[Highlights] Wallabies overpower lacklustre Pumas 34-9

Someone else noticed it as well! Foley didn't really play as a first receiver this game. He let his 12 take the ball first up, then was a distributor out wide. Cooper didn't come in very often, the attack really lost shape with Toomua went off. Seemed as though everyone was confused...

Yep! Put the big game try scorer on the bench! Harry described him as the most underrated Wallaby.

Why do you blokes persist with the nonsense you know what happens in the scrum. If two scrums were equal you would still get switching win/loss stats. It can be a timing issue, and it's rarely down to on man.

Shock ,horror ,no way..Git was a top no 12 in Larkhams day...in 2000 and something !!!

Not a bad backline - but it is the same old - as it would be with Cooper - but we do not have a lot and Cheika has no "unknowns" or "newbies" to try and have a look at - he left the Rebels 9 out of the squad and I think the Rebels 10 was not even in the mix. Yet both have shown good strengths for new kids on the block!! I still will say Foley is too one dimensional - see what happens!! Cheers

yes its an if ej but it makes as much sense as wanting to see foley and cooper together. cooper has never been a 12 and most would be surprised if he was being considered there for future big games so whats the point in seeing him play there except to waste a match confirming what cheika really should know already.

Sheek, neither my last or middle names start with a C. In your original comment you're trying to draw a link between the promotional nature of the game against the Eagles and the importance of Moore being available. How is anything I've said in my comment irrelevant to that discussion point? Moore may or may not be there. The fact that it’s a promotional occasion will hold next to no weight on the matter. I’d suggest the game presents an opportunity to rest those that have been in the grind of the RC/Bledisloe in preparation for the RWC (of which Moore will be one as I’d expect him to start both games against the AB) while giving some game time to fringe squad members and those that skipped a game here and there or spent a fair amount of time on the bench. Cheika’s got control of this team and every decision he’s making now is done with the view to holding up Bill in October. An ‘exhibition’ (that still presents an opportunity to develop the squad for the RWC) won’t inhibit that overriding goal.

RobC, Be that as it may, it's irrelevant to the discussion point. Moore, as captain, won't be anywhere but in the starting lineup while he's captain, except for perhaps the pool match I mentioned.

Johnno, Tana wasn't ABs captain in 2003.

I don't think that can be determined by Saturday's game... both hookers faced different Argie scrums. So many myths are written as gospel here.... How you can judge an individual within a scrum from your armchair is amazing to me. Flanker's binding - yes, but the workings of the tight 5? - are your eyes that well trained? The performance of the props/ hooker/ Second row and back row in the scrum are all interdependent... I doubt you can highlight anything from your armchair with any authority.

Pity, we have an absolute monster at our disposal in TPN.

Indeed, we will have to! : ) As I said, I was really hoping he had a cracker against the Boks - I really did - so that this can all be put to bed. But I have to disagree (you knew i would) that the backline has to train around him cos when he's in the sin bin, what then? Foley doesn't get flustered like QC, take son the line if needed plus its the stability and continuity that he brings along with creativeness from his 7s experience that at the moment makes him our best pick at 10. Phipps at 9, Toomua at 12 with Gits as super sub on the bench to cover 10/12. Then TK (13), Folau and Speight then any of the following AAC/Tomane/Horne as wingers.

Probably a safe bet that the ABs will play their best side versus the Ws so Sydney. It's the RC decider and Hansen will want to use it as a World Cup final rehearsal from a motivational sense, plus it means they can experiment a little at An Eden park dead rubber should they win in Sydney. Plus we get to see the usual match ups, McCaw versus which over of Hooper or Pocock, the battle of the 10's, fullbacks etc...plenty to see. I suppose from a promoters side of things an oz RC win would ensure a full bledisloe final at eden park.

I would love to see Quade Cooper get one more shot at the All Blacks too! But I am cheering for the All Blacks! Giteau is your best 10 and a reliable goal kicker. He is too tiny to play test rugby at 12 as the world selects giants at 12 now.

