2010 Wallabies Squad Announced

[zimeric]

I think he'll hang around for at least another 2 years.. he seemed to come right in the last 2 games

[Sheikh]

No Sheehan, and no Fairbrother, either. Seriously, how does Slipper get picked ahead of Fairbrother? He might end up the best Super 14 player not to get capped.

[jazza93]

A few surprises, i would of picked Phill Waugh but i guess if he isn't in the WC plans there is a good reason to leave him out. Although, without him and Smith we don't have a world class 7 so i don't know whats up there. But the you can't really argue with that squad of 30, it pretty much picked itself.

For game 1 i would like to see:

1. Ben Alexander
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Mark Chisholm
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Matt Hodgeson
8. Richard Brown/Stephen Hoiles
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Peter Hynes
12. Matt Giteau
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Digby Ioane
15. James O'Conner

[James]

A few surprises, i would of picked Phill Waugh but i guess if he isn't in the WC plans there is a good reason to leave him out. Although, without him and Smith we don't have a world class 7

David Pocock is far and away a world class 7. You could count the days before he overtakes Richie McCaw. McCaw isn't the force he used to be- too many head knocks. Besides the way Matt Hodgson has been playing he makes a perfect backup 7.

I reckon Robbie is probably just making Phil work for it. Maybe he figures Waugh will respond like Sharpie has.

[chiraag]

Although, without him and Smith we don't have a world class 7...

6. Rocky Elsom
7. Matt Hodgeson
8. Richard Brown/Stephen Hoiles

I think you might be forgetting about Pocock!
Proved himself to be world class on the spring tour last year and has been dominant when on the field this season at super 14 as well. He'd be one of the first players picked in the first 15 I would imagine.

[laura]

No Sheps
I know he hasnt played much but still, he's the kind of player who doesn't need to play every week to prove his worth. Congrats to the other Force kids though.

[jazza93]

yea i forgot pocock

I think we need a rucking crazy, turnover mad #7 and i think Hodgeson has been better in that aspect of the game this season. Im sure others think Pocock had a better season but it depends what your looking for. By world class i mean someone to match McCaw like Smith and Waugh did, but i think its another year or two before we see these two living up to that reputation.

So i stick with Elsom, Hodgo and Brown. Although Hoiles will be close to that #8 jersey that Palu left open.

[slomo]

i dont think its the last weve seen of waugh in the green and gold.....

[AndyS]

From our end no Cross, Dunning, Fairbrother, Sheehan or Shepherd, even in the mid-weekers. None surprising per se, but I would imagine all would have been hoping for a chance to press their case. They'll struggle to push their way in from club level.

Wonder if it might have an effect on contract negotiations...?

[Nipper]

Would've liked to see Inman in the Barbos squad...

[Burgs]

It might not be fair to the player, but Deans could give Waugh a phone call the bight before the first RWC match and he would be ready to go (assuming he keeps playing next year as has been suggested).
He is an experienced player and the role of a #7 doesn't change greatly between sides.
I agree it probably isn't the last we have seen of him for the Wallabies, but only because of Smiths retirement.

Will have to agree to disagree on your view of the form #7 Jazza.

[jazza93]

The good thing about this is we have such good quality backrowers to pick from. It looks like for the first time in YEARS we could possibly match the NZ backrow.

[TommyM]

Interesting that higginbotham didn't make the cut either, after most people (eastern staters at least) have been almost pencilling him in the starting 15.

I think you'll find that's only because he is injured. He'll be back in the frame once fit.

[GIGS20]

From our end no Cross, Dunning, Fairbrother, Sheehan or Shepherd, even in the mid-weekers. None surprising per se, but I would imagine all would have been hoping for a chance to press their case. They'll struggle to push their way in from club level.

Wonder if it might have an effect on contract negotiations...?

Dunning worked his way in from clubland coming back from his Achilles, so there's no reason the others can't.

IMHO the best chance for that is Sheeno, since Genia's hurt and Burgess will be given the start in the early games.......they'll be scrambling for a backup halfback with some skills.

It appears Deans wants more of a ballplayer at half, Genia (Although I see him as a similar nuggety ball running half like Sheehan) certainly has the silky ball skills required of this, and Burgess tries to be that kind of player.....unfortunately without the skills.

Valentine will start with the Brumbies and stink it up all over the park, he's half the reason Gits stank at 10..........the other half was that Gits thinks of himself as a one man team, give him as many bad passes as Valo does and it's bound to kill the game comletely.

Fairbrother also has a far better chance of breaking in from club rugby than Dunning....the others wouldn't really be on the radar right now.

[Timbo]

An interesting comparison to the 2007 World Cup Squad:

7 Retained: Mark Chisholm, Nathan Sharpe, Stephen Hoiles, Rocky Elsom, Matt Giteau, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell

23 Missing: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Alistair Baxter, Sam Cordingley, Matt Dunning, Adam Freier, Mark Gerrard, George Gregan (vc), Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes, Julian Huxley, Stephen Larkham, Chris Latham, David Lyons, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Moore, Stirling Mortlock (c), Wycliff Palu, Guy Shepherdson, George Smith, Scott Staniforth, Lote Tuqiri, Dan Vickerman, Phil Waugh (vc)

Until I did this, I had not really noticed that AAC has been overlooked. Interesting.