After reading numerous articles where my fellow Roarers have stated the team they wish to see at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, here’s the team I want to see.
This is my first XV, not the bench, please tell me what you think and who you would like to see on the bench.
Loose-head prop: Scott Sio
Sio was in amazing form before he was injured, and is easily the best loose-head in Australian rugby with his ability to beat the first tackler and get over the advantage line almost every time he has ball in hand. Not only is he a strong runner of the ball, he is a machine in the scrum.
Without Scott Sio, Australia will carry our scrum curse into the World Cup.
Hooker: Stephen Moore
Appointed captain of the Wallabies during the three Tests against France last year, Moore injured his knee, ruling him out until the start of the 2015 Super Rugby season.
Moore should remain captain of the Wallabies. Michael Hooper did an honourable job as the stand-in skipper but he plays a lot better without having the added weight on his shoulders.
Tight-head prop: Sekope Kepu
In the same boat as Scott Sio – a must when talking about the front-row for the Wallabies.
Second row (4): Will Skelton
We need his size in the scrum and lineout, and Michael Cheika knows this, hence big Will has been getting a lot more game time.
Second row (5): Rob Simmons
This is one of the hardest choices for me to make, I’m going to say Simmons as he is deadly in the lineout and gets through a mountain of work, but his lineouts are the main reason I have chosen him.
Blindside flanker: Scott Fardy
Fardy continues to improve every part of his game. His ball-in-hand game has improved out of sight and his work around the breakdown, both in defence and attack is outstanding. His height also adds to a better lineout and hopefully Fardy can bring the dominance to the Australian maul as he has done at the Brumbies.
Openside flanker: David Pocock
Back from injury after almost two years out of the game (minus a game or two), Pocock is in form and deserves the Wallabies number 7 jersey.
Number 8: Wycliff Palu
After the way he took charge and got the Waratahs on the front foot against the now defeated Hurricanes, Palu owns the number 8 jersey.
Halfback: Nick Phipps
I would love to see young gun Nic Stirzaker get a run in the prestigious green and gold jersey, but I don’t think it’s the right choice at the World Cup (maybe against the Pumpas when we play them on July 25).
If we are going to have any decent chance of winning the World Cup, we need to utilise the combination of the Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley that the 2014 Super Rugby champions so heavily relied on.
Flyhalf: Bernard Foley
There is no question about this. No other flyhalf in Australian rugby is giving Foley a run for his Wallabies number 10 jersey. Maybe Jack Debreczeni in a few years, but at this stage he is not consistent or experienced enough.
Wing (11): Rob Horne
Consistent, reliable in defence, aggressive in attack, everything you want in a winger.
Inside centre: Matt Toomua
Outstanding in defence with his licence to shoot out of the line and nail the opposition, quickly shutting it down before any momentum has been gained. In attack he straightens and runs, but also has the option to go to the boot, or run plays as he does play flyhalf for the Brumbies.
Outside centre: Tevita Kuridrani
I don’t even need to argue my point here.
Wing (14): Adam Ashley-Cooper
With 100 caps to his name, he deserves a spot in the team. AAC is always reliable, no matter what number he has on his back, he gets the job done.
Fullback: Israel Folau
Once again, I don’t even need to argue my point here.
Jackson Stewart
Guest
1) Sio- Because of his size and strength. Great scrumager as well which for me puts him just ahead of slipper. 2) Moore- You need his experience as and is most suited for captain. Best hooker in AUS no arguments. 3) Kepu- Not a huge fan but easily our best No 3 in AUS currently. 4) Skelton- Wouldn't have included him before this SR season but he has picked his minutes up and we need his size. 5) Simmons- So reliable at lineout time and is a massive workhorse. Can play the full 80 also 6) Fardy/Higgers- A really tough choice but both deserve to be in the 23. Both are very versatile across the backrow and second row. 7) Pocock- Easily picks himself ahead of Hooper. His brute strength is needed to smash the bigger teams and bust the advantage line. 8) Mcalman- Was probably the wallabies best forward last spring tour so for me picks himself ahead of palu who would be more of an imoact player off the bench. 9) Phibbs/White- Defensively Phibbs beats White considering how well he ankle tackles but Nic Whites ability to box kick well puts him ahead of Phibbs who rarely kicks. 10) Giteau- This is a strong arguing point but Matt is in the form of his life at the moment and would relish the opportunity to play in the gold jersey again. Defensively he beats Foley and Cooper. His experience in co-ordinating his team around the paddock is crucial as well. 11) Horne- So reliable defensively and in attack and runs it straight and hard. 12) Toomua- An absolute beast in defence and runs the ball hard in attack he picks himself ahead of anyone else. Can also shuffle do the job f a fly half and adds another kicking option. His combination with kurindrani is also important. 13) Kurindrani- One of the worlds best 13's at the moment... 14) AAC- So experienced he is another must. He's so reliable defensively and can return a kick unlike many wingers. 15) Folau- No reasons needed... Bench 16) Hanson- In great form and played well for the Reds this year. 17) Slipper- Was a close call between him and Sio so here he is. 18) Holmes- He's had a breakout season for me and has earned his spot. 19) Fardy/Higgers- Whoever isn't selected in the starting squad needs to be here. Both impact players for the last 20 and versatile. 20) Hooper/Smith- This is very dependant upon the opponent. Hooper if the side isn't as big because of his strong hole running game. But, in the playoffs when we come up against big packs like AB's and the 'Boks we need Smith size and strength. Very similar to Pocock in contact and over the ball. Big decision for Cheick here. 21) Palu- Unlucky to not ve in the starting squad but i think he is more suited to a final 20 impact style player. 22) Phibbs or White. Read above for reasons. 23) JOC- Can cover the whole backline really. We need this coverage just for reassurance but he also would add an attacking threat late in the game.
