This is my first attempt at an article on The Roar so I thought I’d try something fun to ease some of the interstate tensions we have going on around here.
This year we have seen a lot of talent unearthed in Australia through the National Rugby Championship.
It has been fun to watch our local talent grow throughout the competition and more importantly has given rugby a bigger fan-base throughout more regional areas.
I think it’s a step in the right direction and is just another step in getting Australian rugby back on track.
Which brings me to the Wallabies. While we all love getting on The Roar and having a whinge about selections, scrum technique, poor basics and all the rest of it, we often do not leave time discussing what’s good with Australian rugby.
One of those good things is the depth we have developed of late. So my challenge to all of you is to pick a second string Wallabies XV from whoever is not on tour in Europe. That means anyone we have left in Australia who is eligible for Wallabies selection.
My team
1. Laurie Weeks
2. Pat Leafa
3. Greg Holmes
4. Sam Wykes
5. Caderyn Neville
6. Tala Gray
7. Liam Gill
8. Lopeti Timani
9. Nic Frisby
10. Jack Debracini
11. Luke Morahan
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Samu Kerivi
14. Peter Betham
15. Jonah Placid
16. Heath Tessman
17. Paul Alo-Emile
18. Pettowa Paraka
19. Dave McDuling
20. Beau Robinson
21. Nic Stirzacker
22. Sam Windsor
23. Telusa Veainu
Get selecting Roarers!
Dink
Guest
What a great idea! Australia A could play NZ Maori, smaller rugby nations etc. Id definitely watch the games and another great way to develop more depth in australian rugby.
Brian USA
Guest
Weeks TPN Holmes Wykes Neville Quirk Gill McDuling Frisby Harris CFS Hunt Kerevi Morahan Placid
dru
Guest
I'm with your AA team though. Paraka and McDuling are definites for me.
formeropenside
Guest
Scratch Alo-Emile at 3, and throw in Weeks: PAE is off to France after the 2015 season. Damn shame to see a Queenslander never turn out for the Reds but instead play for the Force and Rebels, and now gone. Shows the stupidity of the local salary cap.
formeropenside
Guest
Reds really missed Gill most of the year - Robinson is a tackler and ball runner but not a real jackal.
formeropenside
Guest
Do we assume injuries or no injuries? Assuming injured players (Pocock, Palu, TPN etc) are out: Paraka Ready Alo-Emile Wykes McDuling Grey Gill Browning Frisby Harris C. Kuridrani Hunt (gotta try something) Kerevi Morahan Mogg
RobC
Roar Guru
Yeah, odd choice isn't it Reds defence was a shocker this year. Well attack also. Mainly because of failures in the rucks and low impact backrow. 2013 he was Reds defence coach and delivered the best defence team in SR, and Reds history.
Karl K
Guest
Cant really go wrong there mate. Will be interesting to see how the Reds defence goes this year? I didn't realize RG is a defence coach
Lano
Guest
Good to see Sam Wykes in there. He's done wonders for WA. Pity he is destined never to get into the WBs.
RobC
Roar Guru
dunno mate. Not familiar w/SR assists Foley head. Bernie attack. RG defence
Karl K
Guest
Youve got me there Rob! One might say that with 3 attack coaches we wouldn't need to defend ;) but no.. Who would be your picks?
RobC
Roar Guru
nice. No defence coach?
Karl Knuth
Roar Pro
Cheers Rob. My AA coach for the moment would have to be Micheal Foley with Jim McKay and Stephen Larkham as assistants.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Karl. Congrats on your first post Who would be your AA coach?
Karl Knuth
Roar Pro
Thanks for the feedback fellas! Would be a strong team Jay. No rules to break by the way, the purpose is fun! Would love to see those teams against each other Celtic. Would be a great contest! While we are at it, I may add feel free to select your own All Blacks A or Springbok A. Wouldn't want anyone to feel left out... How would Australia A go against a New Zealand seconds team?
44bottles
Roar Guru
Need to get some Probables vs Possibles matches going on pre-world cup. Get the team hungry
atlas
Guest
Telusa Veainu. He won't be eligible yet - with Rebels for 2yrs from 2014 as a Developing Foreign Player and needs to sit out the three year residency requirement; having played for NZ U-20s does not rule him out; though his eligibility for Tonga (eligible via descent criteria) may make 2015 RWC an option for them also.
Johnno
Guest
Deans did just this, a few years ago in 2009 Deans had a Wallaby trial game before picking hi Euro spring tour side. It was held at GPS school Riverview, was free entry it was very retro the schoolboys loved it, it was old school it worked. It was a physical hit out, the boys had a few black eyes a few broken noses, old school footy Deans got his side hungry, it worked.
Celtic334
Guest
Very interesting article, congratulations. I'd absolutely love the idea of a wallabies v wallabies a team to be played out. Now I think it'd only make sense my selections if I named my wallabies team then my australia a team. I also won't pick a bench as I'd feel if a match were played you'd want the best vs the best, so benches would be picked from the best of the rest. Australia Slipper Moore Kepu Horwill Simmons Hooper Pocock Higgers Genia Cooper Speight Toomua TK JOC Folau Australia A Sio TPN Holmes Jones Fardy McCalman Gil Palu Phipps Foley Tomane CLL Kerevi AAC Beale Keeping with the direct theme of players not in Europe atm and eligible. Weeks Joe bloggs (so many injuries) Holmes Wykes McDulling Cottrell Gil Timani Burgess Debrecini Betham Kerevi Inman Morahan Mogg (if still injured then kellaway to wing and Morahan to fullback)
niwdeyaj
Guest
Sio at loosehead, TPN & Moore in for the hookers you've listed, Pocock at 7, Palu at 8... that pack is probably stronger than what we have on tour! In the backs, i'd throw JOC on a wing and KHunt at 15.. also going to cheat and call for Godwin at 10 since he's been ignored on tour. Again that backline might be stronger than what we've been putting on the park in Europe! Yes, i've cheated a bit picking players that are returning from injury but presumbly they'll regain fitness and form over the season and hoprfully remain injury free. i reckon the non-EOYT14 XV would give the boys in currently in Europe a shake up if they were to face off in a trial match before the RC.