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Thread: Wallabies set to return to the 1970s with Probables v Possibles matches

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    Wallabies set to return to the 1970s with Probables v Possibles matches



    Rupert Guinness | March 24, 2009


    THE Australian Rugby Union may introduce selection trial games between the Wallabies and an Australian Barbarians side made up of fringe Test players from club rugby ranks this year.

    In a throwback to the 1970s, when Wallabies selection games were held between the Probables and the Possibles, the games would be held in October after the Tri Nations ends in September. The concept would allow Australian Test selectors to cast their nets wider and pick players on form for the Wallabies' end of season spring tour.

    It would also help provide match fitness to the players who are selected to go on the tour. Furthermore, the trials would act as a much-needed bridge between Test and club rugby as the Barbarians squad would include players who have been playing club rugby in Sydney or Brisbane.

    The squads could include Wallabies on the comeback from injury, players ranked from 23rd to 45th by coach Robbie Deans, or several as yet unknown talents the selectors want to see first-hand after hearing about them on the grapevine of club rugby.

    For those fringe players, knowing a pathway exists to the Wallabies after missing Tri Nations selection would keep them motivated while playing in Sydney's Shute Shield or Premier Rugby in Brisbane. That in turn would benefit the club competitions and their respective clubs. The trial games would be particularly significant this year as the ARU axed the Australia A program which gave fringe players a chance to impress.

    The ARU is reluctant to comment on the proposal. However, the Herald understands that the idea, while still in blueprint form and far from being locked in, is being seriously considered.

    Even though the objective of such a game - or games - would be to find the best possible Wallabies squad and future talent, the potential to raise revenue would not have been lost on the ARU.

    The timing would be perfect. With the Tri Nations and club rugby competitions over, there are no other major rugby fixtures in Australia at the time. By having these Wallabies-Barbarians games in October, the Australian market would remain stimulated until the tour starts in November.

    That in turn could convert into healthy ticket sales and crowd figures, especially as the intensity of the games could well be higher than any Super 14 derby in Australia.

    There would certainly be everything to play for as players fight to hold their spots in the Wallabies squad, or prove the selectors wrong and battle their way into the side.


    Deans could even unearth a hidden gem or two from Australian club rugby, the grassroots of the game which he has openly embraced since starting the job last May. One of the first calls he made in the job was to allow Wallabies who were not required for Test duty to return to play for their clubs.

    It was a move that was heartily applauded by the clubs, who needed their stars back to help combat diminishing crowds. Deans's support of club rugby was evident again on Sunday night at the Randwick club season launch. He addressed the club members and presented the jerseys to the Galloping Greens' first-grade side for this weekend's first round of the Shute Shield. Deans also spoke of his own of grassroots rugby days to a packed room of Randwick players and club members.

    Deans, a former All Blacks and Canterbury icon, began his rugby days playing for the Glenmark club.

    "The surroundings are different [than at Randwick]. Glenmark is a one-teacher school, one house, two rugby fields c they got their priorities right," he joked.
    Deans could not finish without commenting on new Randwick first-grade coach Gary Ella, whom he played against in 1984 at Concord Oval. Of the day he played on the wing for the All Blacks, who beat a NSW side that included the Ella brothers Gary and Mark, Deans laughed when he conceded: "It was a stressful experience c"


    This year's Shute Shield grand finals will be held at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday, September 27, it was announced at the season launch yesterday.
    The decision marks the return of all four grade grand finals to the home of NSW Rugby, which last year had to take the title deciders to Concord Oval as it could not book the SFS.

    http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...e#contentSwap1

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    This sounds similar to what the ABs have been doing for years,good for aus rugby,they need something for their fringe players.

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    "a hidden gem or two from Australian Rugby".....as long as they are from NSW or QLD!

    Great idea, wrong concept.
    Posted via Mobile Device

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    well I heard that NSW are trying to organise a rematch vs QLD

    why don't we try to organise something with the ACT @ MES? (they had the game this year during the Super 14)

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    I think it is a great concept,you have the top 22 guys trying to prove that they deserve their spots,and the next best 23 trying to prove that they deserve to be in the top 22.Leads to fierce competition for all positions,what more do you want as a selector.

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    So a one-off match is an adequate replacement for an Aus A program. Genius!

    If it is a genuine possibles/probables, it is essentially a scratch match for the Wallaby squad plus a few fringe players. But talk it up SMH/ARU - I am sure it will be a much better talent identification program than actually giving players consistent game time at a higher level of competition. You'd have to wonder though - how much would a player have to rip up first grade to earn a Test start, how is it that he didn't already have a contract, and will they go on hearsay and "want to see first-hand after hearing about them on the grapevine of club rugby" for players in Melbourne and Perth?

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    Should have been doing it for years, but not at the expense of the Australia A program.

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    hmm, well see how many people are thinking its a great idea after the match finishes and there are plenty of injuries..

    In my experience, the most intense and aggressive matches i have played in have been between the A and B sides. Blokes fighting for there position in a team and against the player that is in that position usually lift to another level.

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    Yeah - Giteau, Barnes and Moore all on the sidelines after the match and that'd be the end of it.

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    I just hope its in Sydney so I can go to the match. Great Idea.

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    Quote Originally Posted by TOCC View Post
    .
    In my experience, the most intense and aggressive matches i have played in have been between the A and B sides. Blokes fighting for there position in a team and against the player that is in that position usually lift to another level.
    Exactly thats why the ABs played these matches for years.

    but think of the match ups

    1 robinson
    2 moore
    3 baxter
    4 horwill
    5 sharpe
    6 mcmenemin
    7 smith
    8 palu
    9 burgess
    10 gits
    11 loote
    12 barnes
    13 mortlock
    14 hynes
    15 shepard

    1 alexander
    2 tpn
    3 shepardson
    4 kimlin/humphries
    5 chisolm
    6 mumm/salvi
    7 pocock/waugh
    8 hoiles/houston
    9 holmes/sheehan
    10 cooper
    11 diggers
    12 oconnor
    13 cross
    14 drew
    15 gerrard

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    Who needs a selection panel when you can use natural selection - might save a few $$ on consultancy fees

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    Veteran TOCC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cookie View Post
    Exactly thats why the ABs played these matches for years.
    the point was, people play uncessarily aggressive and injure other players, which isnt a good thing. To me is seems a tad pointless anyway, we only have 4 teams in this country, its not like we have that much talent and players to choose from that we even need a possibles vs probables.

    On top of all that, i think we would see many of the top players rested prior to the EOYT.

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    Last edited by TOCC; 24-03-09 at 14:49.

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    Perhaps so they can make future claims to being a Wallaby trialist?

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    Champion welshrugbyfan's Avatar
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    Why don't they bring back Wednesday games again.

    Stick the fringe players in there and play against club sides again.

    It worked against the Ospreys, oh no wait that's right the Ospreys won

    I don't think Newport have played an International game since let me have a look below

    Err 1969

    Not quite true we got flogged by Samoa I think a few years back.

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