Wake up USA. You are the only country that cares about the aggregate medal count OVER the gold medal count.
(I know that's a bit "out of nowhere" for my Aussie readers, but due to the sheer amount of American sports content I absorb I can't help having a chuckle/reaction to the "American" version of the medal tally).
While Australians take a lot of pride for punching above their own weight, how good is South Korea?!
As good as the Michael Phelps story is, the swimmer I've really been impressed with in this Olympics is Kirsty Coventry (1 gold and 3 silvers). I could understand why she could swim like a fish if she was from the Western Cape of South Africa, but Zimbabwe is a land locked country!
And while staying on the "random sport" theme, even though I a.) don't like golf, b.) am a casual observer of basketball at best, and c.) hate reality shows, Charles Barkley's golf swing is so fascinatingly bad (think: car crash) that I think "yes, I would watch a reality show about trying to correct Charles Barkley's golf swing!" :)
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Galactica
I am just now starting season 3 of Battlestar Galactica, and am really enjoying.
"Only up to Season 3?" I hear you say? I was just so uncaptivated when I watched the Pilot a few years ago that I really just could not be bothered. In a way this has been good for my mental state, because if I had been watching this week-to-week I could see myself going nuts waiting for the next installment.
It is certainly very different to the original series -- it does not have the same visceral Space Opera that was characteristic of the original series with both the music and the space combat scenes being much more understated.
In fact, the style and the story are so different that rather than reimagining the original story, they could have very easily not used the original characters and rather just set it 50 years later in the same universe. (But then again, after BSG 1980, maybe reimagining had to happen :) ).
Overall, the new stories have fantastic penmanship. The constant mind games could become tedious with weaker writing, but instead the plot becomes even more gripping. I have never read the graphic novels, but when I watch the show I can very easily imagine the story boarding -- for example, the Baltar/6 interactions. (As a general comment, the TV and film industry have become quite magnificent in graphic novel adaptions!)
Final word: Most significant sci-fi series in the last decade, very much due to the quality of the writing; I think it trumps Bab-5 and the newly released Dr Who (both of which I have enjoyed immensely).
"Only up to Season 3?" I hear you say? I was just so uncaptivated when I watched the Pilot a few years ago that I really just could not be bothered. In a way this has been good for my mental state, because if I had been watching this week-to-week I could see myself going nuts waiting for the next installment.
It is certainly very different to the original series -- it does not have the same visceral Space Opera that was characteristic of the original series with both the music and the space combat scenes being much more understated.
In fact, the style and the story are so different that rather than reimagining the original story, they could have very easily not used the original characters and rather just set it 50 years later in the same universe. (But then again, after BSG 1980, maybe reimagining had to happen :) ).
Overall, the new stories have fantastic penmanship. The constant mind games could become tedious with weaker writing, but instead the plot becomes even more gripping. I have never read the graphic novels, but when I watch the show I can very easily imagine the story boarding -- for example, the Baltar/6 interactions. (As a general comment, the TV and film industry have become quite magnificent in graphic novel adaptions!)
Final word: Most significant sci-fi series in the last decade, very much due to the quality of the writing; I think it trumps Bab-5 and the newly released Dr Who (both of which I have enjoyed immensely).
Newlands Quikkie
Both the AB's and the Boks played quite a physical game, but reviewing the film will show a lot of horrid mistakes. That said, reviewing game film will be a lot easier for the AB's, as getting any win (let alone a shutout) as a visitor to the Republic is a very major achievement.
If this game was to be remembered (which it won't), it will be based on the question of the kicking. When was the last time you saw i.) Dan Carter miss 5/5 penalties, have ii.) 2/2 drop goals charged down, and also iii.) see Percy miss 2/2 on penalties.
Another thought: Brad Thorn must be right on the cusp of being dropped. He's committed a major foul in almost every game of the Tri-Nations so far which ultimately puts his team at risk when getting reduced to 14 men, and he was incredibly lucky in this game not to get a yellow for taking out Du Preez as he chased his own kick.
Graham Henry will have relieved considerable pressure, but for Pete De Villiers the nightmare has just begun. Not only did the Bokke get shutout at home, but he selected a team which was viewed poorly by the South African politicians due to "transformation". I cannot see De Villiers making it through all the way to the next Rugby World Cup; he's just not as elusive as Jake White was.
As I've said before, I think Springbok Coach is the hardest position in world sport.
