Wallabies 2016

Crucial

With all the focus in NZ on the retiring ABs, I haven't kept much track on who is and isn't available for the Wallabies from next year but keep seeing names linked to overseas clubs etc
 
Hopefully someone can help me out.
 
Here is a list of the RWC Squad and (from what I can see) where they are next season. I can't recall how the eligibility thing works with overseas players, but am guessing that even those that qualify won't have releases for the TRC?
 
James Hanson 
Stephen Moore - Brumbies (but under offer from overseas) 
Tatafu Polota-Nau 
Greg Holmes Sekope Kepu - Bordeaux 
Scott Sio 
James Slipper 
Toby Smith 
Sam Carter 
Kane Douglas 
Dean Mumm 
Rob Simmons 
Will Skelton 
Scott Fardy 
Michael Hoopah 
Sean McMahon 
David Pocock - Brumbies (but under offer from overseas) 
Ben McCalman Wycliff Palu - Toyota Will Genia - Stade Francais 
Nick Phipps Quade Cooper - Toulon 
Bernard Foley 
Kurtley Beale Matt Giteau - Toulon 
Tevita Kuridrani Matt Toomua - Leicester (after Super Rugby) Adam Ashley-Cooper - Bordeaux 
Rob Horne Drew Mitchell - Toulon 
Henry Speight 
Joe Tomane 
Israel Folau

rotated

It's not really much of a change is it. They are losing AAC who was the glue guy and only genuine quality outside back they have, but aside from that it's really a bunch of guys who were gone until the eligibility changed months ago, guys who were on the fringes anyway (Cooper, Palu) and then whatever your personal opinion of Kepu and Genia was. They survived quite well without Genia in the 2014 TRC and he didn't really impress in 2015 so not much there for mine.
 
With Cheika being the best coach in the world and that kind of squad consistency the Bledisloe will be undoubtedly won by Australia next year... in the papers during the lead up to the first test as it is every year.

Crucial

Is there actually a reason why they get the first game of the championship at home every year? It seems weird considering that we always seem to play the long game and they target a good start. They always seem far more 'up' than us in that opening match.
 
Just realised that we aren't even playing at fortress Eden Park this year. Talk about making it even tougher.

Crucial

Toomua to Leicester straight after the Super Rugby.
The midfield is starting to look thin.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="543874" data-time="1448309106">
<div>
Just realised that we aren't even playing at fortress Eden Park this year. Talk about making it even tougher.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
3rd Bledisloe test is at Eden Park.
 
I also see the 2017 TRC venues are out too <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/Pages/3934?layout=Fixtures'>here</a>
 
ABs going back to North Harbour for the first time in a while against the Boks - strange. Obviously trying to spread it around after the Lions - but still if a major test is going to be in Aucks play it at EP.

jegga

Bonocock wouldn't leave this early in his career would he?

Sambo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="543874" data-time="1448309106">Is there actually a reason why they get the first game of the championship at home every year? It seems weird considering that we always seem to play the long game and they target a good start. They always seem far more 'up' than us in that opening match. 
 
Just realised that we aren't even playing at fortress Eden Park this year. Talk about making it even tougher.</blockquote>
 
Yes there is a reason. ARU struck a ten year deal to always have first bled test in Sydney. Unsure what commercials the nzrfu get out of it but I'm pretty sure there is some financial incentives to the nzrfu to give up that game every year.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="543893" data-time="1448311752">
<div>
Bonocock wouldn't leave this early in his career would he?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Have you seen France's issues at the moment. Who better to go and solve all their problems via Twitter. It's time for Pocock to save them now, Australia is sorted.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="543893" data-time="1448311752">
<div>
Bonocock wouldn't leave this early in his career would he?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
He has a lot of bargaining power at the moment and will surely be pushing the ARU as far as he can. His agent is probably fielding lots of offers and passing the numbers onto the ARU who will be hoping they can afford him.

barbarian

Not sure how the releases will work for TRC, but worth noting that AAC, Giteau, Mitchell, Palu, Kepu and Genia are all eligible to return,
 
Of those, Kepu, Palu and Giteau seem unlikely to return, but the others are probably in if the schedule permits.

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="543897" data-time="1448313472">Have you seen France's issues at the moment. Who better to go and solve all their problems via Twitter. It's time for Pocock to save them now, Australia is sorted.</blockquote>
 
It seems obvious when you explain it like that , # off to save France, back for the rwc.

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="543912" data-time="1448315204">
<div>
.... all eligible to return,
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I am completely unconvinced that players will be fit for international rugby after playing in the NH comp. In the short term, and possibly for world cups you might be able to get people up... but I can't see it being a winning strategy for most rugby test matches. PLayer conditionining is different, the season is back to front, I think it is not the recipe for success.

That, and it dilutes the local comp very quickly. Will be itneresting to see how it goes for Aus, but I'm all for the ABs not going that way.

