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Always think that guys like Beale, Quade and JO'C, who all played fly-half with problems on the field, should be shunted out to the wings to let them run and jink around; leave the thinking to a real fly-half, if Australia can find one.
Funny, I always thought Australia's much-vaunted "talent-identification system" wasted James Stannard; he really had a fearless ability to run toward the line, put the opposition in two minds and then release. Did that well when he was forced into the role here.
And as for Hodgson, he would have been a hell of a Wallaby captain.
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Well Deans put O'Connor and Beale on the wing. Aus Rugby think they are getting the completed product after the boys graduate from school than throw them in to Super Rugby. That's what the Shute Shield people don't realise. Club Rugby isn't enough. Players like Sexton and his heir apparent Ross Byrne did a number of years in the Leinster A team prior to becoming Leinster regulars. These players are far more complete than O'Connor, Beale and Cooper who were noted for their x factor whatever that means.
Hodgson had to compete with Pocock, Hooper and George Smith for the starting 7 role.
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[QUOTE=Bakkies;460814Hodgson had to compete with Pocock, Hooper and George Smith for the starting 7 role.[/QUOTE]
And Phil Waugh.
Totally agree Bakkies - some players from some parts of Oz - seem to get preferential treatment. e.g. Skelton and Hanigan.
I reckon players benefit from honing their skills against better competition in SR rather than learning their skills in the Test arena.
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Absolutely only really Joe Roff, Tim Horan, Jason Little, David Pocock, Phil Kearns, WilleO and George Smith hit the ground running at a young age at test level over the past twenty odd years. Beale, Cooper and O'Connor aren't in their league.
Roff made his début at 19 and this was when it was rare for ACT players to get in to the test side and the ACT Kookaburras were lucky to get three games a year at that time.
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If I'm not mistaken but Joe Roff Captained Oxford v Cambridge. Only Aussie to ever do that. Certainly wasn't a Prima Donna unlike the current batch of players.
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I know he played for Oxford not sure if he was captain.