Knuckles' plea: keep Gits in the halves

[blindsid3]

#10 will be the interesting selection as Giteau could slot in there but that would be harsh on Hilgendorff or Mackay, although both have struggled with injuries.

Have to agree Jedi, and said as much the other day to howls of protest from the eastern seaboard (Sage)...

Giteau is not the be all and end all at 9...in fact we could argue that there is considerable depth nationally there in Gregan, Cordingly, Henjak et al albeit we didn't see much of anyone but Gits there on the tour.

At 10 we have the world's best (but aging) 5/8th in Larkham and the coaching staff unsuccessfully trialled some replacements in both the tests and mid-week games with unspectacular results.

Staniforth excelled at 12 - ran strongly and straight and he is a proven tryscorer at the Super 14 level...not to mention a defensive powerhouse and willing to back up two or three times in the same phase of play, be it ball in hand or at the breakdown...

It has been said before on this forum, the choice of where to play Giteau in both S14 and Wallabies will not come down to where he plays best, but where his team has the least depth...and my money is on 10.

[Sagerian]

Howls of protest? Better make sure the hyperbole police aren't breaking down your door....

I think you must have me confused with someone else. I have my preference for the Force 10 but I'm not sure about all this "howling protest" rubbish.

There's always going to be differing opinions when you're so spoilt for choice. No matter what the number on his back is, I'm sure both the Force and Wallabies will make good use of his versitility, be it at the ruck, at first reciever or second.

[Shaun]

Connolly was all talk before he got the job, now he has the job and has not presented the goods... now he wants to screw up the Western Force's 4.5 millio dollar signing and maybe the best number 12 Australia has ever produced upside down. Go back to basics mate!

[travelling_gerry]

lets get back to news reporting basics.....from another news source a completely different story...maybe the press are trying to get back at Connolly for when he had them all believing at a new conference that research had shown that raising the cranial temperature on long flights helped maintained mental alertness and prevented jest lag and hence the Wallabies would be wearing beanies on the flight to South Africa. Trouble was he stated to giggle and spoil the joke for the all believing press...

I am yet to find the on line version but in todays West on p 120 the headline is
"Force get free rein on Giteau"
"Connolly happy for Mitchell to call shots on stars role"

"Its up to the states to play their players wherever they want them" Connolly said.

"Obviously we have preference but they have businesses to run and their coaches have to win games and they will play players where they think its best for their team"
They run their race and we get the players on June 1 2007 and then we run our race"




So all the above talk about egos and arguments is null and void.

I rest my case.

[zacko70]

First of all these are all good posts..I would rather see Giteau playing 10 or 12personally as he can create more and has space, which is limited at 9. As well with Giteau playing 9 he goes across field too much allowing the opposisition defence to move up and therefore less time for backline..

Staniforth is strong at 12 for crash ball and his defence..but he is not a playmaker..Whoever is playing 10 will have to control the game. Staniforth also does not have a renowned kicking game, which is needed in the modern game for a 12.

Overall i would play Gits at 12 or 10 rather than 9. He has more space to create. If Staniforth was to play 12 i would have Gietau at 10 as i can't see any other of the 10s controlling the game

Zack

[Shaun]

Great post Zack, agree with you 100%

[Sagerian]

Actually I have to conceed, if he were playing for my team, I'd prefer to see him at 10 or 12, so I can see where you guys are coming from. But the Tahs don't have as stocked a backline as you guys. I'd want to cram all that talent in the starting XV.

[Jess]

Looks like Connolly might have paid TWF a visit and taken our advice after all...

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/ar...777711704.html

[James]

I wonder how Scotty S would do at outside centre?

[Burgs]

Good, but not as good as Inside Centre

[Rodent]

Anyone who watched our last season knows that one of our biggest problems was our tactical kicking (I shudder when I think how many kicks missed touch and went back for tries the other way!). While Shep has been having a great season at fullback, a fair percentage of his kicks during play (not at posts) were not exactly filling me with confidence.
Giteau at 12 gives us another kicking option (Mitchell on the wing is another). The less we have to rely on one player to make all the kicks the better.
I also have to say that I watched Pelesasa destroy the touring japanese sides so there is going to be real competition for the 13 jumper. Ryan Cross over from league, hopfully he hasn't suffered any permanent brain damage from that little stint. Stanners could easily play at 13 as well. Good news is great depth for The Force. The bad news is that some of these guys are going to be parked on the bench... Or playing Club rugby.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Gits should stay at 12. I dont think that Australia has half the depth problem the media make it out to have. There are easily enough specialist 9's available who are good enough to play for the wallabies (Gregan, Cordingly, Valentine, O'Young, Henjak). We have a couple of 10's including the best in the world and a young guy who looks like he has what it takes (Bernie, Barnes).

[Burgs]

Sorry to be picky Rodent, but what happened to some WA Club players being better than Henjak?

[Rodent]

True Burgs, but all this talk of how his form is vastly improved in the APC has me thinking like an optimist...
Although I must say looking back at that post I can't believe I put his name after the statement good enough to play for the wallabies. Consider his name withdrawn from that list, until I see evidence of this miraculous turn around first hand.

[Burgs]

Fair enough mate
60 days to go!!!

[inactive]

At least we know stanners will be in starting side no matter what phew being VC and all! Thats all i care about lol!