Genia to leave Reds for Stade Francais

Genia will have to be careful of the kicking. I expect Cheika's plan for the Wallabies won't be exactly the same as it is for the Tahs, but its a pretty safe bet that kicking out of hand by the scrummie won't feature much in it.

Getting higher doesnt mean its uncontested, that he catches it or is in the right position to attempt to catch it in the first place.

I take it Robbo is a typo? I believe he is at the Tahs through 2016.

Agree on Gill too.

Yes, the forwards can have a big influence on any half back's confidence to run it. Don't disagree with that. Horwill off didn't help of course. Genia made some nice raids in the first quarter to support that view too.

A point that's easy to overlook - overseas clubs WANT Australian players.

I agree. I note his relatively poor recent form, so I would probably have him on the bench to start with, and Phipps is the incumbent anyway. But this is a guy with 60 test caps who has shown he can mix it with the world's best. I am sure he would quickly pick up his confidence again. There are usually three half-backs in a squad, and I would be taking Phipps, Genia and one more. The third slot is wide open for mine, but things should be clearer at the end of SR.

Probably is time for him to move on. My mail says he has little or no respect for RG. I hope that mail is wrong because it will become a cancer to the whole team.....maybe it has already.

a few of the players playing in japan will be playing for super rugby clubs just missing 2 weeks or so. Foley, McCalman. Good move way of the future. Allows players to earn a lot. Japanese league is not as physical. Also means they are available for super rugby. Far better than losing them to europe. This way they play super rugby and eligible for wallabies.

rebels had twice as much position, Genia kicking so much and Stizaker NO KICKS was a large part of it. Also the reds entitled soft forwards could not make the advantage line and the rebels smashed it was a reason genia kicked so much. Gill was my MoM though , best game I have seen from for a long time, possibly ever.

getting higher gives him the edge because he catches more balls uncontested and contests ones that he should not be able to.

I think even further problems face ARU and the NZRU. With the inclusion of Argentina and Japan in the Super Rugby, well we already know that to play for Argentina next year you need to play in Argentina. That means most if not all Argentine player playing in Europe will head home. But in addition to this, what I fear is that the Japanese team will poach Pacific Island players from Europe to play for the Japanese team. This is bad news for the ARU and NZRU, as I think France will try to poach even more players from Australia and New Zealand to compensate for the loss of Argentine and Pacific Island players, on top of what they already poach.

At least the 3rd game in a row Stirzaker has not kicked the ball once. He is quick to the ruck and passes fast, and in front of the man. No laying eggs etc. His main weakness which is on display in this game is his defence. He is the form scrum half IMO ahead of Phipps, White and Genia. Genia had a good game IMO, probably his equal best this year.

The ARU needs to urgently address the exodus, Off the 50 players in the workshop last week end, 6 have signed overseas, 22 have a Australian Super Rugby contract, and 22 are yet to decide what they are doing. Here's a run down: Nathan Charles - Western Force Saia Fainga'a - To be announced James Hanson - To be announced Stephen Moore - Brumbies Tatafu Polota-Nau - Waratahs Ben Alexander - To be announced Pek Cowan - Western Force Tetera Faulkner - Western Force Sekope Kepu - Bordeaux (France) Benn Robinson - Western Force Paddy Ryan - To be announced Scott Sio - Brumbies James Slipper - To be announced Sam Carter - Brumbies Dave Dennis - To be announced James Horwill - Harlequins (England) Luke Jones - Melbourne Rebels Cadeyrn Neville - To be announced Rob Simmons - To be announced Will Skelton - To be announced Scott Fardy - Brumbies Liam Gill - To be announced Matt Hodgson - To be announced Michael Hooper - Waratahs Sean McMahon - Melbourne Rebels David Pocock - To be announced Scott Higginbotham - TBC team in Japan Ben McCalman - To be announced (sounds like Japan) Wycliff Palu - To be announced (sounds like Japan) Jake Schatz - To be announced Nick Frisby - To be announced Will Genia - Stade Français (France) Nick Phipps - Waratahs Nic White - Montpellier (France) Quade Cooper - To be announced (cant see him staying) Bernard Foley - To be announced (sounds like Japan) Matt Toomua - Brumbies Kurtley Beale - To be announced (cant see him staying) Kyle Godwin - Western Force Tevita Kuridrani - Brumbies Christian Lealiifano - Brumbies Adam Ashley-Cooper - Bordeaux (France) Peter Betham - To be announced Nick Cummins - To be announced (Already know he's heading back to Japan, but nothing on playing for Force between seasons) Tom English - Melbourne Rebels Rob Horne - Waratahs Henry Speight - Brumbies Joe Tomane - Brumbies Isreal Folau - To be announced (will be a miracle if the ARU can keep him) James O'Connor - Reds And who've we got coming back, so far just Dean Mumm. More going out than coming back. But lets take a look at potential replacements who have already committed to the ARU. Toby Smith and Sam Talakai are up an coming props, while in the second row we've got Rory Arnold, Loopeti Timani and Adam Coleman. Back row is a massive problem, especially Number 8. Scott Fuglistaller is up an coming but that's just about it. Anyone else think Cheika should try and get Taniela Tupou converted into a N8? Nic Stirzaker and Jack Debreczeni are definite stars for the future, as is Sefanaia Naivalu.

Genia made a terrific break early in the game. I haven't seen that for so long. Stirzacker really impressed me. His passing from the ruck is crisp and accurate and makes the receiver run on to the ball. And he attacked the line at least half a dozen times. Could be a darky for the RWC. The game last night was like watching my old man and his best mate play tennis. They think they are Djokovic and Federer, but we all know that they are dreaming.

Agree that Genia should run the ball far more than he does. The reason why I think is more in Genia's head than the coach's instruction. Genia does love his box kick. So does the opposition. Pity. Genia was judged the world's best half due to his outstanding running game. He lost it. Confidence?

Injury aside, his best form of 2011 was a very long time ago.

Big loss, very disappointing, but it was one that everyone knew was coming! He still has it & showed some nice running prior to Horwill's moronic act. I think that RG tactics are to blame for some poor play and that seemed to be exemplified last night as he kicked almost everything after JH card.

Richard Graham

Something like 195 NRC games between now and RWC 2019. No big loss. Has become Australias Andy Ellis.