After much speculation over the embarrassing series defeat and reading various insightful articles and blogs on what should be done, I believe the following presents an answer for all speculation and is something which the majority of us need to agree upon and believe in.
Michael Cheika is the Wallaby coach, Stephen Moore is the Captain, Michael Hooper and Rob Horne are the Vice captains. That is not going to change anytime soon and we all best get used to that fact.
However I don’t believe that this will be the case come 2019 World Cup time. So hence I’ve focused on two teams, the best of the current available team and the Ideal team to give a crack at the William Webb Ellis trophy once more in Japan.
Please note that the ideal team is in no way a dream team, but a very gettable team if wanted by the relevant people.
Current Areas of concerns
• Junior player development
• Super Rugby player development (Aligning with the Wallabies set-up)
• Coaching / Game plans / Scrum
• Team selections
This article will only be covering the team selection aspect, selections are based on the following facts.
• The Wallabies will always have a ball in hand approach (Unless conditions or opposition force us to change our tactics – Like we should have done last week)
• Needs to have a balance of talent, skill, X-factor, experience and maturity.
• Players who are unlikely to return to Test rugby have been excluded (Giteau/Mitchel/Adam Ashley-Cooper/Smith/Ioane)
• Assuming the available players in 2018 are not injured
• All players in the 2018 team have been developed, worked on flaws and are in-form
• Finishers are as important as the starting team
• Not considered currently injured players for the Available team
The best current available Wallabies team
Note: The number in front of each player is the number who will replace them.
1. James Slipper – 17
2. Stephen Moore (C)- 16
3. Sekope Kepu – 18
4. Robb Simmons or Sam Carter – Both can’t be in the same team.
5. Will Skelton – 19
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper (VC)
8. Wycliff Palu – 20
9. Nick Phipps – 21
10. Bernard Foley – 12
11. Rob Horne (VC)
12. Matt Toomua – 23
13. Tevita Kuridrani – 22
14. Dane Hewlett- Petty
15. Israel Folau
Replacements
16. Tatafu Polota Nau
17. Scott Sio
18. Greg Holmes
19. Rory Arnold or Adam Coleman – Both can’t be in the same team.
20. Leroy Houston or Jed Halloway – Both can’t be in the same team.
21. Nic Stirzaker
22. Samu Kervi
23. Karmichael Hunt
The only unsure selection is whether to keep Kerevi as a 12 or develop him as a 13 to replace Kuridrani (suggestions are much welcome), and since we brought Hunt to rugby union we might as well use him now to understand if he will be of any value to the Wallabies going forward (again not sure where to develop him at).
Notable Omissions
1. James Horwill – Past his prime, in between technician and enforcer
2. Dean Mumm
3. Sean Mcmahon – Can’t be in the same team as MH.
4. Liam Gill – He is lost now. Wallabies lost a trick with him. Although if Pocock suffers a season ending Injury Cheika should create a Gill law. He’s totally worth it. He can be a straight swap for Pocock in the ideal team.
5. Nick Frisby – Needs to beat Stirzaker to the bench.
6. Christian Lealiifano
7. Lopeti Timani – Needs more Super Rugby time and needs to be developed in a specific and specialized role.
8. Taqele Naiyaravoro – Needs more Super Rugby game time.
Ideal Wallabies team for 2018 and Rugby World Cup
1. James Slipper – 17
2. Stephen Moore – 16
3. Sekope Kepu – 18
4. Simmons or Carter – Both can’t be in the same team.
5. Kane Douglas – 19
6. Scott Fardy / Lopeti Timani – 8 – Higgers must be instructed and developed to play tight when he moves to six.
7. David Pocock (C) – 20
8. Scott Higginbothom – 7
9. Will Genia – 21
10. Quade Cooper – 12
11. James O’ Connor / Joe Tomane
12. Matt Tomua – 23
13. Tevita Kurudrani – 22
14. Dane Hewlet Petty / Taqele Naiyaravoro
15. Israel Falou (VC)
16. Tatafu Polota Nau
17. Scott Sio
18. Greg Holmes
19. Will Skelton / Rory Arnold / Adam Colemen – Best out of the three.
20. Michael Hooper
21. Nick Phipps / Nic Stirzaker – Best out of the two.
22. Samu Kervi
23. Keartley Beale
Notable Omissions (Aside from previously mentioned)
1. Bernard Foley
2. Rob Horne
3. Karmichael Hunt
4. Leroy Houston / Jed Halloway
The only unsure selections are the wingers. Both sets bring in two different set of skills. Maybe we could have the two sets of wingers changed according to opposition and game plan?
With a proper game plan and ability to change and adapt when needed, which I believe Cheika would have learnt and mastered by 2018, I believe this Wallaby team of 23 is the best bet to conquer Japan in 2019 with also Bledisloe along the way.
