With a wealth of high-quality Australian players missing out on Rugby World Cup selection, I thought it would be interesting to debate a squad made up of unwanted Wallabies.
This turned out to be a surprisingly easy task, despite Australia’s ‘best’ 31 players being excluded due to their selection in Michael Cheika’s squad.
There was excess depth in certain positions, and overall the unwanted Wallabies look like a team that could beat the national team on its day.
Front row
1. Paul Alo-Emile, 2. James Hanson, 3. Salesi Ma’afu
Bench/squad: Ben Daley, Saia Fainga’a, Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan, Laurie Weeks
While not as mobile as Cheika’s front row, the unwanted Wallabies would be as strong or stronger in the set piece. The hookers (note there are three in the squad) are better lineout throwers than either Stephen Moore or Tatafu Polota-Nau, and Fainga’a is strong over the ball in general play.
I’ll admit I haven’t seen or heard much about Salesi Ma’afu until he recently made headlines for a road rage incident, but after two years up with the Northampton Saints he’s most likely developed into a powerhouse at scrum time and gets my leap of faith nod in the starting XV.
Naming Paul Alo-Emile in the starting side is probably cheating a little as he’s currently injured, but Laurie Weeks could cover the loosehead side without giving too much away.
Locks
4. Rory Arnold 5. Sam Carter
Bench/squad: James Horwill, Luke Jones
Very strong here – I’d back the unwanteds over Cheika’s locks any day of the week and twice on Sundays. For the sake of combinations, I’d start the Brumbies pair, with Horwill off the bench.
Loose forwards
6. Lopeti Timani, 7. George Smith (vc), 8. Ben Mowen (c)
Bench/squad: Scott Higginbotham, Ita Vaea, Liam Gill
Liam Gill officially takes the crown of the unluckiest #7 in Wallaby history – can’t even get a break in the staring unwanteds XV!
Ben Mowen is a great leader and gets the captain’s armband. George Smith is a no-brainer at 7 and also gets the vice captain’s armband. Blindside flanker could be adjusted according to the opposition – I’ve named Lopeti Timani for a bit of size and aggression, but against Cheika’s side, I’d be more inclined to start with Higginbotham or Jones at 6, giving the unwanteds four quality lineout targets, and the backs a license to kick the ball out all day long.
Halves
9. Nick Stirzaker 10. Jack Debreczeni
Bench/squad: Nic White, Christian Lealiifano (vc), Luke Burgess
Okay, I’ve cheated again as Stirzaker is injured, so in that case White moves to the starting XV and Burgess moves to the bench. Nick Frisby comes in as the back-up 9.
Given the appallingly poor form of Cheika’s halves, the unwanteds look good here.
Centres
12. Samu Kerevi, 13. Mike Harris
Bench/squad: Ben Tapuai, Chris Feauai-Sautia
Cheika doesn’t seem interested in Lealiifano’s versatility, but I am. Although I’ve named him as a halves benchie, he’d probably fit better into this team starting at 12 outside Debreczeni, with Kerevi on the bench for impact late in the game either as a straight swap for Lealiifano, or with Lealiifano moving to 10 depending on how the game unfolds.
I’d also make ‘Lilo’ the second vice-captain.
Outside centre is maybe a little weak, but Harris’ goal kicking would probably compensate for that if he can hold his own in defence. One of Ben Tapuai or Chris Feauai-Sautia could step up as an alternative.
Back three
11. James O’Connor 14. Nick Cummins 15. Karmichael Hunt
Bench/squad: Digby Ioane, Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Tom Kingston
While ‘JOC’ and Hunt haven’t exactly set the world on fire, they are very, very talented footballers, and with the right coach I suspect they’d miraculously find form in much the same way as Horwill transformed under Cheika.
Individually, none of the back three are any match for Folau, but as a collective I don’t think they’d be any weaker than Cheika’s picks. They’d certainly have a stronger kicking game, and probably a yard or two more pace overall.
So, to summarise, my Australian unwanted squad would be as follows (no cheating this time, I’ve left out the injured players):
1. Laurie Weeks
2. James Hanson
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Rory Arnold
5. Sam Carter
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. George Smith
8. Ben Mowen
9. Nic White
10. Jack Debreczeni
11. James O’Connor
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Ben Tapuai
14. Nick Cummins
15. Karmichael Hunt
16. Ben Daley
17. Saia Fainga’a
18. Pek Cowan
19. James Horwill
20. Liam Gill
21. Ita Vaea
22. Samu Kerevi
23. Luke Burgess
24. Luke Jones
25. Nathan Charles
26. Lopeti Timani
27. Digby Ioane
28. Nick Frisby
29. Mike Harris
30. Adam Coleman
31. Luke Morahan/Dom Shipperley/Tom Kingston (can’t decide)
This is a very strong squad, and much more balanced than the squad chosen by Cheika.
