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| I wouldn't worry to much about Hugh going.The guy is so injury prone i'd doubt he will see out another season anyway. As for digby,Australian rugby really needs this guy,he was electric this year in an under perfoming Reds side. He needs to be retained !! |
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| In a massive blow to embattled Queensland's hopes of a revival, Hugh McMeniman will shun a World Cup campaign in 2011 after fielding offers of more than $900,000 from French and Japanese clubs. The star flanker told Reds coach Phil Mooney of his decision on Friday. The 25-year-old said he was gutted to be walking out on the Reds. He had sought dispensation from the ARU to turn out for Queensland next year before heading abroad. Instead, McMeniman will spend the first half of 2010 playing club rugby for Wests. Digby Ioane will leave with him unless Test coach Robbie Deans succeeds in a late bid to keep the powerhouse outside back in Australia. The ARU's offer to Ioane, said to be about $190,000 a season, left the 23-year-old shocked. Deans has made contact with Ioane to seek a resolution, but the winger will join McMeniman in a package deal if the ARU doesn't table a substantial upgrade. "The offer was like an insult to me. I don't get it. I'm shattered," he said. "My goal was to go to the World Cup, but I don't know what else I have to do to prove what I'm worth." big loss if Ioane leaves,especially with Mortlock and Cross and Tahu being well over 30 when the World Cup comes... i am pretty sure though the 190,000 a season ,that is just the ARU top up...if i'm not mistaken the Super contract is about 150,000 a year at it's max level...i'm sure the Reds would have put him on that...plus even a small third party sponsorship...match and test matches extra payments,he would have been easy on 4-500,000 a year for the next 2 years...i don't think that is really such an insult. |
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| Not much of a biggie, he'd be the 3rd choice flyhalf (behind Gits & Barnes) and having experience at 12 he is kinda a shoe-in. Reds backline showed some glimmers of brilliance this year (e.g. vs Sharks) which is why he would have been selected ahead of others, plus previous Wallabies selection and camp exposure. Mmmmm... I'm a bit baffled as to why Cowan got selected too. After all the beatings the Force scrum copped this year I am surprised that any of the front row got selected. I would have also gone for Sheps for form (ACT scrum DESTROYED the Force scrum this year) and would have considered Dunning as a backup despite lack of game time in '09. I think 'old heads' in the front row are not a bad thing - props are always better in their late 20s. |
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| I actually rate cooper...he just plays with a bunch of dummies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cooper! Good for us bad for you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I' m hearing you froggy. They'll pick Mumm as the starting 6 for sure. I agree chapman would be a better option, but they're probably banking on Elsom to be freed up for the Trinations. And yes Palu is injured. Along with Ione and McMenniman. |
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| Is Palu injured? Without Palu, Elsom, Chisholm or McMeniman it is a very small back row. It almost assures Mumm of a spot, otherwise we're short a jumper. I agree with Tsprouter, someone like Chapman with a bit of size might have been a better choice than Hodgson. For that poster, Pek Cowan is a tight head prop from the Force, who got absolutely belted by Robinson in 08 when they played the Tahs, to the point where he had to be hooked early. He has improved in leaps and bounds this year, but still has to be lucky to be selected, coming from the worst performing front row of the 3 Aus franchises. I think Shepherdson is stiff, had a very good year, I guess the selectors see him as yesterdays man. Froggy |
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| I'm wondering who is going to play 6..(mumm ?),and why pick 3 No# 7s, Higginbotham should have been picked to play at 6 IMO . Let Waugh go and play with the Baa Baas |
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| man, this could sound bad, but who the f//uck is Pek Cowan? i watch the super 14 a fair bit, mainly the tahs... but ive never even heard of this bloke. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No massive surprises for me here. Pek Cowan over Sheperdson is probably not a bad option given how much tighter he pays the game, also a touch more mobile. Good to see Hodgson get a start too, although I would gone for Chapman in McMenimens absence. No Sheahan - Happy Panther. No Shepherd -Happy me. |
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| Article from: The Australian WESTERN FORCE duo Matt Hodgson and Pek Cowan are surprise selections the 29-man Wallabies squad named today. Despite speculation NSW skipper Phil Waugh is the suqad but will be freed to play for the Barbarians against the Wallabies at the SFS on June 6. Wallabies squad for Test matches against the Barbarians, Italy and France: Forwards - Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Pek Cowan, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Peter Kimlin, Dean Mumm, Matt Hodgson, George Smith, David Po*c*o*c*k , Phil Waugh, Richard Brown. Backs - Josh Valentine, Luke Burgess, Matt Giteau, Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Timana Tahu, Ryan Cross, Lote Tuqiri, Peter Hynes, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor. |
