Western Wallabies

[shasta]

Who do you think will make the Wallabies squad? For me...

Cam Shepherd
Scott Fava
Scott Staniforth
Nathan Sharpe...........can't believe some so-called experts are leaving him out.
Gareth Hardy

And with the injury to Canno my bolter is ...........Tai McIsaac.

[shasta]

Who do you think will make the Wallabies squad? For me...

Cam Shepherd
Scott Fava
Scott Staniforth
Nathan Sharpe...........can't believe some so-called experts are leaving him out.
Gareth Hardy

And with the injury to Canno my bolter is ...........Tai McIsaac.

Oh yeah and Giteau and Mitchell

[Happy]

Fava I'm not sure off.. Sheperd will definately start on the bench if he gets picked (unfortunatly)

Sir George's position is certainly safer with Henjacks disgraceful season!

[Burgs]

I pretty much agree with your list shasta, although I have to agree with the "so-called experts" that Sharpey will have to fight much harder for his spot this year than last. He has had a good year however, so have Vickerman, Chisholm, Campbell, Kanaar (grrr), Wallace-Harrison, Caldwell and even Horwill.
He "should" get selected on merit for at least the first few matches but it wouldn't surprise me to see him selected on the bench for at least one match, especially with Vickerman having such a strong hold on one spot.
Apart from a couple of positions, I understand from interviews that Connolly is approaching the selection table with a clean sheet, without any historical bias, so every player is on notice to perform if they wish to keep "their" Wallaby jersey.
I think McIsaac had a good chance until his performance over the weekend in the Kimberley winds unfortunately.
The whisper around the traps is that Hardy will be given at least one shot at Loosehead.
For the 33 man squad I would think the following would have a shot in decending order of a chance for the 22:

Sharpe (should start more than he bench's but will need to perform every match. A VC will give me more confidence)
Hardy (as above, tipped for at least one start)
Staniforth (if Gits gets injured I would put him straight into the starting XV, otherwise will probably not make 22)
Fava (the return to fitness of Lyons will unfotunately signal Scotty's return to his favourite 23rd man status)
Shepherd (will be behind Latham, Mitchell and Rogers)
Henjak (only until Cordingley is fit)
Ioane (will have a crack at Australia A but Wallaby Cap just a little way off yet)
Pusey (ready for inevitable injury to one of the bigger name Blindsides)
Hodgson (more likely next year but I think he will be considered)
Graham (my roughy for a bench start to stiffen outside defence)
Fitter (I wouldn't pick him but he may feature)
Doherty (as with Pusey)

[shasta]

Sir George's position is certainly safer with Henjacks disgraceful season!

Good point. The back-up halves will be interesting. Not sure when Cordingly will be fit but he's a certainty for the squad if available. If he's fit George will have some real competition for the starts. There's plenty here still giving Henjak the benefit of the doubt. I wonder if Conolly and the selectors will be being as forgiving?

[Burgs]

I have only mentioned Henjak in that he has had exposure to touring, Internationals etc before.
This has to give him some credit points with the selectors.
However, if Whitaker was playing on and/or Cordingley wasn't injured then I agree he wouldn't have a hope. You'll notice that I had him sixth Force chance to make the 30 man squad, hardly a ringing endorsement?
As it currently stands, if I was selecting, it would be a hit out between Henjak and Sheehan for the bench and I would probably choose Sheehan for the variety he can offer to Gregans game.
Currently (disregarding availability) I would rate the Australian Halves as:
1. Gregan
2. Cordingley
3. Whitaker
4. Sheehan
5. Henjak
6. Valentine
7. O'Young
8. Phibbs
9. Berry

[shasta]

I think McIsaac had a good chance until his performance over the weekend in the Kimberley winds unfortunately.

I wouldn't discard him just on that one display. I rate him a chance because of his ability to prop the scrum quite efficiently as well.

[Burgs]

The duel role certainly helps his chances although he would be being selected as a Hooker on the bench who can Prop at a pinch I think.
That one display was on the back of me considering him borderline anyway.
"Good chance" may have been overstating my rating
With Paul, Freier, Polota-Nau, Hardman and Moore all going pretty well this season I think he may have a pretty big challenge ahead of him to break into the squad.
What would come in his favour is if Hardy does get selected to start, as this would offer more of a unit package for these earlier matches.

