3D Analysis: Henry Speight a key for Brumbies

AAC does a fair job in defence against Smith. I don't recall AAC letting the wallabies down ever. But yeah I concede Smith is the slightly better of the two.

No he isnt, he is better, plays in a better team but he isnt that much better as in in a different world.

Understood; I can still recall Rob Edgerton pluck that high ball from John Kirwan I think it was to score a try at the SFS in 1991; skin & bone, not much hair and socks down got the job done. Charlie Eastes! You have gone to the vault. Perhaps Mick Clearly could have been one of the great Wallaby wingers but he went to RL too early to really be considered a great but worth a mention. Mortlock too very worthy but in that upper echelon of Wallaby wingers I think you have David Campese, Brendan Moon and Ben Tune.

It's too easy a cliche for journos to ever give up. Like referring to any big player as 'Big' [Full Name].

Sorry, forget Joe Tomane as well. I think its far too early to judge how he will go.

HI Justin, my personal view is that we are too close to that time to form views on who might be among the "greats", but others would see it differently. Thinking over that period, the player who dominated wing in terms of selections was Digby Ioane. Plenty of other talented people also played there during that time - AAC, Folau, O'Connor, Mitchell. I don't put Shipperly or Badge in their league, but others will differ. The difficulty in making a judgment is that we can't say for certain that any of their test careers are over yet - I think AAC is the oldest of all of them and he seems likely to add to his tally at wing this year.

Sorry if I gave the wrong idea Nick, I was not suggesting that Campese was the last great Australian winger, just alluding to all the attention he gets. FWIW, my impression is that the wing has not been Australia's strongest position over many years, but it was just a passing comment and I haven't sat down and analysed it. You could also cite Rob Egerton, and going back to Charlie Eastes after the war. I believe Stirling Mortlock also had some good games for the Wallabies on the wing.

Actually Justin, for NZ he is that much better. He is not just the player who is the glue in the backline, he is the central coordinator of the backline. The same as McCaw is more than a 7 for the AB's.

What about the last three years Mike?

Smith is very good, he isn't that much better.....

I think you've made your points well, Mike, but AAC still isn't being properly appreciated despite being in career best form. As a Tahs supporter I hope the Tahs continue on to win the finals. At the pointy end this is far from a done deal, but I find the support for Kurindrani, (my pick at the start of the season) passing strange, and as 13 for a winning super 15 team AAC would be hard to overlook. The Wallabies need his wealth of experience at 13, and in my opinion he has outplayed Conrad Smith this season, and contained a brilliant Fekitoa, while breaking the Highlanders open. I think Henry Speight on the wing would advance Wallaby stocks more than Kurindrani in his current form playing 13. He has not done enough in the past to warrant his inclusion when not in form. Compare his stats to AAC's!

will Australian media ever refer to him as just Henry Speight, talented rugby player? Yesterday, yet again, it is "Flying Fijian Henry Speight" in SMH but I suppose not - after almost 20 years playing in Australia, there were still 'Flying Fijian Radike Samo' news articles Hope he does well at international level (presuming he's selected)

Who are these many?? Can't think of a single kiwi that would give up Conrad smith to have AAC. Conrad Smith is a far better outside centre. Which position would the ABs put AAC?? I cannot think of one.

AAC is named by many as one of a few Wallabies who would make the AB squad. This comment is ridiculous - baring injury of course.

Mike, I understand your point, and by no means am I trying to take away from his form and skills. I just like the option of having them both on the field. Squirrel... Are you full quid? Kuridrani is a brumbies player, AAC yes is a tah? How does QLD come into it?

Dude, Ben Tune in his prime was amazing. Truly great. I remember a game against England where he scored 4 brilliant trys. Maybe not up to Campese's level, but he showed a level of skill I haven't seen since.

Yeah Kudriani is not that good. It is an anti tah qld bs. AAC delivers every game

Post Campese (1996) I would think Ben Tune and Joe Roff could be discussed as great Wallaby wingers. Do you see it differently?

Exactly Mike, the smart move for EM would be AAC, Henry and JOC.

I am not going to get excited over the last couple of games - we have been disappointed before. But Speight does look a very exciting prospect. There haven't been many great Australian wingers, despite the long shadow cast by Campese. Maybe Henry can do for wing what Folau has been doing for 15? That would be very very encouraging.