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Blind-Blindside

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DPK

Peter Sullivan (51)
When was the last time the Wallabies fielded a side that featured a 6 that really put the fear of God into opposition sides?

For a while, the Wallabies have had Openside flankers that are "World class", guys who can change the game on their own. But I struggle to remember the last blindside who was as talented or in form as good as any of the great opensides.

The RWC final had two awesome blindside flankers going head to head- Dusautoir and Kaino. Both of these guys were part of great, balanced backrows, but were also serious individual threats: gamechangers. The Springboks have Burger, and when fit, Juan Smith, both examples of the same.

We've persisted with Rocky, playing solidly without raising the bar, long enough. The Wallabies can't afford to keep waiting for Rocky to hit form: surely after two Test seasons, even the most passionate of his supporters would have to admit it isn't going to happen.

For mine, the two main contenders to blow the dust off the 6 jersey for Australia are Scott Higginbotham and Dave Dennis. Both have toured, so they've experienced the Test squad environment. They have slightly different playing styles, enough that there is scope to pick both in one squad.

Obviously, everything will be illuminated after the 2012 SupeRugby, but I've written this to suggest where Australian rugby fans and indeed coaches should be focussing their attention. There is a great push among the members of this site to direct all efforts towards building the team from the forwards up; as a part of this, there should be a priority focus on finding the blindside flanker the Wallabies desperately need.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I think 2012 will be the test to see whether Rocky still has it. I still believe that he is young enough and good enough to be a dominant player. If he stays fit through the Super Rugby season he could easily be head and shoulders above the contenders. If not, it's probably time for us to move on.

I also expect that 2012 will be a pivotal season for Dave Dennis and Jarrod Saffy. Both of them could really come to the fore as potential Wallabies. Hopefully Higgers has received enough feedback that he needs to play a tighter game and learns from that. He has the ability to be our best 6 with a few subtle changes to hone his game for test football.
 

Swat

Chilla Wilson (44)
I was impressed with Saffy's debut season and if he improves his skills he could be a contender this year. He's on my players to watch list, along with 2 rats and Harris
 
T

Train Without a Station

Guest
I agree that Rocky 06-08 probably did fit the bill. It appears that going to Ireland while best for his bank balance, wasn't best for his career though.
 

Gnostic

Mark Ella (57)
Just to be pedantic Dusatoir is not an Openside 6 is 7 in France if you get my meaning. However Bonnaire player the best two tests I have ever seen him play so sub his name in for the benefit of the argument.

On form Elsom does rate in the top four Oz 6's this year let alone anywhere near the top 5 in the world. On real form Dennis, Mowen, Saffy and Higgenbum played better games than Elsom.

I was livid when the Tahs signed him and let Mowen go. Now it looks like he is injured again, just stupidity to sign a crock who hasn't played well for two years at least for a consistent performer who could be developed further.
 

Lee Grant

John Eales (66)
Staff member
Gnostic - to be more pedantic Dusautoir is neither a 6 or a 7: he is a 6½. Whether he is playing for Toulouse or France, he always packs down on the left-hand side of the scrum. For France Bonnaire plays on the RH side. Magne and Betsen had a similar arrangement yonks ago.

Seb V
I'd take Finegan on the bench every time because he was a lazy sod and was better at impact work. But Rocky to start.
 

Jnor

Peter Fenwicke (45)
Higgers when he stops kicking the pill and gets stuck into the tight stuff. I'd still pick Rocky over him for the experience (I think Higgers fits the mould of an impact player well) all day, every day
 

DPK

Peter Sullivan (51)
Gnostic - to be more pedantic Dusautoir is neither a 6 or a 7: he is a 6½. Whether he is playing for Toulouse or France, he always packs down on the left-hand side of the scrum. For France Bonnaire plays on the RH side. Magne and Betsen had a similar arrangement yonks ago.

Beat me to it, LG. But Gnostic is sort of right, he's not technically a blindside, I just saw the 6 attributes in his style of play in the finals.
 

Joe Blow

Peter Sullivan (51)
Higgers is young with the size and athletic ability to potentially be the best 6 running around in a couple of years.
He needs to pick up on his tight work and to learn how to use his weight effectively.
Dennis is solid without setting the world on fire and will never let any side down. The Wallaby pack needs more than that.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Back row is all about balance, the explosive lazy part was taken by Samo at the RWC (and Palu if the plan had worked - who has the explosive stuff, but a higher work rate)

Elsom & Pocock were there to do the work. It worked for a while, but Elsom appeared to run out of petrol, maybe due to him managing his wounded body.
 

Scarfman

Knitter of the Scarf
Elsom will be a very good SuperRugby player, but surely his test days are over. His body is finished.

Higgers - some people think he's awesome, some think too loose, too many errors. Let's compromise and say that he is a very good Super level player and a borderline test player. Like Spies.

If we're looking at big men, there's some amazing talent out there that hasn't quite hit the mark: Mowen, Dennis, and Douglas, for example. Mumm is another who isn't as good as he should be. Dennis is the guy that deserves a shot on the end of year tour.
 

Dai bando

Charlie Fox (21)
Just to be pedantic Dusatoir is not an Openside 6 is 7 in France if you get my meaning. However Bonnaire player the best two tests I have ever seen him play so sub his name in for the benefit of the argument.

On form Elsom does rate in the top four Oz 6's this year let alone anywhere near the top 5 in the world. On real form Dennis, Mowen, Saffy and Higgenbum played better games than Elsom.

I was livid when the Tahs signed him and let Mowen go. Now it looks like he is injured again, just stupidity to sign a crock who hasn't played well for two years at least for a consistent performer who could be developed further.
Sorry to be as pedantic but you're wrong in france they play left and right,
 
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