George Gregan picks his Wallaby lineup to face the 2013 Lions

I thought Quade had played his last game for the Wallabies? Surely Beale to fullback, Mitchell on the wing, JoC to 12 instead of McCabe. Would have Timani in there instead of Douglas. Either way, Lions to destroy that pack

Yeah I agree with you Nick. Put Timany instead of Douglas, and JoC on 12 instead of wasting him on the wing. If Mitchell gets back in form then put him on the right wing, because I think the left wing belongs to Ioane at this moment. Otherwise I couldnt agree better with Gregan

I want a powerful fullback that will win collisions and the high ball. Adam Ashely-Cooper at 15. Faianga at 13. O'connor on the bench. Beale at 10 i dont think Cooper will come back. I like the forward pack.

O'Connor on the bench? Are you mentally insane? He is so composed and solid and talented, you cant put a guy like that on the bench. And put Tapuai instead of Faingaa at 13

Seems George is smoking the same gear as Deans. McCabe? Should be playing League with his 1 dimensional game.

Douglas has shown some great go forward and mongrel over the last few games. Timani is definitely worthy of a Gold jersey tho.

15. Kurtley Beale, 14. AAC, 13. James O'connor, 12. Pat McCabe, 11. Digby Ioane, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. David Pocock, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 5. Kane Douglas, 4. James Horwill, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Ben Robinson

WINNING!

He started well in the forwards apart from Palu, and then fizzled out in the backs! This is what's wrong with Australian Rugby at the moment. Gregan is on the board of the ARU and, and like Deans, they persist with picking lame players like McCabe in the centres who is a one trick pony! He runs straight and never passes, you can read him like a book! People wonder why the Wallabies can't score tries anymore, it's poor backline selections.

Genia, Cooper, Ioane, O'Conner, AAC , Shipperly , Harris

Bench:

Phipps, Barnes, A. Faingaa

If not Quade at 10 then put Beale at 10 O'Connor at 12 Rob Horne at 13 mitchell and Ioane on the wings and ashley-cooper at 15. The pack is as solid as the Aussies will get unfortunately

Ideal line up:
15: Kurtley Beale
14: Drew Mithell (If he can find his 2010 and early 2011 form, otherwise Shiperly)
13: AAC (simply the best AC Australia has to offer atm
12: O'Connor/Tapuai (drop McCabe. Although he's among the most dedicated Wallabies, he misses the necessary skills
11: Ionae
10: Cooper (a bit like Campese, either great or shit)/ O'Connor
9: Genia
8: Palu
7: Pocock (better 7 than Hooper)
6: Hooper (best forward in 2012, and I think also works as a 6)
5: Horwill
4: Timani or Douglas, depending on Super XV form
3: Dan Palmer
2: Stephen Moore
1: Benn Robinson (best scrumager, otherwise Slipper)

Harris nowhere near starting XV. Only thing he's good at is kicking.

15.Kurtley beale/AAC
14.Digby Ioane
13.Ben Tapui/Anthony Fainga
12.James O'conner
11.Dom Shipperly
10.Quade Cooper
9.Will Genia
8.Palu
7.David Pocock
6.Scott Higginbotham
5.Horwill
4.Kane Douglas
3. Sekope Kepu
2.Stephen Moore
1.Ben Robinson

Did someone say Rob Horne? Not even funny.

15: Beale (or McCabe if Beale plays at 10)
14: Mitchell?Shipperly
13: AAC
12: O'Connor
11: Ioane
10: Cooper (after he personally cleans everyone's toilet with his toothbrush or some similar act of penitence, otherwise Beale)
9: Genia
8: Palu
7: Pocock
6: Higginbotham (just to run around like a madman and then come off for Hooper)
5: Timani (need his big body)
4: Horwill (or Douglas if not fit)
3: Do we even have a good TH in this country?
2: Moore
1: Robinson

Bench: not Simmons, not Horne, not Phipps, not Dennis, not Barnes

15. O'Connor
14. Mitchell/Shipperly/Tomane (depends on S15 2013 form really)
13. Faingaa/Horne
12. Tapuai
11. Ioane
10. Beale
9. Genia
8. Palu
7. Pocock
6. Higginbotham
5. Douglas
4. Horwill (C)
3. Palmer
2. Moore
1. Robinson

Bench: TPN, Alexander, Kepu, Timani, Hooper, Samo, White, AAC

Beale (when in form) is probably the best individual attackin full back in rugby (with Rob Kearney being the best in defence and Dagg the best mix of both), AAC is the most reliable and consistent player in the WB's set-up, what ever about his (undoubted) talent at certain positions, he always puts himself on the line. As far as I can see anyway, Australia has yet to produce an inside centre that can compete with James O'Connor. Ioane is one of the best wingers in world rugby when he recieves quality ball, and so should be at either 11 or 14. As for his opposite winger it doesn't really matter. Depending on the overall game plan it could be someone quick as Shipperly, as brutal as McCabe or even a nimble centre like Tapuai. I also think that Cooper, despite his problems with authority, is possibly themost outrageously talented player to pick up the odd shaped ball since Benji Marshall in that other code. My selection is of course based on the selection of likely forwards (see above), re. Higginbotham, Palu, Pocock and Moore off whom a vital and exciting backline will be able to thive from quick ruckball, offloads and turnovers. If Deans however blinkers the team with pick, go and kick tactics as he seems to be attempting, I can't envision any combination of Aussie players winning the series

Just have to mention, Rob Kearney is the best at catching high balls in the world, but the worst tackling full back in the world...can't be considered best in defence.

