- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Games of rugby are seldom won when the forward pack does not turn up to play the full 80 minutes, as evidenced on Saturday when the Wallabies went down to South Africa. Changes need to be made.
Al Baxter, rightly or wrongly, is a target of referees.
Unlike Benn Robinson, Baxter is the invisible man in the pack. The scrum became a potent weapon once Alexander replaced Baxter. His time has come.
I am most disappointed with Nathan Sharpe.
Our lineout was obliterated by the Boks, and as the senior lineout man, his inability to devise a counter strategy does not bode well. There is a perception that Sharpe can be intimidated and goes missing when the going gets tough.
It is time for the ARU to bring back Vickerman, no matter the cost.
Palu is not, and never has been, an 80 minute footballer. Dean Mumm lacks the aggression required for the heat-of-the-battle. Rocky Elsom cannot return quickly enough.
Luke Burgess, as nice a guy that he is – and nobody tries harder – has a passing game that is below Test standard. He gets flustered and is a luxury the Wallabies can no longer afford.
Genia is a hard nut with a superior passing game – his time has also come.
The captain of the side should be a hard nut forward or an inspirational halfback. Inspiration is always needed in and around the forwards, whether it be the right action or the right words, or both.
James Horwill is such a hard nut, whose aggression and large imposing frame is well suited to the job.
For mine, the forward pack would be Alexander, Moore, Robinson, Vickerman, Horwill (C), Pocock, Smith (no8) and Elsom.
Reserves TFN (until Damian Fitzpatrick is ready), Cowan, Brown and Caldwell.
And barking up their backsides is Genia.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.