The Wallabies Thread
- Thread starter KOB1987
- Start date
I thought he was in Japan. He also may be injured because I haven't seen him listed for the NEC Green Rockets.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Cheika gave him a 25% chance and then dumped him cold.
Funny that Robertson and Hanigan in particular (and others of Chek's favourites) continue to get multiple chances - no wonder Cheika receives some well deserved criticism
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Nah - he was in Brisy mid week
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
I thought the last game we saw Higgers start (Fiji) there was a general consensus he played quite well? He may not have taken the opportunity with both hands, but you can't say any Australian forward has/did this year.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Well he and Fardy would have been the form players this year in super rugby.
Fardy decided to abandon ship and not considered (quite unfairly IMO).
Chek should pick on Super form but obviously Slim you just disagree with that, probably because he is a Red.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
No, don't be a child - it's because after all of these years he still struggles to transform his Super rugby form into test rugby............ and for that reason I can understand Cheika going in the direction of developing a younger player, although I don't think Hanigan is good enough yet for test rugby either.
drewprint
Dick Tooth (41)
Garbage. Who offers the most to the team right now? I'll take an experienced, abrasive, but hot and cold 6 in Higgers over a player who has potential but is another season or two away from being ready. I don't think it's too much to ask for someone who's not going to get folded in contact at every tackle and ruck.
And if we persist with a 31 year old who has never shown consistent form at test level and then work out that he's never going to be much better in that environment and goes backwards before the next RWC, where are we then?
Both options are compromises. I think Higginbotham is a bigger compromise when you consider the RWC in two years and the fact he has had a substantial amount of test experience over a number of years and never excelled.
Regardless, if Higginbotham is in Australia, he must be injured because he isn't playing NRC.
I think it would have been great if Ross Haylett-Petty was in the squad because I think he has plenty of potential to play 6 at test level and has the right style of play for it (although seemingly he is also injured now).
Maybe Matt Phillip has another strong year next year and we can look at him as a 6/lock option.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Wait, who are we talking about here?
dru
David Wilson (68)
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
I think Higgers played a hell of a lot better in June then people give him credit for, he actively assisted in try scoring situations where few loose forwards could. Cheika forced a round peg into a square hole and got the shits when it didn't work out. His lack of impact at the breakdown was only easy to spotlight as Hooper and Hanigan were also absent. He played a hell of a lot better then Hanigan and has a lot more to offer then Dempsey and Korzyck....just like Moore has more to offer then Latu, Kepu has more to offer then Ainsley etc.
It seems like people are still holding out the same hope that Higginbotham becomes a dynamic test backrower now at age 31 as when he was 26.
T
TOCC
Guest
No, people just want players selected who will improve the Wallabies chances of winning test matches..
previously that was Fardy, since then the gap hasn't been filled..
I would have selected Fardy this year too because his Super Rugby form was great and he's a proven performer at test level but I think Higginbotham is a different situation.
He was given two tests and showed that even after a season of very good Super Rugby form he was the same mediocre test player he always has been. Except this time he's 31.
T
TOCC
Guest
I really don't agree his performances were mediocre..
And who gives a crap how old players are, first priority is to win test matches now, second priority should be to transition for the future..
Another reason releasing Fardy early and not selecting Fardy during the June test series was a mistake