Personally, I'd drop Cooper but keep just about everything else in George's line-up. Not just because of the way he is off the pitch, but I have just never really bought into the hype. I don't see what's so amazing about the way he plays.

Either way though, so many of the names on this list are injured or have been injured recently. What happens if half of the teams stars are out?

15. Kurtley Beale
14. Drew Mitchell
13.AAC
12.James O'conner/ Barnes
11.Digby Ioane
10.Quade Cooper
9.Will Genia
8.Palu
7.David Pocock
6.Scott Higginbotham
5.Horwill
4. Sitaleki Timani
3. Sekope Kepu
2.Stephen Moore
1.Ben Robinson

I still think the lineup when they played All Blacks in Hong Kong in 2011 was the best lineup ever. AAC at 13. Beale at 15. JOC at 14. Giteau at 12, well since there is no other good 12, JOC should play 12 now. Mitchell will play 14. I miss the old Berrick Barnes. sublime passing and running skills. Now, all he knows is kicking aimlessly

1. Robinson
2. Palotanau
3. Kepu
4. Horwill
5. Timani
6. Higgenbotham
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. Occonner
13. AAC
14. Mitchell
15. Beale

How has faingaa snuck into any of these lineups? granted he is a good defender, but when he gets the ball he has a look of genuine shock. with him and mccabe together you have one guy that wont pass, and another that doesnt know what to do with the ball when he gets it.

Australia's biggest issue is that after 4 years with Deans, they are still making the same idiot mistakes they were making at the start. Stuff that if your under 16s team did them you would make them do sprints for the whole of the next training. No one brings any maturity and stability to the team. Then you have australia, one of the better running teams in world rugby, kicking the ball every chance they get it instead of playing the fucking thing. I coach school boys and I used to be able to use some of the things Australia did well as examples to the boys. Now there is nothing I would say that Australia do that is worth mentioning. So sad.

Def Timani instead of Horwill and Pat McCabe needs to be hit with something blunt until he can no longer take to the field. Hooper on recent form needs to be in the running for a blindside but Higgers is a better option.

Agree fully with Gregan's forwards (but a lot will depend on form in SupeRugby next year). And I agree with McCabe at 12 because he's the only Wallaby 12 that offers any sort of physicality in the backline, he's a good runner and a good defender (not the best passer though). Whoever you pick at 10 means you need a good hard running and defensive 12 in your team (maybe even Berrick Barnes?) cosw Lions will come with Jamie Roberts or Manu Tuilagi. Quade will have to be in AMAZING form to even touch the squad again, I doubt he can do that. My backline:
15 Kurtley Beale
14 Adam-Ashley Cooper
13 Rob Horne/Anthony Faingaa/Ben Tapuai (depending on form)
12 Pat McCabe/Berrick Barnes (depending on form)
11 Digby Ioane
10 James O'Connor
9 Will Genia

Oh and I'm South African btw

it does not matter who makes it to the Wallabies XV.....The lions will win it by 2 to 1 IMHO.

The Wallabies are like a better French team . When they are crap, well they are..crap...But when they decide to play like a team , they are awesome...But the lions will be difficult to beat.

But i hope t watch some great games with many points !!

Good luck to both teams !!

Allez les bleus !!!!!! 8-)))

15. O'Connor (Beale makes too much mistakes in his choises and in defense)
14. Mitchel
13. AAC
12. McCAbe
11. Ioane
10. Barnes (better tackler than cooper and beale, and more intelligent)
9. Genia
8.Palu
7.David Pocock
6.Scott Higginbotham
5.Horwill
4. Sitaleki Timani
3. Sekope Kepu
2.Stephen Moore
1.Ben Robinson

1. Ben Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Sitaleki Timani
5. James Horwill
6. Michael Hooper (IMO just as good at 6. Far cooler head than Higginbotham also.)
7. David Pocock
8. Cliffy Palu

So many combinations/options in the back line!
15. Beale/Barnes/Harris
14. Mitchell/Cummins/Shipps
13. AAC/Horne/Faingaa
12. JO'C/Benny Taps/Barnes
11. Ioane
10. Quade Cooper (Until he fucks up) JO'C/Kurtley
9. Genia

1.Benn Robinson
2.Stephen Moore
3,Sekope Kepu
4.Sitaleki Timani
5.James Horwill
6.Michael Hooper
7.David Pocock (C)
8.George Smith
9.Will Genia (VC)
10.Quade Cooper
11.Digby Ioane
12.Berrick Barnes
13.Adam Ashley-Cooper
14.Israel Folau
15.James O'Connor

bench

16.Tatafu Polota-Nau
17.Ben Alexander
18.Rob Simmons
19.Scott Higginbotham
20.Wycliff Palu
21.Kurtley Beale
22.Ben Tapuai

Reserves

23.Sa'a Faingaa
24.James Slipper
25.Kane Douglas
26.Liam Gill
27.Dave Dennis
28.Ben Mowen
29.Ed Quirik
30.Nick Phipps
31.Christian Lealiifano
32.Drew Mitchell
33.Mike Harris
34.Anthony Faingaa
35.Pat McCabe
36.Clyde Rathbone