Samu Kerevi will be the first chosen when the selection panel of Michael Cheika, Scott Johnson and Michael O’Connor name their first Wallaby squad of the year next month.
New selectors Johnson and O’Connor have made it crystal clear current form will be the prime consideration.
That translates to the Reds skipper being first chosen as he’s been a tower of strength throughout the season, consistently named in unofficial Super Rugby teams of the week.
But his form is a lot deeper than that by topping the carries and defenders beaten stats, as well as featuring in metres carried, and offloads.
Second selected will be Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga’a who remarkably tops the try-scorers, and by a comfortable margin. When has a hooker scored more tries than quality wingers, and centres?
And rangy Brumbies lock Rory Arnold heads the lineout jumpers, to guarantee selection.
Most points scored
1 – Handre Pollard (Bulls) – 136
3 – Quade Cooper (Rebels) – 88
5 – Bernard Foley (Waratahs) – 82
6 – Bryce Hegarty (Reds) – 81
Most tries
1 – Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) – 10
2 – Jack Maddocks (Rebels) – 8
6 – Reece Hodge (Rebels) – 7
Defenders beaten
1 – Samu Kerevi (Reds) – 47
9 – Tom Banks (Brumbies) – 33
Most tackles
1 – Michael Hooper (Waratahs) – 148
3 – Luke Jones (Rebels) – 114
5 – Rob Simmons (Waratahs) – 113
7 – Sam Carter (Brumbies) 112
Metres carried
1 – Melani Nanai (Blues) – 839
5 – Samu Kerevi (Reds) – 631
7 – Tom Banks (Brumbies) – 597
Clean breaks
1 – Rieko Ioane (Blues) – 23
4 – Samu Kerevi (Reds) – 18
9 – Israel Folau (Waratahs) – 15
Carries
1 – Samu Kerevi (Reds) – 154
4 – Isi Naisarani (Rebels) – 116
10 – Tom Banks (Brumbies) – 101
Offloads
1 – Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs) – 28
2 – Israel Folau (Waratahs) – 19
3 – Samu Kerevi (Reds) – 14
10 – Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) – 12
But it’s been lineouts won where the Australian franchises have shone.
Lineouts won
1 – Rory Arnold (Brumbies) – 47
2 – Sam Carter (Brumbies) – 42
6 – Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Reds) – 33
8 – Rob Simmons (Waratahs) – 32
9 – Harry Hockings (Reds) – 31
10 – Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) – 29.
With Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa, Izack Rodda, Will Genia, Tevita Kuridrani, and Kurtley Beale frontline selections, and with David Pocock playing only three Super Rugby games so far this season, the form starting 15 looks like this:
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Izack Rodda, 6. Luke Jones, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Will Genia, 10. Bernard Foley or Quade Cooper, 11. Jack Maddocks, 12. Samu Kerevi, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Tom Banks, 15. Kurtley Beale
If there’s to be a bolter, 20-year-old Reds centre Len Ikitau looms large. He’s a star of the future.
Matt
Guest
Places have to be found for Beale AAC Hunt and Foley.Kerevi will make the Wallaby Squad but he will not make the Wallaby game day 23 .
Mike88
Roar Rookie
Lot to like about this team. Especially at 10. Personally I think you can pick Hodge or DHP but not both. I'd go for Hodge. I think international rugby has moved on from having solid but not spectacular wingers. We need two genuine speedsters who are evasive and can turn a whiff into something more. Hodge doesn't fit that bill on the wing. I like Mccaffrey but I'd play him at 6 with Isi at 8 and Pocock at 7.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well that's true. But we are talking in the context of rugby stats, attributed to individuals. I can say a player played well, you can say they played bad. But the numbers cannot really be disputed.
taylorman
Roar Guru
So the statistic of nearly every human having an average of one testical is an indisputable fact? Okay doky.
Ralph
Roar Guru
“New selectors Johnson and O’Connor have made it crystal clear current form will be the prime consideration.” I find this quite interesting in that the AB coaches will do close to the reverse and pick on what they will call something like 'proven ability' regardless of current form.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Has Kerevi bean rested at all?
Ralph
Roar Guru
That's pretty careful!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I feel they complement each other best. Probably really depends on who else is in your backline and what you need the most. Would really be happy with either option. Kerevi is one of the most lethal backs in world rugby so I like his combo, but Kuridrani is a defensive rock for us, so I don't dislike his combo.
numpty
Roar Rookie
TWAS can you elaborate on your reasoning, I'm curious on what makes you say this. And who would be your preferred 12/13?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think if we want to consider that, you either go Kerevi and English, or Meakes and Kuridrani as combos. All offer defence, all offer ability to carry hard among other qualities.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Stats are good because they are free from bias though. They are an indisputable fact.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
If you use that logic you go Cottrell, not Wright who is young and yet to fill out.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I reckon Philip comes back in, but wouldn't be form right now as he's missed a few recent games for injury. On the same logic I think Naisarani has more recent form than old baldy who has been storming when fit too.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I have always thought that we stuffed up by not turning DHP into a 13 earlier in his career. I particularly like his ability to change the angle of attack and he is one of two players in Austalia rugby that almost always beats the first man. I just think it is too late for the RWC. Banks has so much potential, worth giving him a run in the Rugby Championships to see how he goes as we know what we get with the alternative guys. But we need to give him at least 3 games to give him some time to show what he can do for the RWC.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Does Lukhan Salakaia-Loto push his way into lock over Arnold because of the need for a harder ball runner? Rodda and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the locks, Jones at 6, with the Pooper completing the back row?
Charlie Turner
Guest
Yeah let's let Wales set our standards.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
People who were Wallabies last year and are part of Cheika's plans this year have to take 2 rest matches. Sio, Alaalatoa, Pocock, I think Faingaa are the guys that have to rest from the Brumbies this year...
taylorman
Roar Guru
‘Banks is an incredible prospect and I want him in the mix, but I think he should be introduced carefully.’ So is ‘not at all’ carefully enough?:-)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Do oz players have mandatory rest matches as some of the stats look a little weird considering their win loss ratios.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
I think he has previously based selection on a players weight as being vital, take it with a grain of salt.