Player of the Year: 3-2-1 Wallabies v France, Paris

[Groucho]

Nonsense.

Sharpe dominated at lineout and kick off receipt. He was awesome. Again.

 

[Groucho]

I'm historically one of the biggest Nathan Sharpe haters on here. But I credit the bloke - he's been excellent this season. We've been incredibly fortunate that he's stayed on in Oz. He's tightened up his game - he runs the ball in close a lot more now, he's no longer seagulling in the backline trying to play centre. He's incredibly consistent and can be counted on to get hard yards up front and to make a shedload of tackles.

Yes, he is not a brute. We are still desperately short on brutes. But we're also short on world class test quality locks. So I'm not sure who you think Sharpe should be dumped for. He is EASILY the first lock picked. He is heads and shoulders above anyone else we have.

As an aside, I don't know why aerial ball winning is so underrated. The 4 jumper is as important as the pilfering openside for mine. With Moore throwing, we have a world class lineout. Dump Sharpe and watch it go to shit.

Spot on. We need a brute to go with the skilled man, a la Botha & Matfield. Simmons may be that man, although my money is on Douglas. In the shorter term we'll have Horwill and maybe a usable Vickerman. Lock is looking quite good for next year.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Horwill is that man if he gets fit next season. They are a well balanced combination that is already proven at test level. Douglas and Simmons leave me feeling happy about the future though.

 

[wobbly]

3 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
2 BB
1 JOC (James O'Connor)

Wish they had of had that level of hustle against the pons. There was a lot of hunger in that display as there was against the ABs in HKG and the safes on the Veldt, but the inconsistency is annoying.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

Oooh, can I play?

3-AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), broke their back early in the second with hard running to set up tries
2- slipper, played both sides well. No defensive fuckups (from memory)
1- bam bam, you can't underestimate how much he means to the team

Encouragement award to genia for getting back upwards old form.

 

[#1 Tah]

3. Pocock
2. Elsom
1. Fat Cat

 

[MrMouse]

3 - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
2 - SPR (scissors paper rock)
1 - Rock

HM Robinson, Moore, Sharpe, JOC (James O'Connor), BB ... et al

 

[chequebalance]

3 - bam
2- acc
1 - fat cat

 

[rhyso]

3. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
2. Pocock
1. Moore

 

[kiap]

3. Barnes - Played an unselfish team game in this match in which our outside backs were really unleashed. Organised and quick in defence.
2. Mitchell - Positioning off the ball and running the ball with pace. Can't underestimate the value of a good finisher.
1. Pocock - So valuable at the breakdown. Carried the ball up well.

Others: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (broke through the line at will in the second half running straight), Moore (solid all round - again)

 

[Ham]

3. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
2. Pocock
1. Barnes

Honourable mentions - Rocky, Fat Cat, Mitchell, Slipper, Simmons

 

[Jethro Tah]

Awesome all round team performance and very hard to pick the 321.

3. Shmoo - excellent finishing and line breaks, and top try scorer for the tour (I think), nevermind THAT kick.
2. Rocky - as per someone above, is finally playing AND running the side, and communicated well
1. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - a danger every time he touched the ball and solid in defense (hang on, you can sat that about pretty much the whole side)

Barnes - so who knew he had the crash ball in his bag of tricks? surely odds on favourite for the 12 jersey from here on in (even though at 10 for Tahs all this year and probably next year).
Quade - directed the traffic well with a solid, composed and mature performance, kinda Carteresque.
Genia - good vision, speed and accuracy, and thank goodness was on song as Burgo seemed to be having an off night from his time on the field
FatCat - great impact player with that TPN like frog flattening charge out of the line to get a turnover
Simmons - stepped up
Moore, Sharpie & Pocock - their usual top notch performances, and for mind the most consistent players of the tour
Beale & JOC (James O'Connor) - despite all there is to see for all and sundry, due to their age and size I still think opposition players and coaches under estimate their power in the tackle and speed

 

[Lindommer]

How was the game, PT? Cold enough? "frog flattening" charge, luv it!

 

[Ruggo]

3/ AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
2/ Mitchell
1/ Sharpe

Honerable mentions to all the players as that was a fine team display. Well done Wallabies.

 

[Hawko]

3. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
2. Rocky
1. Pocock

 

[Proud Pig]

3 - Barnes - A must-have at 12 with QC (Quade Cooper) in the side. Allowed the team to hide QC (Quade Cooper) somewhat in defense and played a strong attacking game as well.
2 - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - Was involved in everything good the wallabies did. Best attacking player on the ground.
1 - Fatcat - When he came on the scrum straightened (this was due to both him coming on and Slipper switching sides) and he became heavily involved, with Pocock, in giving Australia dominance at the breakdown in the 2nd half.

Pocock, Mitchell, JOC (James O'Connor), Moore, Rocky and Beale also all deserve honourable mentions.

 

[Jethro Tah]

How was the game, PT? Cold enough? "frog flattening" charge, luv it!

Freezing Lindo, although thank goodness it wasn't played tonight as it's snowing here right now. Being a wine man, you might appreciate the french way of dealing with the cold at a rugby match - vin chaud (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vin_chaud). A couple of those pre-match did the trick. Maybe the frogs had too many at half time hence their performance thereafter.

 

[DPK]

3 - FatCat
2 - Pocock
1 - Mitchell

 

[Lee Grant]

Maybe the frogs had too many at half time hence their performance thereafter.

PT - what is the French press saying about the match? Maybe reply in the game thread.

Tah, Tah and tah tah.

 

[Ash]

Spot on. We need a brute to go with the skilled man, a la Botha & Matfield. Simmons may be that man, although my money is on Douglas. In the shorter term we'll have Horwill and maybe a usable Vickerman. Lock is looking quite good for next year.

Why is Douglas ahead of Horwill? When/what has Douglas shown that he should be ahead of a fit Horwill?

I know there is some Douglas-love on this board, but some of it (like the above) is over the top. The guy had a good rookie season and he generally held his own - which was very impressive for a rookie of his age, but also he was generally easily outplayed by his own locking partner in Mumm.

I think many are putting the cart before the horse with Douglas. Let him get another season or two under his belt, then let's see. I think the same goes for Simmons, but Simmons has been lucky enough to get a few good test runs.

But remember, how often have we seen young players shine in their first year where they get regular starts, only to fade once they are known, marked and lose some youthful enthusiasm and vigour? Both Simmons and Douglas need a good year next year before talking about them the way some do here.