If this game was to be remembered (which it won't), it will be based on the question of the kicking. When was the last time you saw i.) Dan Carter miss 5/5 penalties, have ii.) 2/2 drop goals charged down, and also iii.) see Percy miss 2/2 on penalties.
Another thought: Brad Thorn must be right on the cusp of being dropped. He's committed a major foul in almost every game of the Tri-Nations so far which ultimately puts his team at risk when getting reduced to 14 men, and he was incredibly lucky in this game not to get a yellow for taking out Du Preez as he chased his own kick.
Graham Henry will have relieved considerable pressure, but for Pete De Villiers the nightmare has just begun. Not only did the Bokke get shutout at home, but he selected a team which was viewed poorly by the South African politicians due to "transformation". I cannot see De Villiers making it through all the way to the next Rugby World Cup; he's just not as elusive as Jake White was.
As I've said before, I think Springbok Coach is the hardest position in world sport.
300
After the last 7 or 8 months, I feel like Leonidas of Sparta, except that by some miracle I've managed to live through/limp away from Thermopylae.
I've survived, and now I'm stronger for it... It's nice to see sunshine again.
(BTW, 300 -- what a great adaption! I read a little while ago that they were considering working with Frank Miller to do a prequel!)
I've survived, and now I'm stronger for it... It's nice to see sunshine again.
(BTW, 300 -- what a great adaption! I read a little while ago that they were considering working with Frank Miller to do a prequel!)
Final Comments on HOF
I finally got a chance to see the Hall of Fame acceptance speeches. I hope the 4 minute standing ovation that Art Monk got when he took the stage (this is not typical; to my knowledge, a first) sends a message to the faceless HOF voters and their politicking. And what a polished speaker!
While on the NFL, I'm feeling very positive about the Skins upcoming year and the beginning of the Zorn era. You could probably say that I'm feeling the same way every year, but the 1st stringers have looked uncharacteristically sharp and polished in their first two outings, and I just love listening to Zorn speak; he makes any topic so engaging.
And for a final comment, how's this for the amusing-because-it's-not-me dept.: Mike Holmgren's (Coach of the Seattle Seahawks) daughter was thrown out of her fantasy football league because she has "too much inside information".
My advice: sue! You are in the right country for it! :)
While on the NFL, I'm feeling very positive about the Skins upcoming year and the beginning of the Zorn era. You could probably say that I'm feeling the same way every year, but the 1st stringers have looked uncharacteristically sharp and polished in their first two outings, and I just love listening to Zorn speak; he makes any topic so engaging.
And for a final comment, how's this for the amusing-because-it's-not-me dept.: Mike Holmgren's (Coach of the Seattle Seahawks) daughter was thrown out of her fantasy football league because she has "too much inside information".
My advice: sue! You are in the right country for it! :)
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Skins v Colts
As I mentioned back in February, two childhood idols of mine -- Art Monk and Darrell Green -- will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame at this weekend's "Hall of Fame Game".
The game itself is meaningless (the opening preseason game) but I still would have loved to have seen the broadcast purely for the induction ceremonies.
While Green was selected in his first year of eligibility, Monk was snubbed for a number of years with the faceless politics that are involved with Hall of Fame selection.
It was nice to see Monk's typically classy self taking the positives from the situation in an interview with the Washington Post:
Q: What's the greatest moment of your career? As you look to all the accomplishments, the yards, the touchdowns, the catches, the Super Bowls, can you pinpoint what was the greatest moment or the series of greatest moments?
Monk: Of my career?
Q: Yeah.
Monk: Probably something that's sort of not on-the-field-related but off-the-field-related. I mean, it's great to be an athlete, and you want people to enjoy what you do and get excited and all of that. But just the fact that after I retired and this whole Hall of Fame thing and not making it [for several years] to see how the community really responded to that and supported me, I think that's probably the best part, for me, of my career to know that people enjoyed and respected and appreciated me more than just being an athlete, but just as a person.
Hurry up and put the brotha in the hall!
The game itself is meaningless (the opening preseason game) but I still would have loved to have seen the broadcast purely for the induction ceremonies.
While Green was selected in his first year of eligibility, Monk was snubbed for a number of years with the faceless politics that are involved with Hall of Fame selection.
It was nice to see Monk's typically classy self taking the positives from the situation in an interview with the Washington Post:
Q: What's the greatest moment of your career? As you look to all the accomplishments, the yards, the touchdowns, the catches, the Super Bowls, can you pinpoint what was the greatest moment or the series of greatest moments?
