MT was without doubt a test quality No 12 - just ask Billy Twelvetrees what it's like to play directly opposite him. Absolutely thrashed when the Lions played the Brumbies, and seemed to take a couple of years for him to get his mojo back for England. Having said that, Bernie Larkham always seemed to favour To'omua at 10 with Christian at 12 if I recall correctly. I have no doubt that had he taken the option of remaining in Aus instead of traveling to England to give his new wife the opportunity to play her cricket over there, he would have become a starter for the Wallabies at either 10 or 12, and he would be, and is, a far better option than either of Beale or Hodge at 10.
Agree completely. I thought To'omua always looked his best at 12 - at all levels. Quality player. A pretty decent 10 too, which is part of the problem with him and Leali'ifano being swapped so much that neither settled ideally into either position. Any which way, To'omua was a loss to Aus rugby.