G’day Roarers, it’s that time of year again. The Wallabies are suiting up, and we’re asking you who should play in the first Test match against England.
Michael Cheika has whittled his squad down to 33 players, and will have to continue to do so to get to his match-day 23. So who misses out? And who gets thrown in the deep end of international rugby?
At this stage it’s a two-horse race in the Australian conference in Super Rugby, with the Melbourne Rebels’ recent drop off meaning the Waratahs and the Brumbies are the only two Australian teams threatening in the finals race.
The full Wallabies squad at the moment is:
Alan Alaalatoa* (Brumbies)
Rory Arnold* (Brumbies)
Sam Carter (Brumbies)
Scott Fardy (Brumbies)
Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)
Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs)
Nick Frisby* (Queensland Reds)
Dane Haylett-Petty* (Western Force)
Reece Hodge* (Melbourne Rebels)
Greg Holmes (Queensland Reds)
Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs)
Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
James Horwill (Harlequins)
Karmichael Hunt* (Queensland Reds)
Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
Samu Kerevi* (Queensland Reds)
Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies)
Ben McCalman (Western Force)
Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rebels)
Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
Luke Morahan (Western Force)
Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
Taqele Naiyaravoro (NSW Waratahs)
Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs)
David Pocock (Brumbies)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
Scott Sio (Brumbies)
Will Skelton (NSW Waratahs)
James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels)
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There are a few new names in among that bunch, though many of the lesser-knowns initially named in Michael Cheika’s training squad have been trimmed off, leaving the bones of a pretty stable group from last year’s Rugby World Cup.
So who makes your starting XV for the Wallabies Roarers? Use the form below, and we’ll publish the results tomorrow and compare them to the team Michael Cheika names.
Lano
Roar Guru
Oops, only you thought so!
PeterK
Roar Guru
Patrick what team did the roar pick?
Browny
Roar Rookie
Team officially announced... GAGR was on the money.
Ads
Guest
hey Browny, it's not absurd at all, just another poster had suggested it was. It's a good team I think. I would have probably preferred McCalman to Mumm as cover for 6, but the lineout risk is there.
Spanners
Guest
Not sure about Hunt on the wing. His skill-set is more in line with play-making, rather than as a finisher. In 2 years with the Reds, he has made a grand total of zero linebreaks. This season he has 15 tackle busts and 1 try. Other contenders read like this: Etu Nabuli, 1 try, 24 tackle busts and 10 linebreaks. Dayne Haylett-Petty, 1 try, 42 tackle busts and 4 linebreaks. Luke Morahan, 4 tries, 18 tackle busts and 4 linebreaks. Rob Horne, 3 tries, 11 tackle busts and 6 linebreaks (has played significantly less matches this season). Taqele Naiyaravoro hasn't played Super Rugby this season, so his form isn't really comparative. He turned up to Wallaby camp out of condition, so I'd doubt he is a contender for selection for the first Test. For mine, Rob Horne shapes as the best pure finisher in the squad.
Browny
Roar Rookie
Absurd like when Ben Smith plays/played on the wing?
Browny
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Good to see Holmes, Arnold, Kerevi and DHP starting and McMahon off the bench. Hoping we see good things from Horwill off the bench too after the talk of his form for Harlequins.
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Guest
DHP on the wing?! Absurd!
Paul
Guest
Don't know how reliable their information is, but it is the most likely team in any regard. And not one I am displeased with.
Browny
Roar Rookie
GAGR reporting this is the team: Sio Moore Holmes Arnold Simmons Fardy Hooper Pocock Phipps Foley Horne Kerevi Kuridrani DHP Folau TPN Slipper Kepu Horwill Mumm McMahon Frisby Leali'ifano
ken
Guest
It`s common sense having the two players with the most tackles busts, line breaks and run meteres in aussie super rugby in the Wallabies team... IZZY SAMUUUUU P.S JOC doesn't hit the Chieka sanctioned 60 test mark, so he cannot come back unless he jons a super rugby team.. Same with a lot of players who cannot come back next year.. Holmes Quade White Beale
ken
Guest
Horne is a massive weak link... Has to be... 9. Phipps 10. Foley 11. Hunt 12.Kerevi 13. Kurindrani 14. DHP 15. Folau
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
lol yeah, i was thinking they were playing the lions...nevertheless Luther burell and Ben Te'o are known for their ferocious running, especially teo considering his league background.. Horne would bea sitting duck
Browny
Roar Rookie
We're playing England, not Wales...
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
Horne has had a bit too many concussions this year so running him at 12 is not a good idea since Dr Roberts loves to run thru his opposition, Horne on a wing is a better idea... I prefer Tev and Samu in the midfield..I know this means only one playmaker, but who needs 2?, we have lilo on the bench for cover..having 2 against wales isn't necessary, having 2 against a Southern Hemisphere team is..Cheika and the tahs coach should work on developing Folau as a playmaker, he has the best skillset to double as a playmaker..in previous years i would have gone for AAC..but yes without beale, the best option at 12 is Kerevi..
ken
Guest
On the bench from January ?? That is a long time for a so called international winger with known weight problems to sit on the bench..Cheika surely wont pick him.. Naiyaravoro takes longer than the Queen mary to turn around and this is when he is fit.. What has Genia got to do with it ? ..He is not playing this series
ken
Guest
Because Skelton is really really big, like Palu ... Being big like a bus with a mini minor engine is what Cheiks loves in his players....
tsuru
Guest
"One crowded hour of glorious life Is worth an age without a name."
tsuru
Guest
I'm still following the line that Cheika said he would not play Kerevi at 12. And I recall that Horne was playing at 12 in the Tahs shellacking of the Chiefs. And doesn't he play at 12 in defence when Beale is playing?
RobC
Roar Guru
thanks Paddy! No Adam Coleman. sigh :/