Monk: Of my career?
Q: Yeah.
Monk: Probably something that's sort of not on-the-field-related but off-the-field-related. I mean, it's great to be an athlete, and you want people to enjoy what you do and get excited and all of that. But just the fact that after I retired and this whole Hall of Fame thing and not making it [for several years] to see how the community really responded to that and supported me, I think that's probably the best part, for me, of my career to know that people enjoyed and respected and appreciated me more than just being an athlete, but just as a person.
Hurry up and put the brotha in the hall!
Prague
I have had it confirmed I will be doing a conference in Prague mid-November!
I'll probably take a week off beforehand to do a little bit of travel, so now I just have to work out where I'd like to go.
Woo hoo!
I'll probably take a week off beforehand to do a little bit of travel, so now I just have to work out where I'd like to go.
Woo hoo!
Tonight's Contest
It's hard to predict a winner, because even an All-Blacks team with weaknesses is still pretty good.
I appreciate the amount of pressure that is on Henry right now, but I am really quite surprised at his uncharacteristic meekness and excuse making in his press conferences (which actually started before the test last week). This psychological chasm opening up before our eyes with the absense of the stereotypical "headmaster" character we normally see with Henry is why the Aussies licking their chops (as opposed to any differences in talent).
The AB selectors have copped a bit of flack around Kahui on the wing, but I actually like this selection given the physical nature of his opposition, and while I think Nonu creates opportunities for both sides at 12, pairing him up with his Wellington center Conrad Smith (who is a pretty good player outright) should help that combination a little bit.
I'd expect less tries and more kicking and conservative tactics as the stakes continue to climb. Weather will also dictate a change in tactics with a slippery ball. Trying to select McDonald at fullback was a clear indicator of this. As much as the AB's are lamenting McDonald not being able to play at FB tonight, Muliaina was a standout at that spot last week, so they still have a pretty good player there.
The most intriguing matchup will be at the breakdown, with the return of McCaw for the New Zealanders, vs Robbie selecting both Smith and Waugh in the same back row. Last week would have been a very different game with McCaw's presence, given the Wallaby dominance here. The overall physicality should go up a notch which should make it an outright brutal contest, and while superman McCaw always finds a way to surprise you even when you are expecting his best, I wonder whether 80 mins at this intensity level will be too much of an ask for a guy returning from a six-week layoff.
The bench selection is interesting; Vickerman is a tremendously complete player and often makes massive contributions at ruck time, and McMeniman who in more recent years has played blindside flanker as much as lock is an absolute mongrel, and loves to throw himself into the mess.
If the Wallabies don't win tonight it might be another 20 years before they get an opportunity this ripe. But make no mistake, the opportunity is absolutely there.
I appreciate the amount of pressure that is on Henry right now, but I am really quite surprised at his uncharacteristic meekness and excuse making in his press conferences (which actually started before the test last week). This psychological chasm opening up before our eyes with the absense of the stereotypical "headmaster" character we normally see with Henry is why the Aussies licking their chops (as opposed to any differences in talent).
The AB selectors have copped a bit of flack around Kahui on the wing, but I actually like this selection given the physical nature of his opposition, and while I think Nonu creates opportunities for both sides at 12, pairing him up with his Wellington center Conrad Smith (who is a pretty good player outright) should help that combination a little bit.
I'd expect less tries and more kicking and conservative tactics as the stakes continue to climb. Weather will also dictate a change in tactics with a slippery ball. Trying to select McDonald at fullback was a clear indicator of this. As much as the AB's are lamenting McDonald not being able to play at FB tonight, Muliaina was a standout at that spot last week, so they still have a pretty good player there.
The most intriguing matchup will be at the breakdown, with the return of McCaw for the New Zealanders, vs Robbie selecting both Smith and Waugh in the same back row. Last week would have been a very different game with McCaw's presence, given the Wallaby dominance here. The overall physicality should go up a notch which should make it an outright brutal contest, and while superman McCaw always finds a way to surprise you even when you are expecting his best, I wonder whether 80 mins at this intensity level will be too much of an ask for a guy returning from a six-week layoff.
The bench selection is interesting; Vickerman is a tremendously complete player and often makes massive contributions at ruck time, and McMeniman who in more recent years has played blindside flanker as much as lock is an absolute mongrel, and loves to throw himself into the mess.
