Posted this on one of the other message boards I visit.
I know today is still regarded as a shock but I have thought this for some time. Has this long-serving stellar Australian side actually set them up for a big fall over the next few years?
Basically, Thurston (31), Cronk (31), Lockyer (retired), Slater (31), Inglis (27), Morris (28), Gallen (33), Thaiday (29), Smith (31), Bird (30), Hayne (gone), Scott (29), Tate (32, retired), Watmough (31), Lewis (31) have hogged the Kangaroo shirt for so long that a generation of non-test playing wannabees has also moved on with them.
Australia used to boast 3/4 world class spines. For every Allan Langer you had Ricky Stuart and Greg Alexander snapping at their heels. For every Laurie Daley, there was Brad Fittler, Jason Smith and Trent Barrett. This meant that the test side often changed quite regularly and it was easy to drop one for another - Kimmorley used to push Andrew Johns to 9. Johns ended Langer's test career.
I just don't see where they are coming from? Ben Hunt, Anthony Tupou, James Segeyaro, Luke Brooks, Anthony Milford, Trent Hodkinson, DCE, Aaron Woods are really no better than the Kiwis and England are turning out on a regular basis. And who is behind these guys - I just can't see anyone?
Also, the Aussies are only going to play 2 tests after this series before the 2016 4 Nations - so who is going to get a go anyway?
State of Origin used to boast 85-90% of the best 35-40 players in the world at any one time. I would say that was now at 50%. Every year there seems to be more mediocre players getting selected. For example, I would argue that 7 of the best 10 front row forwards in the world are not Australian (so not playing Origin). The Kiwi player pool, in particular, seems to be getting bigger every year.
Australia were moaning about missing 10 of their WC Final side but no-one seems to mention that NZ only played 6 of their World Cup 17 at Brisbane yesterday. Unlike the Aussies crying off, many of New Zealand's selections are rotation or adding fresh faces. England may still be behind in terms of achievement but that side is also very young - we seem to have just one player over 30 - yet the majority of these guys have been together for 2 years. Interesting times ahead for sure.
I know today is still regarded as a shock but I have thought this for some time. Has this long-serving stellar Australian side actually set them up for a big fall over the next few years?
Basically, Thurston (31), Cronk (31), Lockyer (retired), Slater (31), Inglis (27), Morris (28), Gallen (33), Thaiday (29), Smith (31), Bird (30), Hayne (gone), Scott (29), Tate (32, retired), Watmough (31), Lewis (31) have hogged the Kangaroo shirt for so long that a generation of non-test playing wannabees has also moved on with them.
Australia used to boast 3/4 world class spines. For every Allan Langer you had Ricky Stuart and Greg Alexander snapping at their heels. For every Laurie Daley, there was Brad Fittler, Jason Smith and Trent Barrett. This meant that the test side often changed quite regularly and it was easy to drop one for another - Kimmorley used to push Andrew Johns to 9. Johns ended Langer's test career.
I just don't see where they are coming from? Ben Hunt, Anthony Tupou, James Segeyaro, Luke Brooks, Anthony Milford, Trent Hodkinson, DCE, Aaron Woods are really no better than the Kiwis and England are turning out on a regular basis. And who is behind these guys - I just can't see anyone?
Also, the Aussies are only going to play 2 tests after this series before the 2016 4 Nations - so who is going to get a go anyway?
State of Origin used to boast 85-90% of the best 35-40 players in the world at any one time. I would say that was now at 50%. Every year there seems to be more mediocre players getting selected. For example, I would argue that 7 of the best 10 front row forwards in the world are not Australian (so not playing Origin). The Kiwi player pool, in particular, seems to be getting bigger every year.
Australia were moaning about missing 10 of their WC Final side but no-one seems to mention that NZ only played 6 of their World Cup 17 at Brisbane yesterday. Unlike the Aussies crying off, many of New Zealand's selections are rotation or adding fresh faces. England may still be behind in terms of achievement but that side is also very young - we seem to have just one player over 30 - yet the majority of these guys have been together for 2 years. Interesting times ahead for sure.
