G&GR Wallaby player of the Year: ENG

[Spook]

3 Palu
2 Elsom
1 Genia


Smith & Gits were average

Oh, and I'd like to direct another rant at the posters on this board, mainly Tahs fans who had blind faith and support for Burgess. I haven't heard anything from any of them for a long time. Do you feel a bit silly now?

Genia is playing well, but if it was Burgess out their slinging some of those passes, the critics would be right on him. Genia shovels out some rubbish as well.

Burgess can't kick or pass reliably though. I thought Genia was magnificent. Best halfback performance for Oz since Gregan was in his prime.

3. Genia
2. Palu
1. Alexander - back to some great work in the loose and tight.

Special mention for Earl, the remaining tight 5, Gits, QC (Quade Cooper) and Ioane. I thought Gits was excellent. What do people want him to do? :nta: Smith solid but not spectacular.

 

[Pfitzy]

:nta: Come on Spook - surely you're taking the piss by giving Alexander one vote? He held the scrum up generally well against England's second rank, but in the open he got turned over a few times and his defence was no better than anyone else.

Oh, and I'd like to direct another rant at the posters on this board, mainly Tahs fans who had blind faith and support for Burgess. I haven't heard anything from any of them for a long time. Do you feel a bit silly now?

Don't get too many wankstains on your red jumper : This time last year Burgess tore it up at Twickenham and for most of the season I might add. Genia's time has come and he's making the most of it. Burgess has to learn from his mistakes and get better.

The big difference is our forward pack is coming of age and giving better protection. Where Genia is getting let down now is the bloody backline where Giteau takes an age to organise himself. Once Quade moves in, things will get even better and hopefully we see that against the Paddies.

I thought the Pommy commentators had it right at one stage when they compared the two: Burgess is a "forwards" halfback. Genia is a "backs" halfback.

 

[cyclopath]

3 Sanchez
2 Quoooaaaaddde
1 Fat Cat

Spook - I'm with Nick - Alexander is going OK at 1 but pretty ineffective elsewhere. And as for Giteau, what I want is for him NOT to fark up possession by repeatedly running into Wilkinson, who by now he should realise can tackle pretty well. Use the dangerous runners outside in the oppo 22m.
Scotty, if you take the Maroon-Tinted glasses off, many NSW supporters were pushing for Genia too. I think you've confused the really loud ones as some sort of majority. Burgo had some good games in the last 18 months too.

 

[Spook]

Well guys, I've not seen a Wallaby scrum so secure on its own ball against the Poms since 2000 - this should be celebrated. This solid platform allowed us to win the game. Alexander also was in the middle of each Pom maul and made some good runs - even ran a nice line off Cooper. I rated him above Fat Cat as the Cat didn't disrupt their scrum as much I thougt he might (mind you they were going down like 2 dollar whores).

 

[Pfitzy]

I will surely have to watch the game again.....

 

[Spook]

NTA, Burgess was ordinary in last years EOYT in every match - how you can compare Burgess against the Pom to Genia's game today is beyong me. This performance from Genia was outstanding. I don't think I ever saw Burgo put in a decent box kick in any Wobbly match let alone kick it 50 metres and find touch. Genia is also only 21 but read the game like a veteran. Burgess is 27 and has never displayed the vision Genia showed out there.

 

[Pfitzy]

Fuck box kicks. That shit is for Kiwis and Poms.

You can't compare last night to last year. The Pommy pack was a totally different animal for a start.

 

[Spook]

Genia still played better.

 

[Scotty]

Scotty, if you take the Maroon-Tinted glasses off, many NSW supporters were pushing for Genia too. I think you've confused the really loud ones as some sort of majority. Burgo had some good games in the last 18 months too.

I certainly wasn't directing the comment at the reasonable Tah fans like yourself or Lee, cyclo. Heck even Lindo was calling for Genia this year. I just find it utterly astounding that people on this site, and I just point out that only some Tah fans do this, still find excuses as to why he, overall has been a poor performer.

Nick, I too have seen Burgess's good games. Unfortunately in the Wallaby jumper they have only been one in five at best. I'd love if he could reach that level consistently, but considering his age it appears unlikely that he will.

I don't give a crap if Genia is Red, Tah, Brumby or alien, I still would have been calling for him to get a go after the first few games of the recent 3N, where Burgess was shown up, and contributed heavily to our losses vs the ABs. You may not believe it but it is true.

 

[cyclopath]

Scotty, if you take the Maroon-Tinted glasses off, many NSW supporters were pushing for Genia too. I think you've confused the really loud ones as some sort of majority. Burgo had some good games in the last 18 months too.

I certainly wasn't directing the comment at the reasonable Tah fans like yourself or Lee, cyclo. Heck even Lindo was calling for Genia this year. I just find it utterly astounding that people on this site, and I just point out that only some Tah fans do this, still find excuses as to why he, overall has been a poor performer.

Nick, I too have seen Burgess's good games. Unfortunately in the Wallaby jumper they have only been one in five at best. I'd love if he could reach that level consistently, but considering his age it appears unlikely that he will.

I don't give a crap if Genia is Red, Tah, Brumby or alien, I still would have been calling for him to get a go after the first few games of the recent 3N, where Burgess was shown up, and contributed heavily to our losses vs the ABs. You may not believe it but it is true.

