Australia have no hope of winning the World Cup if Giteau is in the team.

[liam_94]

Lets face it. When was the last time Matt Giteau played well? Moreover when he consistently played well?

Its been a while.

He has lost his penetration and attacking ability. He's got terrible hands meaning he can't play flyhalf. Australia Rugby need to wake up and cut their favourite son.

Answer - Barnes.

Barnes is one of the best conservative players in world rugby, he isn't eratic and has a cool head. He can grind out oppositions and that is just what Australia need. Quade + Berrick = Perfect Combo of Flair and Potency with Defense and Structure. Quade can't tackle, Berrick is the best tackler in Australia he can make up for Quade's poor defence.

I also think Australian Rugby need to reassess Rocky Elsom. But that is a whole other matter. :lol:

 

[monkeypigeon]

Lets face it. When was the last time Matt Giteau played well? Moreover when he consistently played well?

Its been a while.

He has lost his penetration and attacking ability. He's got terrible hands meaning he can't play flyhalf. Australia Rugby need to wake up and cut their favourite son.

Answer - Barnes.

Barnes is one of the best conservative players in world rugby, he isn't eratic and has a cool head. He can grind out oppositions and that is just what Australia need. Quade + Berrick = Perfect Combo of Flair and Potency with Defense and Structure. Quade can't tackle, Berrick is the best tackler in Australia he can make up for Quade's poor defence.

I also think Australian Rugby need to reassess Rocky Elsom. But that is a whole other matter. :lol:

Agreed about Giteau. He has been a bit underwhelming for about a year and a half now. Haven't seen the Super 15 yet this year but it seems from what you're saying that nothing has changed in that regard and the last thing you need is a tream picked on reputation while you have great players to fill his boots.

Perhaps also a change of formation from 8-7 to the classic 4-4-2 (with 5 extra on the bench)..

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think Cooper/Barnes is the best 10/12 that Australia could put out atm,
You've got the flair of Cooper, but the dependability of Barnes
Barnes is also a good kicker, something which Australia often lack (though O'Connor is good at that, most of the time)

 

[Gavin]

Disagree completely. Giteau has started the Super 15 well and if playing well from fly-half. The guy has over 90 international caps which is always needed if their is a lack of experience. Unless he keeps a constant form in the Super 15 (and I hope he does) I would still want him on the bench for Australia. IMO I don't think Barnes is a fly-half and ever an international 12, I would much rather have O'Connor at 12.

 

[AverageJoe]

Overall It's a tough call, Giteau has started well to this year's super 15 but he's certainly not the player he once was. I also agree with the statement about Elsom, I think Will Genia is potentially a stronger choice as a captain or else David Pocock. However both of these issues present problems as teams thrive off a mixture of youth and experience taking away or limiting the leadership impact of Giteau and Elsom may create leadership problems in the team. This Wallabies side, though talented, is extremely young compared to other international sides and getting rid of two of their most experienced players could have a detrimental effect on this young, inexperienced side. That said the young blokes (Genia, Pocock, Cooper, O'Conner, Beale, Barnes, Alexander etc) are clearly running this team now, they are where the Wallabies have their strength and thus the coaching staff may be better off letting them have their reign and have the older guys take more of a back seat.

 

[Amobokoboko]

As Giteau has a decent S15 season now and if he keeps things up I would include him in the team, just for the experience.
Elsom as a captain, during the Tri Nations he showed some true leadership skills. And Changing you team 6 months before a RWC is never a good idea.

 

[j-dawg]

I thought England and New Zealand proved you shouldn't make assumptions last time round?

 

[gingergenius]

Lets face it. When was the last time Matt Giteau played well? Moreover when he consistently played well?

Its been a while.

He has lost his penetration and attacking ability. He's got terrible hands meaning he can't play flyhalf. Australia Rugby need to wake up and cut their favourite son.

Answer - Barnes.

Barnes is one of the best conservative players in world rugby, he isn't eratic and has a cool head. He can grind out oppositions and that is just what Australia need. Quade + Berrick = Perfect Combo of Flair and Potency with Defense and Structure. Quade can't tackle, Berrick is the best tackler in Australia he can make up for Quade's poor defence.

