The Wallabies have just finished their Rugby Championship campaign on a high, beating Argentina away from home, and therefore finishing second on the table, then following it up with a win over the All Blacks in Brisbane.
It was a rare highlight in recent memory as the squad has been criticised for a lack of depth with players not fearing for their places and some very poor performances. Michael Cheika has tried a number of different players and combinations, but you feel neither him nor anyone else really know the strongest starting 15.
It is time for Australia to get rid of the rule that prevents them from picking overseas-based players unless they have at least 60 caps. This was only brought in to allow Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau play in the Rugby World Cup in 2015. Both players made a huge impact on the squad, which made it all the way to the final only to fall to the All Blacks.
With the money that teams in France and the UK can offer players compared to the Super Rugby franchises, more and more players will be heading over to the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike New Zealand, where rugby is the main sport, in Australia rugby uUnion has to compete with league, AFL and football and is currently falling behind all of them with regards to numbers of players.
Preventing players being selected by the Wallabies is cutting off the nose to spite the face. While it’s understandable that the ARU wants to keep the best players playing in Australia, it clearly isn’t working.
Currently there are over 20 players who have Wallabies caps playing overseas. Some of these, such as James Horwill, Dave Dennis, Peter Betham and Ben Tapuai, probably wouldn’t be considered for selection, but others, such as Matt Toomua and Rob Horne, would add some much-needed quality and experience to the squad.
(Image: Tim Anger)
The match-day squad for the most recent test against as New Zealand was as follows:
15 Israel Folau
14 Marika Koroibete
13 Tevita Kuridrani
12 Kurtley Beale
11 Reece Hodge
10 Bernard Foley
9 Will Genia
8 Sean McMahon
7 Michael Hooper
6 Jack Dempsey
5 Adam Coleman
4 Rob Simmons
3 Sekope Kepu
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau
1 Scott Sio
The replacements were the following players:
Stephen Moore
Tom Robertson
Allan Alaalatoa
Lukahn Tui
Ned Hanigan
Nick Phipps
Samu Kerevi
Henry Speight
(Image: Sportography)
A few players in that squad are arguably not quite good enough to play top international rugby. Should the selectors allow for players who are not playing in Australia to be selected, that squad suddenly becomes a lot stronger and players could move into positions that may suit them better.
The match day squad could look something like this:
15 Kurtley Beale
14 Rob Horne
13 Israel Folau
12 Reece Hodge
11 Marika Koroibete
10 Matt Toomua
9 Will Genia
8 Sean McMahon
7 David Pocock
6 Michael Hooper
5 Izack Rudder
4 Adam Coleman
3 Sekope Kepu
2 Jordan Uelese
1 Scott Sio
Replacements available would be the following:
Tatfu Polota-Nau
Tom Robertson
Allan Alaalatoa
Will Skelton
Jack Dempsey
Nic White
Bernard Foley or Christian Leiliafano
Henry Speightm, Joe Tomane or Jesse Mogg
There are other players not included in that squad, such as Liam Gill playing for Lyon, who could also come into the reckoning as well. With the selection criteria opening, players not included in the squad who were in the squad for the All Blacks test are waiting in the wings and will have a point to prove.
The 13 shirt has been a problem for a while, with Tevita Kuridrani very out of form and Samu Kerevi struggling to reproduce his Super Rugby form on the international stage. The Waratahs moved Israel Folau to 13 this season with great effect. He got his hands on the ball earlier and was able to create holes for other players to run off him.
Reece Hodge has been in superb form, but his power can be used from the 12 position. He is already used there defensively, with Kurtley Beale moving to fullback, where he can have a bit more time to use his nomadic brilliance to get Australia on the front foot.
While this will not change any time soon, for Australia to be competitive they have to throw away the rulebook that they currently live by and embrace the 21st century.
Cuw
Guest
only difference is no team |Mogg plays need to hide him in defence. he plays 15 and defends at 15. :P Belae to his credit did defend at 15 foer Wasps . Hunt i still a rookie to play 15 . he has no defensive sense (like Folau). but cant blame either player , coz they came from another game. even with Reds Hunt lloked good when he was in center ( alongside Quade) . that is my view anyway :)
In brief
Guest
This article claims that participation rates in rugby are falling comparatively to other football codes in Australia. Is this actually true? I read this year that rugby league is struggling in the country areas and losing players to rugby is an issue. When you look at the way modern league is played (10 metres, lack of protection from high shots, marginal shoulder charges not sanctioned) it must be a huge risk for working men not able to afford time off work injured. This makes me wonder if longer term union may grow ahead of league in participation rates.
