Wallabies for June tests

[madflyhalf]

Wallabies will deal with some injuries to key player in the backs, this year.

I don't know how Quade Cooper recovery is going, but the absence of both Mitchell and Turner, could be a problem because JOC probably won't be there to cover the wing spot.
One who's playing very well in the last matches is Mark Gerrard, I can see a possible come back in the Wallabies, he can give a good powerful boot and cover of 15-11-13 spot.
I thought he would wear Wallaby jersey n. 12, but news upon his injury are not good, and it seems he will miss the Scotland test, and maybe some of the Wales test as well.

Sharpe is retiring, I don't think he will play the international season after SuperXV, and with Dan Vickerman still out, there gonna be trouble also here.

It's also a problem the midfield selection, McCabe experiment can work in some particular matches, but not always, they need a good playmaker outside Cooper, but with JOC out for a while and Barnes not performing well, I think we're gonna see brand new faces also here.

What is good for me, is the backrower: Pocock is in an outstanding form, Palu is on the field again, and a lot of youngsters and new faces can get their call!
James Hanson is playing quite good, he's still young and there's room for improvement, and another good sign is Brendan McKibbin and Nic White are performing well and IMO, after the departure of Burgess and the implosion of Phipps this year, White is Will Genia backup now!


Starting from the RWC squad (more or less, injuries and retirements apart) I think they can't leave out of selection Dom Shipperley, Luke Morahan and Tom Kingston, in the backs; Dingo needs to try new solution in the back three, dealing with the probably absence of both Cooper and JOC for the first test;

In the forward pack, it's since last year S15 that I've been impressed by Liam Gill, who's still only 19! I think he would be tested this year, along with fellow Jake Schatz, because Samo is feeling the age and they need a good n. 8 like air to breath. Ben Mowen is playing well with the Brumbies and Dave Dennis too.

A couple of new faces in the second row too, with the impressive Luke Jones of the Rebels and WF sr Toby Lynn, with Dave Dennis can cover 2nd row!

Nothing should change in the front row, with the returns of Benn Robinson (with some extra kilos... :huh, I just hope to not see Salesi Ma'afu again: bring Holmes, Cowan, Owen whoever, but not Ma'afu!; between the hookers Nathan Charles is probably the 2nd choice right now!


Possible extended squad for june (35 players):

Outside backs: Kurtley Beale, Digby Ioane, Mark Gerrard, Tom Kingston, Dom Shipperley, Luke Morahan
Inside backs: Quade Cooper, James O'Connor, Pat McCabe, Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne
Scrum halves: Will Genia, Nic White, Brendan McKibbin
Backrowers: Rocky Elsom, David Pocock, Radike Samo, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Ben Mowen, Jake Schatz, Wycliff Palu can be there in place of Mowen or Schatz...
Locks: James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Luke Jones, Toby Lynn
Props: Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper
Hookers: Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Saia Fainga'a, Nathan Charles


In red there are players in doubt, and in bold new faces.

Against Scotland, if the 3 injuried aren't available yet, I'd like to see:

15. Kurtley Beale
14. Luke Morahan
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
12. Rob Horne
11. Digby Ioane
10. Berrick Barnes
9. Will Genia
8. Jake Schatz/Ben Mowen/Wycliff Palu
7. Liam Gill
6. Rocky Elsom
5. James Horwill (c)
4. Rob Simmons
3. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore
1. Benn Robinson

16. Nathan Charles, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Luke Jones, 19. David Pocock, 20. Nic White, 21. Pat McCabe, 22. Tom Kingston


Some players have to regain form and pace for test level (Elsom, Palu, Robinson), some others must be tested (Gill, Morahan, Schatz), and some have to adapt due to injuries (Rob Horne).
I think this could be a well balanced team, a mix of experience, youth and freshness that can display an outline of the future Wallabies for the 2012-2013 season.

For Wales series they must return to the best team available in terms of structures and experience, at least for the first 2 tests, then they can rotate some players, if the goal is reached.
Hoping JOC and QC are back...

15. Kurtley Beale
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
13. Rob Horne
12. James O'Connor
11. Digby Ioane
10. Quade Cooper
9. Will Genia
8. Ben McCalman
7. David Pocock
6. Rocky Elsom
5. James Horwill (c)
4. Rob Simmons
3. Sekope Kepu
2. Stephen Moore
1. Benn Robinson

16. TPN, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Luke Jones, 19. Scott Higginbotham/Liam Gill, 20. Nic White, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22. Pat McCabe/Luke Morahan/Mark Gerrard

 

[big ginger 8]

Hugh Pyle should be there IMO.

 

[madflyhalf]

Mmm dunno... he played quite well til now IMO, but Luke Jones was better, and Toby Lynn looks a great worker in the tight and in the scrum, they need 2nd row push in the tight five, as they had big problem there in the last few years, much more than compared to the eternal problem of the front rowers.
Aussie scrum always looked too loose, to me...

