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5 reasons why Australia sucks
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 526960" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>Dennis is 26. That is not even close to being old for a loose-forward! I like the look of Schatz, and I'm sure he would have been more involved if he wasn't struggling with a shoulder injury (if he was fit I would even consider starting him at number 8!).</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Disagree entirely. Almost ever international team is opting for a harder running 12, rather than a more creative option, and for good reason. How many teams in international rugby that have a creative 12? Nonu? F Steyn? de Villiers? Barritt? Sean Lamont? Roberts? Heck England have even played Manu Tuilagi at 12 recently! There is an odd occasion where international teams play a more creative option at 12 - what I would consider a traditional 'second-five eighth' (e.g. England playing Farrell at 12, Argentina with Fernandez at 12), but this is very rare these days, where previously it was the norm.</p><p></p><p> You mention Mortlock as a straight running 12, which he was later in his career, but for the majority of his career he was a 13, with Australia playing creative options such as Giteau and Barnes inside him. Australia, like New Zealand, have almost always played a more creative ' second-five eighth' - it has only been in the last 5-6 years that New Zealand have opted for a harder running option in that position (Umaga, then Nonu), while Australia really only opted for this in the last couple of years.</p><p></p><p>I've got a lot of time for Tapuai too - he offers a strong running option (with a good step), and has some good playmaking skills (I thought he should have been starting at 12 while McCabe was out injured). I would almost be tempted to go with a Tapuai/McCabe midfield, with Ashley-Cooper at fullback (though I do prefer him at centre).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 526960, member: 24910"] Dennis is 26. That is not even close to being old for a loose-forward! I like the look of Schatz, and I'm sure he would have been more involved if he wasn't struggling with a shoulder injury (if he was fit I would even consider starting him at number 8!). Disagree entirely. Almost ever international team is opting for a harder running 12, rather than a more creative option, and for good reason. How many teams in international rugby that have a creative 12? Nonu? F Steyn? de Villiers? Barritt? Sean Lamont? Roberts? Heck England have even played Manu Tuilagi at 12 recently! There is an odd occasion where international teams play a more creative option at 12 - what I would consider a traditional 'second-five eighth' (e.g. England playing Farrell at 12, Argentina with Fernandez at 12), but this is very rare these days, where previously it was the norm. You mention Mortlock as a straight running 12, which he was later in his career, but for the majority of his career he was a 13, with Australia playing creative options such as Giteau and Barnes inside him. Australia, like New Zealand, have almost always played a more creative ' second-five eighth' - it has only been in the last 5-6 years that New Zealand have opted for a harder running option in that position (Umaga, then Nonu), while Australia really only opted for this in the last couple of years. I've got a lot of time for Tapuai too - he offers a strong running option (with a good step), and has some good playmaking skills (I thought he should have been starting at 12 while McCabe was out injured). I would almost be tempted to go with a Tapuai/McCabe midfield, with Ashley-Cooper at fullback (though I do prefer him at centre). [/QUOTE]
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