No, no, I am more than happy to see Genia playing 80 at the moment. I do think, however, that Burgess needs some good time on the field somewhere along the line. He can potentially be pretty good, and a back up is essential.
I was just stirring you a little with the Maroon-tinted comment. Sorry!

 

[Lindommer]

3. Genia
2. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
1. Cooper

Special mention to Ioane, Hynes, Horwill (shit I am biased as well? Queenslanders 5 from the first 6, of course you are, Scotty. From the most shithouse team in the history of Super rugby.)...

 

[Lance Free]

Us:

3. Genia
2. Palu
1. Moore

Them:

3. Jonny Wilkinson
2. Lewis Moody
3. Steve Borthwick

Jonny Wilkinson was terrific in everything he did, absolutely world class.

Genia is my MOTM for Oz, but I think Jonny was the best player on the park. Completely outplayed Gits in all facets (and I didn't think that Gits played that bad actually).

Great 2nd half for the Wallabies but gave away too many opportunities.

Scrum absolutely rock solid. Isn't it great finally having control of the ball at the back of the scrum?

Lineout a bit crappy to start with but improved as the game wore on. I think it was more about how good the Pom's lineout was, rather than our mistakes. Disconcerting to be losing lineouts while we're on attack in the red zone.

Breakdown - there was more desperation from the Wallabies at ruck time. I think we muscled up pretty well considering that is one of their strengths.

Kicking game - average I thought, especially in the first half. Like most other things it improved in the 2nd.

Before we get too carried away, it'll be a different story next week. This was an England side shorn of 8 or 9 top players, incl 5 from the pack (Sheridan, Mears, Vickery, Shaw, Easter). Notwithstanding that we're missing 3 or 4 as well.

However, very heartening start to the Slam.

PS Encouraging performance from the new centre pairing

 

[louie]

Oh, and I'd like to direct another rant at the posters on this board, mainly Tahs fans who had blind faith and support for Burgess. I haven't heard anything from any of them for a long time. Do you feel a bit silly now?

i'd like to hear from the people who have blind faith in genia, mainly reds fans.
still believe in burgess, but as many of my posts said, i think burgess is best in the last twenty, still think he can create more than genia if were under pressure, thankfully, the little guy hasnt been under as much as burgo was during the start of the tri nations and genias passes that cause giteau to check his run and the fact that quade had to jump to catch pretty much every pass he threw at him, well that dont mean nothing. australia under robbie deans has turned into south africa, you just ignore genias problems cos he is black!

right here. i too think burgo would be good in the last 10-15min.

also don't be so stupid as to claim that no one see's his mistakes because he's black. can one of the mods please do something about this. not cool.

 

[Lindommer]

Oh, and I'd like to direct another rant at the posters on this board, mainly Tahs fans who had blind faith and support for Burgess. I haven't heard anything from any of them for a long time. Do you feel a bit silly now?

MATRON! Could I please grab that bed next to Lee's? This poor young lad's suffering from premature senile dementia, such a tragic case.

See if I can help here, Scotty. Young Will Genia only arrived on the scene this year. Now, can you remember that? Come on, try. You can't remember, dear oh dear. Do you recall how well his predecessor played against France last year while suffering with influenza. His name? No, it wasn't Sam Cordingley, he's that bald old young bastard in the bed down in the French section. AND IT WASN'T BRETT SHEEHAN, he was as crap as Sam. Come on, Scotty, you MUST remember. He played SO well we beat England and France in Europe and bloody well near beat a good Welsh side in Cardiff. You remember the ref, very good. How could we forget him! He what? Set up the most points on the field that night? No, Scotty, he was the ref, they don't score points. You look tired, have a rest.

Matron, there's something deeply upsetting young old Scotty: he's having a lot of trouble remembering the Australian halfbacks for 2008. Could you please give him this piece of paper a few times a day. Thanks, you're marvellous.

It says: LUKE BURGESS WAS THE BEST AUSTRALIAN HALFBACK IN 2008.

 

[Spook]

Well I think Scotty is onto something here. Tah fans obviously resent Genia's success...as they did Gregan.

 

[Epi]

Well I think Scotty is onto something here. Tah fans obviously resent Genia's success...as they did Gregan.

I'm a Tahs fan and I've been pushing for Genia since I first saw him turn out for the Reds.

I think anyone with any knowledge of the game can see that Genia has the potential to be very special.

 

[louie]

Well I think Scotty is onto something here. Tah fans obviously resent Genia's success...as they did Gregan.

here we go again

 

[Spook]

Well I think Scotty is onto something here. Tah fans obviously resent Genia's success...as they did Gregan.

I'm a Tahs fan and I've been pushing for Genia since I first saw him turn out for the Reds.

I think anyone with any knowledge of the game can see that Genia has the potential to be very special.

You aren't really a Tah fan are you? :fishing

 

[Spook]

Well I think Scotty is onto something here. Tah fans obviously resent Genia's success...as they did Gregan.

here we go again

Sorry I'll cease. I'm just overwhelmed by the irony on display here.

 

[cyclopath]

Well I think Scotty is onto something here. Tah fans obviously resent Genia's success...as they did Gregan.

here we go again

Sorry I'll cease. I'm just overwhelmed by the irony on display here.

I'm more overwhelmed by the need for some to adopt the role of the downtrodden underclass provincially.