I don't know if we'll see Swain in a gold jersey for a long time. What he did against NZ in 2022 was horrifying.Yeah , Swinton is still early days in his career and like Swain can absolutely turn it around. Both of them will need pretty clean super seasons to push their case though.
I don't know if we'll see Swain in a gold jersey for a long time. What he did against NZ in 2022 was horrifying.
It’s funny that this reputation for yellow cards came from 3 games on a single tour, despite having not received any cards prior or subsequently.I think he's just a bit too slow in decision making and not quick enough in his feet to make up for it. It's not an issue for the most part in super rugby but at international level it sees him regularly exposed and out of position/inaccurate, which in turn has lead to too many yellow cards, particularly for a halfback.
How was he for Australia A series and Baabaas discipline wise? Play wise he was great.I’m not a fan of him because I think he’s a liability with discipline but if he can get that under control he has game changing ability. We don’t have too many guys that people call a “beast” and have presence.
Love to see him emulate Bell who doesn’t seem to have any discipline issues but you sure notice him physically.
I'm like 85% sure he got himself yellow carded in the last 6 or 7 minutes of the Tonga loss for losing his head well after the ball left the area.How was he for Australia A series and Baabaas discipline wise? Play wise he was great.
Sure didI'm like 85% sure he got himself yellow carded in the last 6 or 7 minutes of the Tonga loss for losing his head well after the ball left the area.
3 Yellows and 1 Red in 9 appearances for Australia - a 44% hit rate - sounds a lot like a pattern of behaviour.It’s funny that this reputation for yellow cards came from 3 games on a single tour, despite having not received any cards prior or subsequently.
He was never ’exposed’ in his previous body of work including a decent series against the French the year earlier.
The reality is Gordon is not nearly as bad as people make him out to be (nor is he great either). He was also getting selected by Rennie during a time where we occasionally won games- so maybe there’s something there.
Those sound like Swinton's stats rather than Gordon's, but 3 yellow cards in 20 tests (most off the bench) is still way too high for a halfback. He also has a reasonably high penalty rate in Super Rugby. As @The Ghost of Raelene says, it's the one position you really can't afford to have spending regular time in the bin, you just don't have any coverage as standard.3 Yellows and 1 Red in 9 appearances for Australia - a 44% hit rate - sounds a lot like a pattern of behaviour.
Add in another 2 Yellows and another Red across a few seasons of Super and, well....
The most glaring issue is that they have mostly been cards as a result of acts of stupidity
Yeah just realised I missed the context after Ghost’s post - edited to reflect that.Those sound like Swinton's stats rather than Gordon's, but 3 yellow cards in 20 tests (most off the bench) is still way too high for a halfback. He also has a reasonably high penalty rate in Super Rugby. As @The Ghost of Raelene says, it's the one position you really can't afford to have spending regular time in the bin, you just don't have any coverage as standard.
I'm a Tahs fan but I have to agree with this.Bring in Bernie. Let him pick as many Brumbies as he wants. We get a win-win outcome:
Wallabies start winning games
OR
We get to absolutely give it to the Brumbies rabble on here.
Tbh I'm still weighing up which I prefer...
We don't have the talent in the squad to carry guys that are card risks. 15 on 15 we are struggling put a Swain and a Swinton in the 15 and the odds of being a player down is too great. The big issue is that both have shown that the opposition can get into their heads and at International level there are some first rate bastards that will enjoy every second of it. Etzebeth would set up a permanent camp in Swinton's frontal lobe.
Swinton doesn't get riled up by the opposition. He's just way too loose and reckless in his tackle technique. I certainly don't recall him being baited like Swain was playing for the Wallabies.We don't have the talent in the squad to carry guys that are card risks. 15 on 15 we are struggling put a Swain and a Swinton in the 15 and the odds of being a player down is too great. The big issue is that both have shown that the opposition can get into their heads and at International level there are some first rate bastards that will enjoy every second of it. Etzebeth would set up a permanent camp in Swinton's frontal lobe.
You definitely don't need the probably there mateSwinton doesn't get riled up by the opposition. He's just way too loose and reckless in his tackle technique. I certainly don't recall him being baited like Swain was playing for the Wallabies.
I still think Swinton has something to add to the Wallabies. His form against South Africa was brilliant and showed what he was capable of if he could keep from straying too far over the line.
You'd want to see a full, disciplined season of Super Rugby from him before you selected him though.
Probably a bit of bias but I'm not as fussed by Swain. He doesn't have anything several other players don't have.