TRC squad

Daffy Jaffy

Veteran playmaker Matt Giteau will join the Wallabies in camp next week, after Toulon agreed to release him for the Rugby Championship.
The development comes after speculation that Giteau would be staying with his French club, with owner Mourad Boudjellal threatening to withhold player salaries if the star received a Test call-up.
Under World Rugby regulation 9, international clubs canâ€™t withdraw player salaries, but Boudjellal has a long history of strong arming his players into staying at their club.
Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver expressed his confidence on Thursday that an agreement would be reached without needing World Rugby intervention.
Wallabies winger and Toulon team-mate Drew Mitchell said there was always going to be complications with negotiations, given the pair signed before last yearâ€™s eligibility changes.
â€œBecause Matt and I went over there when it wasnâ€™t possible, we agreed in our contract that we wouldnâ€™tâ€™ play international footy â€“ our owner was under the understanding that weâ€™d be available through reg 9 windows,â€ he told the Australian Rugby Unionâ€™s official website.
â€œI can definitely empathise with Toulon and understand their concerns but if thereâ€™s an opportunity thatâ€™s the pinnacle thatâ€™s what we want to do.â€
Mitchell said the only way to avoid tension between clubs and national unions was everyone being transparent and working to find some sort of middle ground.
â€œFor Matt and I and guys going over there now, itâ€™s just about being completely open with everyone, which we have been,â€ he added.
â€œIt all changed after we signed our contract and each time, these things come up itâ€™s differing things whether itâ€™s salary, time weâ€™re allowed away, insurance if we get injured playing Tests.
â€œThereâ€™s so many different aspects that make it a pretty complex massage our way through it â€“ not everyoneâ€™s going to be entirely happy but we can accept what we come to.â€
The announcement has come as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika named his 36-man Wallabies training squad, to convene in Sydney on Monday, ahead of the August 20 Bledisloe Cup fixture.
Cheika also revealed the veteran back-row Wycliff Paluâ€™s Wallabies days are done, announcing his international retirement on Friday.
None of the Brumbies players have joined camp, finishing their Super Rugby campaign just last week in a quarter-final loss to the Highlanders.
With Giteau returning, Christian Lealifano has not been included in that initial training squad.
Flanker Liam Gill is another notable absentee, with the Reds flanker now potentially free to head overseas to join Toulonâ€™s pre-season, while Greg Holmesâ€™s Wallabies days look over, with the Reds veteran released to join Exeter in the Premiership.
Waratahs prop Tom Robertson has been rewarded for his Super Rugby form with inclusion in the 36-man training squad, while June series bolter Reece Hodge has also been given another national shot.
Lopeti Timani comes into the fold in search of his first cap, with Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Will Skelton and Adam Coleman making up the lock stocks.
Brumbies lock Rory Arnold has been ruled out of the squad after an elbow injury suffered a fortnight ago, along with injured winger Joe Tomane, while his club second row partner, Sam Carter has been left out.
With Will Genia back in camp, young scrum-half Joe Powell has missed out on selection.
Hulking winger Taqele Naiyaravoro is already fulfilling commitments with his Japanese club, but Cheika is hopeful of him returning for part of the Rugby Championship.
The squad will be trimmed in the coming weeks, with the first Bledisloe on August 20 in Sydney.
Wallabies 36-man training squad: 
Allan Alaalatoa, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Adam Coleman, Quade Cooper, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Frisby, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, James Hanson, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Michael Hooper, Rob Horne, Sekope Kepu, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Drew Mitchell, Luke Morahan, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith, Lopeti Timani, Matt Toomua

Billy Tell

Aussie squad doesn't have me shaking in my boots.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="601338" data-time="1469808303">
<div>
Aussie squad doesn't have me shaking in my boots.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I would be shocked if more than 2 of their backs are in the next RWC squad. If there are massive problems. A huge reach into the past smacks a little bit of desperation. Still there are enough old hands in backline to steer the ship and keep things close for the most part - but they can't win a game where the opposition scores more than 25 so they will want to defend bloody well.
 
I think the forward selection is spot on - albeit thin up front, but we will see how he whittles it down to a match day 8. I think Aussies best side doesn't include Pocock starting.
 
