Australian Team of the Week 3

[Hoolly Doolly]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un....html#comments

15: Pat McCabe (Brumbies) (2)
14: Drew Mitchell (Waratahs) (3)
13: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies) (1)
12: Robbie Coleman (Brumbies) (2)
11: Nick Cummins (Force) (1)
10: Quade Cooper (Reds) (1)
9: Will Genia (Reds) (1)
8: Leroy Houston (Reds) (1)
7: Matt Hodgson (Force) (1)
6: Ben McCalman (Force) (2)
5: Sam Wykes (Force) (1)
4: Rob Simmons (Reds) (1)
3: James Slipper (Reds) (1)
2: Saia Faingaa (Reds) (2)
1: Ben Daley (Reds) (1)

Player of the round: Quade Cooper. Did not have the perfect game but 26 points from his goal kicking helped the Reds end a 12-game losing streak to the Brumbies.

[zimeric]

ooh the Parochial Sydney siders are not happy with their boys at all!!!

[Burgs]

Said similar last week, but just love the way Pat McCabe plays.
Will probably be in a nursing home by 30, but damn it's good to watch!

Often wonder if a player should have his place kicking added to his all round game.
In terms of scoreboard for sure they are important, but if they are actually ordinary at their position for a match should their kicking points "save" them?
This week Cooper was probably the best of an ordinary bunch anyway, maybe Cipriani if they are counting the Internationals would be a contender, but on a normal week... I dunno. A kicker doesn't have to be the Flyhalf, hell in Yr 12 I played 4-9 in the 1st XV and was the kicker! Didn't make me better than I otherwise would have been in any one of those jersey's though.

[Hoolly Doolly]

Sharpeys leadership to keep the force within a sniff for most of the game even with one man down surely deserved a spot next to wykes?

[James]

Sharpie was great but he was also responsible for two dropped balls less than 10 metres out from the Sharks line.

[zimeric]

yeah not his best 'game' but certainly the scoreline could have been attributed to his leadership.. along with a hundred other factors too though..

[Cowboy]

I'm pleased for Sam Wykes. He showed for a game what he is capable of and was recognised for it. Previously he has shown glimpses of his potential but was often erratic. I hope he can set this game as a standard and continue to improve.

[normie]

Sam's game was one pleasing aspect of the match. He lifted to a new level. Hope he keeps it up.

[BeeJay]

It was all part of Rex's cunning plan - bag him here so that he uses it as motivation! ;-P

[Cowboy]

It was all part of Rex's cunning plan - bag him here so that he uses it as motivation! ;-P

If it works we had better get busy on the rest of them.

[Hoolly Doolly]

Sharpie was great but he was also responsible for two dropped balls less than 10 metres out from the Sharks line.

wykes dropped the pill a couple times early in the game. Doesnt detract from the overall good game he had though.

[James]

Fair enough. While I rated his general leadership, I also blame Sharpie for not going for bonus points through tries instead of penalties. You can't chase a game with 14 men. We were down by 11.

[benny]

One thing I want to mention is Sam Wykes has a number 4 on his back, why is he trying to "goose" step his way thru the line. run forward, straight and hard !!

[normie]

It was all part of Rex's cunning plan - bag him here so that he uses it as motivation! ;-P

So like Rex to pull a cunning stunt like that!

[James]

I guess ideally Wykes should be looked at as a 6. I don't think we will be fortunate enough to hold on to all of Brown/Hodgson/McCalman after this season (I have a feeling one has already expressed a desire to head off thus the signings of Jenkins and Postal who are in the openside mould). Then you could slot in a proper enforcer into number 4.

I hope the Force management are working overtime on the recruiting front to bring in another tighthead/lock/6 or 8/inside back/outside back. We don't want to have to scrape the barrel like we have had to do in previous years. The Reds have some shithot outside backs that are getting splinters. They would look much better in ocean blue.