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| Don't get me wrong I also have been well impressed with O'conner this year also,he could be a bolter he certainly has the skill level. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apparently TSP, Dingo can pull him out of that tour to line in the Wallabies. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25490445- 5002381,00.html But it is just my personal opinion that I would like him in the Wallabies...and NOW, not later. I would like to expose him to the big time again especially after his great intro in the Baabaas match last year. I just think he's ready. |
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| I was under the impression that O'Conner was going to the under 20's comp this year,could be wrong.I admit he is a talent but a bit young for a Tri nations IMO. Also Higginbotham could be a bolter this year he was on fire earlier in the season and then seemed to be out of favour with Mooney in the last couple of games.Also the second rower byrne for the Red for me always played well when he came on.I personally arn't a fan of Mumm in the 4 or 5 spot and think Mowen at 6 was the big improver all year for the Tah's. |
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| You're not keen to put Tuqiri in the XV? One thing I do like about the Wallabies this year is who to leave out, rather than who to select. I would like to see O'Connor start at fullback. I think he can make that his own position. Which Cooper do you not like? I think Ashley Cooper has to be there somewhere. I feel he is reliable without being spectacular. A good player to come on in the 2nd half to settle things down, if necessary. I think we could see future stars emerge this year. Horwill, Barnes and O'Connor could be standouts. I also like the way Burgess is developing at half. Some of his clever little runs from the ruck/maul show he has good vision. I don't have the ability to check out the full Super 14 form as I am living in China. I have to rely a lot replayed videos (mostly highlights) which is generally not good quality. I would like to know if anyone else out there is living abroad and how you watch rugby on the net. China is Krap. A lot of things are blocked like You tube. |
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| Hi might be a bit gnomeish but I thought he played well on the weekend and with all the players missing from the Force next year he will be very handy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Good point Ciu, Tahu will definitely be there. He gives them a 12, 13, wing option. Chop chop, I can hear Panther grinding his teeth already. Don't know why he gets so worked up about Sheehan. Maybe he suffers from gnomophobia. (fear of gnomes) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hey Ado, Don't mention Sheehan, you will get Panther worked up again. Good selection though. |
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| agree with you on the squad froggy,even though i think there is a chance we will see Tahu in that squad...not with the 22 for the 1st test... Hynes i am pretty sure is still out injured...and even if he makes it back in time,he hardly played any minutes in the last 5-6 weeks...i don't think he is ready for a start,i see Turner and Tuquiri on the wings. back up for Smith...i am probably the only one on this forum that will say this but is still Waugh for me...Poc*ck is the future(plus he has a bloody name that is swearing according to the morons that censor this site) but at this time,i still see Waugh as the back up no 7 for the Wallabies... and if they keep up with the tradition,they will have to bring an uncapped player in the 22 for the game against the Barbarians...maybe Mowen at no 6 or Caldwell in the second row. |
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| No real surprises here except I doubt whether Cooper will make the 30. Dingo has got Gits, Barnes and O'Connor who can all play 10 or 12. Also it depends very much on whether Dingo wants 4 wingers in the 30. Particularly when guys like Mitchell, Cross and Ashley Cooper can play there as well. My feeling is that he will opt for an extra forward & halfback or two forwards rather than the number of backs you propose. In which case you can delete Shepherd and Cooper and perhaps add Sheehan or Caldwell and Chapman to the mix. |
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| My selections H Moore, Polata-Nau P Robinson, Baxter, Alexander, Shepherdson L Sharp, Horwill, Mumm, Kimlin B-R Smith, Poc*ck, Waugh, Palu, Brown, Elsom (is he available? if not Hoiles) 1/2 Burgess, Valentine 5/8 Giteau, Cooper C Barnes, O'Connor, Mortlock, Cross W Tuquiri, Hynes, Turner, Shepherd FB Mitchell, A/Cooper Not considered due to injury - Chisholm, McMeniman, Ioane, also didn't consider Gerard as he is going O/S 1st Test Robinson, Moore, Baxter, Sharp, Horwill, Elsom, Smith, Palu, Burgess, Giteau, Barnes, Mortlock, Turner, Hynes, Mitchell Res: Polata-Nau, Alexander, Mumm, Poc*ck, Valentine, O'Connor, A/Cooper Froggy |
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