If the Wallabies don't win tonight it might be another 20 years before they get an opportunity this ripe. But make no mistake, the opportunity is absolutely there.
Saturday, 26 July 2008
Who?
I have a myriad of thoughts about the new Doctor Who after finishing Season 4 a few weeks ago.
Excellent :)
I do have some criticisms, but overall I am really happy that the show has returned, and that the people working on the show have done a worthy job.
If you have not seen the finale, beware that I will be including spoilers here.
In no particular order:-
Doctor's #9 and #10:
I really loved Christopher Eccleston's incarnation. The character had a dark, unsettling edge about him that reminded me of Colin Baker, but also had a lot of charisma which Colin's incarnation did not have. He did have a wonderful "alien" feel about him while also having a "human" side to his character. I can understand Eccleston wanting to avoid getting typecast (as Tom Baker did), but it seems a tragedy that he only stuck around for a single season. With a bit of longevity he might have become my all-time favourite...
It took me a while to warm to David Tennant. At first I thought he was annoying because it seemed that Ecclestone's intensity was replaced by some fairly weak jokes. That weak joke aspect seemed to have an uncomfortable contrast against the random threats the Doctor seemed to make every other episode of bringing down the universe if the villain-of-the-week harmed his companion etc. That's what I thought was bothering me, but then I worked out that this was not the core issue. It comes down to the chemistry between Rose and #9 vs #10. I thought Rose matched up really well with Eccleston, but there's just something wrong about it with Tennant. I only worked this out when I got to Season 3 and found David Tennant to be very enjoyable traveling with Martha even though Season 2 had better writing.
I have decided I like Tennant quite a bit now, and what really blew me away was hearing his (native) Scottish accent on DW Confidential. I had no idea! I am quite happy he ain't dead yet, but it's still a mystery on whether he will be back for Season 5 (he is only confirmed for the next 4 specials between now and the next season).
The Companions:
I've liked them all -- Rose, Martha and Donna. As I said, Rose was much better with #9 than #10. I felt Martha had a lot more potential as a "smarter" companion, but unfortunately she got sucked into the Russell T. Davies vortex of paramilitary organisations and resistance movements. (So did Rose, but at least she got two seasons). Donna was a good change of pace, but unfortunately the writers did not seem comfortable exploiting Catherine Tait's comedic talents (only exploited a handful of times throughout season 4).
I did enjoy how RTD would also get more involvement from the surrounding family (Mickie and Jackie grow on you quickly enough), but with three companions over four seasons where you are getting so involved with their families, it's probably a bit much for it to continue this way. I mean, we are talking Doctor Who, not East Enders.
A final comment on the companions: sentimentality has it's place in the new Who, but when they start to go into hero-worship mode, I start to feel like I'm watching fan-fiction rather than DW.
The Writing:
As happy as I am with Russell T Davies in bringing back Who as such a high quality production, more than half of my bottom ranked stories (see Worst Stories below) are written by him. I think he's a very genuine Doctor Who fan and has a very good grasp of the history and stories of the show, but sometimes he's too much of a fan (see my previous comment on hero worship).
What does really bother me is lazy writing, which happens all-too-often with RTD. The Sonic Screwdriver might as well now be an amulet of wishes that doubles as a stun-gun, on top of also introducing "Psychic Paper" and the "Superphone". Where these items get used are genuine opportunities for creative writing, but RTD falls back on the plot devices. Even in aid of moving the story along at a brisk pace, he leans on these gadgets far too often. I can think of a few other plot devices not tied to gadgets, but the worst of them all was the Dalek "Temporal Shift" plot device. You get how these powers might have eventuated as you learn more about the Time War storyline, but these are such unnecessary and unsatisfying developments given how capable we already know how menacing the Daleks can be. (Terry Nation would be turning in his grave).
This makes it sound like I hate RTD, but I don't. He's created some great storylines, and I have enjoyed a number of the creatures that he has newly introduced into the DW pantheon, but overall I just see him more as a great producer than a writer.
On the other hand, Steven Moffat has written some terrific gems over the last four years, and the good news is that he will be taking over as head writer of the series in 2010. So RTD leaves the show in good hands, and hopefully it gets even better.
