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Australian Squad for Wales Games

Beale and O'Connor are out of the series.
I wonder if Deans will put out his first choice backline for the Scotland match, and then rest a few for the first test against us, and then bring some back for the final two.
It depends on how well he thinks his players can cope. I don't disagree with you team, madflyhalf, but they must certainly rest a few for the first Welsh test, making that 22 much weaker.
 
Aussie player are dropping like flies - I reckon Wales might be in with a chance of getting a win (or two).
 
What I would do out of the training squad. I use all four Force players for the first test. I would have used Cowan at LH if he was in the squad, but I'm forced to use Ma'afu.
[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Scotland[/TD]
[TD]Wales I[/TD]
[TD]Wales II/III[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Slipper[/TD]
[TD]Robinson[/TD]
[TD]Robinson[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Fainga'a[/TD]
[TD]TPN[/TD]
[TD]Moore[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Ma'afu[/TD]
[TD]Kepu[/TD]
[TD]Kepu[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Sharpe[/TD]
[TD]Simmons[/TD]
[TD]Sharpe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Simmons[/TD]
[TD]Timani[/TD]
[TD]Pyle[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Higginbotham[/TD]
[TD]Dennis[/TD]
[TD]Higginbotham[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Pocock[/TD]
[TD]Pocock[/TD]
[TD]Pocock[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]McCalman[/TD]
[TD]Palu[/TD]
[TD]Palu[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Genia[/TD]
[TD]Genia[/TD]
[TD]Genia[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Cooper[/TD]
[TD]Barnes[/TD]
[TD]Cooper[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Morahan[/TD]
[TD]Ioane[/TD]
[TD]Ioane[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]McCabe[/TD]
[TD]Harris (?)[/TD]
[TD]McCabe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Fainga'a[/TD]
[TD]Horne[/TD]
[TD]Horne[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Tomane[/TD]
[TD]Shipperley[/TD]
[TD]Tomane[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]AAC[/TD]
[TD]AAC[/TD]
[TD]AAC[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Moore[/TD]
[TD]Moore[/TD]
[TD]TPN[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Alexander[/TD]
[TD]Palmer[/TD]
[TD]Alexander[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Pyle[/TD]
[TD]Sharpe[/TD]
[TD]Simmons[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Hooper[/TD]
[TD]Higginbotham[/TD]
[TD]Dennis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]White[/TD]
[TD]White[/TD]
[TD]White[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]Harris[/TD]
[TD]Cooper[/TD]
[TD]Barnes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Shipperley[/TD]
[TD]Tomane/Morahan/Mogg[/TD]
[TD]Morahan[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


And select for the other two tests out of performances. For the first test, if they get a healthy lead, take off Sharpe, Pocock, Genia, AAC and McCabe asap. Try to keep Moore fresh (depending on how he is after the weekend's game). I put him on the bench, but it could be TPN depending on who's on better condition.

It also depends on the Brumbies and Rebels resting players against each other... something borderline unethical imo, but that has been in the air. Taking that, probably Waratahs players won't be used against Scotland.

The Scotland test was a BAD idea. It may turn into Samoa II, or into a lot of injuries. Or both.
 
This is going to be a real big test of depth in Australian Rugby, especially with the games so close after another.

From what I've seen from Robbie Deans, he will look at the positives and might get more answers than questions.

Can anyone explain to me why Speight was overlooked?
 
heineken said:
This is going to be a real big test of depth in Australian Rugby, especially with the games so close after another.

From what I've seen from Robbie Deans, he will look at the positives and might get more answers than questions.

Can anyone explain to me why Speight was overlooked?
Click to expand...

He is not eligible for Australia (not for another 2 years anyway).
 
I wonder whether Australia's weakened team they will play Scotland with could leave them with red faces like they had against Samoa last year
 
heineken said:
Ah okay, thanx... Australasia and their Islanders...
Click to expand...

Just like South Africa and their Zimbabweans ;)

Speight moved to New Zealand as a teenager, and I think is eligible for New Zealand now. He failed to get a Super Rugby contract last season with a NZ franchise so moved to Australia. He has played well for the Brumbies this season, and could certainly be an option for them in the future if he keeps improving.

TRF_Olyy said:
Aussie player are dropping like flies - I reckon Wales might be in with a chance of getting a win (or two).
Click to expand...

I agree, I'm picking it will be a very tight series. I think it is 50/50 at the moment, but another key injury (to either team) could tip it either way....
 
