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Clearly, he's a man who brings in all the shopping bags from the Car in one hit.
elementfreak
Trevor Allan (34)
Yeah, Thommo took a job with the Fiji Rugby Union.
GoMelbRebels
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Why make two trips to the car when you can do it in one?! We had to get a new Tony to replace the old one!
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
in the wonderful world of alliteration, its the quad T, "tony is toting the totality" of the shopping.
Would be great for Aussie rugby but bizarre from the perspective that he just re-signed with Bordeaux.
I reckon he'd be our starting 6 now if he had stayed.
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I reckon he'd be our starting 6 now if he had stayed.
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KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
Its bizarre a French side has even allowed him away at thos time of year. No foreign restrictions during the European cup compared to domestic league.
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Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Big call BH, though I for one would have been more than happy to see him playing there. But, he would not have replaced Mumm up to the end of last year, and Cheika has made it abundantly clear this year that he sees Hanigan and Dempsey as his long term No 6s. I suspect he would still be no better than No 3 in line had he stayed here rather than moving to France.
None of these things happened with the availability of Jones. He left before he gave himself that opportunity.
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
he's sort of content, missus not so much, i'm led to believe. but he has re-signed. there were apparently no offers from Oz !
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
No offers from Oz? Well that just shows how screwed oz rugby is. One of the most consistent performers in Super Rugby for 3 years before heading overseas and nobody wants him? If they say it's because they were not allowed to sign players than fair enough but not one Australian squads depth is good enough to say no to a player of his quality.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
I actually thought his time as a fringe Wallaby coincided partly with Dean Mumm's selection at 6, but probably not right. However, it was clear at the time that Luke wasn't getting any real opportunity under Cheika regardless of who was playing 6, and iirc there was some contention over the spot back then, and I see no reason to believe the situation would have changed to Luke's benefit had he stayed. I see much the same story unfolding for Joe Powell atm where despite being the form No 9 all through the Super Rugby year he can't get any real opportunity under Cheika who favours Phipps as the back up to Genia despite a very poor Super Rugby year and continued criticisms by knowledgeable posters here about his technical skills. I fully expect Joe to fade into the background after this year is over, Wallabies-wise.
Jones had an opportunity at the same time as McMahon and McMahon well and truly took it over him.
He then didn't give himself a chance to push for selection after the RWC with Fardy and Mumm's careers (in Australia or altogether) drawing to a close because he elected to sign overseas at the start of the 2016 season.
I don't think there's much basis to say that Cheika would have preferred Dempsey and Hanigan to Jones.
Jones left right at the time he was likely to get more opportunity.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Unfortunately, Jones was widely criticised for two ball handling errors in his first Wallabies' appearance. The fact that he had a relatively good match for the remainder of the game was ignored mostly because of those errors. Errors which were probably very understandable nerves issues on debut.
It is a matter of opinion only just what would have happened had he stayed here, but it is my opinion that once Cheika gets a set against a player, there is little the player can do to change his mind, and I believe Cheika had that set against Luke Jones. Luke could have been given opportunities in the following year had Cheika been ingerested in him, but wasn't. Let's see how long it takes Arnold to force his way back in, if ever.
It is a matter of opinion only just what would have happened had he stayed here, but it is my opinion that once Cheika gets a set against a player, there is little the player can do to change his mind, and I believe Cheika had that set against Luke Jones. Luke could have been given opportunities in the following year had Cheika been ingerested in him, but wasn't. Let's see how long it takes Arnold to force his way back in, if ever.
Killer
Cyril Towers (30)
yes I recall those penalties/handling errors. At the time he seemed well out of favour and remember thinking he was making the right decision at that time. Without the Force going he would probably have been a good pickup by the Rebs for next year.
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
I wonder if Cheika has had a say in getting him over here for the Baabaa's game to indicate there is an opportunity. A little strange that he, and none of the other European based wallabies are included as yet. Be interesting to see if his contract has been officially formalised, who knows in the strange world of French rugby
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