Tri- Nations Talent - Australia
The Reds:
When perusing Australia's 40 man squad for the upcoming Tri Nations tournament it's difficult not to get excited about every one of the Queensland Reds 14 representatives and hope that they can show their Super 15 form on the International stage. That would make for a pretty dull blog though so I thought I'd only select the most exciting players of the last season and the players who could make a difference for the Wallabies over the next 5 months.
Quade Cooper may not have been at his sparkling best in the recent Super 15 final, but he has been the outstanding player of the tournament overall. His counter attacking flair and combination play with flying Wingers Digby Ioane and "Rocket Rod Davies have been key offensive weapons and crucial factors in the Reds successful season. Whether Australia's management team decide to use Cooper in a similar defensive role for the national side as the Reds do and deciding if they should select Ioane and Davies in their back 3 to suite Quade would appear to be 2 important decisions facing the selectors. The only area where Cooper has been slightly vulnerable this season is kicking for goal, but this won't be an issue for Australia as they can call on James O'Connor, Matt Giteau or Kurtley Beale in that role.
Digby Ioane, like Cooper was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia as a school boy. In 2006 Ioane was nominated for the IRB U21 player of the year award but since then he has never managed to cement a place in the Wallaby line up and he has just 11 caps. This year as part of the second highest scoring team in the Super 15 competition he has benefited from the Reds' bent toward open flowing rugby and he has been able to demonstrate not only his blistering pace, excellent foot work and broken field running ability but also his dancing.
As with all fancy pants backs these 2 have only been able to perform as a result of an immense forward effort from the Reds this season and while it is difficult to ignore any of the tight five players one has stood out in particular this year. Captain James Horwill has lead from the front all season, in fact ever since he was first awarded the captaincy at the age of 22 and he was one of the most impressive players on show in the final. Last season Horwill played only 2 games of Super rugby before a devastating knee injury left him needing surgery. Horwill is extremely mobile for a huge individual, he stands 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs around 18 and a half stone (117 kg) and his ball carrying skills will be vital in drawing in defenders and providing Cooper and co. the space they need to work their magic in.
One of the other outstanding players from the Super 14 final was Reds number 6 Scott Higginbotham he was many people's Man Of The Match, even though the award was presented to Quade Cooper. Higginbotham produced 2 of the best grubber kicks of the season, one in each corner of the field and both that rolled into touch within centimetres of the Crusaders goal line. He demonstrated exceptional pace and ball carrying skills, often popping up in midfield alongside backs and not looking out of place despite being 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 17 stone 5 (110 kg). Higginbotham is uncapped, having missed out on selection in 2010 after suffering a high ankle sprain but I would be surprised if he doesn't make his debut soon and become a permanent fixture on the International scene.
Finally the player who impressed me more than any of the Reds this season, rugby league convert Beau Robinson. Robinson began his professional rugby career as a Canterbury Bulldog before signing for the Waratahs in 2007. As an Open Side Flanker Robinson's ability to be the first to almost every break down in both defence and attack is uncanny, he won countless penalties for his team in defensive areas of the field won turnovers that allowed Cooper attack disorganised defences. There's is just one monumental obstacle between Robinson and the Wallaby number 7 jersey, one named "Bam bam or David Pocock. Pocock is widely considered the best Open Side currently playing the game, which could mean that Robinson and Phil Waugh will have more in common than just their hair styles.
The Rest :
While the Reds where the most impressive all season in the Super Rugby competition the other Australian teams struggled and only the Waratah's could even cling to the Red's coat tails. The Waratah's won 10 of their 16 games but injuries took their toll and a depleted 'Tahs team went out in the first round of the play offs. The other 3 Australian sides occupied the bottom 4 of the final standings. Despite their poor showings all these sides have talented players who will be appearing in the Tri Nations.
Kurtley Beale is one of the most exciting open field runners in world rugby at the moment and his goal kicking range makes him 1 of the Wallabies most dangerous weapons. He was the 'Tahs talisman throughout the season and despite only scoring 4 tries he totalled 166 points, making the 7th overall points scorer and the 4th highest ranked Australian. The only problem the Wallabies will have is figuring out how to use him in defence, if Quade Cooper defends at 15 and Beale starts at Fullback where will he defend?
Pat McCabe could be a key player in solving this dilemma, the Brumbies 12 is probably the toughest tackler in the Wallaby squad by moving to the Fly Half position in defence (and the other backs inside 1 position, leaving Beale as the open side winger) the Wallabies should have a very strong inside defence and an extremely formidable counter attacking unit should the opposition kick the ball. McCabe has also scored 3 tries this season so he's not just a defensive instrument in the back line.
James O'Connor is one of the most prodigious talents in world rugby and at the age of 21 already has 27 senior caps, 119 International points, including 10 tries. He was joint top scores in last year's Tri Nations tournament alongside Mills Muliaina, a feat which is even more remarkable when you realise he starts on the wing for Australia when his preferred and Super rugby position is Fly Half. O'Connor is widely expected to "pop- up in midfield at regular intervals when the Wallabies have possession of the ball and whilst this will be an obvious plus point in open play it could lead to some serious defensive problems if the Australian forwards cannot provide clean and quick ball for their backs.
David Pocock or "Bam bam to his friends will be the key Wallaby when it comes to recycling quick ball, he was rested at the weekend against Samoa and without his speed to the breakdown and physicality at those breakdowns Australia struggled to win any clean ball. Pocock is not only the key to the Wallabies attacking game plan but his ability to turn over ball or win penalties and make last ditch tackles in defensive situations is also a vital component in their success.
One player who I feel was most unfortunate to miss out on the Wallaby squad is Melbourne Rebels Lock forward Hugh Pyle. The 6 feet 7 inch forward was present at Wallaby training and has been named in their 40 man World Cup training squad. He was the most athletic Lock on display and his support lines where more reminiscent of an Outside Centre than a forward, his ability to arrive on the ball carrier's shoulder combined with his 18 stone 7lbs (118 kg) body mass saw him send more than a few unfortunate cover defenders flying this season. Australia are not wanting for ball carrying lock forwards with the likes of James Horwill, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe and even Daniel Vickerman who returned to the squad at the weekend but at just 22 years old Pyle will surely have a long International career ahead of him.
