Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5
-
How much does Joe love thee, Webb Ellis Cup? Let me count the ways. 5 full-backs, 11 wingers, 10 midfielders, 6 out-halves, 5 scrum-halves, 3 loose-heads, 7 hookers, 5 tight-heads, 9 locks and 11 back-rowers. 72 and counting. That’s the number of players that Joe Schmidt has selected - for trial and on experience - since the start of the 2016 Six Nations right up this week’s announcement of the 32-man Ireland Tour Squad for Australia.
If ever the phrase, ‘never die wondering’, matched a man’s purpose, Joe Schmidt is your guy. His Oz squad has 2 more uncapped players for use during the month of June. It’s been a twisting, turning road at times as his unending search for talent has looked at every player available to him within the Irish system and playing in Ireland, capping over 30 players in the last two seasons. In comparison, Michael Cheika has blooded 20 new players in the test arena since Australia finished runners-up at the 2015 World Cup.
So let’s put the spotlight on his young bloods - the players whose names may not be so familiar to Southern fans, but who could likely be running out on Aussie tracks next month to prepare them better for Japan next year. All of them are 26 or younger. I’ll included links to video clips, where available (made by others so apologies in advance for any unwelcome music, over-exuberant editing, etc)
Rob Kearney (83 caps) at full-back is having a new lease of life this season and is now the Irish player with most honours, including 4 Six Nations titles (2 Grand Slams), 3 PRO 12 titles, and 4 European Cup medals. Sitting on the bench to replace him at some point might be Schmidt’s most recent cap selection, hot-stepper, 20-year old, Jordan Larmour - young, raw and exciting to watch, he’ll get a lot of learning on his first tour - even if he doesn’t play much of a part.
Alternatively, Munster’s Andrew Conway (6 caps) is a calm presence at the back, yet spiky and aggressive in defence, with an unexpected shift of speed on the wing that keeps him scoring tries, particularly this one for Munster to defeat Toulon in the European Cup
. -
Winger, 67 cap Keith Earls, was named Ireland Player’s Player of the Season with his pace as good as ever, and his save-the-day tackling during the Six Nations.
He’ll likely be playing with try-wunderkind, Jacob Stockdale, a 22-year old who broke into the Ireland team last November and hasn’t stopped scoring since - 11 tries in his 9 caps setting a new 6 Nations try-record along the way in the Grand Slam finale against England in Twickenham. He’s big, he’s fast, nimble, an eye for an intercept, and pretty handy in midfield or at 15 if it’s required.
-
Wallabies named. Almost zero experience at hooker. Apparently Samu may be added when/if NZRU allow.
WALLABIES SQUAD
Hookers: Folau Fainga’a, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Jordan Uelese
Props: Sekope Kepu, Tom Robertson, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Allan Alaalatoa
Locks: Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Rory Arnold
Backrowers: Michael Hooper (c), David Pocock, Caleb Timu, Lukhan Tui, Ned Hanigan
Halfbacks: Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell
Five-eighths: Bernard Foley
Centres: Kurtley Beale, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Curtis Rona
Outside backs: Israel Folau, Tom Banks, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Jack Maddocks, Marika Koroibete, Sefa Naivalu
-
Wallabies squad:
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa (23 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Rory Arnold (15 Tests, Brumbies, 27)
Adam Coleman (20 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Folau Fainga’a* (uncapped, Brumbies, 23)
Ned Hanigan (12 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Michael Hooper (c) (79 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 26)
Sekope Kepu (91 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 32)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 22)
David Pocock (66 Tests, Brumbies, 30)
Tom Robertson (18 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Rob Simmons (82 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Scott Sio (43 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Izack Rodda (4 Tests, Queensland Reds, 21)
Caleb Timu* (uncapped, Queensland Reds, 24)
Lukhan Tui (4 Tests, Queensland Reds, 21)
Taniela Tupou (1 Test, Queensland Reds, 22)
Jordan Uelese (2 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 21)Backs
Tom Banks* (uncapped, Brumbies, 23)
Kurtley Beale (71 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Israel Folau (62 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Bernard Foley (vc) (55, NSW Waratahs, 28)
Will Genia (vc) (88 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)
Dane Haylett-Petty (18 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 28)
Reece Hodge (24, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Samu Kerevi (18 Tests, Queensland Reds, 24)
Marika Koroibete (8 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 25)
