As the deadline looms for places in the much anticipated Rugby World Cup 2011, I am perplexed as to why Robbie Deans appears to be even considering selecting Benn Robinson or even Salesi Ma’afu for the tournament.
Clearly Robinson is injured, and Ma’afu even when fit is a questionable selection.
Deans, who has often espoused the ‘reward for effort’ policy, has clearly overlooked Red’s journeyman Greg Holmes as a possible World Cup bolter.
Holmes posesses what is needed to bolster the Australian scrum. Just ask Red’s messiah Ewen McKenzie who pulled Holmes aside prior to the Super Rugby Final and told him “This will be your finest hour.”
As history shows Holmes scrummaged with nous and the mettle of a player who already has 13 Test caps and has played Super Rugby since 2005.
The much-vaunted Crusaders scrum, who oddly enough make up most of the All Black scrum, were not the weapon they were previously allowed to be. Coincidence?
What more impresses me about Holmes is the fact he goes about his business as a team man. He stuck by the Red’s when all else jumped ship, and gave praise to Reds past such as Sean Hardman, John Roe and Chris Latham when the title was won.
Reconising the role of others in the victory shows Holmes has not forgotten he is part of a team; that he is willing to stick by his mates through thick and thin.
This is the strength of charachter our pack needs is it not? Perhaps Greg Holmes’ finest hour is actually yet to come?
However that would depend on the Wallaby brains trust actually rewarding players for their efforts.
It defies logic that the tight head prop of the Super Rugby champions can’t get into the Wallaby squad, yet a bloke with a bung knee and another with questionable fitness and scrummaging technique can.
Reward for effort? Not in my book.
Mike G
Guest
I don't think anyone disputes the fact that Holmes is a better LH than he is at TH, but, with Slipper out, someone had to fill the breach...and personally I reckon Holmes did a great job in the semi and final. As RR says, watch the final again as the Reds scrummed really well against probably the best pack in the world...I reckon that Crusaders S15 final pack would belt all other scrums around, both at provincial and test level.
TD
Guest
I hear Daley is no longer injured and came back strongly on the weekend, to be over looked for the SA game in favor of Cowan and Maafu is very strange indeed.
PeterK
Guest
The reds scrum was under pressure the whole game especially on the tight head side. Jeznez rates the props in another article, and he knows a lot about scrumaging, and I agree with his assessment that Holmes is only a LHP.
PeterK
Guest
Cowan supposedely plays both sides. He is a poor scrumager either side, I would easily have Holmes ahead of Cowan.
Hansie
Guest
I don't expect the Wallabies to beat the All Blacks every time, but I do expect a success rate of better than one win from the last 12 clashes. Deans is being paid big money and being given a lot of support, but isn't delivering.
Red Rooster
Guest
AWH played the Brumbies season in the backrow which would suggest he had more strings to his bow than Chisolm as a footballer and he went on a Wallaby tour which is more than Wykes and Pyle have achieved so if you want to use history as justification then it does not support your arguement
Red Rooster
Guest
So why was Pek Cowan on the Wallaby bench? he is a loosehead - are you seriously saying he was better than holmes in any facet of the game this season?
Red Rooster
Guest
Peter - watch the final again and mark down the scrums that got smashed - all last 20 mins when faingaa went off - up an till then the Reds negated the strength of the Crusaders and this is where the game was wrong. He also played tight head in the semi v the Blues which had the other All Black front rowers - Dont let the facts get in the way of your arguement. Slipper is a loosehead and so is Alexander and so is Kepu so whats your point?
Ooaahh
Guest
Davies isn't test material.
Whatty
Guest
What happened to your rating PEterK. Still giving Genia a 3/10?
Whatty
Guest
Chris, Are you for real??
PeterK
Guest
Simmons is very overrated, only a new Wallaby, has not had that much impact , hardly sighted in fact. There are easily a number of better locks than AWH, he could barely crack it at the brumbies, he was behind Chisholm etc.
Harry
Guest
Go FOS, Uncle Argyle, Johnny-Boy, Jiggles! Jimbo Jones - Deans is an imported Manager being paid a million a year. Its entirely appropriate that his performance and actions are being scrutinised and criticised by stakeholders, given the decidedly average results he's delivered.
PeterK
Guest
Holmes did NOT get the job done the scrum was pushed back on his side time and again. Holmes is a good LHP but not a THP. He was only used there due to the number of injuries at THP.
PeterK
Guest
Holmes WAS the THP in the final AND he was smashed he went very poorly at THP. He however is a genuine LHP.
johnny-boy
Guest
PK - AWH couldn't make the starting team because the Reds locks were Horwill and Simmons. Hardly a fair criticism.
Argyle
Roar Guru
Mate I am one eyed - for common sence! you are quiet right that Holmes did start his career as a LHP however under the tutorlidge of Ewen McKenzie Holmes has now learnt how to play THP as well. He did pack against Crockett and Franks in the Super Rugby Final as a THP and got the job done. He would not be my first choice prop, however I think he would be an ideal WRC Squad player as he has experience and can play both sides of the scrum if required. Ben Daley, rate him but he is only a LHP and I think we should take 4 props who can play both sides. Due to an injury to Benn Robinson I would take Kepu, Slipper, Alexander and Holmes.
Mike G
Guest
Ah, point of order, PK - I'm pretty sure Holmes was the THP in the Super final ( with Daley the LHP), wsn't he? But I like your idea of getting the most physical forward pack we can, but please don't confuse physical with big!! On that point, I'd have Kepu at TH (where he was outstanding this year), and Daley at LH (he's an angry little bugger...and we need that!!)
PeterK
Guest
I notice the very one eyed parachialism of the reds supporters. Only Qld players are getting pushed for selection. Holmes, AHW, Davies, Tapui. If the same poster also pushed for players from other teams then there would be more credibility. Holmes is only a LHP. I would prefer Slipper and Daley ahead of him, but they are both injured. Cowan is in there because he covers both sides (poorly, I wouldnt have him either). AHW cannot make the reds starting team, Wykes, Pyle easily ahead of him let alone all the other locks in the squad. Davies really blew his chances by falling over all the time. However I would of given him 1 more chance ahead of Turner and if he played poorly again then drop him. Tapui forget it no where enough experience. Bottom line the pack is too soft or physically weak. I would pick the toughest pack we can. Props needs to be Kepu and Slipper when fit. Hooker starting TPN Moore on bench. Locks Horwill and Vickerman with TBD for the bench. Blindside Higginbotham Elsom bench Openside Pocock No 8 Samo starting Palu on bench or perhaps other way round.
johnny-boy
Guest
JJ we'd just like a little bit of commonsense and logic. Is that too much too ask ? Apparently so.