When last did the Wallabies play with a genuine number 8? When did they last play a forward with height, speed, good hands, strong defence and, above all, a marauder, a ball carrier, someone who can make real metres and then link with supporting players?
Maybe Toutai Kefu, a member of the Wallaby world cup winning team in 1999? That was 21 years ago.
Who has been tried since?
Players like Wycliff Palu, Richard Brown, Rocky Elsom, Scott Higginbotham, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, and now Pete Samu, following Michael Hooper’s injury.
Scott Higginbotham has occasionally ‘looked the goods’ in Super Rugby with some fine marauding performances but, unfortunately, has not taken his chances when they have fallen his way at Test level. The rest have simply not cut the mustard as a No. 8 – Pocock is a genuine No. 7.
A current standout number 8 is, of course, the great All Black captain Kieran Read, who plays for the Crusaders, so successful in Super Rugby.
It is notable that Pete Samu, the current Wallaby number 8, is a regular member of the Crusaders’ bench. I had thought before the last couple of Wallaby games that Samu’s pedigree as a Crusaders bench player at no. 8, should make him good enough to be in the run-on side for the Wallabies.
But having seen his performances in the last two Wallaby matches, I have serious doubts. He certainly has displayed no evidence of being a marauding ball carrier.
Can the Wallabies solve their no. 8 problems before next year’s world cup? This will be difficult.
DaveR
Guest
So did McMahon. Even though a number think he is not big enough for 8, he's better than what we are running with now.
Rugby wizard
Guest
Agree,Cotterill is a great option at 6 aswell,Tui and Hannigan should only be in the picture for RWC 2023 if they lucky, because Angus Scott Young looks like the real deal and Curtis browning hopefully will come back.
wade fite
Roar Rookie
Higgers is far and away our best option for number 8. I guess he must have questioned Mr Cheika's intellect at some time in the dim dark past...he is certainlyvon Cheika's blacklist and will never play for the Wallabies again...unless, of course, he tranfers to NSW for the next SR season.
waxhead
Guest
Yes I agree Mowen was the real deal but what did RA and wallaby selectors do.? They continued to pick the Palu farce, relegated Mowen and then wouldn't give him the contract he deserved when he turned out to be the best No 8 we had. Hoiles got similar treatment.
Lezoire
Guest
Higgers is the best we have, he has matured well, makes mostly he makes good decisions, runs passes, tackles, can break the line, has an X factor, he generally turns up and he has paid his super dues, I reckon he is now in his prime, but he can't get a run, just plain stupid... what ever the issue is, as a fan its sad to see him left on the sideline when he looks to be the best man for the job. Anyone know why he has been black listed under Cheika?
George
Guest
Michael Hooper has consistently not taken his chances in Gold. Has brain snaps that cost points often resulting in being carded. He has the Most cards in the history of Rugby.
Nope
Guest
Holloway or Dempsey ? .No . We already have enough Waratahs stuffing up the Wallabies
Adam
Roar Guru
Yep I was going to write the same and saw your comment. He's 33 now so maybe that ship has sailed, but he would have been pretty handy to have as an option over the past 4 years since he left.
scubasteve
Guest
you said it; passion and mongrel. Both not physical characteristics. You could say Hooper has this as well. Pocock - check. So why can't the physically gifted players also bring the same mental qualities.
scubasteve
Guest
because he has consistently not taken his chances in Gold. Has brain snaps that cost points often resulting in being carded.
scubasteve
Guest
Quade this Quade that. Can we just move on. Guy is an incredible offensive 10. But as a defensive 10 he is absolute rubbish.
Jez
Guest
Missed a name in there, Ben Mowen. A bloody good 8 and a fantastic captain who we lost because ARU refused to give him a top up leaving him as the lowest paid player in the wallabies.
ThoroughsTouws
Roar Rookie
K C Other Leg- remember how fast off the mark Quaide was before his knee reconstruction? He lost that speed. Never the same player.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Campaign against Foley? I for one, love Foley. For multiple reasons. He is a world class utility back. But he is not an international class attacking 10. (We do have one. He’s on paid leave atm)
Boris
Guest
We need to completely change our game plan, trying to match the all blacks with a running game doesn’t work. We need to try a more physical game like Cheika had when he won the title with the tahs. So Coleman and Arnold in 2nd row and then back row of cottrell/Pocock/McMahon get some mongrel in there. Centers of Toomua and kuridrani etc
Warpath
Roar Rookie
Maddocks? do you people actually watch the games? he basically bombed 3 tries on his first start a few weeks back, he takes poor options all the time, he hasn't done a single thing right to deserve a spot, if anything Banks might actually do better than Maddocks if given a chance. I thin kthe mom,net Kuridrani or Kerevi return, they won't have a place from him on the bench.
waxhead
Guest
McMahon gets high points for passion, mongrel and skills but reality is....... he's just too small to be a world class No 8 or a 6. He saw the writing on the wall and went for the money in Japan.
waxhead
Guest
@Jockstrap - spare us this absurd crap about Palu. The disgrace of Palu's continued Wallaby selection was one of the main reasons they slipped so alarmingly in the world ranking during his career. He was big, slow, lazy and useless. He went missing in action routinely against every top 5 nation in every important game. Along with Phipps currently, Palu was the worst international player in his position. Neither would have made a NZ provincial team imo hehehe
Rugby wizard
Guest
6.higgs 7.Pocock 8.McMahon It's the best possible back row we can put together for RWC 2019 Dempsey misses out which is tough he is good player, but higgenbotham's physical strength and lineout ability gives backrow more complete loo.It will probably be higgs and McMahons last shot at WC glory as McMahon stated in a article a while back that he sees himself retired at 30 These 2 players will give it there all they will bleed for the jersey because it's now or never.
Jockstrap
Roar Rookie
How we miss Palu ?