Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
I watched a different game from a lot of other people last night. In the game I was watching:
- Izzy looks mentally tired to me, he just needs a break. But AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) needed a break too, and got it. If Beale could control himself it would have been just right for him last night. Alas, he can't; he should get Steve Walsh's tattoo done on his brain. So now, Izzy has four hard games in a row. We won't see his best again until next year.
- Speight was not outstanding, he was well contained by the opposition. Knowing how well he can play, I think he would be disappointed with his game. Horne was much more dominant and I thought he clearly outpointed Speight for a test spot.
- The game was tailor-made for Cooper to shine, but he didn't. Too many long balls when we needed to pin the men inside by going through the hands. He needs game time outside Phipps so we can see what he can do with fast service.
- Genia is clearly fourth choice now with daylight third. The difference in speed when White came on was remarkable. I hope Cheika can straighten him out because he is prodigiously talented. He will do well in the NH where slow service is the norm, but Aaron Smith and Phipps are the benchmark now and he's way off that.
- It was a Barbarians' game so its hard to really get a handle on the forward play; except to say that if we play like that in the next four games we are toast.
- Fat Cat ran quite well, though I didn't see enough of him in the tight. Alexander was anonymous, anyone remember when he was a number one fantasy pick because of his work around the field? Saia needs to remember that at test level if he runs with the ball he is going to get pushed back and turned over; he needs to work to his strengths.
- Horwill I thought was good without being outstanding. Carter was only OK.
- People say McMahon is too small and too light to play 6. If so, Read is too small and too light to play 8!!! What a debut, all because of Higgers hamstring. I think he'll suit Cheika's gameplan nicely. Sad for Jones that he didn't get another chance, but maybe he'll get a run against France, which I see as the easy game of the next four.