Wallabies selections and one-eyed refs

Hi Tommy Our locks and back rower needs at least two hardworking players to do clean outs well. Ball carrier is one thing, but clean out work is the less glorified work that needs to be done. Someone else has already mentioned that Brad Thorne and Ali William does it for the ABs, and Bakies Bortha does a great job at cleaning out at the ruck for the Boks. Our pack does not have guys who are willing to do the hard and unglorified work. Palu is hopless at the rucks. Yes he tackles and runs sometime, but the rest of the time he is just seagulling ( a word borrowed from Peter K).

to be honest other than looking big and the occasional tackle here and there I'm at a loss what Palu brings. Sure he has size, brings bulk and grunt to the scrum but he doesnt actually do anything in the lineout, neither does he get himself in position to take the short ball for a barnstorming run and does anyone remember him clearing out rucks? This guy should be running into and over everything but goes completely missing. Brown brings far more finesse, tempo and aggression to the game

if Palu is a lineout option why have we never seen him competing or catching a lineout ball?

Don't forget that with Elsom back, we have a lot more height in the lineout elsewhere. THerefore the high workrate of Brown at 8 and using Elsom as the big ball-runner could work well (or switch 6 and 8- not important)

VERY intersting option. Have been very impressed with his demeanour and intellect in interviews adn press conferences. Good to have a forward as captain. Can't agree with you Dexter aabout Smith- a captain needs to inspire their troops. Smith is a 'low-talker'.

Guys you need some size at no.8 and I recall Palu doing some good things that a smaller guy couldn't have managed. I'd go with Peter K's team.

Shepherd is recovering from injury (again) and having surgery (again) in order to be fit for season 2010- not an option this year sadly as he has a superb S14 (when he played).

Dexter, I'm also one who thinks Caldwell should be looked at. Not fancy, but definitely dependable and tough. Loves the hard work. Needs to go on the northern tour.

Interesting call on Robbo for Capt Dexter, hadn't considered that, but you are right, he is one of the first picked & rapaidly approaching world class.

1) Referee was ok. We have to learn to stop whinging about referees. Everybody gets bad calls and instead of whinging lets just deal with it and move on. Deans needs to get the Wallas to play according to the style of the referee, which the AB are famous for. 2) Send Palu back to grade Rugby. If that does not fire him up, then be done with him and move on. He is a big softee. A SC. 3) As much as Burgess is courageous and runs the way we Aussies love a running half-back, he lacks passing skills and more importantly composure. As soon as Will Genia came in (other than one pass behind the receiver) he made a positive impact. He also seems cool under pressure for a very young man. Leave Burgess out (until he is ready) and put Valentine in as a reserve to Will Genia. 4) Give the captaincy to George Smith - even though he is an unwilling captain (initially not wanting to be captain) he showed enough against the Boks that he actually can communicate with the referee. 5) Agree with almost everyone here that Giteau is still better at 12 than 10. DEANS TAKE NOTE!!! 6) Deans has nothing to lose now and should start make these changes now. He is losing my respect for not being more decisive with changes. 7) Bring in Rob Horne on the bench. We need youth - Cross is just a side way step. 8) Should try to side step Al Baxter as he has a pretty bad reputation round the traps - despite his improvement his body language is letting him down. Start Ben Alexander. 9) Bring in Will Caldwell. Mums ok, but looks pretty soft. He has charisma similar to a mouse and that is "not on" for forwards. His lost look will only intimidate his girlfriend. Get him out of there. 10) Moore is playing below par and he needs to step up. Deans please push his buttom. 11) If Benn Robinson is a bit older, I am very tempted to put him in as Captain. He is the first pick in our team and can stand up to the toughest stuff any forward pack can dish up to him. He is probably the most respected player after G Smith.

"I cannot fathom why he kicks so often and without purpose" Despite the undeserved hype (e.g. "as good as Carter") I believe he is a lousy decision maker. Greg Martin, Kearns and Kafer will readily offer a "Wow" when his kicks are well judged but they never point up the high proportion of ineffective kicks he makes. I believe he makes poor and way-too-late passing decisions, as well. By way of comparison - Barnes' progress, which I did not foresee, demonstrates to me a more even temperament under pressure, a more swift analysis of the options and more decisive and more effective execution. Barnes has better instinctive reactions - in some ways similar to Noddy Lynagh (calmer nature; mixes the pass, run, kick in better proportion and better fitted to situation). His development has impressed me, and I was no fan in his earlier years.

The big number 8 for West Harbour Pelea Afu would be a better option than Palu at the moment I'm afraid. Giteau is such a fantastic runner and passer of the ball, I cannot fathom why he kicks so often and without purpose. Move him to 12. Spiro, can we petition the IRB to make box kicks from the halfback illegal ? If so, Du Preez will be forced into immediate retirement as this is all he has got.

Hammer I've got to agree with you. 'Lazy' was the word I kept coming up with to describe our forwards last night too. I can't understand why we didn't try to up the tempo and run their forwards everywhere & compete with them at every level until finally the wearyness of playing the B&I Lions and the All Blacks worked in our favour. As it was we never ever had them on the ropes. We're jus way too soft and too often go missing in action. Mortlock's injury should have been the 'call to arms' for the senior players to really try harder and lead the way. Barnes did just that and Sharpey also to a degree. That effort by Sharpey to score a try needed a few of our forwards on his tail pushing him forward and over. Where were they? Lazy!

Didn't Ioane have the most line breaks or most meters gained in the S14 this year? Thats a telling stat considering he was playing for a team which was struggling. He has come a long way since his early days at the Force. What happened to Cam Shepherd? Sure he's not as fast as Drew or Lachie but he is big and has a good boot. How often do we see Drew's kicks come off the side of his boot? I hate to say this but Lote would have been pivotal in the last two games. He may not have the pace but his involvement would have been handy. Tarpo - Couldn't agree more with you about Palu. NZ had Jerry Collins, SA has Spies but this bloke cannot run over anyone nor does he produce any bone crunching hits. Islanders are generally renown for being aggressive and possessing that 'grunt' but Palu will probably never show that. Maybe someone needs to sledge him or something!!!! Show some PASSION ! !

Agree PK, but Ioanne is acentre now more than a winger, because of the speed. Elsom will help with the lineouts, along with some dedicated practice. I'm sorry, but I think your mate Palu is just not proving to be the answer at test level.

I disagree. This game the forwards were aggressive at the breakdown, they were there in numbers and counterrucked etc. They lost the ball when the backs run one off and got isolated for the main part, or were penalised for an infringement. A lot lot better than against the AB's. No way could Ioane start. Current wingers are faster. AAC on form would be a better 13 and allows JoC to be at F/B. Ioanne would be a bench spot.

Because they're soft Greenandgold. They beat each other up at training because they know its not going to go further. But on the field they wither like grains of wheat beneath a Black or Green Harvester.

Matt - I agree Seems like they left their aggression at training. Poor POOR !!!! 3 weeks off and this is the best they could come up with.

How can we question the aggression of our forwards, after all, they are apparently having punch ups at training. Bleh.

Peter K You gotta be kidding me? Palu? I would rather have Jim Williams back in there instead of him. It didn't help that he put on a blank face when the anthem was on. No pride whatsoever for the national jersey!! Why not gives Hoiles a shot? I'm sure we can source someone with more passion and effort than him. I am starting to doubt if Stirlo will be around for another world cup. If Ioane was healthy you would figure his position in the starting 15 would be imminent. Barnes looked great when we had two guys off - He looked like a leader especially when he nailed those pin point kicks!! Definitely agree with you there to move him to 10.