 

[big ginger 8]

I think his ball carrying would be important.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I think not all the players will be available for the Scotland match (Super 15 final round or something), plus, there is only three days between the Scotland game and the first Wales test. So, a squad of Reds/Force for Scotland of players that won't be missed against Wales... I'll give it a go:
1. Pek Cowan
2. James Hanson
3. James Slipper
4. Nathan Sharpe (cheating here)
5. James Horwill
6. Ben McCalman
7. Liam Gill
8. Scott Higginbotham (good game to try him there)
9. Will Genia (maybe half a game)
10. Quade Cooper (to get him going, maybe then not play him the 1st test against Wales)
11. Digby Ioane
12. Ben Tabuai
13. Ant Fainga'a
14. Rod Davies
15. Cameron Shepherd

While making the team I noticed how hard it is and how non-Wallaby looking. The ARU are real genuis...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think his ball carrying wood be important.

I recall a few weeks ago you were telling me that I had terrible grammar.

 

[madflyhalf]

I think not all the players will be available for the Scotland match (Super 15 final round or something), plus, there is only three days between the Scotland game and the first Wales test. So, a squad of Reds/Force for Scotland of players that won't be missed against Wales... I'll give it a go:
1. Pek Cowan
2. James Hanson
3. James Slipper
4. Nathan Sharpe (cheating here)
5. James Horwill
6. Ben McCalman
7. Liam Gill
8. Scott Higginbotham (good game to try him there)
9. Will Genia (maybe half a game)
10. Quade Cooper (to get him going, maybe then not play him the 1st test against Wales)
11. Digby Ioane
12. Ben Tabuai
13. Ant Fainga'a
14. Rod Davies
15. Cameron Shepherd

While making the team I noticed how hard it is and how non-Wallaby looking. The ARU are real genuis...

Ah yeah! You're right about selection of Reds and WF mainly! Put Morahan and Shipperley for Davies and/or Shepherd... Davies is awful, can't kick, can't tackle, just runs fast.

I didn't consider Cameron Shepherd, even though I always liked him, because he seems to made by crystal... injury prone and he's out again for 6 weeks (wrist).
When on the pitch he is one of the most solid fb in rugby, but he doesn't use to last too much...


Well, reading what I've wrote, doesn't make much sense...

 

[big ginger 8]

I recall a few weeks ago you were telling me that I had terrible grammar.

Have you not realised by now I'm a hypocrite maybe I'm even being hypocritical by saying I'm a hypocrite.

 

[dullonien]

From what I understand, it doesn't look like Copper or O'Connor are going to be fit, in the same way Warburton and Davies look set to miss out as well. I'm a little disappointed we won't be seeing two full strength teams going head to head, but injuries on both sides even things up somewhat. Aus look harder hit though, so it'll be interesting to see how they go.

What should we expect from the Aussie scrum this Summer? It's always one of the big talking points when Aus play, so thought we might as well get it out of the way early. The Aussie scrum is always much improved when Benn Robinson plays, but are they going to be able to stand up to the Welsh? Adam Jones is in the form of his life (he's getting better and better), and has been munching opposition scrums all season. There's a possibility of Richard Hibbard starting at hooker, and he's one of the best scrummaging hookers going. Jenkins' scrummaging has improved over the years (don't read anything into his Blues performances here), and is now part of a very strong front-row unit. When we add Paul James on the bench, Aus are up against one of the best scrummaging units going at the moment, and I wonder how big a factor it's going to be.

 

[madflyhalf]

Thanks for the news on JOC and QC, I didn't understand well what was happening! I'm pretty sure JOC won't be selected for Scotland test, but I think both will be ready for at least 2nd test against Wales.

Good call about Aussie and Welsh scrum, can't wait for Wales tests!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I think Mike Harris might end up in there.

Also Toby Lynn isn't cut out for international rugby - he's not even good enough to make NZ Super Rugby sides. Surely you have better players?

 

[madflyhalf]

Toby Lynn is nz??
Didn't know that!

Well... at this point Hugh Pyle in for him!

 

[cyRil]

Toby Lynn is nz??

He used to do a great job warming benches in Taranaki.

 

[madflyhalf]

I think Sheehan can get a call for the first test against Scotland, he's playing well in this season, looks hungry for work in each game!
IMO he deserves it...

 

[welshglory]

Aus don't really have much options at 9 do they, i mean Sheehan's always been a pretty average player

 

[Melhor Time]

Outside backs: Kurtley Beale, Digby Ioane, Mark Gerrard, Tom Kingston, Dom Shipperley, Luke Morahan

Blair Connor of Bordeaux-Begles is better than all except Beale and Ioane. He´s been really good for Bordeaux this season and the ARU really should get him as he should be in the Wallabies. He is only 23 and France may well pick him if Australia don´t!



He got a good try yesterday in the win over Brive. When I see a youtube or dailymotion video of it I´ll stick it up.