Union Dribbler Going Mad in Lockdown Picks his NRL XV to Beat the Wallabies
Rugby Union Dribbler Going Mad in Lockdown Picks his NRL XV to Beat the Wallabies
by The Emerald Dribbler
As Australian rugby wallows in the doldrums of yet another Bledisloe series loss, even the most rusted-on Wallabies fan can’t help to think: “Is this really the best we’ve got?”
Never in history has the national team lacked world-class talent and celebrity. For the first time in the professional era, the Wallabies are completely bereft of household names. As your Dad recounts the famous efforts of Horan, Lynagh, Eales, Larkham, Gregan, Pocock and Beale, your Mum squints at the TV and has to ask you: “Who on earth is Len Ikitau and Andrew Kellaway?”
In complete contrast, the NRL has never appeared more dominant in Australia’s rugby football landscape. It’s on your TV 4 nights a week, and State of Origin remains the highest rating sports program every year. For the cross-code fan, the frustration at the state of Australian rugby grows more intense when each weekend we see freakishly talented footballers, dozens of whom could change the fate of rugby union in Australia, if they were to cross codes. To visualise this, I’ve had a crack at naming The Ultimate NRL Rugby Union Cross-Over XV.
A few points to consider:
- Some positions in rugby league aren’t as easily translated to the 15-man game. A rugby league body designed for 150m and 30 tackles is not entirely suited to pack down in a scrum. Therefore, most forward positions are picked “in theory”, based on the suitability of height, weight and playing style, with assumption they could adjust their body to suit the rigours of rugby union.
- Comparisons made are to help the dribbler get an idea of a size and/or playing style comparison between the codes, they are not an evaluation of talent.
- Little precedence is given to someone with a “rugby union background”. This team is based off how good they are at professional rugby league, not schoolboy union.
- Lastly, this is an NRL-based side with no eligibility requirements – this side is designed to beat the Wallabies, not play for them.
The Front Row
|
Starters |
Height |
Weight |
Comparison |
|
|
Prop |
Junior Paulo |
188cm |
123kg |
Sekope Kepu |
|
Hooker |
Josh Papali’i |
182cm |
119kg |
Tatafu Polata-Nau |
|
Prop |
Jason Taumalolo |
191cm |
117kg |
Taniela Tupou |
|
Bench |
||||
|
Hooker |
Junior Tatola |
183cm |
114kg |
Folau Fainga’a |
|
Prop |
Payne Haas |
196cm |
117kg |
Ofa Tu’ungafasi |
|
Prop |
Addin Fonua-Blake |
189cm |
118kg |
Allan Ala’alatoa |
In the front row you are looking for big round boys. These are typically the largest front-rowers; with body types that could transition into a scrummageable package. Paulo, Taumalolo, Haas and Fonua-Blake are 4 of the largest humans in rugby league and have comparable size to modern day union props. There could be an argument for Haas at 196cm to move to the backrow but there is a shortage of prop-ready NRL players so he fits the bill. Importantly, the hookers are both shorter than the props and are already in prime shape for the position at 119kg and 114kg respectively. Both would pack a punch at scrum time.
Locks
|
Starters |
Height |
Weight |
Comparison |
|
|
Lock |
Nelson Asofa-Solomona |
200cm |
115kg |
RG Snyman |
|
Lock |
Tui Kamikamica |
195cm |
110kg |
Lukhan Salakai-Loto |
|
Bench |
||||
|
Lock |
David Klemmer |
198cm |
116kg |
Adam Coleman |
Key criteria for this position: height. There are few players in the NRL reaching the desired 200cm for a rugby union lock, which creates a threat at the lineout. Nelson is the longest bloke in the NRL and he’s also a scary bastard of similar ilk to current Springbok, RG Snyman. Tui is a bit shorter at 195cm but would provide a bit of grunt – and we are not disadvantaged height-wise with more lineout options in the backrow. Finally, David Klemmer at 198cm makes the squad despite his poor NRL form. At his best he has a big engine that is capable of running into and putting shots on blokes for 80 minutes. Expect to see these three pick their weight up to around 120kg to be more effective at scrum time. Honourable mentions to Shaun Lane (198cm) and Christian Welch (195cm).
Backrow
|
Starters |
Height |
Weight |
Comparison |
|
|
Blindside Flanker |
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui |
197cm |
112kg |
Jerome Kaino |
|
Openside Flanker |
Victor Radley |
182cm |
92kg |
Fraser McReight |
|
Number Eight |
Villiame Kikau |
195cm |
119kg |
Radike Samo |
|
Bench |
||||
|
Backrower |
David Fifita |
186cm |
107kg |
Ardie Savea |
Probably the hardest positions to pick consider the abundance of applicable talent. Nearly every rugby league forward could “in theory” make a transition to the backrow. Tino gets a nod at blindside flanker, he already has a rugby league workrate with a ready-built frame and with the extra height he is a lineout option. Victor the Inflictor is currently undersized for the 7 spot but his style of play screams of a pilfering mongrel openside who will be in the face of the opposition all day. Big Bill Kikau is the running option off the back of the scrum. David Fifita secures the bench spot – his size dictates that he could play all 3 positions and would provide huge impact off the bench. Mentions to Campbell-Gillard, Arrow, Jurbo, Cam Murray (between him or Victor), and Tyson Frizell.
