Brumbies hoping to settle centre combination in trial

[Burgs]

Originally Posted by mudskipper
I guess Robbie Deans was mistaken... playing Mortlock at 12... what was he thinking?

He was thinking, "Oh shit, I suddenly don't have a viable Test #12, I have an excellent #13 being wasted on the Bench and Wing and I have to play the Captain, 1+1=12 on Mortlocks back."
Staniforth is the model of an outside back becoming a hard hitting #12 as he has a far greater awarness of off-loading.
Mortlock is an outstanding #13 but not a very convincing Test/S14 #12.

[mudskipper]

burgs you clearly missed the northern Hemisphere tour... Won all but lost to Wales without Mortlock... Cross will have real competition for the Wallabies 13 with AAC playing there for the Brumbies this season..

[TOCC]

twice as long as Barnes I guess...

hey, that was a serious statement, im under no illusion that Barnes isnt injury prone, he obviously is..

Mortlock is exactly the same, when was the last time he played a full season?

[Burgs]

No mudguts, I "clearly" watched all but the Wales and Barbarians matches and what I saw was a workman like, plain performance, by an out of position player.
The fact that we won those match with Mortlock there only proves how much better we could (should) have been with an in position player there.
What Australia needs in the Backs dept is a Flyhalf so that Giteau can go back where he belongs.
Until the ELV's come in to full effect in NH Tests he is wasted there as he doesn't get enough time as he does at #12.

[robyn <3]

[quote=mudskipper;187606]

pfffft, what are you on! Less than jargs and move than TOCC

Oh PuhLease.....do you really think a granddad and a washed up has been....never was will really stck up against a real centre pairing with talent.

Heck, I reckon even the Waratahs will have a centre pairing that will embarrass that!
I guess it was something about keeping his named captain on the park whilst replacing him with a player (Ryan Cross) who can handle the pressures of #13 at an international level.......Stiring Mortlock is yesterday's news, Ryan Cross is the current Wallaby #13 and will cement this by DESTROYING Adam-Ashley Cooper in front of a rabid, baying home crowd of 8 (not counting ball boys) when they meet in Canberra this year. Unlikely... Cross is still looking for the sideline...and wondering what that ruck stuff is all about...

Tipping James O'Connor to slip through Stirling's clutches more often than a greased eel during the same match. JOC's Mum wont let him play against the rugby warhorse Mortlock.../quote]

What!?! Ryan Cross still on the sideline? This is the boy that has sent Stirlo to 12 to make room for him, you honestly see the man who dabbles at every postition in the entire backline throwing off Ryan Crossy? After Cross played 13 against Wales, England and the AllBlacks on the European tour alone and was named for 4 of the 5 tests, with AAC lingering somewhere... Not at 13 though.

I repeat Gigs, WHAT are you on?!

[TommyM]

Mortlock staying at 13 and AAC at 12 is a possibility they might look at- was very impressed with him there against the Baa Baas. Better hands and kicking than Mortlock for 12

[mudskipper]

hey, that was a serious statement, im under no illusion that Barnes isnt injury prone, he obviously is..

Mortlock is exactly the same, when was the last time he played a full season?

Not many players play a full season, but he was out with a shoulder reconstruction until week 7 last year, the year before 3 weeks with a bad head knock. Year before that I think he was largely good.

He has played a lot of rugby with the brumbies and Wallabies over the past 6 years…

[BDAVEY]

Crossy has number 13 sown up I am afraid Deans likes his ability to brak the line each time. Barnes has number 12 but may struggle with the riggers of this season. Predicting Gits to move out to 12 and O Conner (if he can prove himself this season to play in the number 10) Ashley Cooper is a utility bench player. I think the flair of Sheps will be too much to over look esp with Drew on one wing and Hynes on the other

[chiselhead]

AC will be an outstanding 13. I'm surprised he hasn't made it to 13 for the wallabies already. He is very powerful and has explosive speed off the mark. He is an excellent defender. He has a good kicking game. He runs straight which is the best attribute of a 13. AC is wasted at 15 or on the wing. 13 is where he will become one of the wallaby greats. We really have some great players coming through. Rob Horne will also be outstanding at 13 or 12

[waratahjesus]

AAC is twice the player cross is, cross had a good year but to rank him above mortlock is an absolute joke!

[JediKnight]

AAC is twice the player cross is, cross had a good year but to rank him above mortlock is an absolute joke!

So that's why Mortlock has moved out of position for Cross to come into the team?!

[mudskipper]

So that's why Mortlock has moved out of position for Cross to come into the team?!

Answer ELVs... the new game...

[jargan83]

there is abundance of younger players comming through, Mortlock won't be there much longer

[mudskipper]

there is abundance of younger players comming through, Mortlock won't be there much longer

Then the Force better sign a few to replace the ones leaving after this season...

[TOCC]

So that's why Mortlock has moved out of position for Cross to come into the team?!

i think you will find that had more to do with a lack of depth at 12 rather then anything else. Dont get me wrong, Cross filled in adirably, but i think his times as the wallaby outside centre might be numbered.

I dont like the Mortlock-Cross centre pairing, it doesnt work well IMO, on top of that i think Mortlock is still better so he will be first choise wallaby outside centre.
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