Giteau and Dunning out

[aussies1st]

Dunning due to his injury will be "rested" for the next game. I'll take that for now, although I'm sure he will be back in the green and gold soon enough cause you know who can't see how bad our scrums are going.

Giteau has definitely been ruled out of the Ireland game as he can't bend his knee. I was hoping to see Giteau at halfback or inside centre but that won't happen now.

Team for this week I hope will be
1. Greg Holmes
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Al Baxter (I would go Henderson but hes just come over)
4. Hugh McMeniman
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Mark Chislom
7. Waugh
8. Fava
9. Whitaker
10. Rogers
11. Mitchell
12. Johannson
13. Tuqiri
14. Gerrard
15. Latham

Res
16. Steve Moore
17. Nic Henderson
18. Houston
19. Roe
20. Gregan
21. Turini
22. Sailor

 

[Timbo]

Whits has as much chance of starting as I do.

 

[aussies1st]

Sad but true, I at least want to see Johansson at 12, and that forward pack.

 

[Big Mick]

1. Greg Holmes
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Moore
4. Houston
5. Chislom
6. Roe
7. Waugh
8. Smith
9. Gregan
10. Rogers
11. Mitchell
12. Johannson
13. Tuqiri
14. Gerrard
15. Latham

Res
16. Baxter
17. Nic Henderson
18. Sharpe
19. Fava
20. Whittiker
21. Turini
22. Sailor

 

[aussies1st]

Houston is too short for a lock. I would put him at 8, Smith isn't working at 8.

 

[Big Mick]

Smith was the only decent forward against England...how can he not be working?

 

[aqua_duck]

Smith was the only decent forward against England...how can he not be working?

Because he's not providing what a number 8 should provide.
He looks alright but its the little subtleties, he can't provide a line out option, he general play around the field, he still plays like a number 7. I also think he weakens the scrum dramatically, he's always leaving the scrum early hence leaving 1 number short in the scrum and contributing to our sh*t tight 5.

 

[Tim Brasher]

My team would be

15.Chris Latham
14.Wendell Sailor(Gerrard did nothing wrong..but either did Dell)
13.Lote Tuquiri
12.Lloyd Johannson
11.Drew Mitchell
10.Mat Rogers
9.Matt Henjak(As Gregan should be overlooked, im afraid its about two years late for Whittaker)
8.Scott Fava
7.Phil Waugh
6.George Smith
5.Mark Chisholm
4.Nathan Sharpe
3.David Fitter
2.Brendan Cannon
1.Greg Holmes
16.Tatafu Polatu Nau(Is a prodigious talent, however, his should not be rushed and be given up to the entire second half)
17.Al Baxter(Sadly)
18.Hugh McMeniman
19.Leroy Houston(Largely experience, 5 mins at most.. Get rid of Roe once and for all)
20.Chris Whittaker
21.Morgan Turunui
22.Mark Gerrard

 

[aqua_duck]

Thats a decent team especially with a scrummager like Fitter and a specialist number 8 in Scott Fava.
I can bet you though that Jones will have something completely different.

 

[aussies1st]

I'll take that team. I agree TPN shouldn't be rushed. As long as the 2 guys either side of him are gone then I'm happy with our front row.