Actually, I tend to agree with Sully on the scrum point. We were still being driven back, but the scrum wheeled slightly as we went backwards and the Argie 8 failed to control. Hooper was the fastest to the ball. A lot of luck as much as anything else.
I think that Slipper has mainly been holding up his side of the scrum OK. Robinson, though, showed that he still has the ability to get under his THP and drive up on the THP. I admit that I was also sceptical earlier this Test season, as I thought that the new engagement rules might have taken this weapon away from Fatcat. Don't mind being wrong now, though. I reckon Robinson should be our next starting LHP, and would like to see Slipper at THP with Sio and Kepu on the bench.
Regarding Simmons, he's not terrific, he's not bad, to be honest, he's been a pretty average test player that All Black game aside. Not a bad thing in itself, but we'd all like to see a bit more from our players. I would love to see Simmons work on his core strength to provide a little more edge to his game - he's a huge guy and I'd like to see him use his frame more. And lose the moronic brain explosions, of course.
Now, do we have a better replacement than Simmons at lock in the squad? At this point, I'd say Fardy would be if you want to move him from blindside. Otherwise, Timani brings physicality and some offloading but loses a lot in dynamicism (including missing more tackles), loses in the lineout (with Simmons being our major lineout stealer when we have actually pinched a few) and makes even more stupid mistakes. Douglas has been woefully out of form the chances he has had this year, to the point where I've been pretty disappointed in how he's played for the Wallabies this year.
So, no, we don't have better lock replacements if you leave Fardy at 6, and this is why Simmons, who has been merely average, is holding his spot. This is ignoring Pyle, as he is not in the squad, but I'd love to see Pyle get some exposure on the EOYT.
(For the record, I would have put Fardy at LH lock, Mowen at 6 and McCalman at 8.)
But I am more concerned with Horwill, he needs a rest, he has to be wounded, he is a better, more dynamic lock than his current form is showing.
Agree. Would like to see him left off the EOYT to get a full preparation for next year.