10 and sometimes 12 are the quarterbacks of rugby. the half is often too small and close to the ruck to see what the defensive line presents. NFL Qtr backs are are upwards of 6′ 5″ in old money and can see over the line of scrimmage. 10’s need to read the defence too, but much faster and more frequently.

Played RU many moons ago… watch my son for years play…still play touch … .what is this midfield position or positions you keep talking about….

In Football it is the people that play between the forwards and the backs .. years ago thes players were refered to a center half right half etc… somewhere along the way halves become midfeilders … the halfs were half way between the forwards and backs… so who and how halfs become midfielders I am not sure..

I assume in RU the midfield is in the backs somewhere… all this modern lingo… my understanding… half, 5 / 8, insider centre, outsider centre, wings, fullback…

1. Traditionally there have always been at least two kickers in the side, giving the coach options if one has an off day. Mortlock and Cameron Shepherd have both been out injured but will be fit next season. Camo is training well in pre season with the Force.

2. There are a stack of good players playing Premier Grade in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The selctors should have a good look at them all, especially Lineout Jumpers, Number 10s and Kickers. The last is easy. The high scoring tables from the respective unions will identify the kickers.

3. Gits is not a General, a Leader or God. He is just a very gifted youngster who cannot win a game by himself although at times it appears that he thinks he can. He needs to be brought back to earth. He is not irreplaceable.

Genia was injured at the start of the year don’t forget, so there was a reason he wasn’t in the frame. That said, surely it must be worth the punt of using Genia and Cooper together at 9 and 10 and utilise their Qld combo??

btw, I’m with you about Burgess, I think he’s way better than he’s currently showing, and he’s certainly in front of the likes of Sheehan and Josh Holmes (who disappointingly hasn’t come through as expected). Valentine is about as erratic as my 3 Iron, and so I’ll take Burgess above him anyday. If that means it’s you and me against the world, well I’ll bring the good red when we toast his success and re-emergence down the track..

As for Burgess, yes I am unapologetic defender of Burgo. Deans sees what I see or should I say that I see what Deans sees. Probably the latter if I am to be respectful to your national coach.

But, while a few passes were off target, he sparked things around the ruck fringe, just as he did when he arrived to rescue the Tahs season in 2008.

Also, we need to realise that Genia, and yes I am a big fan of Genia’s, threw a few inaccurate passes.

I believe that he is struggling with the rugby equivalent of the yips. He has been through the wringer in the press. I quote Bob Dwyer who says that it is the catcher’s responsibility to be in the right place, not the passer. He is a wonderfully experienced. skillful and capable coach.

Burgess is made of the right stuff and if he can get his confidence back, he will push Genia all the way!!! Thats good enough for me!!!

As regards sticking with Burgess, Genia was not even in the Koalas frame at the start of this season. Burgess was retained despite his lack of confidence to go Genia time to grow into the roll.

Dont forget how Burgess reacted from the bench after AAC scored his great try against the Irish. Burgess was happier than AAC. Thats the right stuff and I suspect that is what Deans sees and likes particualrly whene he has to put up with the self centred hair product boys, Giteau and Mitchell.

His passes were not good, his only snipe ended with him knocking on, not much there that justified subbing Genia if you asked me!

Now for my two cents worth……………………..Old McDonald had a farm E I E I O and……………………..

Wasn’t Robbie a goal-kicker too??

And then there’s fitness – will Ioane, Palue, Robinson and Genia be fit?

Is the Cardiff game tomorrow night or Wed night? Could we find a smokey in there somewhere??

I don’t think Deans is the problem though. He’s told them from the start to run if possible. Only kick when necessary. Or so I thought. Without Barnes I don’t know what we can do as we have no true strategist and general.

I have been thinking it might be time to get Ben Perkins back as specialist kicking coach, if he’ll come back. Giteau had a great place kicking record when under Perkins. But perhaps shoring up the midfield kicking would help a fair bit.

Regardless, the pass probably should have gone to Cross.

But it is about organising the plays, reading the defence. The strategist would have moved the breakdown further to the right and then executed left to cross the line nearer to the posts. you dont start at the posts or even to the left of them and then go left.

SMI and DI, spot on. The fox comparison was a good one and Giteau is clearly not in that class on any front, except remuneration. Cooper (despite his name being like the rubbish beer) is developing and learning to take the line on Benji lijke with footwork. Cooper’s pass was over guilded but he is still a baby. Mitchell was out of position and for a supposedly experienced player on his last chance of many, he should have known better.

But DI, i thought that most of the others did well. The front row did well including the benchies, the back row, particularly Palu was strong, Hynes tackle was a beauty but will see him out of the Wingers club if he continues with such ferocity. The Locks are not are first choice anyway and held their own in the line out and bolstered the scrum but failed to carry the ball well.

AAC was great. give me 22 of his ilk.

Burgess showed that he can bring something to the table late in the when he attacks the line and his pass was okay. (they say, Bob Dywer that is, that the catcher is the cause of most poor passes: NB Cooper to Mitchell and Burgess to Giteau)

Personally, I think Deans was forced to nurse Giteau’s ego longer than he would have liked since Giteau believed his average form during the 3N was mostly the result of Burgess’ inadequate passing. Deans finally got his chance to establish Barnes as the No.10 and backline general (hallelujah)… and then Mr Injury Prone blows his ankle at training…. DOH!!!

Despite his great game for Gloucester, I’m not convinced Cooper is the long term solution at 10 either. He’s got a good pass and can run to the line well… but he’s not a strategic thinker… he’s an instinct player. That’s fine if you play out wide like Latham or Campo and can dazzle your opposite number with some fancy footwork. But in the midfield you need a thinker, planner, director.

That’s essentially why Giteau has failed at 10. He’s a broken field runner (like Cooper) not a director.

So without Barnes you can try to put Cooper at 10 and he might have a good game every so often but in the long run, you’ll get more of the same.

In the absence of Barnes, we don’t have anyone else who fits the bill as long term solution at 10. And to be frank, Barnes is yet to prove himself there too… if he can stay on the field long enough to string a few games together.

I also think Deans needs to shoulder some blame here for strategy (or lack thereof). I don’t recall the Crusaders of the Deans era mindlessly kicking possession away so incessantly??

Nearly every time our backs chance their arm and run with the ball, they look infinitely more dangerous. If we can improve our support play and the ball carriers (like AAC) start shifting the ball once they have made a break… then we might start regaining some confidence.

Save for the appropriate No.10, these guys have enough skill… they are just not utilising it. And for that, I essentially blame Deans. He is not playing the best game for the cattle he has got.