Richo
John Thornett (49)
People still riding on Palu. He has given good service but in reality he is broken and just doesn't look to get back to anywhere near where he was. Age isn't on his side.
And yet somehow still second for the JEM.
People still riding on Palu. He has given good service but in reality he is broken and just doesn't look to get back to anywhere near where he was. Age isn't on his side.
And yet somehow still second for the JEM.
to me the best forward pack when all available
1. Slipper
2. Moore (or TPN - if fit, uninjured and motivated)
3. Kepu (shame Robbo is limited to LHP only)
The above 3's performances and scrum in general is determined by the below 5 acting as a unit with leg drive and heads in)
4. Horwill (when playing well and getting over ad line) (captain)
5. Simmo
6. Higgers (love his mongrel attitude)
7. Pocock
8. Palu
In reality,either you are clueless or hopelessly biased.People still riding on Palu. He has given good service but in reality he is broken and just doesn't look to get back to anywhere near where he was. Age isn't on his side.
I think the one thing you always get with TPN is motivation. Sometimes more than his body can handle.
In reality,either you are clueless or hopelessly biased.
He comfortably came second in the Eales medal despite missing 7 Tests.
So either he was in pretty hot form before being injured,or the Wallabies are fucked for the foreseeable future.
But then you are one of the posters who continually call for Hooper to be replaced by Gill aren't you?
No bias there either.
By how far was Hooper judged the best player in the country?
My memory of Pocock's captaincy on the big stage was when HIS decision cost Australia the game against the Scots. (when he did not take the kick in front) - Terrible miscalculation - friggin unforgiveable
England
1. Joe Marler / Mako Vunipola*
2. Tom Youngs
3. Dan Cole
4. Tom Palmer / Courtney Lawes*
5. Geoff Parling
6. Tom Johnson / Tom Wood*
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Thomas Waldrom / Ben Morgan*
9. Danny Care / Ben Youngs*
10. Toby Flood / Owen Farrell*
11. Charlie Sharples / Mike Brown*
12. Brad Barritt / Billy Twelvetrees*
13. Manu Tuilagi / Henry Trinder? or Joel Tomkins?*
14. Chris Ashton
15. Alex Goode
Australia
1. Benn Robinson
2. Tatafu Polota Nau
3. Ben Alexander
4. Sitaleki Timani
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Dave Dennis
7. Michael Hooper
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Nick Phipps
10. Kurtley Beale
11. Digby Ioane
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Nick Cummins
15. Berrick Barnes
* My predicted changes (Note: I've not watched any Premiership rugby so my lineup could be way off)
One of the things our loose forwards all need to do better is act as a linkman both between themselves and with the backs.
Look at the way McCaw, Read, Messam and co can all combine with the backs - we rarely see that from our loosies. The All Blacks set the benchmark for interchange between the loose forwards and backs. Higgers is the best we have at it I think. Pocock had appeared to be working on it before he got injured.
Hooper I don't consider as that much of a linkman. Hooper's x-factor and point of difference comes from his speed and acceleration and low centre of gravity when he runs. I very much doubt the stats that say Hooper is over 100 kg, from the size of him sometimes I think he'd be 95kg dripping wet. But he plays a bit heavier than a sub-100kg forward. I'd like to see Hooper be that bit stronger over the ball - for example guys like Pocock and Read are just so hard to dislodge once they are set over the ball.
That all being said, I think I'd pick a fully fit and inform Pocock over Hooper, as Pocock I think can play with a greater variety of backrows whereas I think that Hooper needs a bigger, grafting, balanced backrow that will give Hooper the space to shine.
Look at who poled in the John Eales medal all up. It just highlights what an injury prone previous 12 months the Wallabies have had. Most of the players who got votes played limited tests.
Feel free to use it to justify your position if you like.
I would've thought there was a lot more to that loss than that. Morahan kicking the ball dead from 30m in front of our goalposts, and then being penalised in the ensuing scrum might have contributed more, IMO.
I'd pick them both,every time.That all being said, I think I'd pick a fully fit and inform Pocock over Hooper, as Pocock I think can play with a greater variety of backrows whereas I think that Hooper needs a bigger, grafting, balanced backrow that will give Hooper the space to shine.