Wallabies named for first test (is it confirmed?)

[UNCLE BOOG]

not a peep about the announcement? (or is this just media-speculation?)

Australia: Berrick Barnes, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, Digby Ioane, James O'Connor, Will Genia; Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, James Horwill (capt), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Liam Gill, Nick Phipps, Pat McCabe, Kurtley Beale

(article spends 2/5ths talking about Izzy)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226666631131

[valzc]

Been announced on the Roar - no Cummins or MMM tho.

[GAFFA]

lions team just announced

Lions team:

15. Halfpenny
14. North
13. O'Driscoll
12. J Davies
11. Cuthbert
10. Sexton
9. Phillips
8. Heaslip
7. Warburton
6. Croft
5. O'Connell
4. A W Jones
3. Jones
2. T Youngs
1. Corbisiero

16. Hibbard
17. Vunipola
18. Cole
19. Parling
20. Lydiate
21. B Youngs
22. Farrell
23. Maitland

[shasta]

Been announced on the Roar - no Cummins or MMM tho.

Was not expecting HB to get a gig. But pretty disappointed to see Simmons on the bench ahead of MMM. Maybe they think he needs a bit more game time. Hopefully those outside the match day 22 will again be released to play club. Nobody could argue with Mowen earning a first cap. Interesting decision to play Barnes at FB will probably see him and JOC interchanging roles. Lilo is a good call call at 12 IMO. We might see him also play first receiver at times. It's nice to see form and leadership being rewarded. Wallabies by 7.

[Hansie]

Remember Wallabies...this is a team game...all of you in the team pass the ball to Izzy.

[Piston]

Was not expecting HB to get a gig. But pretty disappointed to see Simmons on the bench ahead of MMM. Maybe they think he needs a bit more game time. Hopefully those outside the match day 22 will again be released to play club. Nobody could argue with Mowen earning a first cap. Interesting decision to play Barnes at FB will probably see him and JOC interchanging roles. Lilo is a good call call at 12 IMO. We might see him also play first receiver at times. It's nice to see form and leadership being rewarded. Wallabies by 7.

I'm surprised Douglas is ahead of both Simmons and MMM.
Posted via Mobile Device

[palitu]

And isn't ioane just coming back from injury?
Posted via Mobile Device

[GIGS20]

not a peep about the announcement? (or is this just media-speculation?)

Australia: Berrick Barnes, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, Digby Ioane, James O'Connor, Will Genia; Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, James Horwill (capt), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Liam Gill, Nick Phipps, Pat McCabe, Kurtley Beale

(article spends 2/5ths talking about Izzy)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226666631131

Is it me or does everybody here think this team is pretty shite.

The reserves are a litany of everything that's wrong with Robbie Deans IMHO, being heavily populated with his favourite bum-boys like S Finger and Pat McDon't cross the Advantage line whilst simultaneously holding some players who deserve the start like Slipper and Kepu (aren't they both Tight Heads?)

to back up Barnes with Beale (or is it O'Connor with Beale?) is incredibly risky, Ioane is coming back off injury, Simmons is ........ crap, there just isn't a lot to get excited about.

The joy of seeing a Super rugby b side roll the Lions b side is being tarnished by the names we see in the "A" side.

ps Why is Australia so short on flankers that we still pick Palu in big games? surely even Samo is better?

[jargan83]

The Lions side is full of Welshman

Lions will lead for 79 minutes before falling apart

[WF2404]

FULL LISTING:
The Qantas Wallabies team to play the British & Irish Lions in the opening Test for the Tom Richards Cup on Saturday June 22 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (kick-off: 8.05pm AEST, 11.05am UKST) is:


15. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)

14. Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)

12. Christian Leali’ifano (Brumbies)

11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)

10. James O’Connor (Melbourne Rebels)

9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)

8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)

7. Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs)

6. Ben Mowen (Brumbies)

5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds, captain)

4. Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs)

3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)

2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)

1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)


Run on Reserves:


16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)

17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)

18. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)

19. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)

20. Liam Gill (Queensland Reds)

21. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)

22. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)

22. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)

[WF2404]

Looking at this again there is no doubt in my mind that MMM should be there instead of Simmons! Does Pat McCabe offer as much as Cummins... I'm slightly surprised by having Barnes at Fullback. I would have thought Beale would have slotted in there with Barnes on the bench.

[AndyS]

That bench fairly screams that the game plan is start with what we don't normally do, then switch to normal if it doesn't work...

[GIGS20]

Looking at this again there is no doubt in my mind that MMM should be there instead of Simmons! Does Pat McCabe offer as much as Cummins... I'm slightly surprised by having Barnes at Fullback. I would have thought Beale would have slotted in there with Barnes on the bench.

Barnes at Fullback is the one novel selection that I agree with. He has a good technical head, Kicks a lot better than any other option we have there and has proven he knows how to manage an attacking break when he has threats running off him. He doesn't seem aggressive enough to be a 10 but would make a great backup to whoever we do pu tin the 10 shirt.

Of course, with Barnes in the 15 Cooper would be a better choice at 10, because, whilst being a totally loose cannon, when it's on, there's nobody better in Australia at running the football.

Other than that: Folau on the wing is crazy, he's never played there, O'Connor at 10, Poor, Lazy choice, there are better ones who haven't been in the Wallabies set up for years, McCabe, Palu and Simmons anywhere in Australia when the tests are being played.....just plain bad!

[Stone Cold]

Only four Brumbies in the line-up will cost us big time.

Simmons out and MMM in at the very least.

[The InnFORCEr]

Lions by 15