I'm not sure if you mean by this comment that this is what "forced George out" but I would be really happy to see much more rotation in our test team. The Kiwis do it quietly and without fanfare. Why was Eaton given a start this championship? Why have they been rotating the three hookers for the whole tournament? Why do key players get sabbaticals over there and nowhere else? Because they understand better than any other team that there is too much football at Super and test level and so they deliberately monitor and rest their players especially their older ones. (Note that they are playing less tests per year than we are!) We just play our best till they break and hope the reserve will be able to step in. There is a reason that half our back five stock in the pack are in team rehab, most with shoulder reconstructions.
The EOYT is almost perfectly set up. The three hard games are a fortnight apart, with the two easier games in between. IMO all the squad should start in a minimum of two games and definitely no player should start all five regardless of who they are, especially those who have played most of the Lions and RC games. Horwill, who is looking totally jaded should sit out the second and fourth game completely and come off the bench in one of the other three. You could almost pick the teams now and get it 90% right. I won't go through every position but take the front row as an example:
- England's scrum is weak with Corbiserio out, but otherwise it will be a tough hard game; start with Slipper, Moore and Alexander with Robinson, Fainga'a and Kepu in reserve.
- Italy's scrum is strong but it will be an easier game; start with Robinson, TPN and Kepu with Slipper, Fainga'a and Ryan on the bench.
- Ireland will be strong everywhere but probably not yet gelling together in their new coaching system; start with Robinson, Moore and Kepu with Slipper, TPN and Alexander on the bench.
- Scotland will be good in the scrum but weak elsewhere. Start Slipper, Fainga'a and Ryan with Robinson, TPN and Alexander in reserve.
- Wales will be the toughest game. Start Robinson, Moore and Kepu with Slipper, TPN and Alexander in reserve.
The current workload is absolutely killing our players and no one seems to notice or care. The ARU are desperate (they'd play Lithuainia as well if they thought there was money in it) and its up to Link to see that players get the recovery they need. That means using the whole squad, not just waiting to see who breaks and plugging the gap. As I see it Slipper, Moore, Alexander, Horwill, Simmons, Hooper, Mowen, maybe Fardy, Genia, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Lilo, To'omua maybe, and Folau have all been playing week-in week-out since late January. None of them need five more tests back to back.