RWC TEAM

[Buddha Handy]

Preferred starting line-up:
1. Benn Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. James Horwill
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. David Pocock
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Lachie Turner
12. Adam Ashley-Cooper
13. Digby Ioane
14. James O'Connor
15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Rocky Elsom
19. Matt Hodgson
20. Nick Phipps
21. Berrick Barnes
22. Cameron Shepherd

pretty good looking team, not a big fan of Turner though, would obviously prefer Mitchell if he recovers. Do you guys not rate Morahan?

[James]

I do, but I think he is too inexperienced.

Turner's game against the ABs last year (can't remember if it was Sydney or Auckland) was solid. The guy works hard.

[normie]

Wykes must be close.

[GIGS20]

Buddha, morahan's too green in a spot which (apart from the growing injury toll) is overloaded with highly experienced, quality players, next year for him.

Normie, he'll be in the squad, but there's some experience before him. I'll be filthy if Mumm gets a slot before him though!

Some people are saying he's the form lock at the Force. Since Sharpie's a walk up start, that would have to mean Sammy could crack a game against Samoa to see how he handles the international scene.

[zimeric]

I think wykes has done a lot of work on his dropsie affliction hes had in previous years ... Hes always gone hard but never protected the ball enough in the collision.. Seems to have got that sorted now and he has picked up great lineout technique from sharpie...
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[SNOB]

I hope Wykes gets his chance I think he deserves it.
I was down at the Lakes on Sat and a couple opf youngsters were running around with the ball and one shouted out " I'm Sam Wykes" now thats a complement!

[BDAVEY]

Props: Kepu, Robinson, Slipper, Longbottom
Hookers: TPN (Faingaa), Moore, Charles
Locks: Sharpe, Horwill, Simmons, Vickerman (Mumm)
Backrowers: Pocock, Higginbotham, Palu (Samo), Elsom (Kimlin), Hodgson, McCalman.
9s: Genia, Phipps, Burgess
Inside backs: Cooper, Barnes (Ant Faingaa), Giteau
Centres: Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane
Wings: James O'Connor, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell (Pat McCabe)
Fullbacks: Kurtley Beale, Cameron Shepherd

Those guys I've bracketed are next cab off the rank for guys who are under an injury cloud.

Preferred starting line-up:
1. Benn Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. James Horwill
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. David Pocock
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Lachie Turner
12. Adam Ashley-Cooper
13. Digby Ioane
14. James O'Connor
15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Rocky Elsom
19. Matt Hodgson
20. Nick Phipps
21. Berrick Barnes
22. Cameron Shepherd

Yep I think you have got the squad sorted here..... Like to see Robinson in here if ne recovers with the injury.. maybe instead of Hodgson, Ben Mac ahead of Palu.maybe

[James]

Sam Wykes is a highly talented rugby player and has been going great guns in the Force second row. But he is just too slight and too short to be an international lock. His best chance of making the Wallabies in the long run is at 6 or 8.

There is a bit of a black hole of second row talent in Australian rugby and it is looking unlikely that Van Humphries, Nathan Sharpe, Dan Vickerman, Mark Chisholm, Ali Campbell, Adam Wallace Harrison, and Ben Hand will be playing Super Rugby in or past 2013. Now we have some talented young guys running around but that shortage won't be overcome any time soon.

[jt12]

AB's 1st game of tri-nations -

muliaina, jane, Gear, smith, SBW, carter, cowan,read, McCaw(c), Kaino, thorn, whitelock, woodcock, mealamu,O.Franks
Reserves - Ellis, McAllister, Nonu, Boric,O.Franks, Flynn,Messam

[GIGS20]

jt, I'd be going with the combinations in the midfield....with the stuff that SBW creates, you'd want the guy who's been running off him all year up his ass....either Freuan/SBW or Nonu/Smith for mine

nothing else on the field is anywhere near as hard a decision

[Happy]

if Elsom out - who replaces ?

[mudskipper]

RWC Wallabies and prospects at a glance

Preferred starting line-up:
1. Benn Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Alexander
4. James Horwill
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Scott Higginbotham/Rocky elsom
7. David Pocock
8. Wycliff Palu/Samo
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Matt Giteau
13. Digby Ioane
14. James O'Connor
15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Rocky Elsom
19. Vickerman
20. Nick Phipps
21. Pat McCabe/ Barnes
22. Adam Ashley-Cooper

[James]

You've gotta have James Slipper or Kepu in over Ben Alexander. Alexander has been dreadful this year, definitely not worthy of the starting 22. I'd be inclined to play AAC at 12 over Giteau too.

You'd probably want a bench openside, also.

[mudskipper]

You've gotta have James Slipper or Kepu in over Ben Alexander. Alexander has been dreadful this year, definitely not worthy of the starting 22. I'd be inclined to play AAC at 12 over Giteau too.

You'd probably want a bench openside, also.

Alexander was good against the Reds, Kepu good scrummaging but Alexander is better around the field and that’s what the international coaches want, he is still a try scorer. The requirements of the prop is changing its not just scrummaging any more... That’s not from me that’s hearing it first hand from Pato Noriega... that’s what Deans and Williams want a mobile all skills player... hence Alexander and Skipper... over Kepu...

AAC hasn't had a good season , Giteau is a far more experienced inside back. However depending on the team the Wallabies are playing both McCabe and Fanggia may offer some advantage in defence for the first 30 minutes against some teams... both possibles however McCabe isn't ever flustered by any challenge just like Mortlock... which is a massive plus for him...


All just my opinion this week... many good guys out playing both new and old who could be a chance of a squad camp call up such as Stannard... I wish them all the best.. go hard and try your best its an RWC year... who knows who will be in the final 30 squad mix... However I do believe we have to push each other(teams) in OZ to get our best at this RWC 2011.. good luck lads...

[James]

I can't say I agree on Alexander. He copped a few penalties against the Reds, who have arguably the worst scrum in Super Rugby. Alexander shouldn't be scoring tries. I prefer Kepu because he has what it takes to beat a team like England or France- he can scrum and he can put in good hits. The Waratahs and the Brumbies still have one more game don't they? If Alexander impresses in that one in the scrums, I will concede the point. Otherwise, against the ABs, England or France, we need someone who can scrum properly.

It's a funny one about AAC. He went from being arguably the best 13 in the world last season to being very, very average this year. I blame the Brumbies game play for part of that, though. He kept getting moved around the park as did the players alongside him and further to that, in the games I saw, he got very, very slow ball courtesy of Valo. He is still far and away the best 13 we've got and he will be significantly better in the Wallabies set up. It's better he has a form slump now rather than later in October. I'd still love to see him at 12 again. He was awesome- played a lot like Scott Staniforth. Alongside Quade Cooper his defence, straight running and ability to break a tackle are very, very valuable. Having Kurtley Beale pop into the line of attack from 15 keeps our midfield from being too predictable with 2 ball runners. I don't remember seeing much of McCabe in the first half (missed the second) against the Reds. But he's very talented and I wouldn't rule out giving him a go. Again though, I'd like to see him have another game there first.

I think talking about Stannard in the Wallabies set up is a bit premature. I've loved his play in the last two games but he'll need to keep it up against the Reds and Rebels for me to be convinced. That means Graham picking him at 10 again, which despite the fact it would be mad not to, I am not convinced he will.