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Wallaby Watch – Open Side Flanker

Reg RobertsBy Reg RobertsApril 21, 200915 Comments
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The incumbent(s):

PhilboPhil Waugh (NSW): The Waratah skipper has been criticised by many this season, albeit mostly by non-Tah fans. It’s fair to say he looked off the pace and incapable of really stamping his authority on a game. This has changed lately, perhaps it’s the contract talks, and he’s starting to look more like the Waugh of old. There’s no question the Tahs would be half the team they are without him, which is scary.

The likely candidates:

GeorgeGeorge Smith (ACT): This guy continues to amaze me with his consistency and quality. After almost 200 professional games of rugby over the last 9 years, plus intermittent club and trial games, he’s entitled to be off his game at times. If he is ever, it rarely ever lasts more than a game or two. Sure he kicks too much, and plays wide at times, but it still has that innate ability to force the turnover when most needed.

PockDavid Pocock (WA): Better than Richie McCaw at his age. So believes Robbie Deans. So whether a 21 year old ‘McCaw’ is better than a 28 year old Smith (yep, that’s right, he’s still only 28!) is the question. There is no question as to his abilities however. Almost a perfect combination of Smith and Waugh. Toughness and skill.



The Roughies: No one! Perhaps Richard Brown? But no, not really.

What is Deans looking for?

A World XV player. I think Bob Dwyer said it first, for a team to win the World Cup (or a top ranked team I guess) it needs to have five players who are World XV quality. This position is one of the few that Australia have a chance of having that player in. Yes, I know Richie McCaw is still around, but if anyone has shown signs of form slippage of late, it’s Richie. Leaving the door open for George, David or Phil…well George or David.

Who is the answer?

To me, you just can’t go past George Smith. He is far and away the best openside in Australia. But managing his game time will become an increasingly delicate proposition as 2011 approaches meaning that, at least Pocock, still has a key role to play. Of course the fly in the ointment, the monkey in the wrench, the pain in the ass, is Europe. Will Smith go? Will Phil go? If they do then there’s no point picking them this year at all. Meaning young Mr Pocock will be required to step up. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing by any means.

Smith
He is the Messiah. And I should know, I've followed a few!

 

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<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2524 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=2524">15 Comments

  1. Stu Andrews on April 21, 2009 3:35 am

    Heartily agreed.

    Question: Why do you have Phil as the incumbent?

    Stu Andrews’s last blog post..A Lot Has Happened ..

    Report
    • Noddy on April 21, 2009 3:39 am

      Answer: because he is the incumbent. He was Wallaby 7 in our last test. v Wales in Cardiff last year.

      Report
      • Stu Andrews on April 21, 2009 3:42 am

        Is that what incumbent means. That’ll learn me. I thought it was the player generally regarded as first pick in that position.

        No offence meant by questioning :)

        Report
        • Noddy on April 21, 2009 3:49 am

          yeah, basically it means whomever is currently holding the position.

          So coming up Chisolm is the incumbent lock and MMM the incumbent blindside, but not necessarily the men most likely to play there.

          Report
  2. old chestnut on April 21, 2009 4:13 am

    Julian Salvi as a roughie? Not there yet of course, but if both Smith and Waugh went to Europe, he’d probably be next in line after Pocock.

    Report
  3. chriscullen on April 21, 2009 5:05 am

    Mc Caws form slipping? Has a month off and turns in man of match performance.I think george smith is Australias best.

    Report
  4. Pedro on April 21, 2009 5:39 am

    I’m with you cullen, Smith is the obvious choice.

    Waugh played awesome last s14 season only to crap it up for the wallabies. I don’t doubt his effort and skill, he just seems to lack that extra class Smith brings to the table. Waugh will be lucky to make the bench in my opinion, poor guy, if he wasn’t the same age and position as Smith he would be a perrenial starter. How old is too old to train as a prop?

    Report
  5. Gagger on April 21, 2009 9:39 am

    Agree with the views above. Would love to see Pocock get good time off the bench this year behind Smith so he can acclimatise to test footy before getting the full gig.

    Report
  6. Cameron on April 21, 2009 10:53 am

    Yeah agree. Phil Waugh is for the scrapheap I reckon and his post-game interviews are getting increasingly depressing. Smith/Pocock tag teaming, builds depth, trains Pocock up, gets him when his rivals aren’t as fresh, and its a selection for the future. has my vote.

    Report
  7. spaceman on April 21, 2009 2:06 pm

    i agree with resting smith. he has played out of his skin for 6+ years in my reckoning. hes liable for a bad injury (knock on wood!!!!)

    Report
  8. Cutter on April 21, 2009 4:36 pm

    Smith is one of our truly classy players. It was interesting to watch when Pocock came off the bench against the Barbarians with 20 odd mins to go. He was all over the place, into everything, running and tackling like a madman. Smith was more effective for that last 20 mins but through a sense of timing and class rather than being the action man. Schalk Burger could learn from Smith in this regard.

    Report
  9. Patrick on April 22, 2009 3:51 pm

    Surely if there is anyone we would keep here it would be Gits, followed by Smith. If he goes to Europe I’m friggin going as well.

    Report
  10. Suresh on April 24, 2009 11:26 am

    It was good post to read. I will keep visiting to know more stuff here.

    Report
  11. El Dommo on April 28, 2009 3:16 am

    It sintersteing to read those comments.

    As a Waugh criticiser, i have been as gulty as most to suggest he should just push on.
    But lets look at some actual play and determine who is really playing LIKE A 7 SHOULD.

    the answer is actually Waugh i feel. Good on him i say. a tough on baller, with a good running game, a good leader and a good defensive organiser in the midfield.

    Sure his skills et isnt as silky as Smiths, and the future of the Wlaaby pack is Pocock, but fk…this guy is a battle hardened 7 paying his ass off.

    Smith is playing like a forward who wnat to be a back, and in his Pony expansive game, with a 10 who is young, with injuries depleting stocks, he is doing a fair job. But his 7 impact isnt so prominent as Wuaghs or Pococks for that matter,

    But thats not to say that will be the case come slection time.

    i think Waugh will be kept around….but Smith adn Pocock will share the bulk of the load.

    Truth be told…at the moment, wuagh is the 7 i want to pa alongside…i knwo he will be there…id be afriad if i was playing with Smith, i’d look up and find him trying a chip kick or a stupid flick pass on the wing somewhere….see what i mean?

    Report
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