Old Villains:
I love the old villains, but I do have to say that the new versions are not as terrifying as compared to the Jon Pertwee/Tom Baker era (the Autons, the Daleks, the Cybermen, the Sontarans). The Daleks, in particular, get too much airtime (often 3 episodes out of a 13 episode season). They are the ultimate enemy, but in the old days whenever the Daleks would appear you knew the story was going to be special. I did like the mind games that Davros was playing with the Doctor in the Season 4 finale -- my favourite Dalek moment from the new Who.
Of the old villains brought back, the writing that featured the Master was the biggest waste. Why is this? All incarnations of the Master are fiendish, have machavellian cunning, and ultimately show psychopathic traits, but you never see humour from the Master. Think about Terror of the Autons, The Deadly Assassin or the Keeper of Trakken -- the Master was pretty terrifying, and he didn't try to crack too many jokes as he hatched his plots; to the contrary, he was a very serious psychopath. In the Season 3 finale, even though he was never short of an answer and consistently had an upper hand on the Doctor all the way to the end, the humourous aspects inherent in the Master's behaviour failed to convince me we were viewing the character originally played by Roger Delgado.
New Villains:
Generally I've really liked the new villains such as the Ood, the Judoon and the Slitheen. I also really enjoyed Simon Pegg's all-too-brief appearance as The Editor in The Long Game.
Hopefully we never see (or even hear of) the Sycorax again.
Favourite Stories:
I think the writing was generally pretty good in Season 1, and my favourite was The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances two-parter. Quite a good story, and Captain Jack Harkness gets a great introduction as a cool character. Generally speaking, because I liked Christopher Ecclestone so much, I might have overlooked inconsistencies throughout the season that would otherwise bother me.
Season 2 also had fairly strong writing, and I know a lot of Who-fans really loved School Reunion -- I also liked it, but I didn't rate it as the season's best. The Girl in the Fireplace is one of my favourite DW short stories of all time, and the best word I can think of to describe the dark two-parter The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit is "gripping". Fantastic old-school writing there.
The highlight of Season 3 was the Human Nature/The Family of Blood two-parter. The scarecrows had a creepy feel that reminds me of the Jon Pertwee days, and I thought Harry Lloyd was brilliant as Jeremy Baines (the troublemaking, villanous and appropriately creepy schoolboy).
Finally, Season 4 seemed pretty flat in it's writing to me, but Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead was a real standout as the best of the new series. You know that the fans will be begging to see River Song again, but in a way it would be a shame to get that type of closure. Along those lines, I will say that I did like the finale, but I'd also say that it really tied things up a bit too neatly for my liking. However, considering RTD's contributions to bringing Who back, and impending departure, I can overlook what is obviously a self-indulgence.
Worst Stories:
As I said before, I really quite liked Season 1. Maybe I would rate Father's Day at the bottom, but that would really have much more to do with inconsistencies and some really obvious plot holes that get opened up, which the writer doesn't bother to address. But as a storyline it was worthy of exploration, so I don't want to be overly harsh. I will say the Bad Wolf appearances throughout the season were more annoying than intriguing.
In Season 2, I didn't like Tooth and Claw all that much, but it has nothing on Love and Monsters (possibly the worst of all time?) or Fear Her -- both of which clearly fall into the fan-fiction bucket, and are not worthy of further discussion. Ever.
While there were a few stories in Season 3 that I just found weak (The Shakespeare Code, The Lazarus Experiment), the finale left a really bad taste in my mouth. The overarching idea behind the three-parter was a good one, but I think the detail really let it down. Actually, I loved Utopia which set the scene for the other two episodes beautifully, but I just thought the "Saxon" incarnation of The Master was such a pale imitation of his old self, and I would absolutely hate to think that this is the end of one of my favourite DW villains. The whole "Saxon for PM" storyline was not at all convincing, which I think has much more to do with writing than acting (John Simm is terrific in Life on Mars, and would love to see him playing a different DW character). On the positive side, I will say that I did think the Face of Boe twist was one of the best ever.
With Season 4, I found The Unicorn And The Wasp quite tedious, The Fires of Pompeii plain boring, and The Doctor's Daughter a wasted opportunity to really explore what could have been an intriguing storyline. I also noticed they areally started to go over the top with technobabble in many of the episodes.
Christmas Specials:
The Christmas Invasion may challenge Love and Monsters as the worst ever, but for different reasons -- absolute laziness with the writing, the lameness of the Sycorax, the sword fight... (Maybe this is the reason David Tennant's incarnation got off on the wrong foot with me?)
Fortunately, the other Christmas Specials have been quite good, and Time Crash was a treat.
