Beale back, vice-captains named in Wallabies' 34-man Bledisloe squad

Rona is as quick and better in attack and defense and also can play center

Well they won't make Cheika's starting 15 but Meakes and Rona are the hardest center pairing in the squad. I'd love to see how the following backline went. It would be quick on the outside in attack and a very strong defensive unit. 10 Foley 11 Speight 12 Meakes 13 Kuridrani 14 Rona 15. DHP with Beale & Folau coming in off the bench.

That brings back memories. I once brought my 3 yr old Aussie (Aussie mum) son a shirt that said " I don't care who my son plays rugby for as long as he doesn't play for Australia" He burst into tears because he had to choose between wearing the shirt Dad gave him or playing for Australia. Made me feel like a real wanker. And then my wife started on me ........

yep , that's why none of the SR franchises picked them up.

I'd rather see Rona in that "bolters" spot.

Which probably says a lot about that list don't you think?

I have just rewatched the Tahs game against the Jaguares, the very first ruck was a turnover to the Jaguares while Ned Hannigan did nothing while standing less then a metre away. Is this really the sort of hard edge forward we need? I know that a lot of people have been banging on in this post, but I would just love that if someone who is selected to play for their country to at least be able to bloody tackle and not have someone else do it for them.

Could not agree more, well said, sic to death of these Kiwis

He was there for about 3 minutes when RHP came Off. Seen him play the 8 role if not the Jersey quite a bit. Modeled himself on Cheika's use of Poey in the Pooper. He plays 7 for opposition feed, 8 for own feed..

I am a big believer in selecting players for positions. My #6 needs to be a primary lineout target with preference as Lock injury cover. They also need to be a proper mobile Loosie. Fards is a weak lock, great everywhere else RHP is pretty good but not as fast or as fit. Ned is a pretty good all rounder but not hard enough over the ball. Hardwick should replace Hooper. My 7 needs to be able to ruck. Hardwick is not as good running out wide as Hoops but that is OK. It isn't a priority for a 7.

CAPS LOCK IS ON PERMANENTLY

A bad week for this old Rugby supporter with more of Chekko's BS and BS selections and no Rugby to watch apart for the final of the comp Chekko pays no attention to . My brother told me to watch Melbourne Storm play the Cowboys . I only ever watch finals semi's and Origin in ARL what a game there is a God . The abilities of the players and the coaches is so far beyond what we have with Chekko under the big top . Their are no elimental errors and they have a fluid game plan . I thought of the contrast between Cameron Smith as a player who controls the game and as a Captain with what we are promised with Hooper running around like a headless chook looking at himself on the big screen . Stats don't tell you everything it depends on the ability of your team mates , the quality of the opposition and on the specific job you are asked to perform in your team . Hannigan doesn't even look like a provincial player . When counting sheep or Tut Tahs Beale is one and Douglas was one . Take a look at the players Chekko has insulted with the inference that they don't put in and take a look at their positions and ask who is he protecting . Higgenbotham, Carter , Foley , Gill , Hodgeson , Stirzacker , Debreczeni , Cooper , McInyre and Lance . Compare the way he treats these players with the way he treats his partners .

He's not tall enough for an international 6. I think in a year or two he might be able to challenge Hooper though, he shows a lot of promise.

Let's ban the haka in Australia. The NZ argument is that it's part of their culture. Sure and it keeping with that, let them have all the dancing they want in the shaky isle. If it's really part of their culture who don't the Nz soccer players and cricketers do the haka? So if the Kiwi's can pick and choose which sports get to do it, I'm unsure why it's so crucial that the rugby players get to perform it outside of NZ.

@ Armchair I definitely think there's a big Tah bias now. It took 3 years to convince me but no doubt now imo. Just too many bizarre, inconsistent selections all going Tah players way. Some of the most blatant are. Hanigan for Fardy - supposedly cos Fardy is signed overseas. Well so is Horne and Cheika picked him in poor form for the Italy Test in June. Hanigan is a dud and Fardy is by far the best no 6 Australia has had past 5 yrs. Aust paid heavily for that error. The Phipps mystery is another example. Definitely THE worst half back in Super Rugby Routinely gifts the opposition 1 or 2 tries every Test he's played. Would not make a NZ club team. Consistently picked by Cheika and consistently a disaster. Beale being supported through the Di Patson affair. Arm chair ride back into the Wallabies this year. He's seriously over-rated as a player. Continued selection of Mumm, Robertson, Hanigan after consistently poor performances. Hopper as captain - good player - very poor captain. All Tah players - the list goes on and on. The selectors don't seem to notice Tahs won 4 games this year - and none against SA or NZ teams. I agreed with the selections of Deans and McKenzie every time. I think Cheika is a good coach but has a serious Tah bias.

the problem with this theory is that aus rugby seems to have syrong depth in a few spots and nothing in others. no7 is very strong and a 7 from any of the teams could have been picked buy hooper is the incumbent, wingers are all the same. there are no good fullbacks, 12s, 10's, 8's locks except for coleman or props. for example if the brumbies had a strong no 2, no8, no 9, no 15 and there first choice 9 and 10 were Australian they would have 4 or 5 morr players in the squad. when all the teams have simular strenghts then its harder for one side to get alot mote players in a squad. additionally none of the playwrs who missed out are any good. the difference between hannigan and RHP is mininal and neither are world beaters. simularly people wanting banks, m philip etc in the squad those guys need to be good for more than a few games to get picked. the force have been a shambles for the entire existance until half way through this season. the waratahs have been one of the better aus sides in that time. will the wallabies be better if they start from scratch every year based on sr performance or slowly evolve as new players show they have earned a call up?

ej i did state "not that its not there at other times" which was intended to clearly mean its not a new phenomenon. i should have said "not that its not been there in previous times" i can only speak for myself, despite your attempt to denigrate those who are disagree my memory is fine and i do remember similar situations however in the past there has always been a viewpoint i could empathise with on the selections so the usual counting of players has been a non issue for me. im feeling less empathy for the thought processes behind the 50-50 calls in this squad (and even some i would have classed as 70-30). i suppose the listing of players from states is irrelevant and its obviously more complex but it is a convenient way for people to make that point and find an explanation and as i said this time it has a bit more resonance for mine. and btw you say it didnt work the last 4 times but i was actually pretty happy with the way things were heading under the previous guy so from my viewpoint a coach can make a difference (you seem to feel they cant?)

you lost me at fardy puts on more dominant hits. fardy hannigan mumm simmons do not produce dominant hits. the bunch of them would struggle to get on the field in the afl, they couldnt get thrpugh the paper banner.

I'd actually play him on the wing , has played well there in the past and can defend

Spot on DC. It's a shame it takes someone from outside Australia to pick up on this obvious fact. Soapit believes it's a new phenomenon, or more applicable to the current setup. But as I said above rugby fans have memories of goldfish. We have always listed the states/franchises involved and debated why one should have more than the other. Particularly since we moved to 3 teams or more. That's why Australian fans believe a change in coach will fix everything. I mean it didn't work the last 4 times. But this time it definitely will. We forget the past too quickly or look back on it with rose tinted glasses. The problems with Australian rugby run a little deeper than who is holding the clipboard.