Overall a really strange squad as you would think Cheika would've given the benefit of the doubt to the younger guys and tried to build something, maybe he is waiting until the EOYT or maybe he is feeling more pressure after the England series than we realise.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="601342" data-time="1469813469">
<div>
I would be shocked if more than 2 of their backs are in the next RWC squad. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Over-egging it somewhat as there are a few young guys selected who could mature into good players (DHP, Morahan, Kerevi). That Israel Folau guy isn't bad either.
 
But in saying that Giteau, AAC, Cooper, Mitchell, Genia and Toomua is a lot of guys who are already out the door!

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="601343" data-time="1469816497">
<div>
Over-egging it somewhat as there are a few young guys selected who could mature into good players (DHP, Morahan, Kerevi). That Israel Folau guy isn't bad either.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Morahan and DHP are 26 and 27 respectively and hardly exciting prospects. I hope you are expecting the same maturation from Crotty and J.Savea who are a similar age. Those two remind me very much of the selection of Peter Hynes/Cooper Vuna - looks reasonable at super level but mid-late twenties debutants are usually not much chop in the outside backs.
 
Folaou is the only one you would put money on - but then again his contract is up in 2018 and if the Aussie team continues on it's current trajectory he may go back to league or Europe. Genia could be likely too, ordinarily you take 3 halfbacks and age doesn't matter so much in the 9 jersey.
 
But who knows - if you asked me to bet the house after 2011 on an AB back making it to the 2015 RWC I would have picked Dagg, so a lot can change.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">Hulking winger Taqele Naiyaravoro is already fulfilling commitments with his Japanese club, but Cheika is hopeful of him returning for part of the Rugby Championship.
 
</blockquote>
Why? Cheika can't select for shit if that's what he's chasing.

pukunui

Looking at that squad im really glad the ABs don't select players from offshore. Imagine a squad full of detuned ex ABs like Mccalister, Evans, Toeava, Kahui, Roks, Sivi etc being selected over the new generation of hungry guys who have long term futures.
Quade Cooper and Drew Mitchell FFS. It's like they are trying to wind back to 2011 to prove a point that they were good back then. 
And chasing Naiyaravoro from overseas again after doing it for the England series. That guy is barely Super rugby standard. Looks like the big fat guy in club rugby who insists he is a winger and not a prop because he likes to bump off skinny wingers and do not much else.

cgrant

Who would you select from the offshore legion ? Charles Piutau maybe but the others are well over 30 yo or players who would not have been selected anyway.

taniwharugby

That Dan Carter guy might even struggle the way BB is playing!

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="601515" data-time="1469867363">
Who would you select from the offshore legion ? Charles Piutau maybe but the others are well over 30 yo or players who would not have been selected anyway.</blockquote>
 
One midfielder just to give things structure while we figure things out.

Frye

If pick the Tongan Bear over Ofa.

cgrant

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="601619" data-time="1469871132">
<div>
If pick the Tongan Bear over Ofa.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Naaah, leave him to Tonga. There are a bunch of young LHP coming up who are Kiwis (Goodes, Hames, Graham, Lienert-Brown, Edmunds).

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="601657" data-time="1469877046">
Naaah, leave him to Tonga. There are a bunch of young LHP coming up who are Kiwis (Goodes, Hames, Graham, Lienert-Brown, Edmunds).</blockquote>
 
Normally I'd agree but I guess what caught my eye was that when May left, Eves went to loosehead and the Bear switched to tighthead, and the Hurricanes scrum actually improved. Uhila didn't get subbed till the end when Kainga came on.

