George Smith's future in doubt after back injury

Salt is in the water in gods country there The Phantom. The good of the ocean, son, the good of the ocean...

Hmm let's see... is that the Michael Hooper who is the most yellow carded player in the world? The 7 who can't play 7? The one who undermined Link in favour of Beale? The one who is captaining Australia thorough loss after disappointing loss? The one who keeps the best 7 in the world out of the Wallabies 7 jersey? The one who demeans the captaincy through petulant antics? Nah, don't know him.

Mmmm...Tman, you may be revealing a bit more than you intend there. I get the 'pushing the boundary' logic here but where is the line between that and a policy of cynical infringing, in fact daring the ref to go to his pocket?

Yep, George Smith put on an old school openside flanking master class in the Tahs/Reds match this season. It was a joy to watch.

No, not really. Smith completely outplayed him in every faced in the first half and the second half was pretty even. Let's be honest, Paul, the refereeing in that game was a joke – the count was like 16 or 17 to like 4, and the ref rightly came under a lot of scrutiny after that game. So I would not be using penalties against Smith and lack of penalties against Hooper from that particularly good as indicative of very much.

Must be the indicator of a quality openside given Hooper was the most penalised player across the recent Northern tour and now holds the dubious distinction of more yellow cards than any international player in test match history with no where near the most matches. None the less. Your singular statistic doesn’t dull the achievement and quality of Queensland’s award winning, best player for season 2017 and much like he has been doing for his entire career, Smith just kept fronting up game after game. Bravo GS.

In rugby the best sides should top the penalty counts. Rugby laws are more open to interpretation than any other sport and as such it is up to each side to push those very interpretations to the max. Any professional coach should be very concerned if their side is on the lighter side of the penalty count in the comp, for it likely means that its failed to test every opportunity. Nice guys dont win rugby tournaments, smart teams do, from a laws context.

Memory is a funny thing. Completely outplay? It was a tight battle and neither Smith nor Hooper outplayed the other. Both had good games. Both had 4 turnovers. Smith more tackles but Hooper more run metres and a try. In fact I think his try was off the lineout from one of his turnovers. Penalties may not always be bad, but it was penalties that cost the Reds in the end, And George had 2 while Hooper had a clean sheet. So in fact that when you look at turnovers won per penalty given. Hooper is out in front there. Smith also knocked on near the end of the game that resulted in 3 points following a scrum penalty.

Wow - such hate... Do you know Michael Hooper??? What in the water on the Northern Beaches? Smith, Phil Waugh and Hooper all hail from there...

Kiwi sides topped all of the penalty counts; Jake White's Brumbies also excelled at cynical penalties. A penalty isn't always bad. Often is is an intentional pressure release as opposed to the result of pressure. Seeing Smith completely outplay Hooper in the Reds-Waratahs match was like a return to 2009, or even 2013.

Topped the penalties too unfortunately.

Yeah, living with a bad back for the rest of his life would be a big price to pay for one or two more seasons of footy.

That boy has got a big future! Mark him down for the rugby World Cup!

George Smith seems like a genuine lovely bloke of true character I don’t think anyone would have used those words to describe Michael Hooper

One of the greats. I still have his poster on my wall, been up since 2002 and I refuse to take it down. #proudofhim #lovegeorge

So my hunch that George's spine was made out of adamantium (a la Wolverine) was wrong :( Aw well, still a legend in my books

wish this was in position order than alphabet.... 2018 Brumbies squad: Forwards: Robbie Abel, Allan Alaalatoa, Ben Alexander, Richard Arnold, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Tom Cusack, Blake Enever, Mees Erasmus, Folau Fainga’a, Lolo Fakaosilea, Ben Hyne, Leslie Leulua’Iali’i-Makin, Josh Mann-Rea, Nic Mayhew, Lachlan Mccaffrey, Isireli Naisarani, David Pocock, Scott Sio, Darcy Swain, Rob Valetini Backs: Tom Banks, James Dargaville, Kyle Godwin, Wharenui Hawera, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Ryan Lonergan, Matt Lucas, Andrew Muirhead, Chance Peni-Ataera, Joe Powell, Andrew Smith, Henry Speight, Lausii Taliauli, James Verity-Amm

Too right !!

There is nothing more for George Smith to prove. Make the right decision George. No one would challenge your decision - but make the right one.

If George had played at seven this year our season would have been a lot better .