As mentioned by Armchair General before, we've been papering over the cracks since the 2015 World Cup and today's match was probably a good example of that. Of course Cheika takes some of the blame but equally as problematic has been the fact we just haven't had the cattle to build a team. We haven't had an 8 and our whole backrow over the past two years has been way out of kilter, we've been constantly chopping and changing in the centres between playing a second ball player and a big carrier and our back three constantly rotate between defending in the line in place of the flyhalf, defending on the wing, and defending at the back.
Reviewing this year's play there are only a very few number of players I would have locked in as starters next year: Folau, Koroibete, Coleman, Taf (presuming he is available) and Kepu.
Some players like Hooper and Beale are of course good enough to be there, world class even, but I don't think we can go on trying to fit them in our team if there are other players who play the position better. Pocock starting as 7 with Naiasarani at 8 and Dempsey/Valetini (and I have high hopes for this kid, could be our Jerome Kaino) at 6 is a better combination for me than trying to cram Pocock and Hooper both into the one backrow despite the fact Hooper is perhaps a better player than the options at 6 and 8.
When I look at today's game and all the Northern Henispherr games I just don't think our forward pack is impactful enough. We can get away with it playing faster, wider rugby in the Southern Hemisphere but as soon as we hit those corn fed boys who play tight up north we struggle. For me though it's not all doom and gloom if players keep developing how they have been we could well see Tui, Coleman, Valetini, Pocock and Naisarani all starting in Gold in the next two years which is a huge pack. Next year's Super Rugby will be vital in terms of player development, we can't afford any of the young prospects we've uncovered this year to fade.