Final Thoughts:
I read this excerpt in an interview with Steven Moffat (who will be the lead writer when DW resumes in 2010):
Gareth Roberts, who wrote "The Unicorn And The Wasp," has a theory: You write Doctor Who as you remember it. He remembers it as funny and clever, so he writes that kind of Doctor Who. I remember it as being scary.
Excellent :)
Sunday, 4 May 2008
12 Weeks In...
...and the Test side almost picks itself. There is an impressive amount of emerging talent (Australia has never had so many good prospects at flyhalf), but there are also a few positions where depth is a real concern (Loosehead, Tighthead and Fullback).
For obvious reasons, the Waratahs dominate the forwards selection.
Right now, Pat's starting Wallabies XV looks like:
Loosehead Prop: Benn Robinson (Waratahs). This is the shakiest pick of the lot. Robinson overachieves as a smallish player, but I do not think he is a Test level prop. However, this is the weakest position in Australian rugby. The other players under consideration are either inexperienced (Ben Coutts of the Reds, and Sekope Kepu of the Waratahs) or out of form (Greg Holmes of the Reds).
Hooker: Tatafu Polota Nau (Waratahs). Clearly the best in my opinion. Already a terrific athletic specimen, and strong in line breaks, intercepts, and defense. Now showing consistency in the pre-requisite skill of line out throws, his selection is an absolute no-brainer. If he keeps delivering on potential, he could become world class. The next best hooker is Stephen Moore of the Reds (either going to the Brumbies or Force next year) who is starting to regain form, but after Moore there is a notable drop-off in talent.
Tighthead Prop: Matt Dunning (Waratahs). It's hard to believe Dunning is the best in the country, but he is. I consider him solid but not spectacular. At least Dunning is more mature than he was a few years ago. The biggest knock on him this year is that he only plays about 45-50 minutes a game. After Dunning, Dayna Edwards of the Reds looks like a rough diamond, while incumbent Guy Shepherdson of the Brumbies is out of form (often on the bench in favour of Selesi Ma'afu).
Locks: Nathan Sharpe (Force) and Dean Mumm (Waratahs). The best lock in the country is (without doubt) Dan Vickerman, but he is off to the Northern Hemisphere at the end of the year. Nathan Sharpe, in the last 2 years, has finally started to repay the ARU's faith in him and has evolved into a Test-level lock. Dean Mumm benefited from the hard knocks of last year and has had a really outstanding year for the Waratahs. Behind these two, I would consider Al Campbell (Brumbies) and James Horwill (Reds). I think Chisholm (Brumbies) is an outstanding ball runner and works hard at the breakdown, but he's too inconsistent at the line-out, and in the tight-5 set piece always comes first.
Blindside Flanker: Rocky Elsom (Waratahs). The ARU need to find a way to keep Rocky - he leads by example with his work rate, and is a Test level player a lot of countries would love to have. After Rocky, there are not too many other natural blindsides that I would consider at Test level. I think I like Stephen Hoiles' (Brumbies) flexibility even though he's played No 8 for most of this year. Alternatively, switching David Pocock (Force) from Openside might be the best way to get him into the Test side in a timely manner.
Openside Flanker: George Smith (Brumbies). As per usual, George Smith and Phil Waugh (Waratahs) create a pleasant selection headache at this position. Both of these players have had a great year so far, in terms of both positional play and leadership. Two genuinely great Test level players.
No. 8: Wycliff Palu (Waratahs). Palu's performance at this position is the most dominant I have seen for many years. After Palu, Richard Brown (Force) has been very impressive and the next best, and Julian Salvi (Brumbies) has done a very nice job filling in for Stephen Hoiles. Leroy Houston's (Reds) comeback is admirable, but lacks consistency at S14 level (let alone Test).
Halfback: Luke Burgess (Waratahs). Now that Sam Cordingley is off to the Northern Hemisphere, the decision is clear: the future is now. Burgess has very impressive speed and stamina, and his quick clear out has had a positive affect on Kurtley Beale's game. Also, since Cordingley has been injured, Ben Lucas (Reds) has looked like an excellent young prospect. There is also decent halfback talent in James Stannard (Force), Brett Sheehan (Waratahs) and Will Genia (Reds), but the Brumbies prospects (Patrick Phibbs and Josh Holmes) have been disappointingly inconsistent.