I think if Cooper is playing at 10 then you'd have to have Barnes at 12. They worked well together when together before for the Wallabies, and it presents a solid kicking option if Cooper is having a mare.
 
psychic duck said:
I wonder whether Australia's weakened team they will play Scotland with could leave them with red faces like they had against Samoa last year
Click to expand...

These are pretty similar to the coaches thoughts, also we'd lose a shitload of ranking points if Scotland beat us.
http://www.news.com.au/news/robbie-...to-scotland-test/story-fndpt9s1-1226359377351

Deans had planned to name a Queensland/Western Force-based squad against Scotland, because those two teams have the bye before the Scotland Test.

But poor form and injuries have scuppered both that and plans to announce a Test squad on Monday week - and positions will be up for grabs right up to the local derby between Melbourne and the Brumbies on June 1, and the Waratahs' match against the Hurricanes on June 2.

"My preference is that we don't want to be providing caps that haven't been earned," Deans said. "It is very unlikely to be a totally Reds and Force-based side. It is a Test match. I guess if we learned something out of Samoa it is that no one can play three games in a week."It's a moving target. It's not dissimilar to Samoa, and we don't want to go through that again."​
Click to expand...
 
TRF_Darwin said:
Just like South Africa and their Zimbabweans ;)

Speight moved to New Zealand as a teenager, and I think is eligible for New Zealand now. He failed to get a Super Rugby contract last season with a NZ franchise so moved to Australia. He has played well for the Brumbies this season, and could certainly be an option for them in the future if he keeps improving.



I agree, I'm picking it will be a very tight series. I think it is 50/50 at the moment, but another key injury (to either team) could tip it either way....
Click to expand...
Australia has just as many Zimbabweans as we do atm :p.
 
SomeOke said:
Australia has just as many Zimbabweans as we do atm :p.
Click to expand...

Haha, true.

TRF_Olyy said:
I think if Cooper is playing at 10 then you'd have to have Barnes at 12. They worked well together when together before for the Wallabies, and it presents a solid kicking option if Cooper is having a mare.
Click to expand...

While a Cooper/Barnes combination has worked well at times in the past (France 2010 springs to mind), they have struggled as a combination at times too - indeed Cooper only started to flourish at the Reds once Barnes left. They are very different players - Cooper wants to attack from everywhere, while Barnes is incredibly conservative - while in theory it is good to have both options, there can be issues with this too. Whether this combination works really depends on how Cooper plays - if he is happy to share the responsibility for running the team this could be a great combination, however if he adopts a 'me first' approach (as he did for much of last season) I don't think it will work.

Personally I'd go for a Barnes/McCabe combination against Wales. Both are strong defenders (McCabe is exceptional in this area), which will be needed to contain Wales backline of giants (even without Roberts). Not sure what I'd do against Scotland, but my team for the 1st test vs Wales would be:

Robinson
Moore
Kepu
Simmons
Sharpe (not sure about either locks - I'd seriously consider Douglas, Timani, and Pyle too)
Higginbotham
Pocock
Palu
Genia
Barnes
Ioane
McCabe
Horne
Morahan (though I'd also consider Shipperly and Tomane)
Ashley-Cooper

Polota-Nau
Alexander
Pyle/Douglas/Timani
Dennis/Hooper
White
Cooper
Shipperly/Tomane
 
We'll probably see a "first choice" team only on the second test against Wales. They'll have to rotate a bit for Sco and Wal 1, even if "a test is a test" and all that.
 
Just seen that Beale might return for part of the series, and Ben Lucas has joined the Wallabies training group.
 
It looks like Mike Harris is a good chance to wear number 10 against Scotland
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/harris-in-frame-for-wallabies-no10-spot-20120530-1zjkf.html
Makes sense if you consider Deans doesn't want to rush Cooper back and Barnes is playing 2 days before against the Hurricanes. With Harris at 10 I'd expect Deans to keep the tried and tested center pairing of McCabe and Ashley-Cooper, with Ioane and a debutante on the wings (Shipperley/Vuna/Tomane). This could be complicated by Beale's injury. I'd expect Ben Lucas or Luke Morahan will play fullback because Bernard Foley will be playing on Saturday with Barnes, as will Rob Horne so that will decrease the likelihood of shifting Ashley-Cooper back to 15 and playing Horne at Outside Center.

As far as the forwards go I'm looking forward to seeing what the youngsters in the second row can do. The Wallabies are really lacking personnel at lock at the moment so I hope to see Sitaleki Timani and Caydern Neville getting a run and impressing. In the back row Dennis and Higgenbotham have earned a shot after being on the fringe of Wallaby selection for the past few seasons, both have had impressive seasons in Super Rugby. I'm also looking forward to seeing what Hooper can do on the international stage. Lets hope he gets a chance to shine even though Pocock is likely to be captaining the side in Horwil's absence.
 
