Tim Horan hada bit of the genius about him too.

Look at this backline: 9. Catchpole, 10. Lynagh, 11. Moon, 12. Horan, 13. Allen, Tune, Burke. Pretty awesome backline but it feels like it’s lacking genius to me. Proof that you need some flaws in your side, because you can’t be a genius without flaws.

Completely agree about Mortlock. Herbert was the prototype modern 13 but played in a back division par excellence: Tune, Horan, Burke, Larkham, Little, Roff et al, and despite being an excellent player was never the go-to-guy that Mortlock has been.

I don’t think the past decade has been that bad by any stretch of the imagination. Bearing in mind resources etc Australia has won just as many 3N tournaments as SA and the Lions series of 01, not to mention the 03 WC final appearance. Perhaps the past five years haven’t been great but then SA has experienced a peak (albeit an erratic one) since 07, and NZ produced an epic side during the middle part of the decade.

I am FORCED to agree with your selection of Gregan as there was nobody else who got a run but Giteau has real talent guys and although he is a horses as a 5/8 he is a very good player and I would have him in my starting team as halfback. Gregan should be sent to where he belongs in history.

Finnigan is a bit of a worry for me, I think Rocky is vastly superior player to Owen and would make my starting team.

David Giffin on the bench agreed, but I do like a bit of mongrel in the second row and Justin Harrison would just miss out.

Disagree with all of you re Mortlock and he would be in my starting team, great impact (thanks Sheek) player and very solid in defence and to top it off was a great kicker earlier in his career. One of the gutsiest players I have seen in terms of serious injury and getting back on the horse. Talking about that Tune is the best winger I have ever seen in a Wallabies jersey.

I’m stuffed in the props as I want to include McKenzie but cant remember whether 1 is tight head or 3 and what position Ewan played, I think he was a tighthead. Cannon or Moore dont care they are both excellent hookers.

Lets hope we look back on this last 10 years as reaching one of the lowest points in Australian rugby and we move up from here.

I like your perspective – ie. describing players as either all-round players or impact specialists.

throughly enjoyed your comments in both responses. The debate continues!; Harrison just pips Giffen for his lineout prowess. Giffen himself was an oustanding forward and a favourite of mine. It was hard to leave him out for Harrison but Harrison just ahead for mine. If your were selecting it on personality the Giffen everday of the week!

Giteau is overated but still an excellent footballer. He just pipped Chris Whitaker in my book. I am huge fan of Brendan Cannon however I think Moore and Paul have/had more skill, but none tougher than Cannon. Another hard one to leave out.

The Little/Herbert/Mortlock debate is a hard one. I acknowledge Little was at the end of his powers in 1999-2000 however for mind he overall just pips out Herbie and although I am a fan of Mortlock as a player, I am not as a skipper or ‘team memeber’. Latho just over Burkey andother 51/49 call. Must be the Queenslander in me! However I agree with your analysis that M. Burke was as safe as houses and was an underated attacking force for mind though latho had the ‘X’ factor.

As for impact; well i still think Mark Ella is our greatest 10 and Mark Loane our greatest 8.

Whether you go with the allround competent (Burke) or impact specialist (Latham) is often a fine line. For example, in the best Wallaby teams I have seen (since 1970), I would go with impact specialists (Ella & Loane) over allround competents like McLean, Lynagh, Larkham, Tuynman, Gavin & Kefu.

Although I concede that Larkham, like Ella, was also more of an impact specialist.

It is of course, a judgement call, based largely on the style of game & type of players you prefer.

Harrison is overrated on largely one moment – his lineout steal against Martin Johnson in the deciding 3rd Lions test of 2001. Johnson was a very tough customer, but not a renowned jumper. It should be David Giffin on the bench. Nor am I a fan of Giteau, who I consider horribly overrated.

Over the balance of their careers, I would have Little ahead of either Herbert or Mortlock any day. But for the period mentioned, Herbert is the man, ahead of Mortlock.

I also agree Brendan Cannon was the pick of the hookers for the period mentioned, perhaps shading the crafty Michael Foley. Jeremy Paul had the most natural talent, but was far too lazy. Moore is improving though.

Matt Burke was a better allround fullback than Latham, so I would have him in the starting XV.

Just a clarification, Connolly’s coaching fate wasn’t sealed by the 2007 world cup quarter-final loss. His contract was always going to expire at the end of 2007, no matter what.

A minor point – Tune was a right winger (14) & Roff a left winger (11). Tuqiri doesn’t rate as good as either of these two.

It probably isn’t pleasant mentioning that the Wallabies’ great run from 1998-2002 cut against the grain of their traditional so-so record. In recent times, we’ve returned to our “traditional” up & down, yo-yo record.

Which is why I constantly argue a change to our domestic structures which might hopefully bring consistent success more often.

- A better showing from our teams in the S14, including at least one finalist and another team to finish in the top 6.
- To win the Beldisloe. With 2 games in Australia in a best of 3 series, it IS time!

As to your team, I’d swap Mortlock for Little, Lote for Tune. No other changes in the 22.

Not much of a representation of the current crop…Mortlock couldn’t make it even as a bench warmer.

Makes the claim that “consistent success isn’t to far off” seem a bit dubious.

The Wallabies mojo is certainly on the wane – but I still think the talent is there. If its not Deans fault for a win/loss ratio that has only one direction to go for 2010 (upwards)… then it must be his support staff.