2011 Squad Predictions

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

MJ just needs to get over his 'building continuity' thesis; continuity is all well and good but first of you have to choose a squad based on who is playing the best. Without that, you can't get the best our of 'healthy competition', because no matter what barritt, allen, waldouck flutey and tuilagi do, they're never going to get a look in.theres no point having a multitude of good players if we never change anything. Every individual player has to proove their merit continuously, and then from within we can build the right team dynamic and continuity.

By the way RAWWeyman, we really do need to a specialist 8 in there somewhere so you cant compeltely do away with easter, however much you might want to. that said, narraway is an equally good option imo.

id like to see an experimental squad for the baa baa's,

something along the lines of:

marler
webber
corbisiero
attwood
kitchener
Gaskell
saull (we know how good robshaw is and he should deifnitely go to the world-cup)
Narraway/Guest?

Simpson
Alex Goode/farrell
Elliot Daly
Twelvetrees
Tuilagi
Sharples
Farrell

This would never happen because there are some very raw guys in there but it would help us see where some of them are at

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Stick Robshaw in for Gaskell - Gaskells been poo for a few months now, and while we all know how good Robshaw is I'd still start him - He's only got 1 England cap, and though this isn't a capped game, I'd want him to be in there for the selectors to see him,
Anyhow, I'll take my predictions to the match thread, as I just realised this wasn't it :lol:

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

This is what I think Samoa squad will look like, not necessarily what I would have as my own squad.
Props:Sakaria Taulafo, Anothony Perenise, Cencus Johnston, Simon Lemalu
Hookers: Mahonri Schwalger, Tii Paulo
Locks: Felipo Levi, Kane Thompson, Dan Leo, Pelu Taele-Pevihi
Flankers and Number 8 : Ofisa Treviranus, George Stowers, Manaia Salavea, Maurie Faasavalu, Joe Tekori, Henry Tuilagi, Serge Lilo
Scrum Halves: Kahn Fotualii, Junior Poluleuligaga
Fly Half: Tasesa Lavea
Centres: Seilala Mapasua, George Pisi, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Jonny Leota, Andy Tuilagi
Wingers: Alesena Tuilagi, Sailosi Tagicakibau, David Lemi
Fullbacks: Paul Williams, Gavin Williams

My matchday lineup from this Squad
1 Sakaria Taulafo
2 Mahonri Schwalger (c)
3 Anthony Perenise
4 Felipo Levi
5 Kane Thompson
6 George Stowers
7 Serge Lilo
8 Henry Tuilagi
9 Kahn Fotuali'i
10 Tasesa Lavea
11 Sailosi Tagicakibau
12 Seilala Mapasua
13 George Pisi
14 Alesena Tuilagi
15 Paul Williams (k)

16 Ti'i Paulo
17 Cencus Johnston
18 Joe Tekori
19 Ofisa Treviranus/Maurie Fa'asavalu (cant decide)
20 Junior Poluleuligaga
21 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu
22 David Lemi

The squad can look alil diferent though if more players from Super Rugby make themselves available for Samoa come close to the World Cup selections.

 

[Darwin]

An interesting article on a potential AB's RWC squad here. I agree with the vast majority of the squad selected.

 

[ranger]

An interesting article on a potential AB's RWC squad here. I agree with the vast majority of the squad selected.

I sort of agree, but i can't fathom how Dagg and Sivivatu are certainties and Jane doesn't make the squad. Jane has never had a bad game in a black jersey before.

 

[Darwin]

I sort of agree, but i can't fathom how Dagg and Sivivatu are certainties and Jane doesn't make the squad. Jane has never had a bad game in a black jersey before.

Yeah I do agree, I think Dagg and Sivivatu are far from certainties. That was the only selection that I thought looked slightly off the mark though; the rest was pretty close to what I would expect (certainly much better than most journalists predictions I've seen thus far). Indeed the forward pack is exactly the pack I predict Henry and co. will select (though Todd may get picked if they feel they need another specialist 7).

 

[nickdnz]

Yeah I do agree, I think Dagg and Sivivatu are far from certainties. That was the only selection that I thought looked slightly off the mark though; the rest was pretty close to what I would expect (certainly much better than most journalists predictions I've seen thus far). Indeed the forward pack is exactly the pack I predict Henry and co. will select (though Todd may get picked if they feel they need another specialist 7).

Chris Jack lower than Jared Hoeata and Donnelly? Donnelly isn't even starting for the Highlanders. They have Dagg at 11...

 

[Darwin]

Chris Jack lower than Jared Hoeata and Donnelly? Donnelly isn't even starting for the Highlanders. They have Dagg at 11...

