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Following on from my Cricket World Cup squad, the Eds asked me to keep going and name a squad for the Rugby World Cup in England, in September and October next year.
This is an altogether harder task, mostly because it’s still not clear how many players will be required in each country’s Rugby World Cup squad.
In both the 2007 and 2011 editions, 30 was the number of players selected. Since 2011, match day squads have grown to 23 with four specialist props; in both 2007 and 2011, Australia only took four props in total.
Looking back at the 2007 and 2011 squads shows some other interesting aspects too. In 2007, John Connolly took 16 forwards and 14 backs (and only two scrumhalves, but six back three players), but in 2011 Robbie Deans picked 17 forwards.
I researched long and hard for what seemed like hours, but may have been only ten minutes, and I actually couldn’t see that a squad size has been mandated yet. Australia took five props and 33 players north in November (before Kurtley Beale arrived), and I would’ve thought at least five props would be the required number.
However, I genuinely don’t know what the number is, so this is going to be interesting.
The Rugby World Cup is always going to be a forwards-oriented event, and more so being played in England, and therefore I’m going to use Robbie Deans’ 17-13 split as a base, and add props as required.
I’m also going to assume all players are fit, and nor have there been any further off-field atrocities or political arrests. All eligible players are eligible, if that makes sense.
Props
James Slipper and Sekope Kepu are locks, and should be cryogenically stored between now and then to ensure nothing happens to them, such is their importance to the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup chances. Picking their understudies is the hard bit.
Scott Sio wins a spot, and I’m going to assume he stays a loosehead in 2015. And I think Greg Holmes is still one of the best scrummaging tightheads in the country, so surely his time in the wilderness has to end.
If five props is the magic number in a 31-man squad, then I thought Tetera Faulkner looked reasonable in his opportunities on the Spring Tour, and he’s capable of playing both sides. If 32 is the number, I’ll add a sixth prop and go with Ben Alexander. But only if the number is 32.
Hookers
Easy. Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Saia Fainga’a.
Locks
Both Deans and Connolly took four locks to a Rugby World Cup, but Michael Cheika took five on the Spring Tour. I don’t think he’ll have that luxury for the World Cup.
Rob Simmons, James Horwill, and Sam Carter probably pick themselves, and I think Luke Jones wins the last spot. I don’t have room – or have much interest in finding room – for Will Skelton, simply because a Rugby World Cup is not the time to be carrying a lock who offers little at lineout time and even less in the scrum.
I’ll bet Skelton goes, for the record, but I couldn’t pick him on current showings.
Backrow
In 2011, the six backrowers picked were Rocky Elsom, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, David Pocock, Ben McCalman, and Wycliff Palu.
Michael Hooper has to come in, as does Scott Fardy, who also provide extra lock cover. McCalman and Palu remain the best number 8’s in the country right now.
On current form, you’d have to go with Hodgson and Pocock as flankers. But I won’t at all be surprised if Higginbotham and McCalman end up battling for the last backrow spot.
Halves
Pretty easy too: Nick Phipps, Will Genia, and Nic White – and with Nick Frisby my designated smokey. If Frisby makes the squad in September, remember I sort of named him ten months ago.
And Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper will be the 10s.
Centres
Three are pretty easy: Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, and Tevita Kuridrani.
The last spot is harder. Adam Ashley-Cooper could fit here, Mitch Inman would be a good fit, and even someone like Samu Kerevi might be a bolter.
I’m not going to name Karmichael Hunt yet, simply because I’ve never seen him play. He might be brilliant, but I just can’t judge him yet and to name him would be unfair on those I can judge.
I’m going to go with Ashley-Cooper, which will then also add to the back three cover.
Back three
Israel Folau and Henry Speight pick themselves, and James O’Connor coming back to Queensland almost guarantees he’ll be in as well.
And I want one more hard-running winger for the last spot, which means that someone like Joe Tomane pips, say, a Rob Horne.
And no, I don’t have room for Kurtley Beale. Like Skelton, I bet he still goes.
My 31-man Wallabies Rugby World Cup squad:
Forwards (18/19) – Moore (c), Polota-Nau, S.Fainga’a, Slipper, Sio, Kepu, Holmes, Faulkner, (Alexander – but ONLY in a 32-man squad), Simmons, Horwill, Carter, Jones, Fardy, Hodgson, Hooper, Pocock, McCalman, Palu.
Backs (13) – Phipps, Genia, White, Foley, Cooper, Toomua, Lealiifano, Kuridrani, Ashley-Cooper, Speight, Tomane, Folau, O’Connor.
Notable omissions: Benn Robinson, (Ben Alexander – if only 31 go), Pek Cowan, Nathan Charles, Will Skelton, Scott Higginbotham, Sean McMahon, Rob Horne, Mitch Inman, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale.
The strongest side from that squad probably picks itself too, and on end of season form, it’s maybe only who wears 10 out of Foley and Cooper that causes me any grief.
Best XV:
Slipper, Moore (C), Kepu; Simmons, Horwill; Fardy, Pocock, Palu; Phipps, Foley; Ashley-Cooper, Toomua, Kuridrani, Speight; Folau.
Bench: Polota-Nau, Sio, Holmes, Jones, Hooper; Genia, Cooper, O’Connor.
The hot tip now is for five genuine smokeys to come through and turn this squad completely on its head. I look forward to being surprised in 2015.