Recent content by Bowside

The fact it's not career threatening or brainless means it is not silly. Pocock knew he could do it, the ARU knew he could do it, the media knew he could do it. I mean it is potentially a more serious crime than others have committed, but morally and ethically the ARU can not really go after...

If he didn't get arrested I doubt many of us would have even heard about it. So from that point of view I see it as a successful protest. I think this would be on the bottom of page 487 of the list of 'problems' (if you could even call it that) facing rugby in Australia. And the ARU has...

It's not a ridiculous suggestion at all, Anae had spent more time in the squad before leaving than many blokes on this tour like Man-Rea, Faulkner and McMahon. Considering how shit Alexander has been, many on this forum would probably endorse him as a better bench option.

The worst thing about the wallabies is that there are no easy fixes. We all know Alexander, Fatcat, Horwill etc are not upto text rugby. But there is hardly anyone to replace them. I think Aus rugby contracts need to become more flexible so we can keep more players in the system. Mowen...

Youth and inexperience play a role, but more than that I think it's important that you go in with a mindset that you need to dominate the ref. Gregan had it. McCaw is more subtle about it, but he is still ever present always planting thoughts in the refs mind, as is his protege Read. Hooper...

The more and more I look at it I think Skelton might be better packing at 8. The wallaby packs binding is atrocious in general though.

Cheika in an interview stated one of the reasons for bringing over Beale was that there was not another Fullback on tour and Folau was Knacked. I think that showed last night. And I reckon Cooper should get a run at 15 before Beale. It's not like Beale is better under the highball or has a...

The wallabies played really dumb rugby in that game: - They needed to kick more whilst on the front foot, instead of wasting energy on trying to break that french defence. - They needed to run more from the back when the french defence was disorganised. - The forwards needed to pick and drive...

I think you are being a bit harsh on Blades. I have regularly criticised Kepu and Simmons over the last few seasons. I still don't think both are not top-quality players, but since Blades came on board he has managed to turn Kepu into a prop who can hold his own for 60 minutes, and Simmons...

Kepu is a 60 minute player. Any longer and he becomes a liability on the field due to fatigue. We so badly need another TH prop.

Australia has easily the worst and most inconsistent second row of the 'contender' nations England, SA and NZ.

I'd drop Tomane and Alexander. Give Genia and Hanson more game time (still off the bench) so Fainga'a and Phipps stay fresh for the rest of the tour. If Higgers is fit start him on the bench and bring him on at 55 when McMahon is done.

Mate I'd be willing to put money down that he'll be a bench player by the end of next season at the Brumbies. The new crop of props coming through execute at the set piece far better. Injury hasn't helped, but his game has been totally ineffective since the new scrum laws came in. He's too...

Yeah seems strange to me as well seeing as props tend not to switch sides anymore since the 8 man bench rule. I think Robinson getting dropped shows a selection failure in the wider squad. Both Alexander and Robinson shouldn't have toured. Link (who picked the squad) should have showed faith...

I think Carter is improving as a lock. His lineout work and body height need work, but compare his performance everywhere else to that of Simmons when Simmons first made the team and he doesn't seem so bad suddenly. Australia stuck with Simmons through some pretty dodgy rugby, if he was in NZ...