With England winning their first Grand Slam since 2003, I must admit I am now a little nervous about the June Test series.
I’d like to suggest we keep an eye to Wallaby selection to play the old foe because they cannot be taken lightly.
Taking into consideration both the status quo and current individual form, I’ve come up with a side that rewards past experience as well youth, with an eye to the future.
1. Scott Sio
It would be easy to assume he is a lock-in for the No.1 jersey, because Sio seems to have it all, but Toby Smith’s form is right up there and could push him for a start. We will also have to wait and see how James Slipper goes when he returns from injury.
2. Stephen Moore
For the first time in a long time, Moore is back to his world-leading best. At the moment there is not a No.2 on the planet as fit and in as good form (in saying that, it helps that Dane Coles is only easing his way back from injury).
In a back-handed compliment to Moore, he needed a great off-season because he finished 2015 in average form for his standards.
3. Greg Holmes
If Sekope Kepu makes himself available, there might be a case for Holmes to start on the reserves bench, but then again it might be that Holmes is the better option to start.
It is scary to think that our next best tight-heads are probably Ben Alexander or Laurie Weeks.
4. Rory Arnold
A contentious selection, but Arnold is showing strength around the park. I wonder what it’s like to be among just a handful of players in the world an inch or two under the 7-foot mark? With Will Skelton showing a lack of influence in the first few rounds, Arnold may get the jump on him (no pun intended) – Skelton’s best role is one off the bench in any case.
Another good option would be to select Sam Carter and play two lineout specialists, but Arnold’s physical presence is what we need. That is at least until Kane Douglas is back from injury.
5. Adam Coleman
Rob Simmons has been a regular Wallaby for some time, but has not yet played a game where I thought to myself, “Wow, he is world class”. It is time for a change, and Adam Coleman looks the goods. Sam Carter would also be a wiser choice over Simmons. Dean Mumm and even Scott Fardy are other options but it is time to build toward 2019.
6. Sean McMahon
There has not been a better player in Australian rugby in the first month of Super Rugby than McMahon. I see him getting a man of the match award against England in June, and being one of the best players in the world by 2019.
As for the incumbent, Scott Fardy, I am looking for more from my blindside flanker than the strange Australian obsession of playing a third lock at No.6. No other Test nation seems obsessed with this. A No.6 needs to be a bone-cruncher, and if you don’t have one of those he needs to be another openside.
Fardy is not quite either and at his age it’s time to think in terms of 2019.
7. David Pocock
He was the best player at the Rugby World Cup, and although his early 2016 form is less dominant, it has still been pretty good. The other reason for selecting him is that you would have to have rocks in your head to not pick David Pocock.
With McMahon in world-class form, poor Michael Hooper – who has once again been one of the Waratahs’ best, if not their best – is the one to miss out. Perhaps this comes down to the fact that both Pocock and McMahon are bigger? Regardless of whoever is selected, we will have two world-class flankers and spare change.
8. Jed Holloway
Will Ben McCalman rediscover his best form before June or will Jed Holloway’s six-foot, five-inch, 116-kilogram frame – that can run around Ben Smith – be too alluring to ignore?
I am excited by the emergence of an 8 who has power, size, a bit of pace, soft hands, an off-load, and can make breaks either through strong running or great support lines.
I like the idea of Holloway because he would allow us to play a prototypical No.8 alongside two genuine flankers without losing anything at lineout time. In fact, with England’s likely backrow of Billy Vunipola, Chris Robshaw and James Haskell (none of which are noted line-out merchants) Holloway’s all-round game could be a potential ace up our sleeve.
9. Will Genia
If available he is still our best option, because of the hope that he could finally bring out the 2011-12 version of himself for a cameo. Nick Phipps would still do a good job if needed.
10. Bernard Foley
If anyone doubted Foley, they would have eaten humble pie after the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Granted, his bran-snap chip-kick against Scotland was a low-light, but he completely redeemed himself with his calmness to slot that penalty with no time to play. Overall he played some outstanding rugby at the World Cup, cementing himself as the best 10 in the land.
