Fairbrother off to London

[brokendown gunfighter]

He obviously wasn't told he WAS in the running
cant wait around for ever,there are only so many spots availlable in France,have to get in quick

[Sheikh]

So the ARU is at fault over Tim Fairbrother not earning selection for the Wallabies?

You think there are three better THs in Australia?

The worrying thing for me is that Fairbrother has been at Wallaby camps, so Deans has had the chance to have a look at him. Maybe he's looking for something else in a TH prop, but I'd have said being a reliable scrummager is #1 on my list, especially with a World Cup coming up.

[Hansie]

Huge loss for Neddies. He is an absolute gentleman and great advocate of our club.

[James]

I think that Deans using Salesi Maafu last year against England was pretty telling. Maafu is hopeless, so how does that translate for Fairbrother?

It doesn't surprise me that Fairbrother left, and I don't blame the ARU for it, but the ARU will have to be careful. There is a lot of ARU top up money currently residing in Sydney (especially with Ashley-Cooper moving over there) and this could bring up complaints if a bit more transparency isn't offered. If they are cutting down their offers and all the money is in Sydney it stands to seriously shaft Canberra, Perth and Melbourne.

[Sheikh]

Maafu - 28 years old and 39 Super Rugby caps
Fairbrother - 29 years old and 74 Super Rugby caps

Maafu's worse at scrummaging and round the ground than Tim. I don't blame Tim for leaving - if he sees lesser players picked ahead of him he must think Deans is never going to pick him, so he might as well play for more money in England.