Bob Dwyer - Sacking Eddie 'a step back'

[aussies1st]

Just rest Larkham and play him in the odd game or 2. Giteau is our best 12 and we should develop him more at 12. We have a few good 10s around now so they could replace Larkham when hes being rested.

Young is alright and he did compete well against the English in the WC. May be past his best now though as opposition have worked him out.

Rathbone still has to prove himself at 13. Doesn't help when he stayed at the Brumbies as Mortlock is there.

Halfback I would like to see Sheehan get a go but he will need to dislodge Whits at the Tahs. Henjak would be the favourite to take over as he will start for the Force.

 

[Big Mick]

I think Berrick Barnes will prove his worth as a #9 next season.

 

[aussies1st]

I thought he was playing as a 10. Huxley is better at fullback and Flatley at 12. Huxley won't get fullback but I'm hoping he doesn't get the 10 either.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

With respect, neither Turinui or Johansson would get near a full-strength Wallabies line-up:

15. Chris Latham
14. Clyde Rathbone
13. Stirling Mortlock
12. Matt Giteau
11. Lote Tuqiri
10. Stephen Larkham
9. George Gregan (c)
8. David Lyons
7. George Smith
6. Mark Chisholm
5. Nathan Sharpe (vc)
4. Daniel Vickerman
3. Greg Holmes
2. Jeremy Paul
1. Bill Young

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. Phil Waugh
18. Hugh McMeniman
19. Matt Henjak
20. Mat Rogers
21. Drew Mitchell
22. Mark Gerrard

That's still a world cup winning backline with an NPC second division forward pack I reckon.

 

[skeepe]

True, but I think it's mainly the front row that's the let-down.

Young is decent enough, but he's not world class. Holmes is new, and Paul, while a genius with the ball, has trouble throwing (although at this point in time still throws straighter than the other options).

The other options are Baxter (shudder), Dunning (shudder shudder), Fitter (same as Holmes, decent but untested and hasn't played much super 12), Henderson (not ready), Shepherdson (OK but not great) and whoever partner Holmes in Queensland... I don't even know the name so it doesn't so much about him.

What we need, as the great man Eddie so rightly pointed out, is some specialist scrum training for our props. Without it, we'll always be behind the 8-ball when it comes to forward play.

 

[bayrep]

I think the problem for Aus is that everyone wants to pick players from the S14 before they have a chance at test level you have nothing in between your club and S14 sides to know if they will make the step up. i.e The AB's picked (mem goes blank) a lock from Taranaki who had only played NPC and the guy stepped up big time at test level. Aus doesnt seem as willing to take that chance with club players and are unwilling to put another level between club and S14. So every couple of years Aus are going to have these problems with player depths.

 

[blackfriday]

uhh...you are kind of wrong there because it has happened in the past, like phil kearns. on this tour the majority of the young boys they took didnt have much super 12 experience. even someone like matt henjak spent his time on a brumbies bench, getting a lonely five minutes at the end of the match. dave fitter has played 180 mins of super 12 in his whole career while digby loane, lloyd johannson, TPN are yet to make a full super 12 start. failing that, leroy houston was from eastwood reserve grade!

 

[skeepe]

Henjak started a few games for the Brumbies this year. Gregan was selected for the Southern Hemisphere XV so missed rounds 2 and 3 of the super 12, and then broke his leg against NSW, missing the rest. Henjak had plenty of time to stake a claim, however he crumbled under pressure. The Brumbies looked the far better team with Gregan moving them around the park.

 

[strong_latte]

Henjak had plenty of time to stake a claim, however he crumbled under pressure. The Brumbies looked the far better team with Gregan moving them around the park.

And the Wallabies generally look a heck of a lot better with Whitaker moving them around the park.

 

[bayrep]

Then maybe it comes down to the lack of a level between S14 and club. Club just being to big a step to make it up to test level except for the odd exceptional player like Kearns who admitted himself that it took a couple of seasons before he made an impact on the international scene.

 

[strong_latte]

Then maybe it comes down to the lack of a level between S14 and club. Club just being to big a step to make it up to test level except for the odd exceptional player like Kearns who admitted himself that it took a couple of seasons before he made an impact on the international scene.

Bingo! What Australia needs more than anything is a national club comp... the Syndey and Brisban comps would then be feeder comps, while the National Comp took presidence after S14... our players need more high quality matches all round and sooner or later the ARU has to bite the bullet and do this thing.

 

[skeepe]

Of course we need a national comp. The ARU though, in all their supreme wisdom, want to revive the failed Ricoh Cup! There's a reason that it failed, but they can't see that. Worse still, they want to include the current 4 provinces, and 2 Japanese teams. How the hell does that help develop Australian players.

The ARU are the ones who must go, not Jones.

 

[aussies1st]

How about the ARU and Jones gone

 

[strong_latte]

How about the ARU and Jones gone

I say we bring back John O'Neil and Rod McQueen