Wilkinson stars for Toulon in French rugby

Is Giteau causing as much trouble at Toulon as he has caused at every previous club he has been with?

Has anyone told the Lions that you get 5/7 points for a try and only 3 for a penalty. Certainly the English didn't seem to unserstand that last time they were in Australia.

NZ's 1 goalkicker is Dan Carter. It's a bit different when your regular kicker is missing shots from in front.

Sexton is better than Flood, equal to Charge-down Charlie, and won't be as good as Farell, BUT, Farell has a lot to learn and can be caught cold. Pick Higginbottom and tell him to make his life a misery, get in his face when he's on the ball first half. First tackle - fly at him and hit him, late, high, so be it. Then second half let Palu and a fresh sub with a huge frams down his channel.

Hernández, Sánchez, Bosch all of them kickers. We have a lot of depth on the wing. Horacio Agulla played for Bath at 13 and has the size and strength to be utilized there. Centers have always been our problem position and most of our centres are actually converted fly halves like Bosch. Tiessi is the only specialist centre we have. Aguilla at center and Imhoff and Camacho on the wings will be our best bet. What Agulla lacks Imhoff has - lightening speed but Agulla is the much bigger man. Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga or even Juan Martín Hernández Argentina do not have a balanced attacking platform in the midfield.

NZ do OK with 1 goal kicker in the starting 15. Does Argentina need 3?

22 games from Aust since the start of the WC and in about 7 Aust has kicked more than their opposition. They have kicked poorly. They havnt been able to score tries but the idea that they havnt tried or have just kicked instead of running is false. They just havnt had the players fit to score those tries or make those breaks. Sure Australia went into its shell a bit in the tight games at the WC but EVERY team does. Thats WC rugby. Aust havnt scored many tries, this is true but its not becuz they havnt run the ball.

The idea that Australia hasnt been playing attacking rugby since or during the WC is a myth and not true. They have played 4 from about 22 with a kicking, siege mentality. Most games Aust has played since and during the WC, they have been the team that kicked less and ran more. They didnt score many tries against NZ this year but NZ only scored 2 more across 3 games. Its a myth. What isnt a myth is the injuries to Australias best finishers and playmakers along with the lack of form of many other playmakers. Robbie Deans defended his team by saying that scoring tries isnt the most important thing after the interviewer raised the lack of try scoring and this was interperated as if it was a gameplan. Aust has played poorly at times and hasnt gelled but it isnt becuz they are not running the ball, its becuz they have lacked ability to make breaks or finish. The stats dont lie.

I'm also trying reverse psychology, I really don't want Wilko touring. I'm still not over 2003.

p.Tah@9.18am- couldn't agree more, particularly with your last sentence.

Fair points and to be honest I was just stirring. I agree with Wilko fitting in depending on Gatlands tactics. In saying that Gatland has employed an attacking style withWales, perhaps he'll bring that to the Lions as well. Having a broader and better crop of players he may have more success with it. I do believe the Wallabies need to play attacking rugby rather than what they have been playing since the RWC if they are to have a chance. If the Wallabies can at least achieve parity up front they have to play attacking rugby with a backline that could include players such as Cooper, JOC, Ioane, and Beale. That's not a wish to be entertained, I just think those players play their best rugby under that style.

Just making the point that many ozzie,and nz fans for that matter,seem to miss.Australian fans,in particular, are constantly talking about having to entertain because they have to compete with other codes.Pragmatism has to take centre stage if the wb's are to win the series.You are assuming the series will be played in an entertaining fashion,I take the opposite view.It will be a war of attrition. As for Wilkinson,his form is only a guideline.If he fits into Gatland's gameplan,you will see him in the Lions squad.And a tighter style of play is where he would be invaluable.

Lets face it, its gonna be Sexton as first choice. Farrell will prolly be in the squad as a cover for 10, 12 & 13. I imagine he will want 1 more from Wilko, Cippers, Burns or Flood. Laidlaw may well be in the squad as he plays both 9 & 10 but the Lions weakest depth is at 10. Its OK but considering the depth in the forwards, wings, fullback & the centres, its where a couple of injuries may make a big impact. For example, if Sexton and Farrell get injured who will they choose? Mind you, Aust has had its ups and downs at flyhalf this year, Cooper was rubbish, Barnes was good early on and then rubbish, Beale was good at times (first half against Eng) but not great at others. I think Beale is the best coice there and should be given the chance to grow into the role. I hope the Rebels keep Beale at 10 and JOC at 15.

Thanks for insight I hadn't realized that the team with the most points won. You could be onto something there. Remember the last time Wilko played for England? Remember why he decided to retire from the International game and English supporters were relieved? As well as he is playing for Toulon, Top 14 and Internationals are different beasts.

If Australia infringe because their pack is struggling, you may be laughing on the other side of your face.Judging by your thread,you think it's all about "free-flowing,running rugby'.Sorry to burst your bubble,it's solely about getting more points on the board than the opposition. And I think you will find that Deans will be thinking along the same lines.

Australia gives away a lot of penalties. I expect them to give away a lot at scrum time too. Wilkinson may be an outside chance for the Lions. He is a good defender, calm, good tactical kicker and a fantastic place kicker. The Lions have Farrell, Flood, Burns, Sexton, Ciprianni, Wilkinson, Laidlaw, Preistland and O'Gara to choose from. Preistland is injured, Ciprianni is too much of a risk, O'Gara may be past it, Laidlaw isnt good enough imo. So I think he is a chance.

I'd love it of Gatland picked Wilkinson. Do it Warren, do it! As long as the Lions aren't reffed by pedantic French refs that give Wilko and other 10s shots at goal when the opposition sneezes, Wilko will be a liability.

If the BL can get control up front,Wilkinson would be the perfect foil.Kep it in tight,drive around the fringes and wait for the wb's to make mistakes.Then,up steps Johnny... If Gatland has any brains,this should be his MO.If the Lions are stupid enough to get drawn into "entertaining' rugby,they will be vulnerable.

I'd still pick WIlko at 10 for lions.... England should get him back in the inner sanctum...Son of Andy needs some guidance.

His try was should have caught the attention of Santiago Phelan due to the fact that his small frame was able to break tackles as he went over in the left corner. His size has been going against him playing in national colors. Horacio Agulla is a large winger while Camacho is a small one who plays like a large one and both González Amorosino and Imhoff are true finishers with much more speed than the stereotypical Pumas winger. Agulla could well be playing 13 and González Amorosino back at 15 in The Rugby Championship and if so this would not actually prove Bustos Moyano with more chances of making the squad. He also appears to be behind Manuel Montero with the Los Pampas XV winger highly likely to be used ahead of the Montpellier goalkicker due to his size and speed.