Dave Rennie will name the first Wallabies team of his tenure tomorrow, but will it be the side the fans want to see?
A few weeks ago, we asked what team you’d like to see run out for Australia in Sunday’s Bledisloe Cup opener.
Here’s the team you came up with.
» See the official Wallabies and All Blacks teams for Bledisloe 1
Banks was an easy pick for the no.15 jersey, picking up 65 per cent of the vote. The Brumbies custodian had a slow start to the Super Rugby AU season, missing Round 1 through injury, but got back close to his best form in the grand final, scoring a try in the victory over the Reds
Other players: Dane Haylett-Petty (20%), Jack Maddocks (9%), Reece Hodge (6%)
John Eales Medallists are generally pretty easy to pick, and that was the case with Marika Koroibete. The 2019 winner of the award for player of the year was picked in 91 per cent of teams, the second-most popular selection in the entire side. Filipo Daugunu was chosen as his partner, just pipping ACT flyer Tom Wright for the other wing spot with 48 and 41 per cent respectively.
Other players: James Ramm (7%), Jack Maddocks (7%), Dane Haylett-Petty (6%)
No surprise to see young star Jordan Petaia favoured to claim the no.13 jersey. The Queenslander has shown oodles of talent in his injury-disrupted career to date, and it’s surely only fitness concerns which will keep him out of the starting side on Sunday. Petaia was picked in 79 per cent of teams, well ahead of any other outside centre.
Other players: Hunter Paisami (9%), James O’Connor (7%), Reece Hodge (4%), Len Ikitau (1%)
One of the best players of Super Rugby AU, the question around James O’Connor isn’t about whether he’ll play for the Wallabies but where. He starred at flyhalf for the Reds and received the most votes in the poll for no.10, but received even more votes as he topped the list of inside centres with 44 per cent of the vote here. Matt To’omua wasn’t far behind in the race for no.12, finishing on 41 per cent.
Other players: Irae Simone (12%), Noah Lolesio (2%), Reece Hodge (1%)
Flyhalf was a closely fought three-way battle between Noah Lolesio, O’Connor and To’omua. While O’Connor topped the poll with 34 per cent, he received more votes at no.12 and Lolesio was a mere handful of votes behind at number ten, picked in 33 per cent of teams. As such, the Brumbies youngster gets the gig in our team.
Other players: Matt To’omua (31%), Will Harrison (2%)
Perhaps one of the more surprising selections in the side, Tate McDermott wasn’t picked to start at halfback after a superb season for the Reds. He was picked in 40 per cent of all teams, falling just short of Nic White’s 46 per cent.
Other players: Joe Powell (8%), Jake Gordon (6%)
With only two number eights to pick from, this was always going be a close-run contest. In the end, the more experienced Pete Samu (54%) edged out Queensland’s Harry Wilson (46%).
It’s no great secret who will start at no.7 on Sunday. After being named captain by Dave Rennie a couple of weeks ago, Michael Hooper’s place in the XV is assured, and he was far and away the most popular openside flanker in our poll, picked in 84 per cent of teams.
Other players: Fraser McReight (12%), Liam Wright (4%)
When the last player of national interest list before the squad announcement filtered into media reports, Liam Wright was considered only an openside flanker. However, with the Queensland skipper playing most of the Super Rugby AU season at blindside, he was picked by 56 per cent of fans at no.6, well ahead of the other options.
Other players: Pete Samu (20%), Rob Valetini (12%), Harry Wilson (9%), Lachie Swinton (3%)
The second-row selections were straightforward affairs – hardly a surprise given the exodus of locks from Australian rugby in recent years. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto received more votes than anyone else in the entire side, picked in 92 per cent of teams, and Matt Philip was well ahead of any of the other options with 69 per cent.
Other players: Rob Simmons (19%), Trevor Hosea (17%), Ned Hanigan (3%)
The no.3 jersey was always going to go to one of two men. While Allan Alaalatoa had a strong Super Rugby season for the Brumbies and was the preferred tighthead for 33 per cent of Roarers, Taniela Tupou was the player of the tournament and picked up a whopping 66 per cent of the vote. Jermaine Ainsley, Pone Fa’amausili and Harry Johnson-Holmes split the remaining one per cent between them.
With last year’s World Cup starter Tolu Latu now plying his trade in France, Folau Fainga’a seems the man most likely to run out at hooker for the Wallabies. He was comfortably the most-selected no.2, with 82 per cent of the vote.
Other players: Jordan Uelese (10%), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (4%), Tom Horton (4%)
Scott Sio hasn’t been quite at his best this year, but he was still picked in 59 per cent of teams to get him the nod at loosehead prop.
Other players: James Slipper (37%), Angus Bell (2%), Harry Johnson-Holmes (2%)
Backup hooker saw most of the votes go to either Brandon Paenga-Amosa or Jordan Uelese, with the Melbourne Rebel edging past 43% to 32%. The remaining reserve front-rowers were straightforward – James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa were the clear second choices to start at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively, and were voted into the spots on the bench.
