Scrumtime - for Rugby Tragics
• 27/5/2007 - WHEN 12 DOESN'T GO INTO NINE, BUT NINE SHOULD DEFINITELY GO TO 12!
London to a brick ... whoever takes over the Wallabies next year won't want to use Matt Giteau as a half-back.....so why is John Connolly persisting with this ridiculous experiment?
The only benefit that I can see is that it will shorten his tenure, because we won't even make the semi-finals on current form.
It is amazing that you had George Gregan on the bench for 60 minutes, while the ship floundered around without a rudder. As soon as he came on, the ship got back on course, the back line got moving forward with some width, and we regained composure.
If Connolly's plan is to get the backline moving forward, why not do it the way everyone else does, through the five-eighth - and that, by the way, is not Sam Norton-Knight.
The sooner that Gregan and Larkham are back in control, the better, with Giteau where he belongs at No.12. With Mortlock outside him, the selection of wingers is less important, and we have a number of good ones to choose from.
I would like to see how Clinton Schifcofske would go on the end of a backline like that, with perhaps Lachie Turner on the other wing. Hopefully Cameron Shepherd and Clyde Rathbone can get back soon, and Latham, too.
John Connolly has a problem with Gregan, but this is a World Cup year. Next year is the time to do the experimenting, not this year. Anyone who remembers the '91 World Cup would remember, that except for the late injury to Tim Gavin, we had a settled team for two years. The '99 team were also pretty well settled long before the event.
The fact that John Connolly only signed on for a limited time, suggests that he was only ever a custodian, and he should have started with the strongest possible 15, and only made changes where necessary. We have an Australia "A" program and that is where the experimenting should be done.
The sooner that everyone agrees that George Gregan should be the starting half, (and the skipper, in my view), the better for all concerned.
There are many positions that are iffy, but not the 9, 10 and 12 slots.
Gatesy |
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