Wallabies lose their ninth consecutive Test to All Blacks in Christchurch

[TOCC]

Sheikh, agree with that backline, like i have said earlier im not a advocate of dropping Giteau, he was once considered the worlds best inside centre, its only a matter of time before he can reach that grandeur again.

I also wonder whether Giteau and Cooper's skillset complement each other or detract, all of the Reds backline are basically players who run angles and lines, Chambers, Faingaa, Ioane and Davies are far from been recognised as playmakers. Whereas the Wallabies have Cooper, Giteau, JOC and Beale all of whom are recognised playmakers, but none of them are really direct runners.

[Rex Messup]

It's never been done but I reckon Giteau should play 15. he is a great runner of the football but he needs some space to do his magic and he can run sideways as much as he likes without messing up his backline.

I liked Gits at 9 for the same reason but Genia is GOD

Gits is a good 12 but I like what I'm seeing from A.faingaa. His acceleration, and gap running is sensational. he brings a new fearless mindset. he goes straight and hard and Cooper will put him in holes all day. Gits wants to fade sideways all the time.

---------- Post added at 15:42 ---------- Previous post was at 15:40 ----------

Sheikh, agree with that backline, like i have said earlier im not a advocate of dropping Giteau, he was once considered the worlds best inside centre, its only a matter of time before he can reach that grandeur again.

I also wonder whether Giteau and Cooper's skillset complement each other or detract, all of the Reds backline are basically players who run angles and lines, Chambers, Faingaa, Ioane and Davies are far from been recognised as playmakers. Whereas the Wallabies have Cooper, Giteau, JOC and Beale all of whom are recognised playmakers, but none of them are really direct runners.

Totally agree. Too many Chiefs and not enough injuns. We need some powerful and fast runners of the football

[Hoolly Doolly]

Man i miss mortlock.......
i hope he gets over his injuries and has a stellar season next year.

[YOUTUBE][ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dazJkLk7FxY"]YouTube- ‪Stirling Mortlock Tribute‬‎[/ame][/YOUTUBE]

[Sheikh]

Mortlock's probably not coming back to internationals - too many injuries and too old, so he'll have lost the burst of speed which made him so effective.

AAC/Ioane can do the job. I was missing Mortlock against the ABs though - all the hard running around the ruck seemed to be from the forwards; I quite like the tactic of using a big centre there occassionally (someone mentioned playing Higginbotham at 13 last week). The forwards are fine, but a centre coming from deep, at speed, and hitting the line is a useful ploy. Mortlock could do that.

[Burgs]

Was discussing Mortlock with a mate before the match on Saturday.
Certainly the "smart money" says he's played his last Test, though (check my vBalance...) I wouldn't count him out just yet.
He has basically bought a season with injury and will be returning in a new exciting atmosphere down in Melbourne.
I'm sure he will never be first pick again but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back at least in the squad leading up to the RWC.
As this year shows, injury requires depth and, if fit, with his wealth of experience he would be hard to deny with a couple of crucial injuries during the tournament.
Either that or pick Stanners, the player who had the major impact when we last beat the AB's...

[James]

As TOCC said you have to wonder a bit about the skillsets. 4 play-maker style players is too many to have in a test match. The All Blacks only use one. We need to go back to the days of having a big, hard running fullback (a la Chris Latham), one fast wing and one hard to tackle wing (or preferably fast and hard to tackle) a tackle busting outside centre and keep the playmakers to the inside backs. I'd love to see Digby Ioane, AAC, Cam Shepherd (fully fit) and one of Rod Davies/Nick Cummins/Drew Mitchell to be out wide.

[Darren]

Mortlock had spinal surgery a couple months back - after initially not being able to even sit down post op (lie down or stand up were the only options) word is his recovery is going great guns. It was something that's been slowing him down, if it all went well, 2011 could see a stronger Mortlock than 2010.

[GIGS20]

As TOCC said you have to wonder a bit about the skillsets. 4 play-maker style players is too many to have in a test match. The All Blacks only use one.

actually, that's a very interesting point. (I don't remember TOCC saying that so apologies to you mate)

Traditionally, Kiwi teams play with two flyhalves and set them up generally either side of the scrum on set piece, that's where the first 5 - second 5 nomenclature came from. Australia are the traditional exponents of the single playmaker and two centres, that's why we have a flyhalf, inside centre, outside centre nomenclature.
(OK I accept that sometimes the inside centre is a stepping ballplayer type player but usually intended to be some kind of a linebreaker)

It seems with Ma'a Nonu (particularly) and Conrad Smith the Blacks are out Wallabying the Wallabies!

Maybe we could put AAC into 12 and shift Gits out one.

[shasta]

It seems with Ma'a Nonu (particularly) and Conrad Smith the Blacks are out Wallabying the Wallabies!

Hmmm, sort of. The thing that's impressed me about Nonu lately is how well he's developed his passing game and ability to offload in the tackle regularly. He not only passes more regularly now, but has a decent long/cut out pass as well. He's got more than a couple of strings to hhis bow and is possibly the best in the world in his position.

[GIGS20]

Hmmm, sort of. The thing that's impressed me about Nonu lately is how well he's developed his passing game and ability to offload in the tackle regularly. He not only passes more regularly now, but has a decent long/cut out pass as well. He's got more than a couple of strings to hhis bow and is possibly the best in the world in his position.

Yes, that's all true, but he's not a second five, his main weapon is running it to the line hard. He's no longer the one trick pony who runs it to the line and either busts a tackle or dies with the ball, but he's certainly more a Jason Little than a Carlos Spencer

[Burgs]

The thing that has impressed me about Nonu lately is the ball doesn't bounce off him when he tries to catch it!
Oh, and he doesn't seem to sulk anymore.

[shasta]

Oh, and he doesn't seem to sulk anymore.

Doesn't want the mascara to run.

[zimeric]

The thing that has impressed me about Nonu lately is the ball doesn't bounce off him when he tries to catch it!

he still has a couple of those... he did classic one in the second test against SA and also popped one out his mitts in a tackle in the first Aussie test...

I think however his biggest strength is his ability to drive uncertainty into defenders.. their brains go to mush when they see him get the ball.. almost seems as if opposition players try to get him to pass rather than commit to tackling him... which usually gives him extra room to move.

[TOCC]

Agree Zimeric, he may have added a passing game to his game, but his biggest asset is his ability to get over the advantage line, it forces players to commit to tackling him which frees up numbers out wide.