Have we got a full list yet?

[farva]

Yes Fairbanks is a 12, but he can play on the wing as well, if needed.
Wykes isn't a bad player. He played pretty well when thrust back to 8 last year with the injuries we had. But he is not a starting player. He isn't really an out and out lock either, being more a modified blindside like Mumm or McCalman at times. Hocking is the player that needs to stand up. He is a genuine lock. If he doesn't make his mark this year, we might need to consider other options at 4?

And in regard to Cullet, I had always thought he was a power winger as well, almost better suited to the centres. But apparently Cooper put a twitter message out saying that Cullet, Beale and one other who I cant remember were the quickest in the Oz squad.

[GIGS20]

Hocking is the player that needs to stand up. He is a genuine lock. If he doesn't make his mark this year, we might need to consider other options at 4?

I think that's already being done......we've looked at a bloody mass of young locks recently.

And in regard to Cullet, I had always thought he was a power winger as well, almost better suited to the centres. But apparently Cooper put a twitter message out saying that Cullet, Beale and one other who I cant remember were the quickest in the Oz squad.

I'm not disagreeing, just expressing suprise......I hope he shows some of that speed next season.

[zimeric]

the problem Cullett has had is that he has not had any space to work with while Gits was inside him due to the crabbing, and only had a couple of games this last season and was clearly still bedding back in and getting his confidence back a lot like Sheps

I would be very concerned that our "fastest" player runs a 11.10sec 100m - Lachie Turner.. according to the Australian (that being said hes faster than Jarrod Hayne & a couple of other Mungoes that raced against him) most top rugby sides have a couple of sub 11sec players in their squads

[GIGS20]

Yep, I can see where you're getting that from. Hopefully it's true, because he does pretty well in the power stakes, to have both would be great!

[TOCC]

I would be very concerned that our "fastest" player runs a 11.10sec 100m - Lachie Turner.. according to the Australian (that being said hes faster than Jarrod Hayne & a couple of other Mungoes that raced against him) most top rugby sides have a couple of sub 11sec players in their squads

you gotta be kidding, 11.10 sec for a 95/100kg rugby player is a fantastic time, some squads might have players who could formely run sub 11, but you would be very hard pressed to find a player who could run sub 11sec withing a couple of weeks of finishing rugby season.

Maintaing sub11 times is a fulltime job, fulltime in the sense that you need to train preceisely for running the 100m, it would be rare for a player training for rugby to run such a time. There might be a few out there like Habana(2005-2007) and Rodney Davies who might scrape into the sub11 time slot, but not many.

[CunnamullaFulla]

The corked thighs, sprigged ankles, twisted knees and plethora of other niggles doesn't help either

[zimeric]

Habana, Chavanga (recorded time pre-season 2008 of 10.5), Rockochoko, Ngwenya, Cullett, William Ryder, Soseni Anesi... all can/could run under 11 secs with spikes on a track..

maybe i was exaggerating by saying " a couple" but i can say that Australia has suffered for at least the last 10 years by not having a genuine rocketman in their squad. purely my opinion..

[DR GRAFENBURGH]

Agreed Zim
Slow wingers are antiquated. I would argue that it is fundamentally the most important criteria of selection. Australia has for too long had slow outside backs.
Lachy Turner looks the goods in my opinion. His display in the last tri nations test was very good. Mitchell was in scintillating form in the last few matches.
Rob Davies from the Reds, whilst lacking the full package, has shown how his speed can destroy defences.
Australian rugby has certainly suffered.
A reliable goal kicker would have made Deans stats look a hell of a lot better as well

[farva]

Our wings at the top level at the moment arent slow.
Mitchell is quick, and has the ability to bash through defences.
OConnor is deceptively quick. Turner showed he was very fast. Davies is a freak and Ioane when fit is also fast.

Australia have traditionally (certainly over the last 10 years) had a fast winger and a bash winger who plays a bit like a centre. Think Tune and Tuqiri, Tune and Roff, Mortlock when he started was on the wing. Now its Mitchell and Ioane.

[Burgs]

Shame Stapleton wasn't up to the mark.

[brokendown gunfighter]

Shame Stapleton wasn't up to the mark.

seems to have faded into oblivion

[jargan83]

seems to have faded into oblivion

Didn't he head back to Qld?

[The InnFORCEr]

Didn't he head back to Qld?

Certainly did, another case of home sickness.

[GIGS20]

Certainly did, another case of home sickness.

Might have been ACTUALLY homesick though.....he didn't get a walk up start like the other one!

[James]

I thought Stapleton was still playing rugby in Japan. I reckon he could've been great in a couple of years (from when he left the Force). He still needed to upskill quite a lot but he was lightning fast. Pretty sure he scored 2 tries in one game in the APC back in 2006. The annoying thing there was that they released him because Ioane said he was staying and then Ioane buggered off and we lost two players with a hell of a lot of potential.