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I throw it out because your bench players should be flexible enough to cover a few positions. Who has been the Wallabies bench cover for the back row for the past few seasons? Hodgson. He is primarily a 7, and still probably the 2nd best 7 to Pocock in OZ, but he also can handle himself...

He was very good, but since then he was needed at mostly 10. I doubt Deans will have him as half back cover, but he should. With his experience he would be a lot more valuable to the squad than Phipps and is a better half back in his own right. I can understand if Deans does not select him but...

I don't think so. We have all seen what he can do when he applies himself. We saw it on his last EOYT. Most regard him as Australia's best #8. He has had a tendancy to go missing at times in tests prior to that.

As can Samo, who is is much more effective at the top level in both positions. Samo should be chosen in the squad but sadly Deans will probably go for youth. I am undecided on Palu. When he is fit and firing he is destructive and has a real presence on the field. He definitely has the X factor...

:fishing

Let's not kid ourselves about our backline. It is misfiring at best in attack right now. We have these amazing players who can by their own admission "tear anyone up" on their day, but it is just not happening. Most of their enterprising play is coming in the form of counter attacks and kick...

I thought that Rocky gave Baakies a bit of a work over and kept on going back for more. That ball that Higgers threw over Butch James head which went to ground was a wasted opportunity. I would have liked to have seen Higgers take on James full tilt and drop the shoulder into him. Deans had...

I think this would be the go. Samo is more aggressive and stronger than Higgers in contact. Higgers has the pace and a good nose for the chalk where he can be extremely effective against a tiring opposition

Samo. Yes he has shown the tendency in the past to be lazy at times. But this year he has stepped up when needed for Qld. and he will be very motivated getting a shot at a RWC that 2 years ago he would not have dreamed of. Physicality? He was picking up SA forwards from our side of the ruck and...

3. Moore 2. Horwill 1. Pocock HM Rocky

He can't be passed it, he's just out of form. How could you blame him after the year he and the Brumbies had? Deans will have already ticked off his name for the RWC and I am confident he will run into form soon. If McCabe gets a couple of weeks we may see him and A.Finger in the centers...

therein lies the beauty of John Smit at tighthead

What did people make of Samo? He just seemed to bring a little authority to the pack. A couple of good cleanouts, dominant tackles and a willingness to get involved at the coalface. Higgers had an OK game but I thought Samo gave the backrow a nice balance. He dropped that first ball and never...

Samo was strong at the breakdown and brings some attitude to the pack. He dropped that one ball but I would have him starting ahead of everyone except Palu(in form) at 8. RD sees A. Finger as a 13 not a 12. I think he is probably right too, although he could be an option at 12 while McCabe has...

He may be taking an enforced rest for a few weeks.

There is a lot more interchanging play between backs and forwards these days but with the 8 taking the ball at the back of the scrum and just in general linking terms, the 8s I played with(some time ago) were normally the most skilled forwards in distributing and linking. These days our front...

McAWE was not always a great linker. Over time he developed that part of his game and Pocock is starting to do the same. George Smith was/is a fantastic link man. This is where McCalman fails as an 8 and where Samo and Higgers will be much stronger. Your 8 traditionally should be the link...

Maybe, but he certainly played most of his rugby as a 4 back then.

You have BB and Gits who are both experienced in the role of 12/back-up 10 at test level. Most likely only one of these guys will be chosen for the RWC. Then you have JOC (James O'Connor) who has good experience this year at Super level in the same roles. I would go with him personally. Deans will probably...

Samo has to be the guy. He has played in the second row in tests and was probably Australias best performed 8 in this years Super comp. I'm sure he would not have a problem packing down at 6 if needed(which would be rarely looking at the rest of the squad). You would have to pick Samo over...