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The Crowd Says (21) | Page 1 of Comments

• Steve said | October 10th 2009 @ 6:43am | Report comment

  Can’t have a Wallabies team without Smith.

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• sheek said | October 10th 2009 @ 7:53am | Report comment

  Well….. you can. Smith is showing signs of 10 years toil taking effect on his body. It happened to the great Michael Jones, it can happen to George Smith.

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  • Knives Out said | October 10th 2009 @ 8:01am | Report comment

    Here’s an interesting thought, sheek: in a famous documentary that followed the English rugby team during the 02-03 season (not including the WC) the England physio Phil Pask told the cameraman that each player who took part in a test match took a physicaly beating that was equivalent to being in a controlled car crash, so George Smith has had over 100 car crashes – and that’s not including Super rugby. That’s crazy when you think about it.

    P.S

    I’m going to be pedantic and suggest that it’s worth remembering that Jones suffered a horrific knee injury. Smith’s body has remained durable and robust.

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    • LeftArmSpinner said | October 10th 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment

      Knives, talk of dropping Smith does not infer any lack of respect for what Smith, and for that matter, Waugh and Mortlock and sharpe and baxter have made to rugby.

      It is remarkable how resilient Smith has been for so long. 105 tests at 7. phew, thats a lot of colisions and a lot of miles.

      and in those Jones days, knee injuries saw the knee opened up, not key hole.

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      • Knives Out said | October 10th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment

        I didn’t think there was any lack of respect, boss. Regarding you below stanza, I think McCaw will move to 6 like Jones did.

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        • LeftArmSpinner said | October 10th 2009 @ 11:30am | Report comment

          knives, keep the boss stuff up. I LIKE!

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          • Knives Out said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:22pm | Report comment

            Yes boss.

  • LeftArmSpinner said | October 10th 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment

    Sheek, with you all the way. My best example of a tired Smith, in addition to Wellington, was the P v P game. He was on the junior of the two teams, took a quick tap penalty, (good), then wandered with the ball, at half pace and with the directness of a crab, all the time looking for someone to pass to.

    For what it is worth, the AB’s are taking an even bigger risk with McCaw. Does he have another two years left in his legs, and he is the motivational captain to boot?

    It happens to everyone. Mostly, for the amateurs, the mind gives up before the body. For pro players, they body gives up before the contract concludes.

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    • ohtani's jacket said | October 10th 2009 @ 9:48pm | Report comment

      Wouldn’t surprise me if they rotate McCaw on this tour or play him off the bench. Apparently, the French Test is the one the All Blacks are targetting as the biggest game on tour.

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      • Knives Out said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:22pm | Report comment

        It’s worth looking at alternatives, for sure.

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        • ohtani's jacket said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:26pm | Report comment

          There won’t be any alternatives we haven’t seen before. If we’re lucky, the Thomson experiment is over. I’d say Latimer or Waldrom are the only real contenders, though I haven’t followed the ANZC all that much this year.

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          • Knives Out said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:31pm | Report comment

            Exactly. Latimer deserves a bit of game time. The odd test here and there won’t help a player much.

• Stu said | October 10th 2009 @ 11:37am | Report comment

  I’d drop Giteau to the bench or even out of the 22 – he’s not hungry or passionate enough and it is about time he learnt that he is not indispensible.

  Scott Stanisforth is in Tokyo – he’s played 12 before, he’d also probably play for free

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• Aaron said | October 10th 2009 @ 3:51pm | Report comment

  I’d drop Gitts & O’Connor. Gitts as stated previously needs to find himself. O’Connor has had the hype wear off and we are left with only a talented youngster and not the great white hope that we’ve been reading so much about.

  For me, this would be an excellent time for Barnes to be Gitteau free so he can start enforcing his leadership across the park and let O’Connor spend some time on the bench to let his head reduce down to proportion.

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  • fox said | October 12th 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment

    You can’t drop Giteau. Baby out with the bathwater stuff that! He’s not playing great in the 10 jersey, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a great player. He’s far too talented and experienced to have off the park just so you can “send a message”. The only message that sends is to oppositions: the Wallabies are less of an attacking threat with ball in hand!

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• Jouberrt said | October 11th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment

  Smith needs one more big stage to show if he has still got it without the burden of captaincy – Pliau as well should have thia as last chance – maybe 1st half only – as if he goes missing again against the AB’s why not give someone else a go. AAC in my opinion offers the best alternative at Fullback chiming into space created by Barnes and Gitean with pace ang size to link to outside – see comments following – O’Connor restircted to the wing if indeed anywhere until he is a bit more mature both mental and physically. Outside to Mortlock for again last shot or only a half then I would prefer the Horne option as an experiment – he has speed and size – supposedly favoured Deans traits. Tokyo is a ‘dead rubber dollar O’Neil grab’ – no one will remember result – unless we flogg them again unlikely – but they will remember if the team can snare a grand slam – so use the outing to do a bit of experimentation

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• Losing Hope said | October 12th 2009 @ 4:00pm | Report comment

  A couple of changes I would make to your team Lefty,

  Firstly, I agree that you have to pcik George Smith – as much as I have been one of the first to bag him over the past season – I think he does deserve at least one go without the burden of the captaincy. Worst case scenario he plays like shite and he gets hooked at halftime for Pocock.

  Secondly, Lachie Turner – as was shown in the last test – cannot tackle. He missed at least 3 one-on-one tackles in Wellington and I would pick Peter Hynes instead. I agree that Turner is probably the better longterm prospect but for now he can’t tackle so he shouldn’t play.

  Thirdly, Ryan Cross on the bench is a waste… He is not up to it and Rob Horne deserves a chance…

  That’s my two cents anyway

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• fox said | October 12th 2009 @ 4:07pm | Report comment

  I agree LAS, except that I would retain Smith, as he’s still a better pilferer than Pocock (and was still an influential player for us in the 3N), plus I would play Ioane at 13, AAC at 15 and drop O’Connor to the bench (now’s the time, during the tri-nations wasn’t – he needs more time and experience before he can claim a starting spot and can get that experience on your charmingly named “dirt tracker team”).

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• Losing Hope said | October 12th 2009 @ 4:09pm | Report comment

  I’d give Smith another run – if he doesn’t perform then hook him at halftime and get Pocock on – no harm done.

  Lachie Turner has missed more tackles than he has made in the past 3 tests so I wouldn’t pick him – Peter Hynes is a better option in my book.

  Ryan Cross cannot cut it at international level – give Rob Horne a go now and see how he goes…

  That’s my two cents anyway

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• Ben said | October 12th 2009 @ 4:10pm | Report comment

  Smith starts against NZ for sure……..otherwise transit in Narita as McCaw will devour Pocock.

  AAC 15, Mortlock 13, Gits 12, Barnes 10……next ball.

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• kingplaymaker said | October 13th 2009 @ 8:50am | Report comment

  Aside from Smith and Mortlock who will surely be included, this will doubtless be exactly the team to face the All Blacks.

  Palu starting, along with Mortlock and Ioane, should together make it considerably stronger than the team that lost the last match.

  (I say Palu starting because even if he doesn’t perform well, he will provide much more bulk than when Smith and Pocock were playing together.)

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