i am very much looking forward (sic) to seeing what TGC makes out of this bloke.
appears to have the weaponry to be a serious member of the Tahs' Big Boppers.
May be I missed it earlier but I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the article by Chris Dutton about Chieka's plan to bring back Cameron Skelton and pair (?) him with Will in the Tah's second row. For me it pretty much sums up everything about MC style - aim for a pack that can bludgeon the opposition and then use creative backs to run the ball. Pretty basic and having lived in the UK for the last 12 years, the model that Leicester, Saracens and England have tried to emulate with the exception that they cannot match the creative talent that we have and have always had in the backs. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard Stuart Barnes, Will Greenwood et al say things like - if Australia had more power in the pack they would be unstoppable. Will Skelton comes if for quite a lot of scepticism about his scrummaging and stamina but if you listen to him talk he knows these areas need improvement and is working on it. Personally, I much rather than someone like that in my team than another who keeps doing the same thing over and over again.
I'll be at Twickenham tomorrow not necessarily expecting an Aussie win but hoping to see continued development in style of play. I am optimistic about next year if we maintain the faith in MC and the team. I am also optimistic about the future of Australian rugby particularly when I read about things like the Future Force programme and the Rebels equivalent. I was at a corporate lunch in London, pre the Lions tour and had the privilege to sit next to Michael Lynagh for 2 hours. Beside being an absolutely great guy, he also believed that Australia has the necessary talent pool and that the key was giving opportunity via things like the NRC.