Christian Lealiifano is the most likely alternative if Foley does not come back into form.
11. Rob Horne
Drew Mitchell will not be called upon again due to the fact that we need to build for 2019. One might expect Joe Tomane to play on the left wing in that case, but Horne offers so much more. My selection at 12 goes hand-in-hand with Horne’s selection, and he will defend in the all-important mid-field.
12. Kurtley Beale
He has been superb so far in 2016 with ball in hand. So good in fact that he will get the nod over Matt Giteau and Matt Toomua, who just don’t have his spark in attack. As for his defensive weaknesses: see Horne.
13. Tevita Kuridrani
He looks as fit and as strong as ever, and should continue to be selected at 13. That is until Samu Kerevi starts to put pressure on this selection, which seems inevitable.
I predict a ding-dong battle for the No.13 jersey in 2016.
14. Henry Speight
He scored a nice try on the weekend and I’d like to think Speight can reproduce his form of about two years ago. Despite that thinking, and even with Adam Ashley-Cooper indicating his Wallaby days are over, Speight will only be the care-taker 14.
Watch out for the Rebels’ Fijian flyer Sefanaia Naivalu’s eligibility later this year. If not he, perhaps Taqele Naiyaravoro?
15. Israel Folau
End of discussion.
This team would not only match England physically but also play a brand of quick rugby to expose them.
I’d enjoy any constructive suggestions from Roarers on whom they might select.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No it's not. Fardy - 114 Hooper - 101 Pocock - 105 Total - 320 McMahon - 100 Pocock - 105 Holloway - 108 Total - 313 Plus you lose your tallest player in the back row.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Editors are you just going to let this bloke write stupid articles and then abuse the people who comment because he can't dispute their facts?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
But why do you need Holloway then? He's just an unproven performer, and inferior line out jumper.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Great input. They're a great front row because you said so. It's irrelevant if they lost more scrums than they won...
Browny
Roar Rookie
Smith has been great for mine this year. Looked like he was getting the better of Holmes the other week too
Browny
Roar Rookie
When you're talking about McMahon's position at the Rebels you have to keep in mind the forward pack structure and the abundance of back rowers. They're not running a traditional pack (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) but rather 1-2-3-6-8-7-6-7 plus there's normally two more 7s on the bench. That being said he's worn the 7 all year with Reid at 6 and Thomson at 8. When Fainga'a or Fuglistaller were starting, both hard-nosed over-the-ball flankers, they took the #7 to be closer to the action at the first ruck and McMahon would sweep and run the deeper cover line (in def obviously). That being said there's less need for a single pilfering flanker at the rebels because the whole starting back 5 of Jones, Timani, McMahon, Reid and Thomson all contribute. Hanson and Smith can do a little as well. Surely they're the shortest starting pack in SR? Jones 197cm Timani 193cm McMahon 186cm Reid 183cm Thomson 196cm back 5 average height 191cm. Most of the South African teams seem to have an average height in the back of around 197cm.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Michael your argument is like saying we should pick Kerevi and Kuridrani as our combo because Kerevi has played 12. They play the same role.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You have said Fardy isn't there because he doesn't carry well enough. McMahon is in the same position. Fardy has the ability to be a better test carrier. Don't start adding in other positions to make it a convoluted argument. If Fardy doesn't carry well enough, compare it to the player he is to be replaced by. As for your 8 he's a test level option on running based on his 6 carries in his Super Rugby career?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Michael doesn't like to let little things like facts influence what he claims.
