Fancy yourself as a Wallabies selector? Here’s your opportunity to pick the Australian team to play the Springboks this weekend in the Rugby Championship.
We’ll publish the results of the team you select to play in the opening game of the Rugby Championship and compare it to the one Michael Cheika and friends picks. It should make for an interesting comparison.
To pick the team, simply scroll down to the bottom of this article, fill out the form, and hit submit. We’ll record all of the responses and have a nice breakdown of who picked who when we announce our team.
It’s always a controversial time of year. There are plenty of discussions to be had, with each and every Roarer having a slightly different view on who should be picked where.
Key areas for 2015 include the halves, the second row and the back row.
Pocock or Hooper? Tomane? Horne? Naiyorovoro?
Questions abound, but you’re all fit to answer them for us. So get stuck in Roarers, and don’t forget to leave a comment, so you can talk about each other’s teams.
Mike Julz
Guest
This is my 15 which will beat the Springboks 1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Holmes 4. Skelton 5. Simmons 6. Pocock 7. Hooper 8. Higgers 9. Phipps 10. Cooper 11. Horne 12. Giteau 13. Kuridrani 14. Tomani 15. Folau
DW
Guest
Being World Cup minded: Slipper, Moore, Kepu Simmons, Arnold Fardy, McCalman,Pocock Genia, Toomua, Giteau, Kuridrani Beale, Folau, Speight (Tomane if going off this list). Cooper is so 2011. Those days are gone, he can't defend in the front line or take a high ball and is therefore too much of a liability. Beale on the wing is admittedly not a long term position for KB but in a concentrated, kicking intensive World Cup I think he's a good choice.
vanu foe
Guest
Wheres christian lealifano .for sure he has to be in the mix.
Adrian
Roar Rookie
Like it Ken, especially splitting up the halves. Cheika is into helter-skelter, and Phipps and Cooper do that. Cooper a better all-round footballer, and will benefit from this coach. That will help Phipps. BTW I'd have Arnold instead of Horwill
TommyM
Guest
Mitchell has played at 14 a lot for Toulon
PeterK
Roar Guru
I am surprised no one has Higgs and McCalman as their 6 and 8. McCalman outperforms or matches Fardy everywhere but the lineout where he is close. I understand in teams where Skelton is picked but when Skelton is not picked either Hooper or Fardy are picked with Higgs.
PeterK
Roar Guru
a bok dream 01 Sio 02 TPN 03 Holmes 04 Mumm 05 Simmons 06 McMahon 07 Hooper 08 Pocock 09 Giteau 10 Beale 11 TN 12 Cooper 13 Tomane 14 Horne 15 Mitchell
Golden
Guest
Mitchell was always an 11 right?
Golden
Guest
Thanks Bazza. I had a vision of TPN copping another concussion at training and not being available ;-)
Fin
Roar Rookie
Harry I can arrange that if you can get the Proteas to give the Boks a pep talk before the knockout stages of the RWC
bazza
Guest
Hanson isn`t in the 31 Golden
Alphonse
Guest
Now, picking on form and balance, rather than looking forward to the RWC ... Slipper Moore Holmes Skelton Arnold Fardy Pocock Higginbotham Phipps Foley Giteau Horne Mitchell Folau Naiyaravoro Sio Polota-Nau Kepu Simmons Mumm Hooper Genia Ashley-Cooper
DJW
Guest
I've gone for something a little different Slipper Moore (c) Kepu Arnold Mumm Fardy Pocock McCalman Genia Cooper Mitchell Giteau Kurindrani Horne Folau
RobC
Roar Guru
thanks for the survey guys. Wished it included questions for the 23, instead of 15. The most telling (and haunting) example of the bench is Capetown last year. For 69' WBs are ahead of SB. Then in the last 11', SB piles on 3 tries and a drop goal. The difference? Reserves,
Alphonse
Guest
Giteau and Mitchell must be tried at 11 and 12 to see if they've still got it.Two left footers - yay. Genia and Cooper to see if their malaise has been a purely Qld thing. Nairaravoro and Arnold to see if they're test material, and because big is beautiful. Pocock and Hooper to see if including both works, meaning no Skelton because there must be three jumpers - so Higgers at 8 and Simmons - best paired with Arnold, height wise. Holmes, Moore and Sio because Slipper needs a rest big time and the alternative props also need early assessment at test level Which leaves 13 and 15. Last chance for Kuridrani to regain form at 13, and Izzy at 15 because there's a limit to experimentation, if I haven't already exceeded it.
Alphonse
Guest
Tomane has played both sides. Speight a definite 14, hence 11 for Brumbies, but 14 on the NH tour before last.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Folau, AAC, Kuridrani, Giteau, Mitchell, Cooper, Genia, Higgers, Pockock, Hooper, Arnold, Simmons, Holmes, Moore, Slipper.
Stin
Guest
Brett, (like that team) but - can you tell us what you like about AAC over any of the others for the wing position?
qwad
Guest
Haha i put in exactly the same. Hopefully sense will prevail.
AlBo
Guest
Same for me except swapping AAC for Horne as well. There's something about the way Horne has played this year that has me seeing him as vital to our WC campaign, particularly in defense, which is such a huge factor in tests. AAC also provides that certainty but I think Horne has that little bit more toe these days. Mitchell is there for his boot. Otherwise can't disagree.