Horne a perfect fit for Wallabies No 13 jumper

Jameswm, did you see Cooper's game on the weekend. Off the boil, are you serious???

Whose choice it is where he plays is irrelevant. Can't think of a better utility player? Mmm... Matt Giteau maybe? Personally I don't think he is such a 'good' utility player. He's a solid 15, and a solid 13, but predictable and ultimately he is not fulfilling his potential.

Agree that Horne is the man for 13. In most people's sides they are proposing Cooper at 10. While I agree he has been the stand out this season for Aussie fly halfs, it is important to note that on first phase when Qld were defending he stood at fullback. The question RD and the selectors must ask themselves is will they need to do the same and move Cooper out of the front line in defence. If so this has an impact on who you pick at fullback or the wing. Who is going to move in to cover him? Qld use Hynes who is a great head on defender. Of the options being discussed here you probably couldn't move Beale in (he needed to be hidden himself), Mitchell - as pointed out he does drop off trackles too easily and the extra defence would blunt his attacking ability, Ioane - possibly but again not sure his reading in defence is good enough. Turner and AAC I think would handle it. JOC is probably the best aside from Hynes and would offer some good options on any turn over ball. You may also look at shuffling a Gits or Barnes in from 12 in defence and bring AAC into the line if he was fullback but this is playing around with your structures an awful lot and I reckon represents a risk. I would go: Genia Barnes Mitchell Gits (cover half if needed) Horne Ionae AAC Bench: JOC Cooper Hynes

Mate, what can I say to an article that makes a statement like "Horne is the best backline defender in Australian Rugby … possibly ever.". The only thing I can think of is you are about seven years old and never seen a game past 2008. To get Carter out of the team (which is a great idea IMO) the 'Horne Train' set sail and is running at full pace on very rusty tracks. He has not proved himself in any way shape or form and futhermore cannot be trusted to go the full 80 minutes. For this Wallaby season Australia only has one option and that is to revert Ashley-Cooper back to 13. However, in saying that I believe that given time Chambers will provide a solid option at 13 and we could see him owning that jersey for next years world cup.

I like the idea of a 5/2 bench, LR, and have called for it elsewhere. Gits SHOULD be told to brush up his scrummie skills to make this happen. JOC? Forgive me for sounding like a broken record but, for me, he's simply not big enough for international rugby. The backline we all seem to agree on is small enough as it is and to put an even smaller player on the bench is madness. I fail to understand why JOC wasn't pulled aside by some old head years ago and handed a number 9 jumper.

Horne all the way - no question! Cooper has has HAS to get a chance. Until proven otherwise, why oh why would we not pick the most electric 5/8 in the comp this year? The fact that his judgment has improved this year along with his skills shows that he is still developing and maturing as a footballer and deserves his chance to take it further. Barnes should be his backup. You'll see the best of Barnes at 10 in the Tahs game this weekend. Giteau should definitely NOT be picked at 10, it is a travesty if he is, that being said, he deserves a shot at 12 - playing 10 outside Genia/Cooper might do him a lot of good. My back line. 15: AAC (all this talk of dumping AAC for Beale is premature - AAC is a solid performer) 14. Ioane (tackle busting machine - just shaves Hynes but needs to perform) 13. Horne 12. Giteau 11. Mitchell (first winger picked WITHOUT question) 10. Cooper 9. Genia Now...who to play on the bench - tough tough call. IMO: Barnes (can cover 10,12 - great steadying hand in a pressure last 20 minutes) Hynes (can cover both wings and full back. Hard to leave out). Beale/O'Connor: Jee - wiss, I'm glad I'm not deciding this one. O'connor is Yes - no half back. Do some training with Giteau as the reserve halfback.

JOC will be the Wallabies 12 for 10 years after Gits takes the cash in Europe in 2012

Horne has better hands, defence, reads the game, and is faster, hits gaps better, than Ioane. Ioane is more powerful, makes hard yards and breaks more tackles than Horne. Both are better centres than Chambers. Chambers is found wanting in defence, doesnt have great hands. Chambers has only had a couple of good games , he has also had a few bad ones.

Aeisler, you're not related to Horne, or being paid a few quid by Mrs Horne to write this, by any chance? Horne is good, but not as you described it. Queensland has produced the best 12/13s, and I think they have uncovered another one in Will Chambers; his star just keeps rising every week.

Mike, I agree with your sentiments and wouldn't rush to change the back line you suggested. As you say, give them a go and see how they gel. Also means you would have a great bench.

