Wallaby wings may be our weakness

Meaning who?

Yes, plus he is settled into the test position. He has been the incumbent 13 for several matches. Leave him there, and pick for the spots that aren't settled.

His mistake rate is very high this year though. That's my biggest concern.

It wouldn't surprise me to see the NRL overpay for Folau just so they can trumpet his return to the fold, like they did with SBW this year. It's not at all about the quality of the game with the NRL, it's all, and I mean ALL, about the hype. Just watch the steaming pile of crap that the Origin has been the last few years. Without the hype, would anyone seriously choose to watch?

Rob9, you are so painfully right.

Gotta be honest, anyone not picking AAC at 13 at the moment has pretty much lost me from the start. Guy's in incredible form.

On the polls, you used to get lumped as Caucasian which is not Anglo, but probably a derivation. On those polls I select other, because I am a New Zealander; but never seen Anglo Saxon. Are Japanese Asians, Jews middle eastern, French Europeans. Australia is quite multi-cultural but are Lebanese anglo's if they are Australian citizens and there first language is English too. I'm just curious.... I know what wog means now, although I had to ask what that meant when I first moved to Australia. I still get a bit mixed up :-). I think India is part of Asia, but you seldom here them called Asians. I understand the context you are using it in and rugby is tribal, so it also maintains the tribalness (is that a word) by referring to people like that. It tends to suggest an alliance between these grouos of people, butI would imagine French people have more to do with England than we do down here. Anyway I was just curious, and thanks for the insight NOS and for the time to post :-).

No prob Ra. See my explanation below. Reading your comment makes me realise that I would never use the term Anglo towards a Maori or indigenous Aussie, american etc. I think it's just something we use to talk about 'white Anglo' then. Anyway, believe me it's not a big deal. It's just an expression we use to express our difference and it's again, very colloquial. And probably not all French know it or use it like this ( maybe I use it more because am into rugby and that for a long time it was France vs the English speaking world. Glad the Italians, argentines, Japanese etc have joined us).

No worries chivas. Maybe I didn't explain clearly. I think the use of the term 'anglos' in french language is colloquial, almost slangish if it makes sense. That's a term I would use only with french mates if we are talking about english speaking ppl. For example, when Tony Blair and Howard joined Bush we were saying, 'look, Only Anglos believe there are WOMD', in French obviously. In rugby, I remember often using this term to say that the IRB is ran by 'Anglos', I.e. English and their former colonies or English speaking ppl. Once again, I know it is not correct but it's just what we call in French 'un abus de language', or an expression / term knowingly misused or used with a different meaning. I would never use this term in a proper conversation. Would be interesting to hear what other French think, maybe Parisien who I think is an aussie-French living there. Basically, it's just short for 'anglo-Saxons' or Anglo sax as we now say. It isn't derogatory when I sue it but it can definitely be. In a way, it's a bit like when you wanna group Latin ppl into the same category. It is just a generalisation.

And just for the record, you make big statements about Folau and Tomane playing in the centres, was wondering what you base that on.... experience, analysis or a thought bubble. That was my question. I am assuming a thought bubble without the thought in light of the response.

Interesting, I know the term Anglo Saxon, but as a fourth generation New Zealander of mixed Irish and Danish blood.. where does that leave me. I don't associate with anything European, have never lived there.... Do the French have their own view of who everyone is in the world whether it's relevant in those countries being generalised across or not? It's an interesting point. Many Americans don't get off their porch and make sweeping generalisations about other parts of the world. Is it fairly similar in Europe. I don't think anyone down under Aus,NZ would relate to being Anglo. It almost sounds like white anglican.... I'm not religious either... But as interesting as it may be, if enough pass the comment and nobody there disagrees.... It must be right. Sorry NOS, not shooting down your comment, just observations and thoughts.

No they are adamant they are not and neither are Kiwis,nor do most Australians feel Anglo. We were all invaded by the Anglos, and they like so many conquering armies, treated their own underclasses as brutually as their enemy. However, there are only four countries outside the UK that are recognised internationally as English first language speakers and they are Canada, US, Australia & NZ. And even in saying that, just at a glance, we can see disparity in the US, Canada and Australia because many families speak languages other than English in their homes. Only NZ stands head and shoulders above the next language (Maori) as having English as the dominant language spoken in the home. Anyway just a piece of trivia from a previous stop over in time

I’m not saying PMC is the beginning and end of our problems but he’s definitely an issue and I’m still at a loss to understand how he has a Wallaby cap to his name. Did you watch rugby in 2011?? Firstly we lost to Samoa with none other than the predictable PMC crashing it up into a wall of blue for 80 minutes. We won a shortened and almost experimental Tri Nations. Then at the RWC we were beaten in the pool stages by Ireland. Following that game it became bleeding obvious to most just how little PMC offers in the midfield and general attack. Deans still persisted with his pet and we all know how we finished that tournament. Seriously, our attack in 2011 was a blunt, spluttering mess with a 12 that couldn’t pass and link up with our men out wide. The one highlight was finishing off the year with 2 W’s against a red hot and a widely fancied Welsh side, games that McCabe wasn’t involved in. Furthermore, we scored 5 tries over these 2 games against an opposition that had only leaked 5 tries all world cup (prior to meeting us in the bronze medal match). In 2012, you only need to see how we performed on the EOYT to see how much better we are with an effective 12 in the midfield. We had our behinds handed to us by the French and then started to get our act together and actually see some backline play when Taps came in to replace PMC. You’re right about one thing, that being that we do have some depth at 12 now (I also don’t know how Harris makes your list when he’s not even in the Reds 22). I’d chuck JOC on a list with Taps and Lealiifano of genuine international 12’s that can have our backline humming. I just hope and pray that in the year of the Lions and as we build towards 2015, we’ve finally seen the end of Pat McCabe in a gold jersey.

PS: if I want to single the English out would probably call them the 'rosbifs' :)

In French, we often call 'Anglos' anyone who comes from an english speaking country. Anglos or Anglo-sax, that's what we call them/you. I know it's not correct as such but in my mind the Lions vs Oz/NZ or SA is an Anglo affair.

Anglo? The Irish, Welsh and Scots are not anglo are they?

I dont agree with Rob9 at all because Barnes, Tapuai and Harris were used in 2012 as much as McCabe at 12 and it was not a year with sweeping backline moves was it? In 2011 the backline was fine and McCabe was there for most of it. Only recently has there been a few genuine options at 12. Lealiifano, Tapuai, Barnes, McCabe and Harris. Great depth.

Cuthbert was on fire in Brisbane last year, scored a try and was creating havoc down the right.

It doesn't fascinate me as much as you entirely missed the question, but that's ok. If that's all you understand from my post reply, let's leave it there and I'll assume you don't have an answer, just sounds like a good idea when you chat to those not so familiar with rugby.

Actually I was away for the computer for several hours so didn't reply. Mainly in the backs, but sometimes the backrow, if it fascinates you that much.