Adsa
Guest
Tim Horan's first cap was against NZ in 1989 at Eden Park and Jason Little and Horan's first match together was against France in 1989. But don't let the truth get in the way to justify your selections.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You hvae absolutely no clue what you are talking about. Let's ignore the hooker, because he's somewhat irrelevant. It only matters if they are bad thrower. So essentially they can only lose you a line out, they can't do a better job and win you one. As I said, you want to win the line out on the ground. This is through speed, deception and multiple options. The way you advocate, you would set up a line out something similar to this: Prop, Lock, Prop, Lock, Number 6 (Lifter), Number 8 (Jumper), Number 7 (Lifter) If I am defending that line out I ignore your 8. I want you to throw to him, because it's more likely you will mess up the throw. All I do is I park up my front prop and lock, my 6 and lock matched up to your two locks. I then have my prop who lifts both ways in the middle. All he does is watches your middle prop and mimics him. The moment your middle lifter moves, I move too. Every line out I'm coming up right with you. Or I shuffle the 6 in front and the 8 lifts too. Then I've got 2 pods. As soon your middle lift moves, we go up. He has to turn and move while we just need to lift. We are going to beat you in the air almost every time. What I want is to have a lifter either end and 5 jumpers in between. You can't just match up because you don't know who is going up. If I fake at the front with my 3rd player and then go up with my 3rd jumper I'm still only throwing about halfway across the 10m line out area, for a reasonable safe throw, but I can throw over you. The best would be a 4 man. Then I have a lifter, jumper, jumper, lifter. That means you need to either match up, then jumpers need to collectively decide who is going to lift and jump, which you won't be able to do, and beat me up. Or you set one pod, and I just either go a 2 or 4 ball, wherever you don't set. At best you have to move the whole pod in the time my jumper moves. At worst I throw over the pod to 4. The point is I want to have beaten you before I jump. I then want to beat you while I jump. And if it absolutely comes to it, I want to try and beat you in the air. But the more times I am challenged in the air, the more times I will lose. So what's the best way to beat you on the ground? To have more options than you can mark up on. Having options beats you, because you cannot defend them all. I just call where you aren't defending. Having good jumper beats you because they are quicker in the air, which means by the time you get to the top, they've already caught the ball. Having good contesters beats you, because if I don't beat you on the ground, and I don't beat you up, I am able to get in front and catch the contested line out ball.
Council
Guest
Good luck with that Twas.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Height of the lift is. You say a player is being lifted so it doesn't matter. But it does. How does Rob Simmons and Coleman's wingspan consider? The height of their hand is important, not their head. But then this is a factor. Despite giving up 12cm, Dave Dennis is a better line out jumper than Coleman. That's because speed is important also.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well why does every good international team have 3 jumpers who are the best in their province, or better than those at other provinces, with 1 or 2 further jumpers who are capable of stealing line out ball?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Care to link us to any evidence of any missed errors?
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
Browny, a Hooker has to throw the ball 12ft in the air accurately at various distances. this is the trickiest bit of a lineout. All the lock has to do is jump, be lifted and catch it. the jumper is only 1 of 4 people that need to do a job to take clean lineout ball. (the other 3 being the two lifters and the thrower obviously) Most good teams can do this with 80-90% accuracy, which was un heard of in the amateur era. lifting has made getting your own lineout ball much easier to achieve than when lifting was banned. too much is made of having great jumpers. you need only 1 to take the lions share of lineout ball. you need a couple of others as alternatives, your other lock and your no 8, and your flankers can take some ball just to keep the opposition guessing. the idea that you need 4 or 5 genuine line out jumpers is OTT.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Really? Because McCaw's average was 11.4 tackles per 80. So basically the same as Hooper.
Ray Finkle
Guest
the reason why the all balck locks don't tackle as much is because they always have the ball
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You are such a petulant child Michael.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Sharpe had a lot to his game, like the running game you claim that isn't supported by stats? Rob Simmons averaged 9.2 tackles per 80 minutes in the 2015 RWC. 46 tackles in 399 minutes For reference Fardy averaged 10.2 Pocock 11.9 Hooper 11.3 Retallick 6 Whitelock 7.8 So this lock that doesn't make a lot of tackles averaged about 20% more tackles per 80 than the highest tackling lock in the RWC winning team?