Your 30-man RWC squad

[Mr. Laxative]

Australia has a hell of a lot of injuries atm, but come WC time, and everone is fit, I would pick this starting 15

1. Holmes
2. Paul
3. Blake
4. McMeniman (Brings some hardness into the pack that sharpe lacks)
5. Vickerman
6. Elsom
7. Smith
8. Roe (I could have picked Palu, but they are both from losing provincial teams and to me roe has played better than him this season)
9. Gregan
10. Larkham
11. Shepherd
12. Giteau
13. Mortlock
14. Mitchell
15. Latham
[/b]

Hmmm, interesting. Personally, I would have Sheperdson in at tight head rather than Blake and instead of Vickerman, Chisholm for sure! He has had an absolute blinder of a season.

My 30 man squad would be:

Front Row: Holmes, Blake, Sheperdson, Robinson
Hookers: Paul, Freier
Second Row: Chisholm, Sharpe, McMeniman, Vickerman
Back Row: Smith, Elsom, Hoiles, Palu, Roe, Tawake


Scrumhalf: Gregan, Valentine/Hodgson
Flyhalf: Larkham, Norton-Knight/Beale
Wing: Gerrard, Sheperd, Mitchell, Rathbone
Fullback: Latham, Huxley

 

[Prestwick]

1. A miracle.

I'll post something more concrete later.

 

[mimic]

Anyone think Ryan Cross will make the Wallabies 30 man squad?

 

[Juggernaut]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
:huh: Wow...Deacon Manu a Fijian...interesting
[/b]

He qualifies through his mother who's Fijian.
[/b][/quote]


Yeha, but one question baffles me truly:

Why would you WANT Deacon Manu on your team?

The man can't scrummage to save his life.
[/b][/quote]

If you didnt know already, we have a lack of depth in the front rows. The ones we got now lack experience and the technical nous to compete in the big stage.

Manu has proven himself for Waikato, Chiefs and for the NZ Maori. And that is enough to convince us.

We have to make do with what we've got.

 

[Mr. Laxative]

Anyone think Ryan Cross will make the Wallabies 30 man squad?
[/b]

Yes, I think he is definately in with a chance. Along with Walker, Schifofske, Adam A-C, etc. I'd say that the squad will probably be 35 or even 40 players so, there's definitely a chance.

 

[Dumbo]

Come RWC time here's my Pick for the Wallabies...

15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Andrew Walker, 13 Ben Tune, 12 Andrew Brown, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Nic Berry, 8 John Roe ©, 7 David Croft, 6 Mitch Chapman, 5 James Horwill, 4 Hugh McMeniman, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Tama Tuirirangi. Reserves: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Herman Hunt, 18 Ed O'Donoghue, 19 Tom McVerry, 20 Will Genia, 21 Lloyd Johansson, 22 Quade Cooper.

h34r:

 

[Rugby_Cymru]

If you didnt know already, we have a lack of depth in the front rows. The ones we got now lack experience and the technical nous to compete in the big stage.

Manu has proven himself for Waikato, Chiefs and for the NZ Maori. And that is enough to convince us.

We have to make do with what we've got.
[/b]

Fair point. I just thought i'd point out that he's a liability in the scrum.
He's good around the field tho - if that's any consolation.

 

[The TRUTH]

instead of Vickerman, Chisholm for sure[/b]

Dont be silly

Vickerman (along with Matfield) is the best lock in the world, if he's fit he'll be one of this first guys picked.

 

[Juggernaut]

Come RWC time here's my Pick for the Wallabies...

15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Andrew Walker, 13 Ben Tune, 12 Andrew Brown, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Nic Berry, 8 John Roe ©, 7 David Croft, 6 Mitch Chapman, 5 James Horwill, 4 Hugh McMeniman, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Tama Tuirirangi. Reserves: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Herman Hunt, 18 Ed O'Donoghue, 19 Tom McVerry, 20 Will Genia, 21 Lloyd Johansson, 22 Quade Cooper.

h34r:
[/b]

What??

No Henjak... No Dunning... No Tawake

If that's the team Knuckles chooses without these 3, then australia will definitely lose.

 

[Juggernaut]

Fair point. I just thought i'd point out that he's a liability in the scrum.
He's good around the field tho - if that's any consolation.
[/b]

I havent seen Manu play for his Welsh club to be honest, so I'll take your word that he's been a liability for his club.

But from his days with Waikato, I was very impressed with his scrummaging. I have also had the pleasure of playing against him once and for a prop, he's very quick around the park.

The only thing that ****** me off is that, he didnt join Fiji during the peak of his career. He's in his late 20s now and slowly beginning to lose form, so am not surprised about the 'liability' bit.

But what can we do. Beggars cant be choosers.

Right now, he's the most experienced prop we got and that is enough for us.....oh! before I forget, he can also play both sides of the scrums. As an added bonus, he plays in Wales and by now should know the strengths & weaknesses of some Welsh players.

 

[Mr. Laxative]

instead of Vickerman, Chisholm for sure[/b]

Dont be silly

Vickerman (along with Matfield) is the best lock in the world, if he's fit he'll be one of this first guys picked.
[/b]

Yeh, fair enough I suppose. Maybe instead of McMeniman, but Chisholm has got to be in the side. He has had his best season yet and has blown me away at just about everything he does... to be honest he's probably better suited in the backrow though.

 

[Juggernaut]

<div class='quotemain'>
If you didnt know already, we have a lack of depth in the front rows. The ones we got now lack experience and the technical nous to compete in the big stage.

Manu has proven himself for Waikato, Chiefs and for the NZ Maori. And that is enough to convince us.

We have to make do with what we've got.
[/b]

Fair point. I just thought i'd point out that he's a liability in the scrum.
He's good around the field tho - if that's any consolation.
[/b][/quote]

Well we can forget about Manu now..

