Big numbers needed for big season

John Connolly
Sunday, May 13, 2007

THE professional sporting landscape has changed substantially when it comes to team and squad selections.

Many sports are using larger squads of players to cope with a long season. Having depth is crucial for prolonged success.

The Super 12 has expanded to the Super 14 and we have up to 13 Tests a year. Demands on the players are greater than ever and at times they become tired or experience a drop in form.

With Australian participation in the Super 14 behind us, the focus now turns to the Wallabies. After spending 5 years overseas, what I'm really beginning to learn is how well the Wallabies have punched above their weight over the past decade. We've done that by staying ahead of the game.

During the week the selectors named 59 players to train in their home states until the squad is reduced to 40 at a three-day camp in Sydney starting on Tuesday.

We faced criticism for the size of the train-on squad, but 59 players were named because the ARU will have two squads playing simultaneously this winter. Our 30-man squad for the Wallabies will be selected next Sunday for the Tests against Wales and Fiji, and a 25-man squad - separate from the Wallabies - will represent Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup against Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks.

The 30-man Wallabies squad will be reviewed before we play Fiji in Perth and the first Tri Nations game in South Africa.

Everything the team does will be geared towards the World Cup. All players will be monitored and managed with a view to their performing at their peak in France.

New Zealand rested their top 22 players for the first half of the Super 14. Having not had the same luxury, we will have to manage our players during the domestic season to get them physically and mentally prepared for the World Cup.

Selectors are close to locking in the final 30 players for the domestic season. There has been rigorous debate about any number of positions, with some yet to be settled. We have four hookers vying for two spots, and tight-head prop and halfback are contentious spots.

Who will be backup for Chris Latham, who we hope will return late in the Tri Nations?

Whoever gets the nod for any spot, I'm extremely confident we'll give the Cup an almighty shake.