Terry Tavita
Guest
I think the author of this article decided I want this and I'm gonna make stuff up..kuridrani out of form?..rubbish..
Fionn
Guest
I disagree I think we are less reliant on Folau in attack that previous years. I think we're about a 30% chance.
Fionn
Guest
He is, and good Brumby too. I don't think he's better than all of Hunt, Beale, Folau, Hodge and Banks though. Perhaps not any, aside from the huge boot.
Adsa
Guest
What a waste of talent. Hope he gets paid a heap for his efforts and he deserves it after 100 games for the Reds.
Jeffrey
Guest
Folau just a finisher? Totally disagree. His aerial skills at the back are second to none and his ability to win restarts is a massive plus. Folau makes metres just about every time he gets the ball, he draws at least a couple of defenders on him and puts doubt in the opposition defence. The try scored by Korobete was due to McKenzie second guessing whether Naholo was going to make the tackle on Folau, and hence he didn't rush up on Korobete. With Folau in the team, I gave Australia a 40% chance of beating England on the EOYT, now that he has pulled out I doubt that that they even have a slim chance of winning.
Rob9
Guest
Peter, this is data he’s quoting that he supposedly has immediate access to that I’m just interested to have a look at. I have no interest in trawling through YouTube clips of Rebels games identifying every playmaking example for you.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Poor old Pat is much maligned on this thread. It was criminal of Deans to select him at inside centre, he was a tough player but the repeated crash ball tactic was absurd. Anyway carry on........
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
PK - Dave did add the caveat "or something less prohibitive" God forbid this happens, but I wonder what the thoughts would be if 5 of last w/d's 15 get inured this w/d and cannot tour.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
I think this flags an important issue (indirectly) Peter. Holmes is the third tight-head on Exeter's depth chart right now - behind Tomas Francis and Harry Williams, who have both tasted international rugby and are a lot bigger than Holmes. If Holmes went to the UK to enhance his WB value (which I very much doubt he did anyway) that has definitely not been the way it's turned out - so far.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Rob9 - The irony. When you asked to provide a link you refuse but ask for one yourself multiple times
Schlongy McWollah
Guest
How is kurindrani out of form mate hahahaha
Rob9
Guest
In any event missed tackle data, especially in the 13 channel, really doesn’t tell the whole story. If you’re caught out of position and aren’t within cooee of who you’re marking, it doesn’t go down as a miss. And Kerevi’s not exactly immune to a bad read or two.
mtiger
Guest
Sensible counter proposal. I agree 5 by whichever year they started. It also drives a 23 year old O Connor to play well in England knowing full well, he can be selected if he was giving sterling performance
mtiger
Guest
Completely agree. Of course there are Gill and Lilo (unproven), and O'Connor (when will he wake up), but the train has left the station for quite a number of players. The fact that the players closer together make it easier to gel a team argues against the motion. It is how you can manage the willing stayers - Duncan Paiua, Hodge etc which will improve WB's chance above 3rd place in Japan.
cuw
Guest
I thought the surprise team is LaRochelle - playing the "French" way :)
Rob9
Guest
Train without a station: again I look forward to the link.
Rob9
Guest
No Peter, the answer is spend your own time watching Rebels games to witness the elements I’ve spoken about being clearly present in his game. And oddly enough, most of the footage you’ll see is him playing 12, where he’s spent the majority of his time for the Rebels. I’m not pretending for a second nor have I ever suggested Hodge’s playmaking ability is comparable to Beale, Foley, Toomua, Giteau, Lealiifano or anyone that’s filled that role as a playmaking 12 for the Wallabies over the last 3 or 4 years. But to suggest he doesn’t have capacity as a playmaker is wrong. As I said above, he’s capable at fulfilling the two roles of the 2 traditional types of 12’s we see in rugby today without being a world beater in either facet. He’s not the one dimensional McCabe-like 12 you’ve suggested he is as he has the ability to move the ball along appropriately while not possessing the playmaking ability of a Giteau/Toomua etc. His ability to clear the line and find space in the backfield is another string to his bow in this regard. And while he can’t hit a poke through the line like a SBW or Kerevi, he has more capacity in this regard than the pure playmakers I’ve listed above.
John R
Roar Guru
Toulon cleared out all their Aussies. Gill is at Lyon now.