Your RWC Squad following the June Internationals

[big ginger 8]

So as this thread is basically mandatory I thought I might as well as well get it started.

So just over a year out here's my 31 man squad for Ireland. I'm presuming they'll be 31 man squads at least because of the extra prop.

Looseheads: Healy, McGrath, Kilcoyne - James Cronin may force his way ahead of Kilcoyne but other than that there's no one who looks like they'll challenge for a spot.

Hookers: Best, Cronin, Strauss - they're the best options really but given how things have gone one will probably be injured a Munster hooker or Herring might get in.

Tightheads - Ross, Moore - I already used the extra prop so McGrath would probably have to cover on the bench vs Canada or something. If Fitzpatrick gets fit (ha likely story) he'd have a chance after that I'd say Furlong but he's third choice at his club.

Locks: O'Connell (c), Toner, Tuohy, Henderson - pretty clear really, Henderson would cover blindside as well obviously.

Backrow: O'Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip, Henry, Ruddock - think they're pretty settled and each apart from Heaslip cover more than one position.

Scrumhalf: Murray, Reddan, Marmion - Although Schmidt doesn't seem to particulary rate Marmion he won't really have a choice the way Boss' form fell off a cliff this season.

Outhalves: Sexton, Jackson - clear top two imo

Centres: D'arcy, Marshall, Cave - definitely the most up in the air position so much more could happen than I could list but I hope Olding comes back as the player I have in my head.

Backthree: R. Kearney, Trimble, Bowe, Payne, Fitzgerald - the toughest area to pick no matter who is picked people are going to be annoyed about one exclusion. Fitzgerald will probably be injured and possibly Earls as well.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

What we think is likely or what we want to see? For SA there might be a helluva difference between the two.

 

[TRF_heineken]

What we think is likely or what we want to see? For SA there might be a helluva difference between the two.

Is it? I think we're getting to the equal ground spot... There's a lot that can still happen and plenty of games left to get it as close to perfect as possible.

 

[Draggs]

South Africa: Fullbacks: Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn. Wings: Bryan Habana, Ashwin Willemse, Akona Ndungane, JP Pietersen. Centres: Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier. Flyhalves: Butch James, Andre Pretorius. Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Enrico Januarie, Ruan Pienaar. Loose Forwards: Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Bob Skinstad, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Wikus van Heerden. Locks: Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Albert van den Berg, Johann Muller. Props: CJ van der Linde, Os du Randt, BJ Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp. Hookers: Gary Botha, John Smit(captain).

Worth nothing JdP and BdP also joined as injury replacements (as well as Wayne Julies!!!)

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Well, are Jannie du Plessis and Guthro Steenkamp really among our 5 best props still? There is Malherbe, Oosthuizen, Adriaanse, Marcel van der Merwe, Heinke van der Merwe, Beast who I believe are our best. So half of those won't make it

3rd hooker beyond Du Plessis and Strauss is probably only an academic excersize and there are numerous options so no problems there unless we are very unlucky with injuries.

Of the lock options; Etzebeth is a shoe-in, Matfield and Botha will probably get in on reputation unless they are playing absolutely poor which they probably won't. Of those 2 I would only take Matfield as I think his captaincy has a lot to do with us winning over Wales in game 2. Then there is Flip and Franco van der Merwe (damn, there are a lot of van der Merwe's vying for the tight five), Lood de Jager and Pieter-Steph du Toit. We can only take 4 maybe 5. Maybe injuries makes the decision for us but I'd leave Botha and Flip van der Merwe- who I can see give away silly penalties in tight games- so my 4'd be Etzebeth/Matfield/Du Toit/De Jager

Loose forward should be pretty straight forward. Pick Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen, Botha and Burger and you're good to go. I'd like to take Brussow along for specialist cover or add another lock to get to 18 forwards. But we all know Brussow might as well be dead as far as HM is concerend.

Fourie du Preez. Who else? Pienaar and Hougaard but they shouldn't be there IMO.

I'm going to sleep now; was a rough weekend and I feel old and knackered.

 

[LittleGuy]

Canada.

Hooker: Carpenter, Barkwill, Piffero. Prop: Buydens, Marshall, Tieddemann, Wooldridge, Ilnicki. Lock: Cudmore, Hotson, Phelan, Beukeboom. Loosies: Ardron, Sinclair, Moonlight, Dala, Kleeberger Scrumhalves: Mack, McRorie. Flyhalves: Jones, Underwood, Braid. Centres: Hearn, Van De Merwe, Trainor. Wings: Hassler, Paris, Mackenzie Fullbacks: Pritchard, Evans.

Non Travelling reserves: Prop: Dolezel, Sears-Duru, Loosies: Flagg, Gilmour. Scrumhalf: White, Mackenzie Flyhalf: Hirayama. Centres: Blevins Wings: Duke Fullback: Fitzpatrick

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Hmmm it's hard to say for NZ, especially given there are a few players coming back who are likely to force there way into contention (likewise there are a few players who have not yet indicated what they are doing next year!).

Hooker - Coles, Mealamu, one of Coltman, Marshall, Harris, MacDonald, Elliot
Prop - Franks, Woodcock, Faumuina, two of Crockett, Franks, Moody
Lock - Whitelock, Retallick, two of Bird, Romano, Tuipulotu
Loose Forward - McCaw, Cane, Read, Kaino, Messam/Vito
Halfback - Smith, Kerr-Barlow, Perenara
First Five - Carter, Cruden, Barrett
Centre - Nonu, Smith, Williams, Kahui/Fekitoa
Outside Back - Dagg, Smith, Piutau, Savea

Injuries will certainly make it easier to decide who stays and who goes.

Other players who could possibly force themselves into contention and will be right on the fringes are Afeaki, Todd, Luatua, Saili, Crotty, Jane and Gear. We're stuck in a situation whereby we'll be leaving out at least a couple of players who would easily make it into starting XV's for the other tier 1 nations.

 

[Big Ewis]

France: doesn't matter in the slightest, will be coached by the current staff.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

For England, presuming they're fit and on form:

Props: Corbisiero, Marler, Mako Vunipola, Davy Wilson and Dan Cole.
Outsiders: Mullen, Brookes, Sinckler
Hookers: Hartley, Webber, Youngs
Outsiders: Joe Gray
Locks: Lawes, Launchbury, Parling and Attwood
Outsiders: Ed Slater
back row: Robshaw, Wood, Billy Vunipola, Morgan and between Croft, Haskell and Kvesic. I think it will be Croft.

Scrum halves: Care, Dickson, Youngs
Outsiders: Wigglesworth, Simpson.
Fly-Halves: Farrell and Burns.
Outsiders: Cipriani, Ford, Myler
Centres: Twelvetrees, Burrell, Tuilagi, Barritt
Outsiders: Eastmond, Devoto
Wings: Yarde, Wade, Watson
Outsiders: Ashton, Nowell, Foden, May.
Full back: Brown, Goode
Outsiders: Pennell