Make Mortlock Wallaby captain against Scotland

WB, you've read it incorrectly. Deans having three of the world's best No 7s at his disposal isn't saying they are literally 1, 2, and 3.

Australia has depth in the locks/looseforwards but very inexperienced, only time will tell if they are all test material, u right about there workload. Pyle and Douglass can always be asked by Deans to miss that weekends super rugby game, give them a try against Scotland with either Horwill or Sharpe as the other lock, then also against Wales, in this way they have atleast a taste of whats it like in test rugby before the Welsh test, if they not up for it then use Sharpe/Horwill against Wales, i think a combo of Horwill/Pyle or Horwill/Douglass is a strong one, as of now Higginbotham is a stronger #8 contender than Palu, he's faster, fitter, athletic and is as strong as Palu, Dennis/Pocock/Higginbotham is my preferred backrow with Robinson or Mowen as the reserve.

Lordy, I'm a big fan of your work but Hooper & Gill already in the top three open sides in World Rugby ?? I'm splitting hairs here however I would be ranking them as follows, 1. McCaw 2. Pocock 3. Dusatoir 4. Warbarton 5. Brussow There is not much between these 5 imo. Gill and Hooper are fine young talents but only just starting there Super rugby careers. To anoint them in the top 3 ahead of the above is hyperbole pie in the sky stuff.

You cut them in halves: 5/10 = 0.5 :-)

Bob Head headlong14@bigpond.com Haven't read all the comments, but I just wanted to back up Richard Newson (& perhaps others) in his support for Nathen Charles. I have been amazed that for the this & last season there has been little comment about him in any of the press. I think he is by far the best hooker in Australian rugby. Richard has listed all his qualities. I would also like to remind everyone of what happened last season when we played a B side in the first international of the season.

Granville, not too dissimilar. That looks like a very heavy workload on Pyle and Douglas who play rugby three times in the week. I think we'll find out a lot about the second rows in the coming weeks as I said. I don't rate Blake at the moment - what are you liking about him? If fit then Ryan as mentioned by Jagman below may be a better scrummaging option. I liked Longbottom before he got injured. Deans's conservatism is likely to see him pick Cowan/Ma'afu in this pack as well. Have never been a fan of a reserve openside on a four forward bench, Pocock will play 80 minutes barring injury. Robinson can come on at blindside and be a second fetcher as shown on the weekend but I worry about the step up in physicality for Tests and generally prefer a traditional 6/8 man as the fourth forward reserve.

2nd tier nations are tougher than 1st tier (Dothraki "It is known)..

my 2teams: Wales -----------------------Scotland. 1-Robinson-----------------1-Holmes. 2-Moore---------------------2-Hanson. 3-Palmer--------------------3-Slipper. 4-Pyle-----------------------4-Douglass. 5-Horwill--------------------5-Sharpe. 6-Dennis--------------------6-Robinson. 7-Pocock-------------------7-Pocock. 8-Higginbotham------------8-Higginbotham. 16-Polota-Nau-------------16-Charles. 17-Kepu--------------------17-Blake. 18-Douglass---------------18-Pyle. 19-Robinson---------------19-Fardy.

hey but the 2nd tier nations played 2tests in 5days at the RWC so what are the Wallabies complaining about?

watch the hammys Moa, getting a bit fresh out there!

I like him but he is only 24 and still quite green. Kepu is the stronger tighthead by quite a way and I think Palmer is in front of both of them. I had this conversation the other day - although it would hurt my Tahs I think it would be good for Aussie rugby if the Rebels poached Ryan and Tilse and gave these guys more starting game time. They are two of the more promising young props that would benefit from starting more games rather than sitting behind established Wallabies.

Doesn't even try under the high ball. Not very effective chasing kicks. Doesn't have the pace to be an outright finisher. I would not give Vuna higher honours.

Considering Samoa almost got the better of Wales without the inspirational Tusi Pisi at 10 methinks that Samoa would have beaten Scotland quite convincingly (with the team the beat the Wallabies) had we played with the same intenisty.

I agree you have to name both squads - I also think you need to name the Wales side first then work backwards. I've had a crack at the forward packs I'd pick, and followed a philosophy of allowing Reds/Force players to back up since they have those byes and then fleshing out the Scotland side with Brumbies/Rebels since they play the Friday night game. Based on performance so far this season those extra players all came from the Brumbies but that may change in the weeks between now and the June tests. Wales---------------Scotland 1. Robinson--------1. Holmes 2. Moore------------2. Charles 3. Palmer-----------3. Slipper 4. Simmons--------4. Simmons 5. Horwill-----------5. Sharpe 6. Higginbotham---6. Higginbotham 7. Pocock----------7. Pocock 8. Palu--------------8. Mowen 16. Polota-Nau----16. Hanson 17. Kepu-----------17. Alexander 18. S. Timani-------18. Fardy 19. Dennis---------19. Hodgson Overall I had the most trouble in the second row where I am not sure Simmons warrants his spot but between Timani, Douglas, Carter, Fardy, Jones, Pyle and Neville I am unsure who should be taking his spot. Therefore for an initial set of games for the season I've been conservative there and gone with the incumbent. Still plenty of matches between now and then to consider alternatives.

Interesting.....I assumed he did it for accuracy reasons....rather like a decent pool -player will only use from the elbow down at the back of the cue,to minimise lateral movement.I'll need to dig a ball out and head down to the local park to test this out at some stage ;-)

Would've been nice to see that Samoan team play Scotland last year.

Fair enough, I knew he was injured but I never heard of anything serious so I assumed he'd be back in a few weeks. I rate him higher than any Aus THP outside of the Brumbies and Waratahs squad. Still remember the way he and TPN smashed the Sharks to win possession back to ultimately win the match earlier this year. How do you rate Ryan Jeznez?

Agree with your analysis AH. For the record, the wallabies won 59-16 in Paris in 2010. as a french-aussie dude, i dont care who wins when both teams meet, i just dont want a hiding, either way. had nightmares after this one! wallabies second-half was the best i have seen them play in a longggg time. O'Connor was on a wing btw (you put 2 mitchell). At the moment, Digby would claim a wing and send Mitchell (if fit) on the bench.

Nathen Charles is a must ! Best throw,Fast,Can read a game,Great defence,a very good scrummager. Stirlo wouldn`t let any body down,Commands respect from everybody.

Timani for sure, Harris maybe and McKibbin was on track to make 3rd Scrum half until Phipps picked up his game. It doesn't necessarily matter if they'll be useful for the Wallabies, like I said the Aus conference needs to keep all the players it can and the ARU have a history of accelerating foreign eligible players to their first Test caps even to discard them later, eg. Pek Cowan, S Timani, Radiki Samo (2004). NZ did the same with Soseni Anesi. It belittles the jersey but its just business now i guess.