I’d back this hypothetical squad of unwanteds to beat Cheika’s team with the right game plan and execution. It’s almost tailor-made to take advantage of the lineout and kicking deficiencies inherent in Cheika’s team, but it would take an astute coach to make it happen.
That coach? Ewen McKenzie.
Andrew George
Roar Guru
What an interesting article. Its very hard not to argue with your logic. I also think that it highlights poor politics from the ARU. The age old question on whether we pick on form, experience or talent. If its talent then your squad should be going to RWC. I almost wish you didn't post this article. Its depressing to confirm that a lot of our best players aren't going to claim the Cup. Admittedly its not as bad as when Smith and Gits missed out last time
Garty Edwards
Guest
I guess the columns need to be submitted reviewed and controversial enough for print but really some of those selections two in particular are just absolute nonsense. And I've no doubt written by a Qlder, huh,huh,huh I wear the cross too! I actually have always given you credit for being able to put a good argument together but ......! I wonder what Scotty would say?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Its 71% when Cooper players 10.
Akari
Roar Rookie
The ABs played Carter and the plodders from the Blues (eg Woodcock & Mealamu) back into form at test level and I cannot see why Hunt and JOC could not achieve the same.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Nah, Scott Allen as coach.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Agreed and that strengthens this squad.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Agreed.
Crash Ball2
Guest
I hear what you are saying PK. But much of the selection dilemma that is consistently platformed relates to lack of visibility for non-favoured players and comparison in similar conditions as well as current form. A possibles V probables satisfies all (except for direct opposition of course). Individuals can still shine in well beaten teams. And, just quietly, I don't think Pocock would have quite the field day opposing George Smith. This sort of mini-battle would be fascinating. Would everyone be satisfied? No. But would more? Hell yes. And I would suggest, final team selections would change for the better.
PeterK
Roar Guru
don't value the props or folau then. Little credibility in that comment.
PeterK
Roar Guru
no it would not. Say the wallabies won both games handsomely. The critics would say of course they did they had pocock and folau, and the best 4 props, they were the difference, and the clamour for the favourite players left out would still continue. Do not expect rational thinking or responses.
PeterK
Roar Guru
The reds front row was slipper, hanson and holmes. Not Daley and Weeks. Daley and Weeks are well behind in scrumaging. Skelton makes the difference in the maul. He shut down the brumbies maul, the boks maul. Breakdown to Wallabies because they play Pocock and Hooper, combined they would dominate.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Jay, the loosehead options are probably Robinson, Faulkner and Cowan, Daley well down the list. Alo-Emile, Weeks, Ma'afu and Faulkner for TH with Ben Alexander well down the list. Salesi is a very good scrummager who was cut by Deans just as he was finding his feet at international level. He anchors the scrum well, without being destructive and if our own internal eligibility rules allowed it, then I would have him as the 5th prop in the Wallabies squad. Faulkner is in both lists as he can play both sides but most of the others play one side or the other and you currently have some tightheads as your leading candidates on the loosehead side.
Rouaan
Guest
Geez I like the look of Debreczeni...Cheika should start investing in him from next year onwards (adding more arrows to his bow) with an eye on the 2019 RWC. This guy has the most potential to become world class in the nr 10 jersey. I really hope he is managed well and don't get knee and shoulder reconstructions which is now notorious in reshaping young exciting wallabys' prospects. He can bring a new dimension to the nr 10 jersey with his size and big boot.
Mike Julz
Guest
The only difference between this team and the World Cup squad, is Pooper. You take those two away, then both squads will be even stevens.
Crash Ball2
Guest
The second stringers may not get the cookies, but the peripheral deck chairs would potentially shuffle. By the end of a two game exercise, the Wallabies and Unwanted sides may have realigned and reclassified their personnel somewhat. It would certainly put to bed a lot of the speculation about team selections.
Boomeranga
Guest
Cowen is a LHP as well isnt he?. Alexander could be bench THP though.
niwdEyaJ
Roar Guru
Disagree that the scrum would be "smashed".... I reckon they would hold their own. It's more or less the Reds front row and Brumbies 2nd row so the engine room is formed by two of the best forward units in Australia... With specialist 7s and 8s the Unwanteds would go alright... Don't think the maul would be a significant disadvantage either. Pocock obviously swings the breakdown Cheika way but George Smith somewhat evens out the difference so the gap isn't huge there either. On your point about the form of Hunt and JOC, consider that the same thing was said about Horwi.... it's all hypothetical of course, but not inconceivable that these guys would hit their straps quickly with the right coach and environment..
Crash Ball2
Guest
...8. Smith
grapeseed
Guest
Not unless it's written in at the front end during contract negotiations. May reduce some players' market value by a few percent, which also wouldn't hurt.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Outstanding idea. Logistics not withstanding, I'd pay good money to see a quad-openside dual just for the fun of it: 7. Hooper / 8. Pocock throwing down against 7. Gill / 8.