He has not returned any e-mails sent to him by the Fiji RU. He wont be able to attend the final trials in June and that pretty much rules him out.

But we'll just have to wait and see...maybe some weeks down the line he'll change his mind.

 

[kaftka]

New Muthaf***ing Zealand

Props:
Tony Woodcock / Carl Hayman / Greg Somerville / Neemia Tialata

Hookers:
Anton Oliver / Keven Mealamu / Andrew Hore

Locks:
Chris Jack / Ali Williams / Troy Flavell / f***. Maybe Rawlinson?

Backrow:
Richie McCaw / Jerry Collins / Rodney So'oialo / Chris Masoe / Reuben Thorne


Halfbacks:
Byron Kelleher / Piri Weepu / Jimmy Cowan

First 5/8:
Dan Carter / Nick Evans

Centres:
Luke McAlister / Aaron Mauger / Conrad Smith / Iasaia Toeava

Wings:
Joe Rokocoko / Sitiveni Sivivatu / Doug Howlett

Fullback:
Mils Muliaina / Corey "I'm a Samoan mother of 5 trapped in a Ponsonby white girls body" Jane

 

[Ripper]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
If you didnt know already, we have a lack of depth in the front rows. The ones we got now lack experience and the technical nous to compete in the big stage.

Manu has proven himself for Waikato, Chiefs and for the NZ Maori. And that is enough to convince us.

We have to make do with what we've got.
[/b]

Fair point. I just thought i'd point out that he's a liability in the scrum.
He's good around the field tho - if that's any consolation.
[/b][/quote]

Well we can forget about Manu now..

He has not returned any e-mails sent to him by the Fiji RU. He wont be able to attend the final trials in June and that pretty much rules him out.

But we'll just have to wait and see...maybe some weeks down the line he'll change his mind.
[/b][/quote]
He was so close to making the All Blacks as well - if he hadn't been destroyed in the 2004 Trial Game he probably would've earnt 2 caps and been ineligible anyway


Injures have forced some changes onto the squad I picked on the First Page of the thread, but the bulk remains the same :

Props
Woodcock / Haymen / Dermody / Tialata

Hookers
Mealamu / Oliver / Hore

Locks
A. Williams / Jack / Flavell / Rawlinson

Backrowers
McCaw / Masoe / Collins / So'oialo / Braid

Halfbacks
Kellehar / Cowan / Weepu

First-Five
Carter / Evans

Centres
McAlister / Mauger / Toeava / Smith

Wingers
Rocokoko / Sivivatu / Howlett / Gear (By Default)

Fullback
Mils /(Covered by Evans and Howlett)

Matchday 22

1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. Hayman
4. Jack
5. Williams
6. Collins
7. McCaw
8. So'oialo

9. Kellehar
10. Carter
11. Sivivatu
12. McAlister
13. Toeava
14. Gear
15. Mils

16. Tialata
17. Oliver
18. Flavell
19. Masoe
20. Cowan
21. Evans
22. Howlett

 

[mimic]

Instead of Braid, I'd have Lauaki.. Anyone who can fend off McCaw deserves to be there!@!

Instead of Howlett, I'd have Leon MacDonald. Have at least 2 specialists in each position.

Mainly cos Sivivatu and Gear have that x-factor. Rokocoko can cover both sides.

 

[Ripper]

Yeah, but Panadol sucks, therefore, no spot for them.

 

[mimic]

But if Mils was to get injured.. Would you really want Evans and Howlett to play there for the rest of the tournament

 

[Dumbo]

1. Woodcock
2. Kevi
3. Hayman
4. Flavell
5. Jack
6. Collins
7. McCaw
8. Rodney
9. Weepu
10. Carter
12. McAlister
13. Toeava
11. Sivivatu
14. Gear
15. Mils
Bench:
16. Tialata
17. Oliver
18. Robinson
19. Kellehar
20. Evans
21. Rocokoko
22. McDonald

Extended Squad:
Somerville
Hore
Rawlison
A. Williams
Thorne
Cowen
Mauger
Howlett

Agree with mimic, you'd have to be 17 and really on google for all your arguments (mainly due to not having seen any live rugby before 1997, hows that 1997!) not to pick McD as the AB's backup for 15.

All in all though we can wah on till then end of the day... think Henry and Co will decide Friday on whats going on.
One little thing, wonder how McAlistair would get on at 15? I'd back him (even without time in that position).
Think this season pre world cup the AB's will be looking for players that can easily play more than one position.

With big emphasis on the backline...

Flavell - 4,5 and 6
Collins - 6 and 8
McCaw - 6,7 and 8
Rodney - 6,7 and 8
Weepu - 9 and 10
Carter - 10,12 and 15
McAlister - 10,12 and 15
Toeava - 12, 13 and 15
Sivivatu - 11, 14 and 15
Gear - 11, 14 and 15
Mils - 13 and 15

Robinson - 4, 5, 6 and 8
Evans - 10 and 15
Rocokoko - 11 and 14
McDonald - 10, 13, 15

 

[Ripper]

No way Masoe is not picked, and no way in hell any sane coach picks a 4 back, 3 foward bench with no Loose Foward Cover.

McAlister has the skill set to be a 15, much more than Panadols, although 12 is definatly his future when he resigns with the NZRFU next week.

Originally posted by Mimic
But if Mils was to get injured.. Would you really want Evans and Howlett to play there for the rest of the tournament

Without hesitation, Evans is a better Fullback anyway, and as a bonus won't get knocked out by a light breeze - And he can actually cover another position, unlike Panadol.

 

[Dumbo]

Got to laugh at that! Very fair.

Also lookinbg back on it I'll pick Mose over Rodney