HALVES
|
Starters |
Height |
Weight |
Comparison |
|
|
Scrumhalf |
Api Koroisau |
172cm |
88kg |
Aaron Smith |
|
Flyhalf |
Nathan Cleary |
182cm |
92kg |
Dan Carter |
|
Bench |
||||
|
Scrumhalf |
Reed Mahoney |
172cm |
86kg |
Conor Murray |
|
Flyhalf/Inside Centre |
Cameron Munster |
185cm |
89kg |
Carlos Spencer |
The rugby league hooker position does not perfectly translate to the rugby union scrumhalf. While distributing the ball from the back of the ruck remains a core skill, some extra weight is applied to a kicking game and being able to play-make in unstructured play. Therefore, a league hooker with a halves background may benefit. In this case arguably the two best passing and kicking hookers in Api Koroisau and Reed Mahoney get a run. Cook missed out without a long passing game, while Grant and the Hectic Cheese are bigger bodies styled for ball running.
Nathan Cleary is the clear favourite at flyhalf. He is an incredible talent in all forms of playmaking. He is a threat when taking the ball to the line himself, with his short and long passing game and with the boot. He’d be a welcome reliable kicker off the tee, too. Cam Munster is the mercurial option off the bench who could also plug in to inside centre or fullback. Cody Walker and Jahrome Hughes also get a shout.
CENTRES
|
Starters |
Height |
Weight |
Rugby Union Comparison |
|
|
Inside Centre |
Latrell Mitchell |
193cm |
102kg |
Ma’a Nonu |
|
Outside Centre |
James Tedesco |
184cm |
95kg |
Adam Ashley-Cooper |
|
Bench |
||||
|
Centre |
Kotoni Staggs |
185cm |
95kg |
Malakai Fekitoa |
This is a centre pairing to really get the tongues wagging. Inside centre in union is perhaps the most flexible of positions as the style of your backline is often determined by who plays there. For example, a second flyhalf like Matt Giteau funnels attack wider, quicker, whereas a Samu Kerevi 12 is looking to bend the defensive line in midfield before finding gaps on the edges. Latrell for all his shortcomings is a one-of-a-kind talent capable of playing multiple positions in rugby league and capable of a ripping an opposition team apart in multiple ways. Trell can do it all – he can run over you, pass like a five-eighth and kick like a half.
Teddy has been shifted to the centres here to take advantage of his elite running game and searing pace. I can’t imagine a player better suited to scything through gaps created by Trell and Cleary and he is also a smart defender which would assist in a traditionally difficult position to defend.
Due to the make-up of this team, where fullback and wing can be easily covered, Kotoni Staggs is a smokey to run off the bench at 12 or 13. Would love to see his devastating running game in extra space. Mentions to Joey Manu and Justin Olam.
OUTSIDE BACKS
|
Starters |
Height |
Weight |
Rugby Union Comparison |
|
|
Wing |
Brian To’o |
176cm |
102kg |
Joe Rokocoko |
|
Wing |
Kalyn Ponga |
184cm |
92kg |
Nehe Milner-Skudder |
|
Fullback |
Tom Trbojevic |
194cm |
102kg |
Israel Folau |
The fullback debate was centred around Turbo, Ponga and Teddy. Turbo answered this question most easily: Whose hands do you want the ball in most often? He is a linebreak threat from anywhere on the field, safe under the high ball and without doubt the form player of the NRL. He can play make and he has a solid kicking game. Rugby union prodigy Ponga is a tad unlucky but nabs a spot on the wing where he can still be a threat in the wider areas. The ying to Ponga’s yang is Brian To’o, who together can operate a traditional blindside/openside wing combination, with To’o the line-bending option and Ponga as a passing and kicking option in the back three. Honourables to Maiko Sivo, Josh Addo-Carr and Ryan Papenhuyzen.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or in the dribbles. Who would you like to see in rugby union?
FULL XV
|
Starting XV |
Height |
Weight |
Bench |
Height |
Weight |
||
|
1 |
Junior Paulo |
188cm |
123kg |
16 |
Junior Tatola |
183cm |
114kg |
|
2 |
Josh Papali’i |
182cm |
119kg |
17 |
Payne Haas |
196cm |
117kg |
|
3 |
Jason Taumalolo (C) |
191cm |
117kg |
18 |
Addin Fonua-Blake |
189cm |
118kg |
|
4 |
Nelson Asofa-Solomona |
200cm |
115kg |
19 |
David Klemmer |
198cm |
116kg |
|
5 |
Tui Kamikamica |
195cm |
110kg |
20 |
David Fifita |
186cm |
107kg |
|
6 |
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui |
197cm |
112kg |
21 |
Reed Mahoney |
172cm |
86kg |
|
7 |
Victor Radley |
182cm |
92kg |
22 |
Cameron Munster |
185cm |
89kg |
|
8 |
Villiame Kikau |
195cm |
119kg |
23 |
Kotoni Staggs |
185cm |
95kg |
|
9 |
Api Koroisau |
172cm |
88kg |
||||
|
10 |
Nathan Cleary (GK) |
182cm |
92kg |
||||
|
11 |
Brian To’o |
176cm |
102kg |
||||
|
12 |
Latrell Mitchell |
193cm |
102kg |
||||
|
13 |
James Tedesco (VC) |
184cm |
95kg |
||||
|
14 |
Kalyn Ponga |
184cm |
92kg |
||||
|
15 |
Tom Trbojevic |
194cm |
102kg |
||||
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