Here's my tip on the Wallabies and Springboks 30-man squads for the June tests -
Coach: Robbie Deans
Dingo Deans clearly has some big issues to solve going into the June tests. With injuries to key players like James O'Connor and Quade Cooper ruling them out for this month, it will be a huge ask of Australian rugby's limited depth.
Props - Pek Cowan, Salesi Ma'afu, James Slipper, Ben Alexander
Hookers - Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polata-Nau, Saia Fainga'a
Locks - James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Hugh Pyle
Loose forwards - Rocky Elsom, David Pocock, Wycliff Palu, Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper, Radike Samo
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| Shipperley has been consistent for Reds |
First fives - Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes
Centres - Pat McCabe, Rob Horne, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Fainga'a
Wings - Digby Ioane, Dom Shipperley, Rod Davies
Fullbacks - Adam Ashley-Cooper, Jesse Mogg
Going for 3 halfbacks and hookers and a few utility players like Samo, Lucas, Barnes & Ashley-Cooper.
Springboks
One word: rebuilding. The Boks were exposed as an aging squad at last year's Rugby World Cup and with talent to burn coming through the ranks and a new coach, expect plenty of new names in the squad. There are also injuries to key players like Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Duane Vermuelen, as well as the retirements of Victor Matfield, John Smit
Props - Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Werne Kruger, Brok Harris
Hookers - Chiliboy Rallepelle, Bismarck du Plessis, Craig Burden
Locks - Eben Etzebeth, Alistair Hargreaves, Rynhardt Elstadt, Flip van der Merwe
Loose forwards - Jean Deysel, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Heinrich Brussow, Pierre Spies, Willem Alberts
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| Young Etzebeth has been highly impressive this season |
First fives - Peter Grant, Morne Steyn
Centres - Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Wynand Olivier
Wings - Bryan Habana, Gio Aplon, JP Pietersen
Fullbacks - Pat Lambie, Joe Pietersen
Pat Lambie can cover centre, first five and fullback and really needs to be there, and Hougaard can also play on the wing with devastating effect. Habana could also play centre too.
I am afraid you may have bitten off more than you can choose with some of the Springboks in particular. For example, you missed out Andres Bekker and Juandre Kruger yet you picked a loose forward in Rynhardt Elstadt who has only played a handful of games. Hargreaves and Willem Alberts haven't played in ages either. Surely Keegan Daniel needs to be included since Duane Vermuelen is injured and Kankowski has drifted out of favour.
ReplyDeleteJP Pietersen is passed it. Maybe Ndungane or Kirchner would take his spot.
What about Adriaan Strauss as third hooker and Sarel Pretorius as halfback?
For the Wallabies,
Rod Davies is mud and can't start for the Reds. Tom Kingston is good for the Waratahs.
James Hanson is keeping Saia Faingaa on the bench while Nathan Charles from the Force is also useful.
Radike Samo is surely passed it now and so someone like Richard Brown, Ben McCalman or the new Reds openside Liam Gill or Ben Mowen from the Brumbies are all useful.
Anyway there you have it!
I hear that Andries Bekker is struggling a bit with his back so he may be a doubt. In that case, it's going to be quite an inexperienced second row for the Boks. I wonder if Sarel Pretorius is on the Bok radar - he hasn't started of late for the Waratahs and there are so many good halfbacks playing in South Africa to pick from that they'll probably go for someone playing for a South African side. Craig Burden could be a bolter just for his versatility but Adriaan Strauss has had a belter as has Tiaan Liebenberg.
ReplyDeleteKingston could be a bolter as he can play centre and wing too. I wonder if they'll go for experience over youth. Luke Morahan could be in too.
I think both squads are far mor difficult to pick than the AB's this year.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of SA, I think Kruger will get picked at lock and Strauss at Hooker (although I agree with you that Burden can add a lot). He would be the perfect impact player for them.
As for the loose-forwards you have chosen...I would be surprised if Jean Deysel or Francois Louw are picked. Keegan Daniel of the Sharks has been a standout this year, while Alistair Coetzee has also had a better season..and dare I say it...more potential. Good effort though with the squads. I don't think the selections will be clear-cut.