[Shaun]

Burgs im gonna have to agree with you with the Josh Graham senario... He has been one solid memebrr of the force squad and has neva failed to please me, his defense as well as cover defense would be much needed to boost the wallabies, although the likes of many others may keep him out of the squad... But the weaker the wallabies the more the springboks will dominate them BOKKE!

[no.8]

I haven't been able to read Knuckles thoughts anywhere, but there have been suggestions around in various articles. The Force lesser players will not get a mention, so you can forget Digger, Hodgie and Joshie.

The likelyhood is he will continue in a similar vein to Eddie (due to the real need for experience) with a few inclusions of his own, this is where Scott Staniforth will feature....

1. Bill Young (Missing from Summer tour debacle, steady '06)
2. Jeremy Paul (Form experienced Hooker)
3. David Fitter (Incumbent prop and needs to work)

4. Nathan Sharpe (Leadership and set piece ability - breaking first up tackles) *VC*
5. Daniel Vickerman (Line out and restarts exceptional this year)

6. Rocky Elsom (Lineout option and improved work rate)
7. George Smith (stand out open side flanker in Super 14's)
8. John Roe (Matured quickly with leadership role and another leading from the front)

9. George Gregan (raised the bar in '06 and still the best Aussie offering at 9) *C*
10. Stephen Larkham (assuming he's fit - if not Matt Giteau)

12. Matt Giteau (if MG 10 - Scott Staniforth)
13. Stirling Mortlock (no question)

11. Drew Mitchell (no question)
14. Lote Tuquiri (needs to show more)
15. Chris Latham (needs to show more)

16. Brendan Cannon (if not fit - Adam Frier)
17. Greg Holmes - was on Wallaby tour - done well this year!
18. Mitchell Chapman (provides a backrow option and 3rd best lineout figures - DV1/NS2)
19. Phil Waugh (second in the openside race this year)
20. Sam Cordingly (if not fit - Matt Henjak)
21. Scott Staniforth (Mark Gerrard if Larkham unfit)
22. Clyde Rathbone (Heads a long list of potentials)


exclusions backs
Mark Gerard - Likely 24th man - in for Latham(Mitchell to Fullback)/Tuqiri
Halves
Matt Henjak (improved slowly as the season progressed - a quality player)
Josh Valentine - needs more game time after the horrific layoff
Josh Holmes (Aus u19) - Matt Henjak better watch out for this guy.
Chris O'Young - great season - long shot!
Brett Sheehan - longer shot!
10's
Matt Rodgers - poor defensive capabilities have been exposed badly, although a genius!
Berick Barnes - brilliant season - outside chance.
James Hilgendorf - brilliant season - outside chance.
centres
Morgan Turinui - quiet season and Mortlock just to good (next centre)
Ben Tune - didn't impact like Staniforth
Wing/Fullbacks
Cameron Shepherd - likely bolter along with PH/JH/BB (next Wing/fullback)
Peter Hewat - good season again, although kicking game has gone astray (no pedigree)
Adam Ashley-Cooper - hasn't emulated '05 form.
Wendell Sailor still no tries!!!


exclusions forwards
Scot Fava - will be 23rd man (in for Rocky)
Hookers
Adam Frier (Still no showing the quality of JP/BC)
Tatafu Polota-Nau could overtake Frier
Sean Hardman - like Frier not showing himself fully
Props
Nic Henderson - on top of his game in '06! (next prop of the rank)
Rodney Blake (Huge season in '06 - jut behind NH)
Al Baxter - a flicker of hope as his S14 turned around, but Europe still haunts him!
Matt Dunning - Falling all the time!
Gareth Hardy - great season, will take a miracle to be selected.
Locks
Mark Chisholm - Next in the pecking order - although quite in '06 (next lock off the rank)
Al Kanaar - not versitile enough (why we wanted him at the Force I will never know!)
Alistair Campbell - overshadowed by Chisholm
Radike Samo - hasn't emulated the form, although a known favourite of Knuckles.
Backrow
Daniel Heenan - Second best of the rest of the backrows this year.
David Pusey - Scott Fava ahead of him just, great season and a lineout option!
David Lyons - Big isn't always good and hasn't been there in '06
Adam Wallace-Harrison - versatility, needs more experience though!

I have been wrong on many occasions, just look at my Super 14 tips!

[littleleck]

Staniforth (if Gits gets injured I would put him straight into the starting XV, otherwise will probably not make 22)

Would love to see staniforth be in the 22 if not the 15 just to justify force. outstanding season. proved himself in defence and certainly nothing lacking in attack.