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau (Force). It seems like a long time ago since the debate of whether Giteau should play flyhalf or Inside Center, but the answer has become obvious over the last 2 months. The more interesting question is who the backup should be. Quade Cooper (Reds) likely edges out Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), but it is really, really close. Cooper's fluid pass is exceptional, while Beale's inside step can be a game breaker when he isn't overplaying his hand. (The most positive thing for Beale is that he has stopped the directionless kicking). Also, Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies) is quietly having an impressive year.
Left Wing: Lote Tuqiri (Waratahs). Lote's power and physical size still make him a world class Winger (when he's not chipping the ball), but his value to the team has improved even more with the leadership he has shown on the field and in the locker room for the Waratahs this year. Drew Mitchell (Force) has been in good form lately, and would be an excellent backup.
Inside Center: Ryan Cross (Force). This is where the hottest debate is going on, and the contenders are Cross and Berrick Barnes (Reds). Cross has had strong impact running the ball at Outside Center for the Force, and was arguably Australia A's best player last year playing at Inside Center. Berrick Barnes has also had an impressive year, building on his passing and kicking game with new strengths in tackling. Very different players, but both have great potential as Test players.
Outside Center: Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies). When he hasn't been injured this year, the incumbent Wallabies Captain has looked as good as ever playing for the Brumbies. Behind Mortlock, realistically it's Ashley Cooper or Ryan Cross, but as I've named those players as starters elsewhere I would instead name young Waratahs sensation Rob Horne as depth. Horne can do it all, is incredibly fast, and at 18 years old has a great career ahead of him. I don't know what's in the water in Canberra, but Leo Afeaki deserves an honourable mention for his massive hits in the limited game time he's had at the Brumbies.
Right Wing: Adam Ashley Cooper (Brumbies). Ashley Cooper has had an instant impact and has been consistent since coming back to the Brumbies from injury. He should definitely start for the Wallabies. After Ashley Cooper, Lachy Turner (Waratahs) deserves consideration but his poor play at Fullback will have hurt his selection chances. Brando Va'alu (Reds) is also quietly emerging as a talent.
Fullback: Mark Gerrard (Brumbies). Before the season kicked off, I would have never guessed Gerrard would be the successor to Chris Latham. However, Gerrard has taken one step forward (his kicking has been sensational) while his rivals have all taken one step back. I also would have expected to have named Clinton Schifcofske (Reds) as a backup, but after moving from Wing to Fullback with Latham's injiry at the Reds, Clinton's had a form slump. Which leaves a mediocre duel against out-of-form Cameron Shepherd (Force).
For obvious reasons, the Waratahs dominate the forwards selection.
Right now, Pat's starting Wallabies XV looks like:
Loosehead Prop: Benn Robinson (Waratahs). This is the shakiest pick of the lot. Robinson overachieves as a smallish player, but I do not think he is a Test level prop. However, this is the weakest position in Australian rugby. The other players under consideration are either inexperienced (Ben Coutts of the Reds, and Sekope Kepu of the Waratahs) or out of form (Greg Holmes of the Reds).
Hooker: Tatafu Polota Nau (Waratahs). Clearly the best in my opinion. Already a terrific athletic specimen, and strong in line breaks, intercepts, and defense. Now showing consistency in the pre-requisite skill of line out throws, his selection is an absolute no-brainer. If he keeps delivering on potential, he could become world class. The next best hooker is Stephen Moore of the Reds (either going to the Brumbies or Force next year) who is starting to regain form, but after Moore there is a notable drop-off in talent.
Tighthead Prop: Matt Dunning (Waratahs). It's hard to believe Dunning is the best in the country, but he is. I consider him solid but not spectacular. At least Dunning is more mature than he was a few years ago. The biggest knock on him this year is that he only plays about 45-50 minutes a game. After Dunning, Dayna Edwards of the Reds looks like a rough diamond, while incumbent Guy Shepherdson of the Brumbies is out of form (often on the bench in favour of Selesi Ma'afu).
Locks: Nathan Sharpe (Force) and Dean Mumm (Waratahs). The best lock in the country is (without doubt) Dan Vickerman, but he is off to the Northern Hemisphere at the end of the year. Nathan Sharpe, in the last 2 years, has finally started to repay the ARU's faith in him and has evolved into a Test-level lock. Dean Mumm benefited from the hard knocks of last year and has had a really outstanding year for the Waratahs. Behind these two, I would consider Al Campbell (Brumbies) and James Horwill (Reds). I think Chisholm (Brumbies) is an outstanding ball runner and works hard at the breakdown, but he's too inconsistent at the line-out, and in the tight-5 set piece always comes first.
