomua | 77 | 15% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Christian Lealiifano | 65 | 13% |
Matt Toomua | 402 | 77% |
Other | 52 | 10% |
Adam Ashley-Cooper | 277 | 53% |
Tevita Kuridrani | 237 | 46% |
Other | 6 | 1% |
Nick Cummins | 465 | 46% |
Adam Ashley-Cooper | 220 | 22% |
Rob Horne | 182 | 18% |
Pat McCabe | 137 | 13% |
Other | 15 | 1% |
Israel Folau | 511 | 98% |
Adam Ashley-Cooper | 2 | 0% |
Kurtley Beale | 6 | 1% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Yogi
Guest
has a twisted ankle but still a big chance to start in first test.
Yogi
Guest
the other cousin Chris Kuridrani (younger brother to Nemani) is a winger. One of my mates saw him line up against Dom Shipperley in a club match for GPS and run straight over and around him all afternoon. He is in the reds extended squad. 22 yo, hasn't played for the reds yet I don't think.
Common Sense
Guest
I named Beale at Fullback so I could put Folau on the wing, where he belongs.
Combesy
Roar Guru
sorry for the late reply fella's but jez your spot on with the forward pack the backs will be smith,cruden,savea,nona,smith,jane,dagg. reserves will be Fekitoa and smith reserve lock thrush reserve backrower messam
soapit
Guest
shows what you can achieve when ur prepared to not judge people on where they're born
LukeR
Guest
Personally, I think they have to give Higganbotham a try, if we're serious about taking some risks to beat the All Blacks that is. For a few years now people have been talking about his X-Factor but perhaps lamenting his consistency, which to me means he should be given the chance to take his game to the next level. Is anyone going to dispute that McCalman and Hooper along with Higganbotham would form a very balanced backrow combination? And what of Fardy? I put him down in the "other" at lock, along very few other Roarers. The guy is a solid number 6, who definitely played well last year, but what I don't understand is why putting him at lock would waste him. There are plenty of hard over the ball locks in world rugby. The point would be to field two other form players in the backrow in Higganbotham and McCalman. And as some others have pointed out, the Brumbies scrum has not been underpowered with him packing down in the second row. My gut feeling is that we're not going to win back the Bledisloe, never mind the World Cup, without taking some risks. And so with this in mind, here is my pack. 1. Sio 2. Moore 3. Slipper (it's a risk to shift him) 4. Jones (risk) 5. Fardy 6. Higganbotham (risk) 7. Hooper 8. McCalman Bench forwards: Skelton (risk) TPN (always a risk with his throwing and potential to knock himself out, but does come up with match changing bit plays) Hodgson (risk, because he would be the only backrow cover, but of course Fardy could also shift back) Ryan (risk, because he is not consistent and is inexperienced, but against the Chiefs, whoa!) Cowan (risk, inexperience) The other risk here is the lineout. With my starting team I am assuming Higganbotham would run the calls, giving us jumpers of Higganbotham, Jones, McCalman, and Fardy. But if Higgers goes off, I don't actually know of the rest who would call.
Flynn
Guest
Agreed. Never should a starting wallaby, let alone a captain, be such a mopey sook. Not to mention his dreadful form lately for the Reds, fella isn't half the player he used to be.
Flynn
Guest
Agreed. Never should a starting wallaby, let alone a captain, be such a mopey sook. Not to mention his dreadful form lately for the Reds, fella isn't half the player he used to be.
Chan Wee
Guest
TNW is a little small ; the MIB look for backs with size. he is more or less a 10 size , not any other position. the two aarons are the smallest of the lot. maybe that is even bundee aki was not taken seriously.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
When you switch sides at prop you go from 1 opponent to 2. I dont think its quite the same for a lock.
Chan Wee
Guest
i will book mark this and come back to haunt u :P
jameswm
Guest
Where's Jiggles? This must be like a red rag to a bull.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Im not saying Aus wont win. Im saying that wont be the team. I wouldnt count Freddy out, he has been in good form recently and when Freddy is in good form, hes very good.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Bob FBC, fired at the right time means he finally played a top match. When on song the guy is a legend. One good game is all it will ever take me to hope he is in the side.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Combsey, I have been impressed by Patrick Tuipolotu and Malakai Fekitoa. They won't add Nanai-Williams but they should. That bench is still purty scary.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Woodcock, O. Franks, Whitelock, Retallick, Kaino, McCaw, Read. Savea and Smith Really not a hard question. Maybe the bench is trickier.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Shhhhh they r both Qld'rs.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Hes 98 kgs according to his profile.
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Until the ball gets to Michalak. But yes, you can't give up too much set piece. The line out can dominate but the scrum needs parity. And I still long for the day that parity isn't our goal if you know what I mean Tane.
The oracle
Guest
The think Sio and Slipper are the two best props in the country, but I do have concerns with Slipper at THP. Might be worth a gamble. I did watch the brumbies play the saders a few weeks ago and the Brumbies scrum got owned by what is potentially a starting AB's scrum. I think we have improved from the days of Al Baxter etc but we are a bit weak at THP. If Slipper works at THP then we have potentially one of the best front rows in the world. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.