Peter Hughes
Guest
I certainly would have Slipper & Carter in there. McCalman at no 8. This will improve it but still won't be good enough to make a RWC final imo. They just might make it out of their pool is all but won't get past a quarter final. Aust simply does not have enough world class forwards.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good team Noah, my pack is the same. A few differences in the backs, 9. Genia 10. Leailafaino 14. Speight Whilst I'm fans of Phipps & Foley I don't think we can get out of the group and go deep into the tournament with them starting. Phipps is having a disappointing season so far and offers no kicking game. Foley has been OK but not great. His goalkicking is iffy whilst his out of hand kicking game is weak. AAC is the perfect bench man as he can cover 4 positions. Genia is still our best halfback imo, CL whilst he is having the yips with goal kicking has a better alround game then Foley. We need some speed in the backline hence why I'm going with Speight.
Andrew George
Roar Guru
Gits at 12 ... You just tripled the experience of the back line
paul
Guest
who would your tight five be?
Peter Hughes
Guest
Noah I don't think your Wallaby team would even make it out of their Pool. - Why. The TIGHT 5 & No 8 you've picked is too poor. The tight 5 only has 1 world class player in it - Moore. The rest are nowhere near good enough - they lack mongrel, work rate, skills & scrummaging ability. Sio & Skelton have potential for the future but this year they're not test standard imo. The rest have been tried & failed many times before. Then add on the sad joke of your No 8 choice - Palu - & that forward pack you've picked will get smashed by Wales & England. 3 quality forwards (Moore, Fardy, Pocock) is nowhere near enough to even win their pool games.
Tah Mate
Guest
France is calling the has-almost beens- Genia & Cooper. Move on.
Rugby.ftw
Guest
Is the most experienced and successful fly half in Australia, and has a 61% winning record compared to foleys 47%.
Rugby.ftw
Guest
No real genuine wingers in your team. With toomua at 12, rob Horne isn't needed to defend there so I'd definitely go for speight. He hasn't quite reached the heights of last year but definitely a better option than Horne IMO. Also while I agree no one is putting pressure on foley atm, I don't think he is playing nearly as well as last year, and I he wasn't able to manage games very well for the wallabies. So I don't think it would take much for Quade to come back into the mix, given a few good games
ummmmm
Guest
Another issue is the lack of synergy between Foley and Toomua. Pick one but not the other. I was very impressed with the Cooper-Toomua combination., but who knows if Cooper is still up to it?
ummmmm
Guest
You've picked centres on the wings. Why not pick specialised wingers?
mess
Guest
thats pretty much bang on, our best xv... maybe drew mitchell for rob horne...maybe genia for phipps... maybe slipper for sio...
Paul
Guest
I get what you are saying i suppose it is hard to expose the players that are great but on bad teams and their current form if their team is playing poorly. But i think a lot of people have commented including Noah about blooding young potential that aren't on great teams. Skelton does something amazingly and he is the kind of player that can break a game wide open for you he only gets better when you put better people around him. he carved up the AB's last year. I love the reds but i honestly cannot remember the last time their scrum did anything respectable even when they won the title their scrum was always going backwards just Genia's brilliance saved them. Slipper has never been able to assert himself in a scrum at the international level and he has had plenty of opportunities too, I would say that both Fat Cat and Benny A have done a much better job of that in the past and i think looking at Sio and Kepu or other young props that are already gaining dominance over Kiwi or springboks, such as Sio, Paul Alo Emile, or Faulkner. However i would like to say that the Reds scrum woes are clearly not all Slippers fault he needs to have another good prop and Hooker and the reds haven't had a good scrummaging hooker for a while now.
Utah
Guest
Slipper is not by far the best loosehead in the country. It is a very close race between him and Sio. Selection could go either way.
Johns
Guest
Look at some footage on youtube, there is actually footage of Hooper owning Kaino and other big boys in tackles... Can't remember seeing pocock doing that more often than Hooper.
Harry Jones
Expert
Good team. I'd find a way to get JOC on the field when it's KO rounds. Also, this team might lack a bit of speed in the pack and backline.
Happyman
Guest
Hi Paul At 26 Slipper is just coming into his prime. The Qld scrum has been the only thing they have done well this year dominating or at least getting parity with everyone. My main issue with this piece is that it show the usual problem with Australian rugby of only looking at teams that are winning. How would Skelton rate playing for a team that was struggling his work rate would be exposed.
Mike Burnett
Roar Rookie
Good team
Tah Mate
Guest
No future in Cooper. Falou is not a winger, he offloads best to a winger. AAC will make metres, Tomane looks like he's about to make a break but rarely does. Arnold must be included but on the bench.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I would have exactly the same pack including reserves. Backs 9. Stirzaker 10. QC / Toomau (If QC does not come back in top form) 11. JoC 12. Kerevi 13. Kuridrani 14. Speight 15. Folau 21. Genia 22. Toomua / CLL 23 AAC I have given up on Foley or CLL managing to create tries against rushing defence combined with slow ball. This is what we will get at the RWC.