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The attitude rather than the tweets. But then I think you probably knew I meant that (or would if you re-read what I'd bolded). As almost everyone on these boards has said, based on versatility, experience, ability and even form, he's in our top 30 players. As such, there must be another...

If only good looking 22s won world cups. Hard, match fit, fully fit, cohesive teams win World Cups. Australia has been burnt twice before taking injured players to a world cup - '95 and '07. I hope we aren't making the same mistake again.

Did he really?

I don't think there was a starting player on the field not blowing hard. As I recall, they were all out on their feet, Crusaders included.

Spot on. This is the sole reason he won't be in the squad and suggests Robbie is right to leave him out. It's not always about you Gits.

Each back row position runs different lines which become instinctive. You don't want to have to think about where you should be going, you want to be half way there by then.

By the end of his career, Dunning actually turned into a decent prop. Not a world beater by any means, but he could hold a S15 scrum without too much difficulty.

Cannon isn't the only source of this view and it's been doing the rounds far longer than his recent article (for years in fact). Do you doubt there is any truth to it?

The analysis you have done is very different to the analysis I have done. I've looked at the technical requirements of a no. 8. You've looked at the physical attributes/impact of the three different backrow positions. Perhaps that's why we continue to disagree.

1. Kepu 2. Moore 3. Alexander 4. Vickerman 5. Horwill 6. Dennis 7. Pocock 8. Samo 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Ioane 12. McCabe 13. A. Fainga'a 14. JOC (James O'Connor) 15. Beale 16. S.Fainga'a 17. Slipper 18. Sharpe 19. Higgenbotham 20. Burgess 21. Barnes 22. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) Dennis for Elsom isn't...

I've missed you naza. McCalman hasn't shone for the Wallabies. I actually prefer Dennis at 6. Gnostic Elsom is not an 8 for the reasons I've mentioned above and also for the reasons naza mentions. At 8, there are two options only: a fit and firing Palu or Samo.

Okay, let's analyse this. There are two relevant questions: 1. What are the specific attributes expected from a no.8 which aren't applicable for a 6? a. Weight in the scrum and holding the locks together. b. Positional awareness both in where to go from a scrum, getting the running lines...

The key reason he won't, and, in my opinion, shouldn't, be selected is his influence on the squad. Those in the know perceive him to be, at times, a negative influence and that sort of distraction cannot be tolerated in a World Cup campaign. I don't know how accurate the perception is, but it...

We only have two 8s that provide the right balance to a backrow with Elsom and Pocock in it: Palu and Samo. Higginbotham is not an 8. He's demonstrated that for the Reds and now the Wallabies. It's a specialist position. There are clearly too many backs and tight five players on these boards!

He played better, that is the best that can be said. Spies made 20m down the blind off a scrum. A 6 should never let that happen as a point of personal pride. He's improving and, if he gets to the point where I think he's the best available, I'll happily admit I was wrong. I'm not there yet...

He was much better tonight. Still not great though. Higginbotham was muscular but he's not an 8. Samo was better when he came on.

This is one of the funnier threads on G&GR for some time.

We're forgetting about specialist positions here as well. Higgers has shown for the Reds that he's not an 8. Elsom has shown for the Wallabies that he's not an 8. Palu, Samo, McCalman and Dennis (who played well at 8 after Mowen was injured) have shown they are 8s. Palu and Samo are not 6s...