Looking ahead to the Under 21 WC
Following on from Australia’s third place in the Under 19’s World Championship eyes now turn to the Under 21’s later in the year.
In some ways as a result of a horror year of injuries in Australian Super 14, many of our young stars have now had significant S14 experience.
Assuming the Selectors are given a free hand to select our strongest squad we could well see a squad full of contracted players selected.
Assuming the selection criteria doesn’t change for eligibility this year, ie two year window of 01/01/86-31/12/88, here is an example of the young talent on offer
Super 14:
Geoff Abram, Reds Senior Squad, Uncapped
Berrick Barnes, Reds Senior Squad, 11 Caps
Caleb Brown, Reds Senior Squad, 10 Caps
Quade Cooper, Reds Senior Squad, 8 Caps
Pekahou Cowan, Force Senior Squad, 1 Cap
Michael Dan, Force Academy Squad, Uncapped
Scott Daruda, Force Senior Squad, 8 Caps
David Dennis, Waratahs Senior Squad, 1 Cap
Anthony Faingaa, Brumbies Senior Squad, 3 Caps
Saia Faingaa, Brumbies Senior Squad, 14 Caps
Charlie Fetoai, Reds Senior Squad, 8 Caps
AJ Gilbert, Reds Senior Squad, Uncapped
Will Genia, Reds Senior Squad, 9 Caps
Tom Hockings, Force Academy Squad, Uncapped
Josh Holmes, Waratahs Senior Squad, 2 Caps
Christian Lealiifano, Brumbies Rookie Contract
Alfi Mafi, Waratahs Academy Squad, Uncapped
David Pocock, Force Senior Squad, 10 Caps
Beau Robinson, Waratahs Senior Squad, 7 Caps
Nathan Sievert, Waratahs Academy Squad, 1 Cap
Richard Stanford, Brumbies Senior Squad, Uncapped
Brett Stapleton, Force Senior Squad, Uncapped
Jeremy Tilse, Waratahs Senior Squad, 1 Cap
Lachlan Turner, Waratahs Senior Squad, 6 Caps
John Ulugia, Brumbies Rookie Contract, 1 Cap
Brando Va’aulu, Reds Senior Squad, 9 Caps
*Leroy Houston, ex Waratahs
* Tajhon Mailata, ex Force
There are 19 of the 28 man 2006 Australian Under 21 Squad available to go around again:
Pekahou Cowan, Jack Kennedy, John Ulugia, Geoff Abram, Saia Faingaa, Richard Stanford, Michael Dan, Tom Hockings, Patrick McCutcheon, Leroy Houston, Dominic Fuller, Josh Holmes, Scott Daruda, Christian Lealiifano, Anthony Faingaa, Caleb Brown, Liam Bibo, Tajhon Mailata, Brando Va’alu
And further, 21 of the 26 man 2007 Australian Under 19 Squad are age eligible also:
Ben Daley, Tetera Faulkner, Daniel Palmer, James Hanson, Daniel Penca, Sam Wykes, Chris Harkins, Rodney Maa, Ben McCalman, Michael Uoka, Dan Robinson, Jason Ryan, Jeremy Su'a, John Grant, Andrew Barrett, Brett Gillespie, Mitchell Inman, Rowan Kellam, Blair Connor, Alfi Mafi, Patrick McCabe.
In all, a very strong side can be selected on paper with an approximate (as at round 11-12) 73 S14 combined Caps in the below combination!
Potential Australian Under 21 Selection:
1. Pekahou Cowan
2. Saia Faingaa ©
3. John Ulugia
4. Richard Stanford
5. Tom Hockings
6. Patrick McCutcheon
7. David Pocock (vc)
8. AJ Gilbert
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Caleb Brown
12. Berrick Barnes (vc)
13. Anthony Faingaa
14. Brett Stapleton
15. Lachlan Turner
16. Geoff Abram
17. Jeremy Tilse
18. Michael Dan
19. Beau Robinson
20. Josh Holmes
21. Scott Daruda
22. Brando Va’aulu
