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John Connolly | May 17, 2009
In the next 10 days Robbie Deans will announce his 30-man Wallabies squad for the four June Tests and I expect it to be the strongest team in many years.
With the amount of talent on show this season and the strong form of some of our best players, I expect the Wallabies selectors to name an experienced squad, with strength in the forwards and incredible flexibility in the backs.
The two games against Italy won't be great challenges, but they'll be well used by Deans to rotate his team and get them into a good rhythm ahead of the Tri Nations.
France, meanwhile, are apparently committed to sending a full-strength side, but will be backing up from playing the All Blacks two weeks before. Still, this will be a very worthwhile hit-out.
As loose-heads, I expect Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander to be named. Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau will be the hookers. Al Baxter is an automatic selection at tight-head, and Guy Shepherdson should come back into the side with Matt Dunning injured and Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu having little time in the Super 14.
Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill and Mark Chisholm should fill three of the lock positions, with the loss of Hugh McMeniman leaving a fourth position vacant, possibly for Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin or hard-working Waratah Will Caldwell.
The No.8s will be Wycliff Palu and Richard Brown, Wallabies tourists last year, with Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles the third contender.
Dean Mumm will be first-picked for the blindside, though Mitchell Chapman and the ever-improving Ben Mowen from NSW could come into contention. At open-side flanker there's George Smith, Phil Waugh and the emerging David Pocock. With the ARU throwing money at Smith to stay, he will be the first picked.
Waugh has probably been the form open-side of past weeks, but the issues he had in re-signing with the ARU indicate he could be overlooked, unfortunately, for the younger Pocock. It'll be a tough call on Waugh if he misses out but there is room for only 16 forwards.
Although he lost his spot to Brett Sheehan in the Super 14, Luke Burgess should be picked at halfback, with Sheehan and Josh Valentine his back-up. All have a lot of improving to do.
Matt Giteau's strong recommendation for Valentine and influence on Valentine joining him at the Brumbies will be taken into consideration.
The best two five-eighths in the country are clearly Giteau and Berrick Barnes, with Barnes having the added flexibility of being able to play No.12.
Stirling Mortlock being shifted to the wing for the Brumbies won't help his cause, and I'm sure it's been discussed long and hard where he sits in the Wallabies set-up. But he should get selected, he can play 12 or 13.
Ryan Cross has done nothing wrong with the Force and he will be selected. The only issue is he and Mortlock will be 32 and 34 respectively at the next World Cup.
Timana Tahu has shown form of late and the investment in him won't be wasted, so I expect him to be there. James O'Connor, Rob Horne and Matt Toomua are vying for the remaining position.
The form wingers are Lote Tuqiri, Peter Hynes and Lachie Turner, and with Digby Ioane and Cameron Shepherd having suffered season-ending injuries, Deans could throw the net wide and pick the Brumbies' Francis Fainifo.
The two fullback spots are causing the coach the biggest angst, with Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell spending time there, but more comfortable out wide.
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I like Robbie Deans. Don't let me down!
Originally Posted by TommyM
Courtesy of quality South African commentry
