Super Rugby AU Round 3 teams: Banks back for Brumbies, Tahs send young guns to the bench

He’s a good player technically but he’s always been a powderpuff. And has brain explosions. Defence is decent.

Haha Larkham was in the scrap heal when he started, Steve Waugh got dropped how many times? 10 not test standard? I would prefer Lance but do you want inexperience or a settled player at 10? Got an alternative? Hunt? Cmon he’s a hard running straight hitter that you need at inside.

Thanks people all valid comments! Love to chat

Rob Simmons is 31. I googled it.

Your comments re Cusack are very puzzling, firstly he has probably got the biggest engine SR and secondly, have you observed his lineout and defensive work of late? Clearly the best defensive open side in the Aussie conference And whilst not a natural fetcher, his work at the breakdown is superior to those on the bench.

I'm surprised you think the HJH is so much smarter than AAA you'd pick him at tighthead. I think AAA is smart enough. TK is the smartest defensive 13 in Aussie rugby. The only other candidate 13 on pure smarts is probably Tom English. But I do agree that JOC is very smart and whilst not really a 13 (by experience if anything else) is good enough to play 13 at test level. there's a young spectator named Petaia who has a good rugby brain and could play 13 one day. If he can stay on the paddock. McCaffery is pretty smart. Is anyone looking at Ian Prior? How's the old man holding up against the countries best?

Some interesting choices to say the least. I'm a fan of a fiery redhead too, but Johnson-Holmes is no Kitshoff and his hair colour would be the only reason to have him there, as it definitely wouldn't be on scrummaging ability or smarts. AAA by far the first choice in Aus on both counts. For a bolter winger who works hard and makes the right decisions, Muirhead would be a length ahead of Ramm.

I think one of your tight five powderpuffs is actually your second internationally recognised good player albeit not in great form. I can say that coz your mate Nick B has recognised him and stated that England has recognised him. I never used to like him as a player coz I thought/think he lacks physicality then better analysts point out what he was offering. Lineout, scrum, good D, fast and reliable recycle. Credit and/or misfortune when it's due. Simmons is now the senior lock in Aussie super rugby. Not too old but has played plenty of tests. Someone needs to get inside his head but he has been there and done that. I'm not going to google it but Simmons had played plenty of test matches before I realised he was only 25.

I believe Lucas is going to London Irish

Short has looked less rushed/more comfortable than Gordon. Maybe it's just the Tahs ruck has been better/opposition not as hard on Tahs ball but it's been good. McDonald in his cameo last week looked very assured, hoping he gets a good 20-30 minutes this week.

10 and 12 are proven not test standard. 3 and 14 are barely super rugby level.The rest of the 15 is okayish.

Jeznez Correct and Incorrect. Swinton is a rookie. :thumbup:

Frost was bottom of the list of 5 locks in the squad, probably due to being in his first season of professional rugby. With Enever gone and Neville injured he should be up to 3rd, but I think is still nursing a knock himself. McCaffrey and Ben Hyne are also playing back-up lock now too.

Where's Frost in the pecking order?

Shorts passing lacks length and is erratic in height though. Powell has a better pass.

Agree. Defence (as opposed to just tackling ie communication and decision making) is 50% of the game. Kicking, securing the breakdown, kick chasing, kick receiving, positional play etc all part of the job description. The days of the attacking player that lacks these other skills are gone. The good news is that most of these skills are learned.

Hanigan actually played all of his schoolboys and Aus U20s career in the row before “they” at the Wallabies canned Fardy and then had to manufacture a blindside flanker in a hurry and Hanigan was the only line-out option in that jersey (over MacMahon, Samu etc). He copped plenty but was learning a new role at the highest level. Good match up this week. The Brumbies scrum was surprisingly vulnerable against the Rebels with some big reputations being tarnished. Hopefully the Waratahs can cause an upset and breath some life into the comp ala the Blues.

AB's went away from that policy at the recent RWC - to their peril! The Cusack example ie the smart leader with less talent, can be seen in many other teams eg Fitzsimmons (until recently) at the Waratahs, Bryce Hegarty at the Reds, perhaps Tom English in the centres at Rebels. Conrad Smith was the all time great at this role, bringing out the superstar in Nonu. AAC had a lot of it. Simmons for all his passiveness, would have been picked for the RWC soley on his set piece, technical knowledge on the training paddock. He is captaining the Waratahs for the same reason ie the stuff we can't see but the coaches and players can. It's noteworthy that when Cusack comes off the bench, he runs the discussion in the huddle. Too many huddles for mine btw, but that's another story.

Only agree with your selections at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 (ATM) and 8. Wilson has first be selected and cement his place before any serious thoughts of captaincy are valid. He looks good to me in a couple of years time (as a captain but I don't know his leadership qualities).

Not really. AAA got penalised about 3 times for going early and FF for standing up. Ref was rubbish. Bell will be better with experience. Like the kids attitude.