Wallaby EOYT 2016

Well, in a move that surprised no-one, but positively fucking INCENSED some, ex-Storm winger Marika Koroibete has been included in the squad for the EOYT.

I'm a little confused, particularly given some of the talent getting around in the NRC, which is supposed to be the development pathway, right? Yeah, nah. Fuck yas.

Each position in no particular order for the touring squad of 32:

Hookers (3): James Hanson, Tolu Latu*, Stephen Moore

Props (5): Allan Alaalatoa, Sekope Kepu, Tom Robertson, Scott Sio, James Slipper

Locks: (5): Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton

Back row (6): Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Sean McMahon, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Lopeti Timani

Scrumhalf (3): Nick Frisby, Will Genia, Nick Phipps

Flyhalf (2): Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley,

Centres (3): Kyle Godwin*, Reece Hodge, Tevita Kuridrani

Outside backs (5): Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Marika Koroibete*, Sefanaia Naivalu, Henry Speight

Those marked * are yet to debut

There are some hangers-on travelling along apparently, like Tongan Thor. I saw that somewhere on FB but can't confirm

@NTA This is the article I read about Tupou and Perese:

So has Samu Kerevi been dropped? Or is he injured?

Injured, had surgery on his ankle today apparently.

@NTA said in Wallaby EOYT 2016:

Well, in a move that surprised no-one, but positively fucking INCENSED some, ex-Storm winger Marika Koroibete has been included in the squad for the EOYT.

I'm a little confused, particularly given some of the talent getting around in the NRC, which is supposed to be the development pathway, right? Yeah, nah. Fuck yas.

Given he's paid a reputed $700K as an untried winger, I'd be taking him on tour as well.

There are some hangers-on travelling along apparently, like Tongan Thor. I saw that somewhere on FB but can't confirm

Would be good for Tupou, he dominated for Brothers.

I'd expect the Wallabies will be looking for a Grand Slam. They've finally got close to picking a proper team and just need to move Folau into a wing, Hodge to centre and Godwin into second five.

@antipodean said in Wallaby EOYT 2016:

Given he's paid a reputed $700K as an untried winger, I'd be taking him on tour as well.

Can't help but think we're sending the wrong message to guys like Kellaway...

@NTA said in Wallaby EOYT 2016:

Well, in a move that surprised no-one, but positively fucking INCENSED some, ex-Storm winger Marika Koroibete has been included in the squad for the EOYT.

I'm a little confused, particularly given some of the talent getting around in the NRC, which is supposed to be the development pathway, right? Yeah, nah. Fuck yas.

Each position in no particular order for the touring squad of 32:

Hookers (3): James Hanson, Tolu Latu*, Stephen Moore

Props (5): Allan Alaalatoa, Sekope Kepu, Tom Robertson, Scott Sio, James Slipper

Locks: (5): Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton

Back row (6): Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Sean McMahon, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Lopeti Timani

Scrumhalf (3): Nick Frisby, Will Genia, Nick Phipps

Flyhalf (2): Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley,

Centres (3): Kyle Godwin*, Reece Hodge, Tevita Kuridrani

Outside backs (5): Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Marika Koroibete*, Sefanaia Naivalu, Henry Speight

Those marked * are yet to debut

There are some hangers-on travelling along apparently, like Tongan Thor. I saw that somewhere on FB but can't confirm

Did i miss Samu Karevi somewhere?

@taniwharugby said in Wallaby EOYT 2016:

Injured, had surgery on his ankle today apparently.

Aha!

Looking at it, it's actually a pretty good squad in theory. On paper this team should be dynamite?

They've got good names in the loose forwards, but they don't seem to get the combination right. My opinion is that they're hamstrung by having too good opensides and trying to accommodate. My first choice would be a combo of Fardy, Pocock and Timani.

If Kuridrani wasn't so out of form I think a combination of him and Hodge would be really promising and one that I would invest some time in. Unfortunately Kuridrani has sucked for a while now.

I like the look of Arnold and Coleman coming through at lock too.

What's the wrap on Kyle Goodwin?

@NTA said in Wallaby EOYT 2016:

@antipodean said in Wallaby EOYT 2016:

Given he's paid a reputed $700K as an untried winger, I'd be taking him on tour as well.

Can't help but think we're sending the wrong message to guys like Kellaway...

And also says that the Wallaby jersey can be bought.

@pakman talented young midfielder. Was excellent in his first season of Super Rugby a couple of years back but has stagnated since. I believe he has signed for the Brumbies for next season.

Next year I would start with the forward pack that started in Auckland, perhaps without Moore and definitely without Mumm. Bring in Holloway at 8 and move Timani to 6. This would be one hell of a pack, especially by Australian standards. A decent enough scrummaging unit with good ball running props, two big and physical locks and three dynamic loosies. This wallaby team could possibly trouble the ABs over the next few years if Cheika gets the selection right and sticks with it.

Timani will have to up his workrate considerably to be classified as dynamic. He's a big unit for sure and has the size that could trouble defenders but he lacks the dynamism which makes him easy to defend against.

The Wallabies can create turnover ball, but really lack that combination of organisation and instinctiveness to make the most of them. Is it fitness, poor coaching or just lack of awareness?

Unless that is addressed I think the wheels will continue to churn and whilst they'll be competitive, they won't be able to 'put teams away'.

@ACT-Crusader I read a stat that said he made 21 tackles versus the Argies in London. That's not bad.

@ACT-Crusader said in Wallaby EOYT 2016:

The Wallabies can create turnover ball, but really lack that combination of organisation and instinctiveness to make the most of them. Is it fitness, poor coaching or just lack of awareness?

Bit of everything. The halves are pretty solid for this, but we were packing a three-quarter line on Saturday with about 25 caps between them. Folau's workrate and effectiveness was clear to note with Phipps/Foley in the pivot.

Throw in Kerevi's early injury, bringing another rookie into the play, and a bit of organisational chaos is to be expected.

Plus, the counterattack thing is great if you're not going to get isolated, and we were making a shitload of ground up the guts, so why change?

Jack Dempsey and Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs) & Izaia Perese and Taniela Tupou (Reds) will travel with the Wallabies squad. They won't play any tests (unless needed due to injury), but the first three players may play against the French Barbarians. Tupou is not eligible yet to play for Australia.

The Wallabies take on Wales this Sunday morning, 6 November from 1.30am AEDT on BeIn Sports Channel 513, as part of your FOXTEL subscription.

Wales line-up for the first test v Australia: 1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) (126 Caps), 2. Ken Owens (Scarlets) (42 Caps), 3. Samson Lee (Scarlets) (26 Caps), 4. Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (56 Caps), 5. Luke Charteris (Bath Rugby) (68 Caps), 6. Dan Lydiate (Ospreys) (57 Caps), 7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (43 Caps), 8. Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (9 Caps), 9. Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (22 Caps), 10. Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (48 Caps), 11. George North (Northampton Saints) (62 Caps), 12. Jamie Roberts (Harlequins) (83 Caps), 13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (56 Caps), 14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues) (42 Caps), 15. Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon) (62 Caps)

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) (24 Caps), 17. Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (3 Caps), 18. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (14 Caps), 19. Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons) (UNCAPPED), 20. James King (Ospreys) (8 Caps), 21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (17 Caps), 22. Sam Davies (Ospreys) (UNCAPPED), 23. Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons) (10 Caps)