Bernard Foley set to stay in Australia

It's pretty clear to me that foley lacks the vision and game awareness that cooper has. Not to mention the better passing and kicking game that cooper has. Also cooper is by far the most experienced fly half in Australia, which is invaluable in a World Cup. Foley does have a far better running game than cooper though but an international ten needs more than that.

Good I mean , b*gger!

Coopers 10 min cameo's at the end of recent tests is evidence. Just cause you like or dislike a player doesn't change them as a player.

Phipps hasn't done anything for the wallabies that puts him above the other 9's in the country. Genia has shown he is capable of more but his form is atrocious and not looking like improving. In saying this he should have been given more opportunity. There has been no better 9 in the last 5 years so it's his jersey to lose, not to win back. Pocock should also have dibs on his spot. Loyalty seems to run deeper for some than others and will only give talent further reason to take the money.

No player is irreplaceable. But you speak as though we have dozens of alternatives. Of course being in the Top 3 is justification, particularly for a 9 and 10. Firstly there are 2 9s in the matchday 23. Phipps is comfortably in the top 2 on current form.

"With the Wallabies now ranked 5th, all incumbent means is that they are holding the spot until someone better comes along." Precisely. And when that someone better comes along, they will only be holding the spot until the next better person comes along. And so on, and on, and on.

"Watch the difference between where cooper receives the ball, where he runs to and when and where he releases and then compare this with Foley" Watch it when it works, or when it doesn't? (that applies to both by the way). And watch it on a highlights reel from 2010 (for Cooper) or 2014 (for Foley) or now?

Why do you think that "attractive winning rugby" correlate to more dollars?

With the Wallabies now ranked 5th, all incumbent means is that they are holding the spot until someone better comes along. Technically Saia Faingaa is the incumbent Wallabies hooker. Neither Phipps nor Foley is irreplaceable and Foley in particular has yet to deliver a single Test performance that suggests he is even the top flyhalf. Being in the top 3 for your position is hardly justification for an ARU top-up, is it.

I'm not against the tahs. Their greatest strength is there a team. I can't see test opposition being exposed the same way SR opponents are and different attributes at 10 and 15 needed.

James oconnor. He's got pace, can catch, tackle and kick and he's got a point to prove. Wasted on the wing.

That was done under the old system.

the brumbies did not look a class act when they were mentally soft and could not close out a game making wrong decision after wrong decision. As long as there are as few tahs in the wallabies its ok by you right? Who would you put at F/B? Mogg, Coleman, no probably AAC a former brumby. So that means you can have 2 brumbies as wingers.

I wrote a reply explaining why your reasoning for foley over cooper is just plain wrong but it didn't work. Watch the difference between where cooper receives the ball, where he runs to and when and where he releases and then compare this with Foley. Though I have a feeling your baiting me and got me hook, and sinker.

I don't really want to stir stuff here but yes they are the incumbent 9 - 10 and it makes sense that they are given the top up but why not the incumbent 8/captain in Mowen? Wasn't it something about being a starter for two years? before being eligible? 29 tests played during 2013-4 Phipps only played 16 and started 9 Foley only played 18 started 12? Bowen played and started 15 in 2013 as well as finishing of the last 6 tests of the year at captain and wasn't offered a top up

A clear head he has! But we're watching different sports if you think Foley gives those outside more time and space. Cooper angles his run and with his extra step of pace gets the backline running onto the ball and naturally running angles with him. The defence have to hang off him because of his coopercentric play, it puts them in 2 minds. No other australian fly half comes close to doing this as well as cooper. However toomua will have had more match fitness and his kicking game is better than Foleys and coopers. Field position should be a major point of tactics in the back line. A superior kicking game takes pressure off the entire side and places it on directly on the opposition.

So far we have seen Phipps and potentially Foley (although not confirmed yet) given ARU top ups. Both are the incumbent 9 and 10 for the Wallabies, meaning that it makes sense that they would. Even if you disagree on their current standing, it would be hard to argue that they aren't in the Top 3 for their positions. They would be in the mix for WC selection irrespective of who the Wallabies coach is. Are their top ups part of your investigation, or are you referring to other players? Which one's?

there needs to be an investigation into how many waratahs have top ups and why. Its not fair to other sides. FOS has been on about this for a long time and I agree.

Make no mistake Foley is our best 10. He's our best 10 for unleashing those outside him. Cooper is erratic with a Coopercentric attitude and he tries to do it all himself with more often than not catastrophic results. Carter to my memory has never been described as an X-factor player but he makes those outside him shine by giving them time and space. He's the conductor while the likes of Cooper and co see themselves as the lead violinists down in the pit playing out their own selfish melody. Foley also has something we are gonna need in a WC tournament and that's a clear head and a good goal kicking boot.

Foley knows he has the goods to secure the wallaby 10. He is getting better and better each game he plays. Just has to develop his general kicking game. Tahs and brumbies the only 2 Oz sides to be competive so should get the majority of wallabies