Tevita Kuridrani (58 Tests, Brumbies, 27)
Jack Maddocks* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 21)
Sefanaia Naivalu (7 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Nick Phipps (61 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Joe Powell (3 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Curtis Rona (3 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 26)*denotes uncapped player
Samu still in limbo as Cheika names June Series squad
Crusaders backrower Pete Samu has not been named in Michael Cheika's June Series squad, but still remains a chance of playing for the Wallabies this season. Samu signed a two-year deal with the Brumbies this week, making the Melbourne-born forward eligible for the Wallabies, pending a release from New Zealand Rugby, due to his Super Rugby contract obligations. It's a decision NZR said on Tuesday they were still mulling over and on Wednesday night, when Cheika named his squad, he said he couldn't pick Samu, but the backrower had a spot in the squad should he be released. There is no deadline for NZR to approve Rugby Australia's request to release Samu for June, leaving both he and the Wallabies in limbo, though Cheika said he hoped there would be more clarity on the decision on Thursday. "I've been told I can't select him but there is a spot for him there," Cheika said. "At this point, the decision's in other hands. I'm not really involved in that part of it but I'm hoping that there'll be some more clarity about that tomorrow." Should that clearance not come, Lukhan Tui is likely to don the no. 6 in the first Test, with first-choice blindside Ned Hanigan not expected to be back from a knee injury until the second Test. Uncapped Caleb Timu is another option to fill the back row alongside David Pocock and Michael Hooper, but he would most likely slot in at eight.Reds backrower Timu is one of five uncapped players in the squad, with perhaps Brumbies fullback Tom Banks the biggest surprise of the potential debutants in the group named for the June Series. Banks had two of his best games in the side's recent South Africa tour, scoring the game-turner against the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend. Rebels rising star Jack Maddocks is another new face in the backs, confirming his widely-expected inclusion in the squad, after a sensational start to the season in Melbourne. The wing spots were among the most-hotly contested, with Maddocks and Banks beating out seasoned winger Henry Speight as well as Queensland's Izaia Perese, who was on the verge of a Test debut in 2017, and giant Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro.etc etc
-
-
-
-
@nta You seem to churn out decent locks on a regular basis.
Where do you see the strengths and weaknesses in the forwards? From outside, I don't know the front row form, and the backrow with Pocock and Hooper can be unbalanced (white dwarves can't jump or carry)
-
this could be an absolute blood bath. That is a very fucking ordinary looking Australian squad.
-
These mid-season tests are hard to predict.
On the one hand you could argue it's a Wallaby team thrown together with a week to prepare against a settled Irish side that is at the end of a successful season. In that case, you'd say 3-0 Ireland should be the outcome.
But then again you could suggest Ireland have played a lot of rugby this year, and will be playing on tired legs. With a World Cup around the corner they may look to blood new players. They are facing a Wallabies side at home who have plenty to prove after last year, and may just want it more.
I don't think our team is that bad, and our tight 5 and 9-10-12 look like they will trouble the Paddies. But we've got big holes at 6 and 13, and will be fielding a few new faces.
I'd tip 2-1 Ireland but all results are in play IMO.
-
@barbarian said in Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5:
These mid-season tests are hard to predict.
On the one hand you could argue it's a Wallaby team thrown together with a week to prepare against a settled Irish side that is at the end of a successful season. In that case, you'd say 3-0 Ireland should be the outcome.
But then again you could suggest Ireland have played a lot of rugby this year, and will be playing on tired legs. With a World Cup around the corner they may look to blood new players. They are facing a Wallabies side at home who have plenty to prove after last year, and may just want it more.
I don't think our team is that bad, and our tight 5 and 9-10-12 look like they will trouble the Paddies. But we've got big holes at 6 and 13, and will be fielding a few new faces.
I'd tip 2-1 Ireland but all results are in play IMO.
Ireland/IRFU do manage their workloads though. They'll be good.
-
Re: Pete Samu.
Its the sort of topic that would be interesting for Sumo to get one of his NZRU rugby lawyer connections on his podcast.
Because I don't get what the issue is, if there even is one beyond paperwork ... ?
I don't really understand anymore who does the contracting at the three levels in NZ rugby, and who actually pays the wages from which pot.
