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I compared the Wallaby train-on squad to a squad that would be picked if you used the Roar form as the selection guide.
First, the Wallaby train on squad is based on players from teams that did not make the finals. Also it seems that two entire scrums were chosen with the exception of two blindside flankers.
A similar story in the backs, a complete backline was chosen except for a fullback.
When I state that a player is the form play it is in the context of players that did not make the finals.
Tighthead prop
Greg Holmes and Paul Alo-Emile were the form tight head props, exact match to the squad.
Loosehead prop
Slipper and Smith were the form loose head props, exact match to the squad.
Hooker
James Hanson and Saia Fainga’a were the form hookers, exact match to the squad.
Locks
Timani, Jones, Coleman and Simmons were the form locks. This is the first deviation. Timani was not in the squad despite being the form player at either lock or number six. The other three are in the squad. Horwill is not considered a form player he has a negligible score.
Blindside flanker
Timani, McMahon were the form blindside flankers. Timani is not in the squad. McMahon is in the squad. No other number six is in form the remainder have a negligible score.
Openside flanker
Gill and Hodgson were the form openside falnkers, exact match to the squad.
Number eight
Higginbotham and McCalman were the form eighth men, an exact match to the squad.
Scrum half
Genia and Stirzaker were the form scrumhalfs. Since only one was chosen it is an exact match to the squad, however Strizaker is in better form than both White and Phipps.
Flyhalf
Cooper is the form flyhalf which is an exact match to the squad.
Wing
Shipperley, O’Connor, Cummins were the form wingers. James O’Connor and Nick Cummins were in the squad. Since Shipperley gained most of his points when he played 13 this is not a significant omission.
12
Kerevi and Inman were the form 12s, since only one was chosen it is an exact match to the squad.
Centre
There were no form centres outside the team finalists.
Fullback
Haylett-Petty was the form fullback, since no fullbacks were picked for the squad you could say it was an exact match.
In conclusion, Timani and Stirzaker were clearly unlucky not to make the squad. Hunt was the only player chosen who was not a form player chosen in the squad, and if he was not selected the form player to replace him would be Inman so to that extent it could be said Inman was unlucky to not make the squad.
Jack Debrezceni on form should not have made the squad so that was a reasonable omission. Cooper, Bernard Foley, Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano all have scored higher than him.
On the whole Rebels were a little unlucky however it could not be said that the Reds were over represented with only Hunt being a questionable decision.
Timani if selected would push out Simmons in the squad, and if Stirzaker was selected Phipps would be pushed from the full squad.
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