I also think Australian Rugby need to reassess Rocky Elsom. But that is a whole other matter. :lol:

all you need do is look at the Brumbies 1st try against the Rebels, you'll see that Giteau does not have a terrible pair of hands. Stupid topic.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Regarding my first post, I'd like to add i'd definitely have Giteau on the bench

 

[durbutter]

Is the same Barnes who looked like the worst player on the pitch when Oz played the Munster leftovers in November?

 

[veux]

If you had a backline of Genia, Cooper, DM, Barnes, AAC, JOC, Beale that's probably the most talented backline in the world, AND there would still be space for an experienced Giteau on the bench, so I see no reason why he wouldn't be included.

 

[lance2010]

Think Cooper/Barnes is the best 10/12 that Australia could put out atm,
You've got the flair of Cooper, but the dependability of Barnes
Barnes is also a good kicker, something which Australia often lack (though O'Connor is good at that, most of the time)

Barnes hasn't been to flash so far for the super rugby in terms of kicking.Barnes is a very good tackler tho i give him that.
Lets just see how the season goes cause right now Cooper is playing crap.

 

[lance2010]

If you had a backline of Genia, Cooper, DM, Barnes, AAC, JOC, Beale that's probably the most talented backline in the world, AND there would still be space for an experienced Giteau on the bench, so I see no reason why he wouldn't be included.

Going up against Weepu,Carter,Nonu,Smith,Jane,Sivivatu,Muliaina... just mouth watering!!!

 

[dan the man]

He's still a quality player, just having a long form slump. Wilkinson did the same thing but he's playing some really good rugby right now. Git's experience is so valuable coming into a RWC! Even coming off the bench he would be a great asset. To be honest i would be more worried about Quade Cooper... His defence is very poor at international level and i can him cost the Wallabies a game by missing a tackle in the later stages. This is where Giteau would be good coming off the bench and closing out a tight game.

In saying that i'm a Kiwi and i hope that Aussie gets absolutely smoked at the RWC !!!

 

[markshaw]

Is the same Barnes who looked like the worst player on the pitch when Oz played the Munster leftovers in November?

Yep, O'Connor at 10 the way to go for Aussies

 

[Shaggy]

He's still a quality player, just having a long form slump. Wilkinson did the same thing but he's playing some really good rugby right now. Git's experience is so valuable coming into a RWC! Even coming off the bench he would be a great asset. To be honest i would be more worried about Quade Cooper... His defence is very poor at international level and i can him cost the Wallabies a game by missing a tackle in the later stages. This is where Giteau would be good coming off the bench and closing out a tight game.

In saying that i'm a Kiwi and i hope that Aussie gets absolutely smoked at the RWC !!!

Yep, agree, ... Gits is far from a spent force, and Australia have a lot of quality backs to choose from ... If they go with Cooper at 10, hewill get a lot of takling practice through out the tournament

 

[ranger]

It wasn't untill Barnes left that Cooper started looking like Australia's number 1 first five at the Reds..
Barnes and Cooper are both guys that need to control the game by themselves, Cooper tries to speed things up, Barnes tries to slow things down. When they are both in the same side, they just clash far too much. 10 Cooper, 12 Barnes will never work as they are both incapable of playing each others' game.
Giteau can mould around both players, hes probably a good option for that.

 

[Dizzy]

Going up against Weepu,Carter,Nonu,Smith,Jane,Sivivatu,Muliaina... just mouth watering!!!

Throw Dagg, Gear and SBW into the mix and its even more talented

 

[Ostrayian]

Giteau has been crap ever since he left the Force. I lolled recently watching gits crabbing sideways overlapping his team mates till he finally looked like wanting to pass and all there was outside of him was the touchline. Hes kicking game for territory is stilll great but placement kicks(conversions and penaltie) is still inconsistent and cost us 3 games i believe last year.
Barnes has a kick first mentality and even though hes a courages tackler hes like mr bones and always usually comes off battered, bruised and injured.
I would use JOC at 12 and cooper 10.
I would drop elsom as captain because frankly he doesnt have the temperament and is out of his depth at times last year especially with communication to the troops under pressure and massaging the refs ego.......giving the ref death stares and raising ur voice doesnt win u friends amongst the refs.
Nathan Sharpe should have been cappie all along at least till after the RWC.
If i had my way id drop elsom as well and start Horwill at blindside.......last year rocky was seeing more of the ball on the wings then our wingers......get into the rucks and mauls u lazy kaaarnt! Vickerman to match up with sharpey in the second row.