PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO

ADDED SATURDAY 31/05/2008

I said earlier in the year,  that the brightest thing in Aussie Rugby was Timana Tahu,  and I might add to a chorus of ugly emails.  That was fine,  and here this morning,  at the very end of the Super 14 season,  I have to admit I was wrong.  Aussie rugby has plenty going for it at the moment,  and while I am not a big fan of the current system (another story in itself),  there has been alot of good things come out of 2008,  most of them in NSW.

Timana Tahu remains one of those bright things in Aussie Rugby,  but season 2008 has unearthed so many more.  Dean Mumm for one in NSW,  has had a great season,  and should make the Wallaby squad.  Luke Burgess and Ben Lucas are two others.  An interesting headline lately read,  "Burgess spends six years becoming an overnight sensation".

Dayna Edwards,  while I wouldn't pick him in any Wallaby Squad just yet,  was a scrummaging find by the Reds.  Jimmy Horwill has reinvented his game,  especially since being captain,  into a mature,  hard edged one,  that the Reds and Wallabies desperately need with Dan Vickerman heading off.

Peter Hynes finished the year really strongly for the Reds,  and Berrick Barnes just gets better and better.   I am struggling with what Eddie Jones said this morning though in having Quade Cooper at starting 10,  and Berrick on the bench.  Quade is a long way from Wallaby readiness,  his concentration level falls away,  and in the last game against NSW fell away after about 20 minutes.  I have Kurtley Beale well above him at this stage for Wallaby ranks.

Leroy Houston had a strong year,  and so did Wycliffe Palu  if we are talking number 8's.  Met the guy in Perth,  a very nice quietly spoken gentlemen,  not to be messed with on a footy field,  with a fantastic workrate,  and a punishing ball carry and tackle.

Tyrone Smith was probably the Brumbies best find,  and most at the Force lifted above last year.  Josh Holmes was disappointing at the Brumbies.

OK,  got to make some changes already,  Turner will be in the mix somewhere,  probably at the expense of Ashley Cooper or Tommy Carter,  and Norton Knight too most probably join the mix,  giving another backup at 10,  and first receiver during  games if he is on the paddock at the same time as Giteau and/or Barnes.

So for what it is worth,  I will throw up a Wallaby squad myself:

1.  Benn Robinson

2. Polota-Nau

3. Dunning  (As well as Baxter has been playing,  he struggles at the next level)

4. Sharpe

5. Vickerman (The premier lock in World Rugby)

6. Elsom (Haven't been a fan,  but has finished the Super 14 strongly)

7. Phil Waugh (have always gone with Smith here,  and may still do so later)

8. Palu

9. Burgess

10. Giteau (Still not convinced this is his position)

11. Tuqiri

12. Barnes

13. Horne  (Sorry guys,  never have been a Mortlock fan, this kid is ready)

14. Ashley Cooper

15. Hynes

16. Adam Freier (Again I am not a Stephen Moore fan)

17. Greg Holmes (if uninjured)

18. Henderson,  or Shepherdson.

19. Horwill

20. Mumm

21. Chisolm

22. Smith

23. Hoiles

24. Lucas

25. Beale

26. Carter

27. Mortlock

28. Tahu

29. Richard Brown

30. Pocock

That's pretty rough,  plenty of other cases could be argued,  and no doubt they will be here tonight in the loungeroom with our 3 man selection panel no doubt having different opinions.  Deans is the man that counts though,  Monday will be an interesting day.

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