Is Genia the best halfback in rugby?

Brian, that is utter rubbish. Your nationality is the country you are a citizen of. In your view, then, none of the migrants in, say, the US or Australia can be called American or Australian. Is that what you are saying?

Isnt he an Australian citizen? How is he not an Australian?

You obviously have a very skewed version of reality Brian, you know there are others who were not born here but are actually Australian aswell , I've heard of it happening in other countries too, say hello to Pauline for me!

Not be a knob JK - he was born in PNG. So yup - he's not Australian, he Papua New Guinean. Gottit?

Not Australian??? .............you're a GOOSE

Hmmm not too difficult this one: Du Preez : Rugby World Cup x 1 Genia: nil Du Preez : Tri Nations x 1 Genia: nil Du Preez : Super 14 x 2 Genia: nil Talk about Genia when he's actually accomplished something. Actually, he's not even Australian, so I'm not sure why you care so much. GO PNG !!!

But the entire point is that the Genia claims weren't meant with any overt northern hyperbole, simply reasoned responses. There was no carping, no denial of the fact that Genia is clearly an excellent talent. This just reminds me of the Roar pre-Lions tour. Whenever I said that I felt SA were very beatable and one-dimensional you leapt on me citing the ferocious nature of the Afrikaans spirit and their super billtong specimens. If anyone is slightly prone to excess here it is not I. That leads me to think the sporting inferiority is yours. You'll notice that I have constantly supported the objectives and abilities of NZ over the past season. Hardly the attitude of a NH diehard, VC. Personally, I have never stated that English rugby is' really attacking'. In response to overt southern hyperbole about kicking and mauling I have merely pointed out that last season the test side played with ball in hand more more than Australia did, for example, and that this season the side tried to play with ball in hand but failed. The GP is exciting. Look at the relegation battle and the past few weeks. As soon as the sun has popped up we have seen some wonderful games. However, you won't find me imposing myself on S14 threads debating the merits of the pair etc.

I second that!!!!

We'll see in the tri-nations. Although (I think) England and Ireland had more possession than Australia in the November internationals, when the Wallabies had the ball, it was on the front foot and thus gave Genia quick ball to work with.

Agreed, I dont think think the ABs have a standout at the moment. Cowan just wants to fight everyone and Leonard is not paying brilliantly and has not come on as much as I thought he would from a couple of seasons ago..

All that means is he is in a better side. I dont concur with the argument that one player is better because his team won or lost particular titles. We are comparing individuals not teams.

Touché Steve.

Will Genia made his wallabies debut against the Boks last year winning the man of the match in the process. He made the European Tour throughout which he performed remarkably. After 3 three seasons of S14 rugby in which 2009 was hampered by injuries, this year has been his first year of competitive rugby. He is certainly going from strength to strength and there is no single doubt that he is bound for greater things. The question of wether he is the greatest srum-half in the world is not the issue as he already is, given his superstar performances to date for the Reds and Wallabies. The issue is about selecting a quality wallaby pack that would feed off from his brilliance along with captaincy and Wallabies are sure to spoil the party come 2011. Go Wallabies and All Blacks!!!!!

Yes, old boy. Yourself and Wavell are superb contributors, no question, but I do sometimes feel you see yourselves as Defenders of the North. I think this is especially true of Wavell. He often seems to find himself arguing something rather silly- e.g. English rugby is actually really attacking, or the Guinness Premiership is actually really exciting, or Fourie du Preez is actually really rubbish - simply because he hates to admit northern inferiority in any sphere. I suspect it derives from sort of sporting inferiority complex. Don't misunderstand me. There's plenty to argue the toss about on here. Some of the stuff that Spiro comes out with, for instance, is self-evidently preposterous. By all means debate matters of substance tenaciously. But let's not get succumb to a foolish "my country right or wrong" attitude. It takes us nowhere.

Predictable and boring jibes? special brand of one-eyed northern bias?

Come now, Wavell, we're not in the playground - or at least, I'm not. I just find the inevitable carping from north of the equator every time the local chappies get a bit excited rather tedious. It reminds me of those Scots who spend their lives searching for Anglo triumphalism so that they can then complain about it. This is an Australian website. It's natural that opinions will be somewhat Aussiecentric. I don't think it's necessary to puncture every Aussie or Kiwi bubble with predictable and boring jibes. And I think it's especially silly to respond to perceived southern bias with one's own special brand of one-eyed northern bias.

Genia is a great talent I think we all agree. The next stage is how he goes after injury, many players alter their game to protect themselves a bit more following injury. Let's hope he doesn't get injured but it seems you cannot avoid it so we have to see how he copes. Burgess must be feeling pissed off, just made it into the Wallabies and along comes the best talent since Gregan by most commentators and by mine best potential ever.

'No NH Roarers go overboard in any criticisms of the SH.' WW, are you willing to stand behind every comment submitted by a Northerner? Surely not, you have your Trolls as much as we do.

'I would give the black jersey to Alby Mathewson….' Why don't you just empty the remainder of the trophy cabinet and set it on fire while your at it.

'I understand that some nothern hemisphere Roarers feel compelled to adopt an attitude of kneejerk cynicism to anything Australasian' You tend to say this sort of thing quite a lot, VC, almost as if you're embarassed by your rugby heritage and want to appear cool in front of the big boys whose team is higher up the IRB rankings. No NH Roarers go overboard in any criticisms of the SH.