So that was the Six Nations, that was, and we got a good look at the players who’ll form the core of the Lions squad.
The individual performances ranged from awesome to pretty good. On this side of the world, we’ve seen quite a few games involving Australian sides in the Super Rugby competition, and the individual performances have ranged from not bad to abysmal.
With about three months to go until the first Test, the Lions are looking stronger, faster and tougher.
Their stars are outshining our stars by a long shot. Pocock is out for starters, and Horwill has yet to come back after a long time away.
Tatafu Polota-Nau looks puzzled by the penalties he gives up, and Dennis features only at lineout time.
The scrummaging of Robinson and Alexander has been okay at best, and Kepu’s in the doghouse.
That leaves Timani, Hooper, Gill, Ryan, Slipper and Douglas with pass marks but no distinctions in my opinion.
In the backs, Genia has played just forty minutes lately but will no doubt come back to his brilliant best.
However O’Connor and Beale, while trying hard, aren’t making headlines. Quade Cooper is as erratic as ever and more likely to lose us a match than win one.
Barnes, who these days looks like a cross between a gunfighter and a Medici prince, still disappoints with his ill-judged kicking game.
Tapuai is a cut below international standard and Adam Ashley-Cooper is no longer a great attacking centre.
A player who’d make a fine Wallabies 13, Nick Cummins, probably won’t get a chance to play the position with the Force so we’ll never know.
Shipperley and Speight are doing well, particularly Speight, but he won’t be ineligible in time for the tests.
So in my estimation, which I’m sure will be royally shellacked by many Roarers, the Wallabies are lagging badly at this stage.
True it’s just that, a stage, and there are a lot of weeks left for players to improve. Also true is the old cliché that games are won on the field, not on paper.
But I have an awful feeling that when the paper Lions become red meat Lions, they’ll eat us without salt.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
It's not a possibility that's been mentioned in the UK media.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Aah... 'Lippy'... Nice to have one's irrational prejudices reinforced, eh.
richard
Guest
Yeah,read the same articles.It would seem the loss is attributed to Walsh's supposed "anti-England" stance.While a referee can have an influence on a game,it would hardly be to the tune of thirty points.
bluerose
Guest
it will be interesting to see Palmer and Sio go against the Stormers.
bluerose
Guest
i think Toomua-Leali'ifano-Tomane is a solid 10-12-13 combo just lack experience.
bluerose
Guest
Scott Sio really looks like Olo Brown, hope he continues his form against the Stormers.
Lippy
Guest
Not sure if it has been.afforded media time in Australia yet but the ever so humble English namely Roundtree is off to the IRB asking for clarification over Walsh's performance and decisions made. Seems the English just can't stomach the loss because of outside influences. Funny that
richard
Guest
Just saying it's a possibility,although highly unlikely.Rifts have developed on Lions tours before.Think 2001.
Justin2
Guest
Ben there are 42 other players who could have an influence ;)
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Brett you're correct. Carter has more upside IMO than Fardy and he looks like a good jumping option despite not being the Ponies go to man. I don't see him going toe to toe with Horwill but I can see him partnering him for a few years. Then again I can see the same for Pyle and Simmons too, who's tightened up a lot this year.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Adam Jones and George North have been incredibly classy after the event, so I'm not sure where this perceived rift is coming from.
richard
Guest
Interesting comments,but there is something Australian fans may be overlooking which could work in Deans and the WB's favour. Having scanned the Brit newspapers,you could be forgiven for believing there could be a rift developing between the English and Welsh players.The fallout over the Grand Slam decider has been pretty feral.Gatland will have his work cut out for him to ensure no factions develop ( a la 2001 Lions).If this situation does develop,and Gatland doesn't nip it in the bud,the Lions will get trounced.
Pick & go..!!
Guest
On paper the Tahs should be leading the Aust conference in super rugby. But they lack working combinations in key positions. So to me it doesn't matter if the lions look better on paper. What we should be looking at is combinations, & I'm with glacier Toomua & LLF are playing great at the moment both are solid in defense know how to lead the team around & play structured & percentage football which is what you need in test rugby. But super form does not always transfer to test rugby. Like Cooper he was on fire in super rugby before the 2011 WC & we all know how he went. But I believe Toomua & LLF will be different unlike Cooper who plays low percentage rugby with the razzle dazzle. Toomua & LLF are being groomed by a legend in Stephen Larkham. IMO
Malo
Guest
kpm turn up for the year 2013 Beale, Cooper and JOC are the past on form are difficult to pick in the wallabies. KPM you must be still watching 2010 clips.
glacier
Guest
Yes JBJ I did...and Toomua should be number 10. Tapuai could make the bench if he improves.
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
Wow Glacier - did you actually watch any of the games? Tapuai may not have pulled off many MOTM performances but compared to the other horrible centres he was light years ahead of the rest. The reason people are not mentioning LLF at centre is because the consensus is we need him at fly-half. He played better in that position last year and the fact that Cooper is crap and with O'Connor yet to display selectable form is almost the only choice
glacier
Guest
Leliifano has been much better than Tapuai at 12 this Super season and is, as well, more experienced than Tapuai, notwithstanding that 'Taps' played a number of underwhelming test matches last season. Leliifano is also an excellent goal-kicker and should be the back-up to JOC in this respect.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
There is a snow flakes chance in hell Deans picks the team on form. He never has so why start now in a series he must win to have any chance of saving his job. I think the Lions are going to belt us up front. There are just too many current Wallabies not performing which is staggering considering the challenges ahead. Deans may pick one or two newbies and will rely on the usual suspects to try and scrape out a series win in a similar fashion to the Welsh series last year. I realise it's a big call to select 4 or 5 debutants however Deans will get much more respect from the punters for having a crack with form players as opposed to the usual plodders he selects.
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
Red Kevin - I think you are pretty close to spot on with selections however I'm not writing Higginbotham off yet after watching his game against the Reds. We badly need everything to go our way (form, injuries, bounce of ball) akin to the Reds' season in 2011 to be a shot IMO I just have no faith in poor old Dingo being able to select the right squad and then come up with the right game plans to have any chance...
Malo
Guest
100% agree Folau 12 or 13 was his position for the taking and if trained right could have cemented that position for the wallabies. He had to play in one position and think it is now too late to change him, hope he goes well at FB, he is just lacking a bit of confidence and mongrel thats all.