Last edited:
ZeFrenchy said:
What I would do out of the training squad. I use all four Force players for the first test. I would have used Cowan at LH if he was in the squad, but I'm forced to use Ma'afu.
[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Scotland[/TD]
[TD]Wales I[/TD]
[TD]Wales II/III[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Slipper[/TD]
[TD]Robinson[/TD]
[TD]Robinson[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Fainga'a[/TD]
[TD]TPN[/TD]
[TD]Moore[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Ma'afu[/TD]
[TD]Kepu[/TD]
[TD]Kepu[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Sharpe[/TD]
[TD]Simmons[/TD]
[TD]Sharpe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Simmons[/TD]
[TD]Timani[/TD]
[TD]Pyle[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Higginbotham[/TD]
[TD]Dennis[/TD]
[TD]Higginbotham[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Pocock[/TD]
[TD]Pocock[/TD]
[TD]Pocock[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]McCalman[/TD]
[TD]Palu[/TD]
[TD]Palu[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Genia[/TD]
[TD]Genia[/TD]
[TD]Genia[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Cooper[/TD]
[TD]Barnes[/TD]
[TD]Cooper[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Morahan[/TD]
[TD]Ioane[/TD]
[TD]Ioane[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]McCabe[/TD]
[TD]Harris (?)[/TD]
[TD]McCabe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Fainga'a[/TD]
[TD]Horne[/TD]
[TD]Horne[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Tomane[/TD]
[TD]Shipperley[/TD]
[TD]Tomane[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]AAC[/TD]
[TD]AAC[/TD]
[TD]AAC[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Moore[/TD]
[TD]Moore[/TD]
[TD]TPN[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Alexander[/TD]
[TD]Palmer[/TD]
[TD]Alexander[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Pyle[/TD]
[TD]Sharpe[/TD]
[TD]Simmons[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Hooper[/TD]
[TD]Higginbotham[/TD]
[TD]Dennis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]White[/TD]
[TD]White[/TD]
[TD]White[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]Harris[/TD]
[TD]Cooper[/TD]
[TD]Barnes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Shipperley[/TD]
[TD]Tomane/Morahan/Mogg[/TD]
[TD]Morahan[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


And select for the other two tests out of performances. For the first test, if they get a healthy lead, take off Sharpe, Pocock, Genia, AAC and McCabe asap. Try to keep Moore fresh (depending on how he is after the weekend's game). I put him on the bench, but it could be TPN depending on who's on better condition.

It also depends on the Brumbies and Rebels resting players against each other... something borderline unethical imo, but that has been in the air. Taking that, probably Waratahs players won't be used against Scotland.

The Scotland test was a BAD idea. It may turn into Samoa II, or into a lot of injuries. Or both.
Click to expand...


Though I like all three of your teams, I think we must keep in mind the Australian's defensive system when Cooper is on the field: on set pieces he defends at FB or left wing position, with Ioane (left wing btw) in his fly-half spot.
This was due of course to Cooper liability in defence, but it added a lot of flair in counter attacks if the ball would be kick back by attacking team... Cooper, Beale and O'Connor can create anything from nothing!

Maybe this can be an added limit to the possible selection in the back three: Ashley-Cooper is quite familiar with this defence, as he defended both back and in the line (when Ioane was injuried) if I remember well, probably Morahan and Shipperley are because they are Reds players, but this could be intricate with Brumbies and Waratahs backs, even though Tomane played centre, maybe team mechanisms wouldn't be cemented well.


I think Morahan has more chance to play in Welsh series, than Tomane has... and probably we're gonna see a Wallaby side much more similar to the one that played Wales at RWC and December 2011.
 
Draggs said:
McCalman an injury worry then, he an Palu weren't really going to strike fear into anybody in current form.
I am waiting for the Aussies to announce the side for Scotland so I can actually try and make a 22 for the first Welsh test.
Click to expand...

It will be interesting to see who they pick vs Scotland. I'd expect it will be a second string squad mainly on Force and Reds players, very similar to the one suggested by ZeFrenchy (though maybe with Harris at 12, Morahan at 15, and Shipperly on the wing). This would leave an (almost) fresh top XV to face Wales, with only the likes of Higginbotham, Sharpe/Simmons, Genia and possibly Morahan required to backup vs Wales.
 
Who do you think will start at standoff, Darwin?
I can't see beyond Cooper myself. There really are so many potential backline combinations, when you look at AAC and Barnes in the mix.
 

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