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Form, potential or experience. Which way will the Wallaby selectors go?

24th June, 2019
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24th June, 2019
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Rugby World Cup years are the best, and we are in one. It’s been four very long years and the wait is finally over.

Once in every four years we rugby fans get to experience rugby heaven and watch our favourite teams and players compete with the best on an international stage to see who comes on top.

It’s an opportunity for both players and fans to claim bragging rights. It also a time where evaluating strengths and weaknesses, strategy and team selection becomes a hot topic than a usual year.

A sense of hope and optimism which usually goes missing resurfaces again for a short period. Everything is temporally forgiven in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup.

That’s for us fans. The teams however, are prepping and ironing out their plans for Japan. That is almost every other team except the Wallabies.

The Rugby World Cup 2015 final was played on the 31st of October and contested by New Zealand and Australia where the former emerged as convincing winners. Even after four years the Wallabies are no closer to nailing down the best 23 and hence do not have a settled team as yet.

They have not had a World Cup cycle, but most can be forgiven and forgotten if they get these coming four months right. I say this with some hope, optimism and mostly out of desperation after having to experience four very painful years of Wallaby rugby which was very disappointing.

A main contributor of the underachievement has been that lack of depth and competition for spots.

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Karmichael Hunt in a huddle with the Wallabies

Is Karmichael Hunt working his way back into Wallabies contention? (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

For once in a long time the Wallabies have considerable depth and options in a few positions, there have been some new names in the mix for Wallaby spots and adding the fact that there is now a selection panel of three we potentially could see some new face s and combinations in Wallaby Gold.

At least that is the hope.

Potentially there are three parameters the selectors should pick the team from.

1. Form and combinations
2. Potential and dalance
3. Preference and experience

Based on this year’s Super Rugby performance, past Test experience, and potential based on talent and skill, I’ve put together three teams which represent each parameter.

All three teams are picked based on the following factors.

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1. Michael Hooper is the captain and will be picked at 7.
2. Certain selections might not fit the parameter given due to the fact that those players must be there for a specific reason (Example – One of Dane Haylett-Petty or Reece Hodge has to be in the back three at all times due to the fact that there needs to be two effective kickers in the back three).
3. David Pocock will be fit (he is always in form so that won’t be a problem).
4. Demanding selection (Brumbies front row and Rory Arnold).
5. Ability to cover multiple positions for back up.

Team 1 – Based on form and combinations
1. S. Sio
2. F. Fainga’a
3. A. Alaalatoa
4. I. Rodda
5. R. Arnold
6. D. Pocock
7. M. Hooper
8. I. Naisarani
9. J. Powell
10. C. Lealiifano
11. H. Speight
12. S. Kerevi
13. T. Kuridrani
14. D.H.P / R. Hodge
15. T. Banks

16. A. Mafi / BPA
17. JP Smith
18. T. Tupou
19. L.S.L (To replace R. Arnold)
20. L. McCaffrey / P. Samu (To replace I. Naisarani)
21. N. White
22. M. Toomua (To cover 10 and 12 if required only)
23. K. Beale (Impact player if required only)

Kurtley Beale

Can Beale play fullback or is he better from the bench? (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Team 2 – Based on potential and balance
1. S. Sio
2. F. Fainga’a
3. A. Alaalatoa
4. I. Rodda
5. R. Arnold
6. L. Jones
7. M. Hooper
8. I. Nasarani
9. W. Genia
10. Q. Cooper
11. M. Koroibete
12. S. Kerevi (Demands selection)
13. T. Kuridrani (Demands selection)
14. D.H.P / R. Hodge
15. T. Banks

16. J. Uelese
17. J. Slipper
18. T. Tupou
19. A. Coleman (To replace R. Arnold)
20. D. Pocock (To 6 or 8 based on the game situation)
21. N. White
22. M. Toomua (To cover 10 and 12 if required only)
23. K. Beale (Impact player if required only)

Team 3 – Based on Cheika’s preference and experience
1. S. Sio (Demands selection due to both form and combinations)
2. F. Fainga (Demands selection due to both form and combinations)
3. A. Alatoa (Demands selection due to both form and combinations)
4. I. Rodda
5. R. Arnold (Demands slection)
6. L.S.L / J. Dempsy / N. Hanigan
7. M. Hooper
8. D. Pocock
9. W. Genia
10. B. Foley
11. M. Koroibete
12. S. Kervi (Demands selection)
13. T. Kuridrani (Demands selection)
14. R. Hodge / DHP
15. K. Beale

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16. T.P.N
17. J. Slipper
18. S. Kepu
19. A. Coleman
20. P. Samu
21. N. White
22. M. Toomua (To cover 10 and 12)
23. K. Hunt (To cover 12 and 15)

Kurtley Beale, David Pocock and Bernard Foley

How many guaranteed selections are there in the Wallabies squad? (AAP Image/David Moir)

Those are three very competitive teams but to win a World Cup a team needs a mix of form, combinations, experience and x-factor. Considering this I would pick Team 2 based on potential and balance but I will be happy with Team 1 based on form and combinations.

However if Cheika sticks to his tried and tested, he has to select something very close to Team 3 which is still a that is still a decent team even though it would be my last pick from the three.

The selectors need to give themselves, the players and us fans every opportunity to do well in Japan and select the right team.

It’s not until for another four years to get that opportunity.

I’m sure there will be many on here who will both agree, disagree or have different parameters in selecting the Wallaby team which will make for healthy discussion. That’s what World Cup years are there for.

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