Cheika addresses Spiro's comments: 'We have a plan'

I guess we are all over reacting to the AGE thing, take a look at Big Brad Thorn , I just think bringing in players from outside of super rugby is not such a good thing at least the local guys have knowledge of who and what they are up against. The biggest problem facing Aussie rugby, is the attitude of people running the game including Checka, today people just Don't want to do the hard yards anymore. They are looking for short cuts, or an easy way out, how do they think the ABs got to where they are,not by taking the easy way Out that's for sure. They built their rugby empire over generations of hard work in the process they lost a few but are now reaping the rewards of all that hard work, My point is, stay with the young local talent

I kind of agree with your comments about temperament Noodles, but I just think before it came down to that, we scored more points, and generally gave up less through the backline.

I see your point but I would say that much of what was wrong in the pom games was about temperament and thinking. Plus a lack of impact in the forwards. I guess I'd also say that cheika should pick from his best options and I'm surprised that people want to make it a visa issue. Seems to me that if all these players were playing here the debate would not be anything like this.

Let''s waits it til after the Rugby Championship. If we've been flogged by the ABs and SA, with the old blokes, then its been a lost opportunity to give opportunities to those young blokes. If we win or do well then we should continue this approach until.....when'....Personally I expect the former.

At the end of the series , it may be time to ask Tim Walsh what his plan might be.

All of those were only because of injuries and unavailibility of o/s based players. Kerevi for Gits. No doubt Kerevi is in better form and more versatile than TK yet Cheika persists with an underperforming TK when he reverts to a failed 2nd playmaker at 12. Arnold and Coleman for the injured Douglas. Frisby backup for Phipps with Genia not available. DHP with Tomane, Speight injured and Mitchell o/s.

Squires and Tu'ungafasi also.

Not just that. The RWC was prioritized over Super Rugby for these players. Can't do that with overseas players.

I think the point Spiro was making was how the OLD FELLAS overseas have been brought back - at the last WC - none of the NZ players were brought back from anywhere - they all played in NZ.

No one's going to argue that Mumm has been playing well Richard. I'm a Tahs fan, so I've felt the frustration all season. Give me Hoiles any day. But let's wait and see if he's selected to start before we jump to any conclusions. You can't get upset about something that hasn't happened yet.

Would you like to enlighten me as to why Dean Mumm is still in the squad JohnR.. Now surely we all agree he is an imposter ...Why does Chekas persist with this underperforming fellow ??

Come on PeterK, the backline for the 1st test will be the same as the RWC FINAL backline...We all know this..Michael Checka refuses to learn from his mistakes..

Guys what`s with this second playmaker rubbish..The second playmaker was used and didn't work in the third test....We still lost. . Now we have Crabaeu who is a worse playmaker than Toomua who will be selected this week..

We need a goalkicker because Foley is hopeless. In fact, he is just allround hopeless

Hardly the same. Samoa does not have a top flight competition for locals to play in. As a result they lose their best players due to the money, and those that stay would not develop as well because of the inferior competition. Australia does. How many players have come back from Europe to Super Rugby as better players? The Samoa example is much like the A League. It's not on par with European Leagues so it would limit the development of players staying.

Difference there is all of those guys were still playing well, and hadn't been holidaying on the beaches in France. Huge difference.

But did we give up points we would have scored otherwise? Collectively we scored something like 75 points in 3 games. When you look at our consecutive matches against Tier 1 Nations in the RWC (England, Wales, Scotland, Argentina, New Zealand) that's close to the best we managed to score in 3 consecutive matches against any T1 teams (The best wast 83 - England, Wales, Scotland). The issue was the points we gave up this time round. Line out losses gave them field position and scrum penalties gave them points.

"wasn't"

Which is why I didn't say they did. I said they did in 2 of the games. Is comprehension not your strong point? Considering that Australia didn't score a try against Wales for the first time in about a decade or more with Giteau at 12, there is a very good chance they would have scored 7 with Giteau too.

No Giteau hasn't "dropped in" over 100 times. Because for 92 of those caps he was 100% available to Australian rugby to attend every single training camp and play every single game. It's only since he has been based in Europe this has changed, and now he is available for something like 9 weeks of the season in total. In a one off rep tournament you throw teams together because all your opponents to the same. For a regular season of 12-14 games in test rugby your competitors are training together for about 20 weeks. These players are available for around 9 weeks. Each game is building to the next game. Hard when your available squad differs due to Regulation 9. How do you build a team around a player that isn't there for example? It's somewhat humorous you refuse to listen to or acknowledge a point, then due exactly the same. I will say, I refuse to listen to how it can be good for a team to have 3-4 of their starting 15 available for less than half the time they train and play. Some players are good enough to create a positive benefit when thrown in. Rugby though is more of a team reliant game than some sports, so that makes it harder. How has Cheika obviously pointed out the presence of these players has benefited younger players? Which younger players have gone up a new level due to Giteau and co?