Oz rugby is different Canada, they pick 10's at 12, 12's at 7, non jumping locks, and jumpers at 6 so they can cover them, wings that can tackle so they can cover 12, or wherever the coach of the day decides to put Beale. So a loose head at tight head? No worries. No non contested scrums for them...just stick him on the other side.

Difference is playing the Boks at Ellis. The Ws would not have beaten them there. No chance. They've won once from 10 there, in 1963 and generally got done on most occasions. Beat them at Ellis, then we'll talk.

Yeah my experience (in a lot of amateur games over 20 years) was that headgear helped with slight knocks, abrasions and ears in scrummaging but didn't do anything for big contact. To be honest one of the big challenges for rugby safety in my opinion is going to be translating these concussion tests to the amateur fields, equally prevalent issue there and not necessarily doctors and medicos on the ground all the time.

Your comment sums up everything that is wrong with Australian rugby. You pick your best scrummager at tighthead- always, no exceptions! You have 14 other guys to run with ball, clean rucks, and make tackles.

No. He's definitely wrong! Slipper is a marginal scrummager at loosehead. He cannot play tighthead at test level- the Wallabies would be penalized at every scrum.

As much as many people are saying Pocock should be at 8, I find it hard to see him playing there for 80 mins. He is a fantastic player, but has to be at 6 or 8. He is too short to be at the back of the scrum, and with the Wallabies scrum going backwards 9 times out of 10, you need an 8 than can put his arms in and get the ball out quickly for the 9. Too many times against South Africa and Argentina did I see the scrum half trying to dig the ball out himself. With the 9 going in to get the ball it makes it easier defend. It's harder to defend when the 8 gets the ball out and disconnects from the scrum runs for a meter or 2 than passes to the 9 and so on. Or if you've got a scrum on your oppositions 22, then you are going to want the 8 to take the ball out of the scrum himself and bash over the try line. A 9 getting the ball out won't do that. Although, it was interesting to see in the last 20 minutes or so that Pocok was at 6, Hooper was at 7, and Mumm was at 8. I liked that trio, and too be honest, I'd say Mumm took his chance at 8 better than Higginbotham and McCalman. As for the front 5 I don't know what is going on. Last weeks front row was the difference so they more or less started this week. Yet the players that were dropped to the bench was the difference this week. I don't understand the sociology of it!! Maybe when players get dropped they play better so they can start the next week?? I liked SIo, Moore and Kepu up front, and Skelton did well yesterday but he has to be packing behind the loose head rather than the tight head. Forwards vs New Zealand: 1. Sio 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Skelton 5. Simmons 6. Pocock 7. Hooper 8. Mumm 16. Polota-Nau 17. Slipper (though does Smith deserve a chance - he had a good Super Rugby season) 18. Holmes 19. Horwill 20. Fardy The backs. Foley probably had his worse game in gold, and it's a massive concern. He looked tired yesterday, and he's about to get even more tired now that he's playing in Japan aswell as the Waratahs next season. Phipps had a solid game as did Folau, Kuridrani. We didn't see much of Toomua, but the Toomua-Giteau at 10-12 vs South Africa seemed to be our best bet so far. I still think theres question over our other winger. Horne last week was't fantastic, neither was Tomane this week - well atleast in defence, He was caught out of position too many times and it was just a good scramble defence by AAC, Cooper and Folau that saved the Wallabies on many occasions. Mitchell and Speight still to be tested. Not sure thought Speight will be thrown into a starting position vs the All Blacks in 2 week, maybe in Auckland for that. Mitchell has atleast been tested even if it's been for 10 mins. Backs vs All Blacks: 9. Phipps 10. Toomua/Giteau 11. Mitchell 12. Giteau/Toomua 13. Kuridrani 14. Ashley-Cooper 15. Folau 21. Genia 22. Beale 23. Speight