With more than three-quarters of Roarers opting for a 5-3 bench split, there were two remaining places for forwards, and they went to Trevor Hosea (36%) and Harry Wilson (34%), who were ahead of the likes of Fraser McReight (25%), Rob Valetini (18%) and Rob Simmons (15%).
At halfback, Tate McDermott (43%) finished well ahead of Joe Powell (15%) and Jake Gordon (9%) to slide onto the bench as Nic White’s deputy.
Reece Hodge was clearly the most popular reserve back, his versatility helping him into 48 per cent of teams, and while Noah Lolesio (25%) was next-best, his place in the starting side meant the final spot on the bench went to Hunter Paisami, whose 16 per cent of the vote edged him past Matt To’omua (15%), Tom Wright, Irae Simone and Jack Maddocks (all 10%).
The resulting matchday squad is as follows:
1. Scott Sio
2. Folau Fainga’a
3. Taniela Tupou
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5. Matt Philip
6. Liam Wright
7. Michael Hooper
8. Pete Samu
9. Nic White
10. Noah Lolesio
11. Marika Koroibete
12. James O’Connor
13. Jordan Petaia
14. Filipo Daugunu
15. Tom Banks
16. Jordan Uelese
17. James Slipper
18. Allan Alaalatoa
19. Trevor Hosea
20. Harry Wilson
21. Tate McDermott
22. Hunter Paisami
23. Reece Hodge
What are your thoughts on the team – is this side capable of challenging the All Blacks this weekend?
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Terry, personally I'd not pick Toomua at 12. But Rennie will pick Toomua for some composure particularly with Hunter at 13.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I disagree Bobby. Toomua might get a bench spot but really we have seen what he's got and it hasn't been good enough previously, so why would it be now?
Sr
Guest
100% agree with all ur comments ????
Bobby
Roar Rookie
No !
Don
Roar Rookie
But neither Folau nor Kerevi played wing? I agree they created some space at Fullback and centre respectively.
stirlo
Guest
The wallabies should bring in more younger players (harry wilson etc) into the ring with the all-blacks now in order to build a foundation and mateship similar to that of QLD maroon's eight year winning streak. That is how we win the bledisloe.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Ramm played more than one good game
Jak
Guest
Definitely the wizard. It's as plain as day he knows more than international coaches.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
All one can say about non selection of DHP and Jordan P, is both must be injured!
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
If you are right and the weather is as bad as it looks, it's going to be a long night. Those three will struggle majorly under the high ball. ABs will kick for touch and our linwout will struggle. We are going to lose this game badly. I think we will lose in Auckland as well but by not as much.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Really! I didn't see anything about DHP. I just don't know how banks could ever be selected over him against the ABs, when he's so safe. The other two players I read were likely as per that article. Personally I think JOC is better at 12/13 due to offloading but anyway.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Where is DHP playing? SMH has Daugunu on a wing and Banks as FB
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
DHP is 100% starting. Toomoa is 100% at 12 and oconner is 100% at 10.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Cheers! Just checked the SMH team announcement out, It looks like Valentini is the only one The Roar team missed in the 23. SMH-Wallabies' starting XV: James Slipper, Folau Fainga'a, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip, Pete Samu, Michael Hooper, Harry Wilson, Nic White, James O'Connor, Marika Koroibete, Matt To'omua, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu, Tom Banks. “ Lolesio has been named on the bench alongside fellow ACT star Rob Valetini,” No other bench spots announced. I wonder if Petaia will even be on the bench..
numpty
Roar Rookie
Well its you, someone who calls himself a wizard, versus three wallaby coaches in a row, and Shag by extension with his japanese transfer, that have picked Hooper. Hmm I wonder whose opinion I should trust...
pm
Roar Rookie
McDermott looks like a terrific last 15 minutes scrumhalf to me at this point, unless you are protecting a lead. Not super confident we will be
30mm tags
Roar Rookie
McDermott is the best 9 that we have. Speed, never say die attitude. alertness, has a long kick and judiciously uses the box kick. Nic White is not as quick in taking the initiative as McDermott and attracts the ire of the ref. His obsession with box kicking warrants a bench seat at best. Joe Powell is inconsistent in his passing game but otherwise sound. McDermott is the man for the job.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Dunno why you have an issue with that Chook. He’ll obviously just replace himself after 60 minutes. As Paul D says, he’s been doing it all year.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
Ha! I suspect AAA will start with Sio. I’d also be surprised if Toomua wasn’t at 10. I really don’t think Dangunu is ready for the ABs. I’d put hodge there. Then you have petaia among some good players with experience who can also carry in a messy moment. Gives O’Connor more options and puts physical presence in the right spots. I’d really like to see wright but I think hodge complements the smaller fullback.
Rugby wizard
Guest
The Wallabies coaching staff dont like selecting tough players,Coterill was as tough as they come like Richard Hill,but never got a cap. THEY LIKE THE SOFT PLAYERS!and the Springboks have loved it. Living in South Africa I am surrounded by Springbok fans and everyone is happy Hooper is Captain and still in the team.