Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Horan was the best 12 Oz has ever produced. He was nuggety but from memory he weighed in at about 92Kg at hi best. He did motor over people or do crash ball. He beat defenders inside and out with a step and blistering pace of the mark. His defence was never the huge hit style but based around the surety of a completed effective tackle. Ditto Jason Little, and come to think of it Michael Lynagh and Brett Papworth. I don't see size as a huge advantage at 12. I would much rather somebody who can attack the line AND find support players once he makes a break or half break. Size is over rated as a factor for breaking or even making the gain line. If size was all that mattered backs like Nadolo, Carter, Sidey et al would be shoe ins for the Wallabies.
I thought Giteau was the best option as he was by far the best 12 in Oz since Horan but the extended experiment with him at 10 seemes to have ruined his instinctive play at 12. I would go for Barnes now for the same reasons I have stated. Fainga'a will be an excellent 12 but he does have to improve his defensive technique. What is the use of going in for the massive hit if you knock yourself senseless (by having the head in the wrong position) and are stumbling about for the next five minutes as in the Bulls game, just needs a quiet word in his ear about effective tackles and completion as opposed to the massive hit.
I thought Giteau was the best option as he was by far the best 12 in Oz since Horan but the extended experiment with him at 10 seemes to have ruined his instinctive play at 12. I would go for Barnes now for the same reasons I have stated. Fainga'a will be an excellent 12 but he does have to improve his defensive technique. What is the use of going in for the massive hit if you knock yourself senseless (by having the head in the wrong position) and are stumbling about for the next five minutes as in the Bulls game, just needs a quiet word in his ear about effective tackles and completion as opposed to the massive hit.