I thought he was on 58. That certainly makes taking him to the USA and giving him some game time a better prospect.
I'd certainly give most of the game to Phipps or White as both could probably use another run around.
The talk is Kepu will make himself unavailable anyway because he left for family rather than money and playing Tests would kinda defeat the purpose. I'm guessing he plays EOYTs only which would be a good outcome given the different scrummaging challenges compared to TRC.
My main concern here is White having one of his bad games and there's no one on the bench to bring on.....
Giteau is not a halfback.
Or To'omua knocking himself out trying to tackle Nonu in the first minute and suddenly we're down to one bench back. Hooper didn't exactly work out at 12 last time it happened.
Well no, I'm pretty sure there will be 9 scrum halfs other than Phipps playing in Australia every week.
Regardless of next year, why would Cheika be so concerned about losing a player that's not in his top 2 that he would use a limited RWC on Genia?
Maybe so, but that would depend on whether Genia is in fact Cheika's third choice. What makes everyone so sure he is #3 in the pecking order?
If he doesn't make the RWC squad that's what.
So you play bad at Eden Park and you end up being crap.. we would have no players to pickWhy would you cut Genia when he only has to play 2 more games to be eligible for Wallabies next year when he plays for Stade Francais, it makes no sense. Also, at the end of this year White leaves to Montpellier on a 3 year contract. So does Cheika look for the long term option or the short term option? Fair enough, if White plays the house down on Saturday then he has earned the #9, but if has a shocker or average performance I'd put him below Genia and Phipps in the ranking order.
So you play bad at Eden Park and you end up being crap.. we would have no players to pick
If that happens we've got 10 Cooper 12 Beale at Eden Park for 79 mins
If Australia was in a position where playing Genia from os was seen as neccessary I'm sure they'd find a way to play him on 59 caps. It's only an arbitrary rule anyway.
I just don't think they'd bother, there's enough promise with a few young guys around
Not a reason not to have your best team out there this year (which he may or may not be in)
Isn't Giteau on the bench? Really couldn't see Beale playing 12 beofre him in those circumstances.
No, I don't think that is the point BamBam was trying to make. It is not about being crap and getting dropped, rather if neither White nor Genia had put in standout performances and he only wanted to take two halves to the RWC, then it would make sense to take Genia over White.
Who's next? There's Nic Stirzaker and Nick Frisby - that's it and neither inspire that much at Test level, hopefully they have big seasons next year.