Higginbotham was average in the June series. He didn't live up to his Super Rugby form and isn't a player for the future.
Hanigan clearly is and showed glimpses of it in June. He also did some average things and hopefully we have a stronger 23 than needing him in the Bledisloe Cup because I certainly don't think he finished the season strongly.
I wouldn't have selected Dempsey in the squad.
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IMO Higgers is clearly a better test player than Hanigan or Dempsey at the moment. He also gives better balance to our side than McMahon. Hanigan & Dempseys place can't be assumed as 'development' since both have already been given test jerseys.
It's hardly definitive, but Higgers was nominated by a number of people here as being one of the best 3 against Fiji. He was ordinary against Scotland, but no worse than Hanigan.
I have no real issue with Hanigan being given a shot, but personally I missed the glimpses he showed. I actually thought he showed quite comprehensively that he wasn't yet ready for test rugby. His form since for the Waratahs has been worse.
Dempsey has done nothing to warrent his place.
We might all be disappointed that Higgers hasn't reached his enormous potential at test level, but we still need our best 5 backrowers, that give us the most competitive/balanced side in the test squad and I can't, for the life of me see how he is not in that group. Happy for anyone to name the 5 they think are better. (I don't agree - but would accept the view point that Hooper, Timani, RHP, Fardy & Hardwick/McMahon are better - but I note RHP isn't in the squad anyway.)