Last week, following the announcement of the Wallabies squad for their Rugby Championship opener against South Africa, we asked you to pick your preferred XV to face the Springboks. The result was a strong team with a couple of surprising picks.
With over 1500 responses, plenty of you had your say in the make-up of the preferred team, and while some of the positions were closely run races, there were clear consensus picks in others.
One area where that was the case was in the tight five, where the Brumbies dominated the voting. Allan Alaalatoa (83%) and Scott Sio (66%) were the preferred props, joined in the front row by Folau Fainga’a (86%).
Their fellow Brumby, Rory Arnold (94%), received more votes than anyone else – hardly a surprise given his outstanding Super Rugby season – and Izack Rodda (84%) was comfortably voted in as his partner in the second row.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
The rest of the forward pack was slightly less straightforward. With 84 per cent of the vote, Rebels number 8 Isi Naisarani was picked more than any other back rower, even though he’s still yet to make his Wallabies debut.
It was no surprise to see captain Michael Hooper (81%) get plenty of votes too, but the last spot in the back row was a tight race. In the end it was versatile Melbourne forward Luke Jones who got the nod with 34 per cent, beating out Jack Dempsey, Rob Valetini and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, all of whom were picked in about 27 per cent of teams.
The backline, too, had a nice mix of obvious candidates and neck-and-neck polls. The 9 and 10 were both consensus picks, Will Genia (60%) and Christian Lealiifano (70%) comfortably beating out the other options at halfback and flyhalf respectively.
The centres were even less competitive, where Samu Kerevi (86%) and Tevita Kuridrani (81%) were hardly touched in the race for the 12 and 13 jerseys.
The back three spots were far less certain. Marika Koroibete was by far and away the most preferred winger after being picked in 1044 teams (or 68%) but less than 100 votes split his potential partners. Ultimately, Koroibete’s club teammate, Jack Maddocks (36%), managed to pip Tom Banks (34%) and Reece Hodge (31%).
Fullback was an even tighter race, with three players splitting most of the votes. Banks ended up as the winner with 42 per cent, ahead of Kurtley Beale (27%) and Dane Haylett-Petty (21%).
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
For the bench, we’ve gone for a 5-3 forwards backs split, taking the players with the next-most votes. That means veterans James Slipper (22%) and Sekope Kepu (14%) and the back-up props and youngster Jordan Uelese (10%) is the reserve hooker.
Rob Simmons (13%) was comfortably the third lock option behind Rodda and Arnold, and Jack Dempsey (27%) grabs the last forwards spot on the bench after pipping Rob Valetini by just three votes.
Nic White (26%), who hasn’t played a Test since 2015, had twice as many votes as Joe Powell to be Genia’s deputy, and the rest of the back cover will be provided by Reece Hodge and Dane Haylett-Petty. They were picked in a total of 728 and 727 teams respectively, enough to beat out Kurtley Beale (469 total votes) for the last two bench spots.
The Roar’s fan-voted Wallabies team to play the Springboks
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. Christian Lealiifano
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Jack Maddocks
15. Tom Banks
Reserves
16. Jordan Uelese
17. James Slipper
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Rob Simmons
20. Jack Dempsey
21. Nic White
22. Reece Hodge
23. Dane Haylett-Petty
Trevor
Guest
on paper it looks a good team, picked on Super form with a good mix of experience and youth but still no traditional #.7 ! yes Hooper is the captain but he doesn't get over the ball, how many steels/turnovers did he create this year and as I don't have fox I didn't get to see many games but I will take a punt and say no more than 5, if that. Yes he makes a lot of tackles and carries with the ball, but to many the #.7 is there to disrupt and I don't see Hooper doing that
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah, JOC and JP could be a great pairing - haven't seen JOC have a run since he went off shore - could be a good one though.
Crash Ball2
Roar Rookie
Playing second row in NRL and looks to have some decent size. I understand Tahs are looked at him as a centre. Haven't seen him play much either - apparently he's languishing in second grade at the moment? Looks like JOC been parachuted in to fill the 12 to Petaia's 13. I actually think that combination might work. Be interesting to see how it all works out.
jeznez
Roar Guru
An RA top up? I haven't seen the bloke play but that sounds incredibly pre-mature. Kerevi/Petaia could have been our most exciting centre pairing since Horan and Little - filthy that they couldn't find the cash to keep Samu.
Crash Ball2
Roar Rookie
Interesting move by the Tahs Jez: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/waratahs-to-convert-63-112kg-nrl-star-moeroa-into-a-centre Apparently this guy is getting a RA top up to augment his Waratahs salary? Perhaps they aren't broke after all - just selective. Don't throw competitive cash at our best incumbent, established inside back (Kerevi), use it to top up an ex-schoolboy rugby player who has resided within a different code for 5 years. Bledisloe is as good as ours.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Absolutely- BOTH will be in the 23 (and Prob ably should be)
Bobby
Roar Rookie
I think Banks will be in the 23, but won't start. Give him 20 at the back end to see if he's up to Test Rugby. Big difference between Super and Test games. Bring the lad on slowly, build his confidence and become "comfortable" in the Test arena. To me, he's nearly ready, but not quite just yet,
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
So true. If something hasn't been working for years why stick with it! The easiest thing to change is the players (or the coach). Form tops experience every day.
RedsFanInSyd
Roar Rookie
There should be a revolt if Banks isn’t in the 23… Let’s grow this young fella, give him the experience he ‘lacks’ in the RC and prep him for the RWC. Better option than Beale or DHP at full back even without the experience at international level. What has picking experience done for us the last 3 years anyway?
RedsFanInSyd
Roar Rookie
100% spot on!
QED
Roar Rookie
replace DHPs 'experience of 29 caps and 30 test points with Reece Hodge's 33 caps and 87 points and move Banks to the wing
QED
Roar Rookie
given the gruel we've been served up over the last three years - we are over due new ingredients, recipe and chief
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Our best but Chekko won’t pick him . He’ll go fo his Mousketahs.
Clifto
Roar Pro
We are talking about a bench option, no? First and foremost your bench option needs to cover 10, and ideally more positions. While your first choice 10 usually plays 70+ mins, if the worst happens and he goes down with an injury, you would be exposed against quality sides with an experimental /unproven 10, which JOC undoubtedly is. He is certainly not as good as other options at 10. I'd hardly describe Toomua as unproven at Test level. He played as first choice 10 in the EOY Tour? And has played countless matches at 10 in his provincial / club career.
Jim
Guest
Lukham cannot go a match without dropping the ball 3 or 4 times.
Connor33
Guest
That’s a bloody good idea. I particularly like Wright. Powell is test quality. And perhaps Valentino against the Abs Auckland.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I would have kurtley on my bench The Roar team has no back up playmaker.
Marlin
Roar Rookie
Agree TF but a couple of points. I thing George played 3 seasons too long (like bloody Steve Moore who MC gave a Farewell RWC tour to). And following the logic of Banks being omitted after the Jagulars debarcle, then CLL would have his card mark never to tour again. He had a shocker
numpty
Roar Rookie
I'm in Hobart that's why I come on here, not many to talk union with down this way.
The Crow Flies Backwards
Roar Rookie
They fit in with all the other non tacklers in the backline