On Tuesday, we asked you to pick the squad you’d like to see the Wallabies take to the World Cup. Now, it’s time to reveal the results.
We gave you 48 players to choose from, plus the option to nominate any other player, and the 31 men with the most votes made the cut, leaving us with a 17-14 forwards-backs split.
The top 20 players were more or less clear cut, all of them getting over 88 per cent of the vote.
Rory Arnold and Samu Kerevi were tied as the most popular player, grabbing 98.8 per cent, while Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou and Nic White also had over 98 per cent.
Scott Sio, Maika Koroibete, Isi Naisarani, Christian Lealiifano, Izack Rodda, James O’Connor, David Pocock, Will Genia and Michael Hooper were all in more than 95 per cent of teams, while Adam Coleman, Folau Fainga’a, Tolu Latu, Kurtley Beale, Matt To’omua, James Slipper and Reece Hodge all picked up significant portions of the vote.
Following that group, things tail off to below 80 per cent of the vote, with Tevita Kuridrani, Tom Banks, Sekope Kepu and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto all in the 70s.
Pete Samu and youngster Jordan Petaia are the only two players in the 60s, while Will Skelton, despite questions around his eligibility, received just over 50 per cent, as did Bernard Foley.
The final two players to scrape into the squad were Dane Haylett-Petty and Luke Jones, who were both picked just under half the time.
That means that, of the original 36-man roster picked for the Rugby Championship, six players didn’t make our fan-voted squad: Liam Wright, Jordan Uelese, Rob Simmons, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Joe Powell, Rob Valetini and Adam Ashley Cooper.
It’s the selection of Will Skelton in spite of his eligibility question marks over Rob Simmons which might raise eyebrows.
Simmons played off the bench in the Bledisloe 2 loss, but he’s considered likely to be on the plane to Japan. Wright and Ashley-Cooper also seem to be well in contention after playing in Auckland, but the duo haven’t drawn many supporters amongst the wider crowd.
David Pocock was unsurprisingly included despite battling his lingering calf injury as well.
Forwards
Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Adam Coleman, Folau Fainga’a, Michael Hooper, Luke Jones, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Isi Naisarani, David Pocock, Izack Rodda, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou.
Backs
Tom Banks, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, James O’Connor, Jordan Petaia, Matt To’omua, Nic White.
So, Roarers, what do you make of our squad to head to Japan? Drop a comment below and let us know.
scubasteve
Guest
you can't pick Gil. He is not eligible. Can we move on?
dazell
Roar Rookie
Did anyone actually pick the exact squad chosen by the selectors?
QED
Roar Rookie
But he would still have one calf left ? Play him . :-)
QED
Roar Rookie
Only rather annoyed ? I applaud your restraint.
Markus
Roar Rookie
From what I've read any injury replacement is permanent. So the decision would be with the coach to carry an injured player in the squad if they may be expected to return sometime during the tournament, or cut losses and replace them entirely knowing they can't come back in later. Not aware of not being able to replace a pre-injured player at all, that would indeed be a real risk.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I had read that oif a player brings an injury into the RWC, her can't be replaced of that injury recurs.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Then send him home and bring in a replacement. While it would be a shame not to have him as he is unquestionably Australia's best player, they have been playing all season without him so it wouldn't throw out the team dynamic in the same way that going into a RWC with only 2 hookers etc. would.
PSharma
Roar Rookie
Speight is very weak in tackling likewise Maddock. Compare them with Koroibete and the difference is obviously there. That's my point. Question marks on Simmons selections are for the very same reason. Every player ought to be a good tackler first.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Tate is not rhere YET. Cannot believe he signed a 4 year deal wirh the Reds. His manager and Tate are stupid. The kid should be the best half in another year and could have commanded a much better contract., particularly once he becomes capped by RA.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
3 Hookers with Ulese, 2 Dads for experience, Banks and Liam Weight to be unlucky. Feel sorry for guys rhat miss out. Four years is a long time to wait for the next opportunity to play in a WC.
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
And PS Lachie Swinton and Tate McDermott should have been invested for the past month and be on the plane in lieu of Luke Jones and Joe Powell.
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
Looks good but there is more to it than the best 31 players. I think they will take 3 hookers and 3 halfbacks. Two older players will be picked for their brains behind the scenes. So out with Skelton for Simmons lineout noise. Samu out for Ulese. Out with Pateia and in with Ashley Cooper for defense and analysis. Out with Kuindrani and in with Powell (as AAC, Hodge and Kerevi can all play 13).
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Oooopppps, 2nd sentence 1st paragraph should read "... The blokes I would leave out are: .."
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
First up, I'll mention the blokes who can stay in the UK or start practicing for Summer or the NRC. The blokes I would leave are: TPN (too slow and on the pension?), T.Robertson (too small and not enough core strength for a prop, would be a pretty good hooker), W.Skelton (are you kidding me? goodbye lineouts), J.Dempsey (still ginger), N.Hanigan (improving but still too soft, maybe next year is his turn), R.Valetini (no experience and poor in lineouts), QC (too flakey under pressure), DHP (good positional but slow fb only), AAC (zimmer frames banned in RWC) and J.Maddocks (needs to meet a tackle bag 200 times a day for next 6 months). My squad is based not on who I would prefer but my preference of the blokes who have been given a run during the RC (+ 1 out of the squads). 17 piggies and 14 to carry the handbags: Props; A.Alalaatoa, S.Sio, J.Slipper, T.Tupou, S.Kepu (covers both sides) Hooker; F.Falinga'a and T.Latu Locks; R.Arnold, A.Coleman, I.Rodda, R.Simmons, L.Salakaia-Loto to cover locks and blindside. Backrowers; M.Hooper (c), I.Naisarani, D.Pocock, P.Samu, L.Wright. Halves; W.Genia and N.White for ½back and B.Foley and C.Lealiifano at ⅝. Centres; S.Kerevi, T.Kuridrani, J.O'Connor, M.Toomua (also ⅝ reserve) Wingers; M.Koreibete, H.Speight, J.Petaia fb/winger; T.Banks, R.Hodge, K.Beale (bench only or start against 2nd tier team). I put in H.Speight as the WB need a genuine rugby winger who has speed, positional nous and can read defence. I just cannot find room for Cheika favs such as K.Hunt, AAC and N.Phipps, there is just no purpose for their selection. I honestly tried to squeeze H.Johnson-Holmes and L.Swinton but 31 is the limit. The only change I will consider is N.Hanigan for L.Wright. Hannigan has more test experience and is very good at lineouts and tackling but Wright is already almost as good and is a menace in the rucks.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Gazza, J.Maddocks cannot tackle. First rule in international rugby is you don't pick non-tacklers unless your team can score 40 minimum every game. JOC is vastly more experienced and is pretty good defender. Lets hope Maddocks can learn to tackle in the NRC as he is good running with the ball and can catch high kicks in traffic, unlike the current WB fullback.
CHT
Roar Rookie
#NeverNed
CHT
Roar Rookie
It rather annoys me that I've been calling Rory Arnold our best lock for 3-4 years and he was not given the opportunity he deserved until recently.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Dunno about the last few games, more likely the last few years
Bobby
Roar Rookie
2 x McMahons - now that be handy
Olly
Roar Rookie
I don’t see the point of Luke Jones. Pick either another specialist backrower or a hooker. No point having an in-between lock/6 in this squad when you already have one. Plus I would not take a specialist 10 such as Foley. There is plenty of cover at 10 with CLL, Toomua, JOC and Beale, why waste a spot with a player who can only play 10.