Billy Tell

Questions for Steven Hansen
 
1) Who is the 3rd hooker if Coles is out (but I don't think he will be)?
2) Is Romano really the 4th best lock in NZ?
3) Has Luatua's compelling end of season enough to get him in ahead of Dixon or Squire?
4) BB surely has to start, no?
5) Midfield
6) Left wing

mimic

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="601762" data-time="1469889940">
<div>
Questions for Steven Hansen
 
1) Who is the 3rd hooker if Coles is out (but I don't think he will be)?
2) Is Romano really the 4th best lock in NZ?
3) Has Luatua's compelling end of season enough to get him in ahead of Dixon or Squire?
4) BB surely has to start, no?
5) Midfield
6) Left wing
</div>
</blockquote>
 
if it was me
1. james parsons
2. no
3. yes
4. yes
5. sbw, crotty, moala and reiko ioane/b smith (yep, id rather have b smith over fekitoa)
6. naholo

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="601769" data-time="1469890794">
<div>
if it was me
1. james parsons
2. no
3. yes
4. yes
5. sbw, crotty, moala and reiko ioane/b smith (yep, id rather have b smith over fekitoa)
6. naholo
</div>
</blockquote>
1) Don't really mind
2) No
3) Yes in place of Dixon probably
4) Yes!
5) Crotty, SBW, Moala, Fekitoa with intensive coaching (but I'd have no problem with Taminvalu or ALB)
6) Naholo (Piutau in my dream world)

Crash

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="601762" data-time="1469889940">
<div>
Questions for Steven Hansen
 
1) Who is the 3rd hooker if Coles is out (but I don't think he will be)?
2) Is Romano really the 4th best lock in NZ?
3) Has Luatua's compelling end of season enough to get him in ahead of Dixon or Squire?
4) BB surely has to start, no?
5) Midfield
6) Left wing
</div>
</blockquote>
 
1) Hika Elliott/Parsons - but keep your eye on Riccitelli, think he could be an EOYT bolter
2) No - Bird may be worth a shot
3) Luatua? Possibly - Dixon believing his own press currently. Squire I like, and is a strong ball carrier
4) Yes
5) I'm going off Fekitoa,more I see of him - like to see Moala, ALB, Crotty - and Procter is coming home with a wet sail
6) Naholo also like to see Lowe given a shot

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="601762" data-time="1469889940">
<div>
Questions for Steven Hansen
 
1) Who is the 3rd hooker if Coles is out (but I don't think he will be)?
2) Is Romano really the 4th best lock in NZ?
3) Has Luatua's compelling end of season enough to get him in ahead of Dixon or Squire?
4) BB surely has to start, no?
5) Midfield
6) Left wing
</div>
</blockquote>
1) Irrelevant as we don't need three hookers until the last week of September when they first leave Australasia - Coles will surely be fit by then. Harris is our third best hooker with Coles and Parsons ahead. Hansen said as much after the June team selection but didn't want Harris losing his spot due to injury. Agree with Crash that Riccitelli is going to be in the environment sooner rather than later.
2) He isn't but I don't think it's conclusive enough to drop him either. He does the job Hansen and co want so someone would need to make an irresistible case to get him dropped.
3) I would take Luatua over Dixon. I don't think it's that easy for the selection panel though. The NZ wine industry will be celebrating as I suspect Hansen, Fox and Foster will be opening a few bottles to discuss this one.
4) Bet he doesn't.
5) Still convinced Ben Smith ends up here as SBW will not solve the issues. Moala hopefully makes it in, Ranger would have been ideal.
6) As Billy Tell says Piatau would be ideal. Lowe should make the squad. This is the least important question and if I knew what they will do with Barrett and Ben Smith. If Ben Smith doesn't go to the midfield and Barrett doesn't play 10 then I'm not against Dagg back where he started at 11 as a stop gap. Naholo is the most likely outcome.

cgrant

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="601658" data-time="1469877412">
<div>
Normally I'd agree but I guess what caught my eye was that when May left, Eves went to loosehead and the Bear switched to tighthead, and the Hurricanes scrum actually improved. Uhila didn't get subbed till the end when Kainga came on.
</div>
</blockquote>
I've just watched a replay : where the hell did you see that ? The Tongan bear stayed on his loosehead side when Eves came in. Please watch it again.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="601791" data-time="1469910300">
<div>
I've just watched a replay : where the hell did you see that ? The Tongan bear stayed on his loosehead side when Eves came in. Please watch it again.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
 
Haha really? It's almost like I'm watching at ~3am in the morning huh.
 
Oh well, that must meant that Eves (usually a lhp, came on at thp). Get him in as the 5th prop then.

The Silver Fern

TRC squad