Sambo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="543933" data-time="1448317192">I am completely unconvinced that players will be fit for international rugby after playing in the NH comp. In the short term, and possibly for world cups you might be able to get people up... but I can't see it being a winning strategy for most rugby test matches. PLayer conditionining is different, the season is back to front, I think it is not the recipe for success. 
That, and it dilutes the local comp very quickly. Will be itneresting to see how it goes for Aus, but I'm all for the ABs not going that way.</blockquote> agree, bringing guys back a week out from a RC test is very different from a month or so lead in to the WC. Aus be heading down a real slippery slope if they start bringing back in numbers guys playing OS. Saying that I don't think they will. I'm expecting they'll pick exclusively from soup next year. TBH they don't need to anyway. Reckon they have enough talent in soup comp to pick from.

mariner4life

Douglas is gone for the year with his knee. 
 
The Wallabies are basically in the hunt for a couple of hookers (Moore is getting on, and looking at options, he only missed out on a deal in Ireland because the IRU blocked it) and TPN is still just one knock from forced retirement. There is no guarantee Kepu will come back, so they need a new tight-head (their back-up is not a youngster). Couple of good looseheads though, and Moore should still be around next year at hooker. So for 2016 at least, the front row looks ok.
 
In the 2nd row they are still fucked. Simmons is rubbish, and must surely be replaced. Douglas was their best lock by a mile, and he is gone. Skelton is the big fat hype. Mumm sort of got worse as the year went on. So i think they need to find 3 of these this year.
 
In the loosies, while they probably think they are happy, i think their starting trio, while made up of good players, is completely unbalanced. Hooper isn't as good as he is hyped to be. Pocock is an excellent defensive player. Fardy is a great disrupter. They have nothing offensive their. Fardy isn't young either. I think they need to look at bringing someone in, and moving an openside to the bench.
 
Halves. Foley is good, a new backup is required. They look really thin at halfback. 
 
Midfield. Empty. Kuridrani is a shadow (a wider shadow) of the player he was 2 years ago. Will Giteau come back? Will he have the same impact even if he does? Toomua was their long-term replacement, and he's gone. They may have to start again here. From scratch.
 
Back 3. Folau stays. AAC has said he wants to come back. Mitchell maybe? Beale is a good option off the bench, he impressed me in the WC. But they need more options. Horne is a defensive option, Speight and the other one with the top-knot have far too many holes in their game. Again, they need options, because if Folau is playing shit, they still have to pick him, because there is no one else.
 
 
A month ago i thought they were a team on the rise, but when you break it down, i think they have as much rebuilding to do as we do. Ours just looks worse because of the names we are replacing for good this time, not just for a couple of weeks

gt12

I doubt that many guys on overseas contracts are going to give up the club money, to come back and play internationals. World Cup year? Sure. 4N, doubt it.

mariner4life

as an aside, did anyone see the "highlights" of Quade's "game" for Toulon on the weekend? It's hilariously bad. Like, old Super rugby form bad.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="543912" data-time="1448315204">
<div>
Not sure how the releases will work for TRC, but worth noting that AAC, Giteau, Mitchell, Palu, Kepu and Genia are all eligible to return,
 
Of those, Kepu, Palu and Giteau seem unlikely to return, but the others are probably in if the schedule permits.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Don't think Mitchell will be back. He spent most of the Wallaby camp leading up to Chicago and RWC getting fit enough to play rugby.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="543978" data-time="1448325220">
<div>
as an aside, did anyone see the "highlights" of Quade's "game" for Toulon on the weekend? It's hilariously bad. Like, old Super rugby form bad.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Was that the game against Wasps?
 
Halai has refound his mojo by the looks of that game.

ACT Crusader

Good post mariner. I think Tomane has what it takes to be a good international wing, but just needs to be selected and given time to develop into the role.
 
Second row is a massive issue for them. Getting guys that have the workrate and the aerial skills has been a problem for a while. Horwill looked the goods a few years back and had all the makings of a world class lock, but his form slide was a pretty drastic one, plus injuries. 
 
A couple of years ago I thought with Toomua and Kurindrani they had a real combination to build on for the next 5-6 years. Skills that complimented each other and the benefit of playing both provincial and international rugby together. Whilst Giteau played well at times, I thought the Aussies missed a trick by shuffling this important combination over the last little while.
 
Foley's backup is not really apparent right now and they may have to settle with Beale for the short term unless some bolter comes out from nowhere (that young Rebels 1st 5 looks promising).

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="543978" data-time="1448325220">
<div>
as an aside, did anyone see the "highlights" of Quade's "game" for Toulon on the weekend? It's hilariously bad. Like, old Super rugby form bad.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Im curious to see how Ma'a goes with Quadey. By all reports Ma'a doesn't suffer fools lightly and playing outside that after what he is used to must be nauseating.

The Silver Fern

Wallabies 2016