I knew Dagg at 11 would anger you (and I have no idea why the journalist would think Dagg is a likely starter, let alone be a squad certainty).

I don't think Jack will make the 30-man squad, but he probably has a much better than 2% chance of making it. I didn't take his % chance for each player to make the squad too seriously, but rather looked at the 30 players he suggested would make the squad, which apart from the outside backs (and possibly one halfback) looked spot on. At this stage, I'd imagine the four most likely locks to be picked are Thorn, Whitelock, Boric, and Williams (as has been suggested in the article), but Jack, Donnelly, Hoeata, and even Bekhuis may have a chance to force their way in.

 

[dan-the-man]

My SA Squad for the WC (Although there is no chance it will be anything like this)

1. CJ van der Linde (Good pace for a prop, and the strongest member of the Springboks, benchpressing 200kg)
2. Gary Botha (Mistake free, solid defender. Smit is useless, Bismarck is a walking penalty and will cost the Springboks BIG TIME in the WC, I don't care how good he is at rucking)
3. BJ Botha (One of the best scrummagers in the world)
4. Danie Rossouw (No Bakkies for the same reason there's no Bismarck, way too much of a liability with his ill-discipline. He's a joke)
5. Andries Bekker (Victor Matfield is done. He has always been bad at everything except for line-outs, but now even that's gone down the toilet)
6. Heinrich Brussow
7. Schalk Burger (Playing him at 7 because he doesn't play such a fetcher role anymore, and you can't afford to leave out Brussow who wins you quality possesion)
8. Juan Smith (Now, just listen to me people. Juan started his career at 8, and you need to put him in and you can't drop Brussow or Burger, and Spies and Kanko are not good internationals)
9. Fourie du Preez (But I'd tell him to STOP KICKING)
10. Peter Grant (Morne Steyn is useless. Even his goal-kicking isn't that good anymore)
11. Francois Hougaard (Habana is USELESS. Isn't even going to make my squad)
12. JDV
13. Jaque Fourie
14. Gio Aplon (JP Pietersen is **** poor. Sick of hearing "what a finisher". Aplon actually gets through tackles)
15. Frans Steyn

16. Adriaan Strauss (On fire. Playing awesome rugby at the moment, much more consistent then Bismarck)
17. Coenie Oosthuizen (Gurthro injured all year)
18. Victor Matfield
19. Willem Alberts
20. Sarel Pretorious
21. Butch James
22. Juan de Jongh

(R) Gurthro Steenkamp (Will bring him on as a sub in the easy games if he's not 100%)
(R) Schalk Brits (Premiership Player of the Year last year and nominee this year. Amazing hooker, good tackler and unbelievable in open play)
(R) Dewaldt Potgieter
(R) Francois Louw
(R) Duane Vermeulen
(R) Bjorn basson
(R) Riaan Viljoen
(R) Lwazi Mvovo

 

[Peat]

If neither of Charlie Sharples of James Simpson-Daniel don't go to the WC then there is something seriously wrong with the RFU/Martin Johnson (I'm hoping one or both will be involved with the BaaBaas match at the end of the month, if Gloucester don't make the prem final)

I think we've all established Jonno hates Glaws and neither will be involved in a month of sundays.

 

[big-hits]

Tuilagi has got to start for england!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I don't think he will. He hasn't got a cap yet and i can't see Johnson trusting a young, uncapped and not English born player to start his competitive international career at the world cup. Personally I think tait should get the 12 shirt

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Despite not being a 12 and having a dislocated shoulder?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Oh<_<

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tuilagi isn't a 12 either, sooooo.......

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It was my first proper rugby related post in ages and you proved I am fool can we just leave it at that or will you challenge my intelligence more.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Well, we could go down the route that Tuilagi played a couple of games for the Saxons so has technically played international rugby

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

While technically that is international rugby it isn't close to what the standard is at world cup level and I can't see him knocking a fit tindall out of the side either. Also tuilagi could be better at 12 for modern day rugby as he would be a more effective ''crash and bash'' centre than hape

 

[big-hits]

I didn't mean start, I meant he has to at least be taken, although after seeing the incident involving ashton, this doesn't seem so likely..

 

[psychic duck]

Argentina squad prediction:

FB (1): Rodríguez
WG (5): Agulla, Amorosino, Camacho, Borges, Carballo
CT (3): Tiesi, Bosch, Fernández
FH (2): Hernández, Contepomi
SH (3): Vergallo, Lalanne, Figuerola
PR (4): Roncero, Ayerza, Scelzo, Figallo
HK (3): Ledesma, Creevy, Basualdo
LK (3): Albacete, Carizza, Galarza
FL (4): Campos, Fessia, Farías Cabello, de Achával
N8 (2): Fernández Lobbe, Leguizamón