From a Crusaders perspective. No different from losing their All Blacks for June. SR goes into hiatus. But, maybe their is a financial ramification from an NZRU POV if he is no longer NZ eligible, and had signed a higher value contract on the basis that he was? I have no idea if this is even a thing?
From a Ta$man perspective. They potentially/probably lose him for the entire NPC to play international rugby in a competition outside of the international window. Average NPC contract is only $25k, so we're not talking big bikkies. Legally, does he just severe it and not turn up? Or have monies already been paid etc etc?
I'm trying to think of impediments, from an NZRU perspective, to someone who wants to leave in this circumstance, other than the legal 9.38 clause.
Because I don't see why the NZRU wouldn't want Australia to
-
Pete Samu update:
I don' really get where NZRU are going with this. The only negatively impacted part will be Ta$man, why isn't this an issue to be sorted out between Ta$man and Samu. Why are the NZRU getting involved beyond the paperwork?
-
I thought they only issue to be sorted is the compensation the provincial teams are paid when their contracted players are picked for the All Blacks. The issue here is Samu is going to the Wallabies so I am assuming the proposal is to have RA pay that compensation?
-
@unite said in Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5:
I thought they only issue to be sorted is the compensation the provincial teams are paid when their contracted players are picked for the All Blacks. The issue here is Samu is going to the Wallabies so I am assuming the proposal is to have RA pay that compensation?
Yes, but why not just grant him a release (assuming he hasn't been paid yet).
Does Ta$man want to be petty?
E.g. Ta$man also have Levi Aumua, a kauri-thighed promising midfielder. NZ born but Aussie raised. I'm assuming that Ta$man have started to build up some connections in Aussie club rugby through their dealings with Samu that flows into a player like Aumua arriving. There's probably an ex-clubmate of Aumua or Samu back in Aus that would jump at the opportunity of a short term opportunity to come over to Ta$man for 8 weeks as a Samu replacement.
Do they want this to continue?
Will Aumua be prepared to sign e.g. a 2 year deal with Ta$man if he thinks, if things go really well, will these guys scupper or delay my potential international future. How many other young polynesian-Australians are on the verge of following the Samu/Aumua path through this network they now have? That might re-consider.
if their partners are going to be inflexible arseholes.Why don't Ta$man say well done, we're proud of you and hope we helped you in your development, but understand this is an awesome opportunity for you. Send Waimea Old Boys a wallabies jersey to hang up on their wall. Kia Kaha.
-
-
@barbarian said in Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5:
It's a bit strange. I could understand if Samu was a Kiwi with an Aussie grandmother we were trying to poach or something. But the bloke is an Aussie.
And it's not even like he's that good, either.
I agree. He's a bit undersized. But he'll add depth in a role Scott McMahon jumped ship from.
I could see the merit in NZRU being an asshole about Brad Shields (an asshole to the RFU, no real merit in being an asshole to Brad ....). I don't see it here.
I don't see any merit in it for Ta$man. Rugby is a people business, treat them well. Players could get called up to the wallabies or they could break a leg. Either way the operations side of the union should be adept at handling the uncertainty.
The Ta$man union should embrace their role as a player pathway. They're a 2 month a year semi-pro rugby team, reality check required.
-
Why should NZR foot the bill if the ARU are the ones that want him? The NZR haven't stopped him from going - they've put a proposal to the ARU to allow Samu a release. NZR just want some compensation. It works both ways - NZR had to cough up $ to get Naholo out of his overseas contract a few years back.
-
@barbarian said in Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5:
It's a bit strange. I could understand if Samu was a Kiwi with an Aussie grandmother we were trying to poach or something. But the bloke is an Aussie.
And it's not even like he's that good, either.
well, yes, quite.
And he is an "Aussie" who has played as much senior rugby in England as in Australia, and has never played pro rugby anywhere except in NZ. But he was born in that rugby heartland of Melbourne.
I guess the NZRU are most worried about precedent. This is the 2nd dude in a month who has asked for a similar release. They were signed to NZ contracts on the understanding that they were NZ players who wished to play for the ABs. Now they want to play for someone else (someone else just happening to be countries where they have never played a professional game), i would imagine, with our limited player resources, that this is not a practice we want to encourage.
So while i think that old Aussie Pete (Pweter) will get to fulfill his life-long dream of pulling on a canary yellow jersey, i don't have any issue with the NZRU making sure these poaching unions have to jump through a few hoops to make use of the players we are developing for them.