Wallabies backline: Horne is looking good at 13, but with Gits or Barnes/Cooper at at 10 and 12, we lack the Mortlock and Daniel Herbert type penetration through the middle. All good backlines need a Nonu, Umanga, Mortlock, or Fourie either at 12 or 13. Maybe AAC is the answer at 12 or 13. We should forget about playing two 5/8s. Get AAC to do a Daniel Herbert. Unfortunately AAC tends to die with the ball, so 12 is something not really suited to him naturally. I wonder if Horne can step into 12 and AAC at 13. As for Hynes, he is not looking too fast this comp. His workrate is first class except against the Hurricanes where he went fishing. He might make a good FB in the form of a Leon MacDonald type. Digby is not an out and out fast winger, but he'll be a handful. He needs to improve on his catching skills. This season he fumbled a few. Mitchell gets most votes here, but I am still not quite confident with his defence. I have seen him fall off tackles too many times in the last few weeks when he was playing well. In test, defence is going to be more important. I would pick Turner before Michell in my team, but he is top scorer and should be given a go. Let's keep count of the tries he scores, but look out for his error in giving away tries as well. All the best ... Cooper had a great S14 season. He stared off well at the start with good strong front on tackles, but as the season continued, he went back to not putting his body behind his tackles. Having said that, has anyone noticed that Gits is starting to also avoid hard tackling? Chambers' tackling technique is easy to bum off. He goes high all the time and when the momentum is with the attack he gets bumped off. See last week match against Highlanders and watch him being bumped. He is not ready in my opinion. Beale is having some magic moments, but chip and chase depends too much on the luck of the bounce. He is not there yet - I don't think. He seems to hate to tackle front on. As a FB, he needs to do those. Overall we do have a good group of young players coming through, but we need a Mortlock type replacement desperately. Of less importance a Matt Burke or Latham type FB.

Likewise I always wonder about someone who performs brilliantly at S14 and if they can pull it off at international level, where let's face it, there is often far less time and space. Not wishing to pick on any one individual here and I stress that I've really enjoyed Beale's chip and chase for the Tahs. But the question for me when I watch is 'would he get away with that against the Blacks or the Boks'? Of course it's true that Beale or who ever may not attempt such things if it wasn't on, but can you guys see where I'm coming from? I guess that's where Robbie & Co have to decide if they want to give the likes of Beale, Turner, O'Connor and so on a go or not. For me the June tests present a perfect opportunity to try and introduce new blood for the long term and build depth while also keeping an eye on goals like the 2011 RWC in New Zealand.

That's funny, good one

ARU wants mark gerrad back and to play 13, so horne will just be warming his spot in 2010

stillmissit - True, as I wrote elsewhere I think the Wallabies in terms of personnel are weaker than last year. The backline is stronger but the forwards a lot weaker. Missing Robinson, Horwill, Palu and Paul's likely replacement Higginbotham. The replacements are way off the pace of the 3 missing. Disagree about Hynes, Ioane will retain his wing spot. Deans replaced Hynes with Ioane last year and Ioane has performed better in the S14 and will be retained.

I am a tahs supporter. Beale has had a few good games. However AAC has been good to very good all year , in an underperforming Brumbies team he has stood out as a shining beacon. Also AAC is proven at test level, has been playing well, Beale is not proven at test level. There is no reason to drop AAC. If you want to use the Fiji test to develop Beale further thats fine but not the TN tests. A total different case of Giteau, he hasnt performed at test or S14 level at 10 so it is obvious he needs to move to 12.

Jason very big call to say our greatest in 2-3 years. There are plenty of players who have looked great at S14 but couldnt reproduce it at test level. No way will I put the mantle of great on any until I see them deliver at test level and then against AB's, Boks, and the french.

If thats the case then neither Hynes or Mitchell or Ioane would be the wing. The 2 fastest (out and out flyers) we have are Davis and Turner. Mitchell is easily as quick as Hynes IMO. Yes Deans did start with his fastest BUT then realised since there was not that much in it (until Davis) that he chose Ioane. I can easily see Mitchell picked ahead of Hynes.

Agree re the overall size of the backline, it is a little on the small side...But who would you drop?? It's another reason why I originally had Chambers in at 13, he looks pretty big to me, but Horne has played himself into my team. It's not like any of the guys are not strong (Diggers outbenches everyone, doesn't he??), just in contact they may not have the height or weight to bust a tackle, or stop a surge at the line...I would give these guys a go in the big tests & see how they gel...And as mentioned below, I too agree that combinations are vitally important & thought the Genia/Barnes combo would work well, given they have played a fair few games together (mostly at 9/10 I think?)...Gits has played a LOT of 12 & the rest are playing in their main S14 spots...As I've said before AAC to me is a better 15 than 13, & I've always liked a more experienced guy at the back too...Beale on the bench in my mind