Richard
Guest
Kane Douglas is a pretender
Flam
Guest
It is hard to say since it's still 3 years away. A lot can happen in three years, but the young talent coming through will have matured by then, and they need to be taken into consideration. Force and Reds are losing teams and lack the superstars. They are blooding a lot of young players (former junior Wallabies) who may be in the extended squad by that time. I've listed a few guys that might push their way in to this squad. Harry Scoble has become a starter for the Force and has scored two tries in only a few starts. Brad Lacey, Kyle Godwin, Ross Haylett-Petty, Ryan Louwrens may also be in consideration. From the Reds, Jake McIntyre has borne a significant burden on his shoulders at a young age and develops his game every week. When he is allowed a little time to learn he will develop into a great player. Campbell Magnay, Sam Greene, James Tuttle could also be considerations. Reece Hodge is a significant omission, Jonah Placid and Debreczeni would surely get some attention. Other than Kellaway, Tahs are pretty much covered as is currently the case. Dargaville, Jooste, Powell are at the Brumbies biding their time.
Gishan De Soyza
Roar Pro
Hi Brian, I can agree with most of the changes. If Ready can develop and have enough test experience by then he can start as hooker. I know that TPN is one concussion away from retirement but we need use him carefully since we have no other option to teplacevwhat he brings to the fold. If Folau can make the shift successfully and gained at least two seasons of experience at 13 then that's fine too. But there is a big IF there. Agree with Gill being the most complete back rower. He tackles like Dan Lydiate, next best poacher to Pocock. Only if he can develop a bit of a power running game he would be just something else. If he returns to Aus in 2018 there's a chance but again a big IF. Halloway again has to be developed and I doubt he'll be locked at this season. But I still think we need one of Simmons or Carter for the full 80.
Brian USA
Guest
I agree with a lot of your team, but would have a few tweaks: 1. Scott Sio 2. Andrew Ready 3. Sekope Kepu 4. Adam Coleman 5. Kane Douglas 6. Liam Gill 7. David Pocock (C) 8. Jed Holloway 9. Will Genia 10. Quade Cooper 11. Joe Tomane 12. Samu Kerevi 13. Israel Folau 14. James O'Connor 15. Kurtley Beale 16. Tolu Latu (Moore will be 36 by 2019, TPN will have destroyed his body/head by then) 17. James Slipper 18. ???? I have no idea 19. Rory Arnold 20. Michael Hooper 21. Nick Phipps 22. Matt Toomua (If 10 or 12 go down, it can be a straight swap, if 13 goes out, Kerevi can bump out) 23. Dane Haylett-Petty (can cover the back 3) Most might disagree with Gill at 6, but to me he is the most complete back rower Australia has and could slot into 6/7/8 no problem.
Gishan De Soyza
Roar Pro
That's the thing isn't it BTY, we never know unlike the All Blacks who always know which in return reflects on their results. One of the best examples being the development of Nonu as a player and how SBW was groomed and eased into the team and giving him a specific role. The team I have selected might not be the one to go to Japan but whoever goes needs to have at least two years of development in super rugby and the Wallaby set up. Then they need to perform consistently in the Wallaby jersy for one full season leading into 2019 if not injured. This process that helps the All Blacks to play and win the way they do and have replacements readily available for most or if not any position which needs to be filled. The ARU needs to start this structure and they need to do it now. If its naval gazing, better now than one season before the WC.
Gishan De Soyza
Roar Pro
Fair comment Coach. I would agree that the two hooker positions and the no 3 & 18 are in doubt along with Fardy hence the development of Timani . McMahon is not a 6 in my opinion. Unless he bulks up and starts developing as a 6 right now. The rest I believe can be retained if managed well. With regards to the young guns there's a big IF and WHEN sorounding them. However if they manage to do so I'm all in. But until proven otherwise I see this as the best and most practical selections. On the bright side, if any new gun does make the team it means they have to offer something more than the player they replace which is a huge win for the Wallabies. So I'm happy to be proven wrong if that's the case.
Boz the Younger
Guest
A bit of naval gazing really, who had even heard of Scott Sio, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley, Tevita Kuridrani and Matt Toomua in 2012? Who would have thought that Israel Folau would come over to rugby and that Greg Holmes would get back into gold after 8 years in the wilderness? Who would have thought Giteau would be back in Gold after being omitted from the 2011 squad? Who would have thought James Horwill and James O'Connor wouldn't feature in the 2015 squad? We simply don't know what will be happening with this squad in three years time, I reckon it is better just enjoy the ride.
Coach
Guest
Hi Gishan - love the passion but disagree with your team for the future - some of the guys you've named will be well past their prime and likely earning mega bucks playing in Europe plus you've ignored some gun young blokes coming through the ranks. My rough Wallabies RWC 2019 team would be: 1. Scott Sio 2. Andrew Ready 3. Sekope Kepu 4. Will Skelton 5. Kane Douglas 6. Sean McMahon 7. David Pocock (C) 8. Jed Holloway 9. Will Genia 10. Bernard Foley 11. James O’ Connor 12. Samu Kerevi 13. Israel Folau 14. Dane Haylett-Petty 15. Kurtley Beale RESERVES 16. Stephen Moore 17. Alan Alaalatoa 18. Tom Robertson 19. Sam Carter 20. Michael Hooper 21. Nic Stirzaker 22. Quade Cooper 23. Reece Hodge