Blindside Flanker: Rocky Elsom (Waratahs). The ARU need to find a way to keep Rocky - he leads by example with his work rate, and is a Test level player a lot of countries would love to have. After Rocky, there are not too many other natural blindsides that I would consider at Test level. I think I like Stephen Hoiles' (Brumbies) flexibility even though he's played No 8 for most of this year. Alternatively, switching David Pocock (Force) from Openside might be the best way to get him into the Test side in a timely manner.
Openside Flanker: George Smith (Brumbies). As per usual, George Smith and Phil Waugh (Waratahs) create a pleasant selection headache at this position. Both of these players have had a great year so far, in terms of both positional play and leadership. Two genuinely great Test level players.
No. 8: Wycliff Palu (Waratahs). Palu's performance at this position is the most dominant I have seen for many years. After Palu, Richard Brown (Force) has been very impressive and the next best, and Julian Salvi (Brumbies) has done a very nice job filling in for Stephen Hoiles. Leroy Houston's (Reds) comeback is admirable, but lacks consistency at S14 level (let alone Test).
Halfback: Luke Burgess (Waratahs). Now that Sam Cordingley is off to the Northern Hemisphere, the decision is clear: the future is now. Burgess has very impressive speed and stamina, and his quick clear out has had a positive affect on Kurtley Beale's game. Also, since Cordingley has been injured, Ben Lucas (Reds) has looked like an excellent young prospect. There is also decent halfback talent in James Stannard (Force), Brett Sheehan (Waratahs) and Will Genia (Reds), but the Brumbies prospects (Patrick Phibbs and Josh Holmes) have been disappointingly inconsistent.
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau (Force). It seems like a long time ago since the debate of whether Giteau should play flyhalf or Inside Center, but the answer has become obvious over the last 2 months. The more interesting question is who the backup should be. Quade Cooper (Reds) likely edges out Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), but it is really, really close. Cooper's fluid pass is exceptional, while Beale's inside step can be a game breaker when he isn't overplaying his hand. (The most positive thing for Beale is that he has stopped the directionless kicking). Also, Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies) is quietly having an impressive year.
Left Wing: Lote Tuqiri (Waratahs). Lote's power and physical size still make him a world class Winger (when he's not chipping the ball), but his value to the team has improved even more with the leadership he has shown on the field and in the locker room for the Waratahs this year. Drew Mitchell (Force) has been in good form lately, and would be an excellent backup.
Inside Center: Ryan Cross (Force). This is where the hottest debate is going on, and the contenders are Cross and Berrick Barnes (Reds). Cross has had strong impact running the ball at Outside Center for the Force, and was arguably Australia A's best player last year playing at Inside Center. Berrick Barnes has also had an impressive year, building on his passing and kicking game with new strengths in tackling. Very different players, but both have great potential as Test players.
Outside Center: Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies). When he hasn't been injured this year, the incumbent Wallabies Captain has looked as good as ever playing for the Brumbies. Behind Mortlock, realistically it's Ashley Cooper or Ryan Cross, but as I've named those players as starters elsewhere I would instead name young Waratahs sensation Rob Horne as depth. Horne can do it all, is incredibly fast, and at 18 years old has a great career ahead of him. I don't know what's in the water in Canberra, but Leo Afeaki deserves an honourable mention for his massive hits in the limited game time he's had at the Brumbies.
Right Wing: Adam Ashley Cooper (Brumbies). Ashley Cooper has had an instant impact and has been consistent since coming back to the Brumbies from injury. He should definitely start for the Wallabies. After Ashley Cooper, Lachy Turner (Waratahs) deserves consideration but his poor play at Fullback will have hurt his selection chances. Brando Va'alu (Reds) is also quietly emerging as a talent.
Fullback: Mark Gerrard (Brumbies). Before the season kicked off, I would have never guessed Gerrard would be the successor to Chris Latham. However, Gerrard has taken one step forward (his kicking has been sensational) while his rivals have all taken one step back. I also would have expected to have named Clinton Schifcofske (Reds) as a backup, but after moving from Wing to Fullback with Latham's injiry at the Reds, Clinton's had a form slump. Which leaves a mediocre duel against out-of-form Cameron Shepherd (Force).
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