Wallabies v All Blacks in Tokyo [Saturday]

What a few weeks in rugby with all the bluster about the squad, the likely team v The All Blacks etc etc. The leather elbow brigade are well known for self interest, factions and the old fashioned quote that when it comes to team selections, tactics, coaching etc "opinions are like 'backsides'* everyone's got one!"

Over recent years the Spring Tour has been trumpeted as opportunity for change, a chance for the coach to experiment etc etc... Eddie Jones was roundly criticised for not doing so and the result was that despite having to prize the Cup out of our clasped fingers with our last breathe, the Wallabies played sub par in the 2003 Cup and were soundly beaten and then again in 2007!!

Enter Robbie Deans [the messiah according to some] and when he brings on generational change [albeit patiently and having given people opportunity] we are in uproar... what happened to "I'll play anywhere just to get a game!"

Giteau, pull your head in... despite being trumpeted as the next big thing he is a natural inside centre trying to play 5/8th and should accept the obvious!! He reminds me of Ricky Ponting... a legend, a high achiever, but somehow unable to extract that from those around him... Berrick Barnes is a more natural 5/8th and Kurtley Beale could be better than either if given time to develop...

Stirling Mortlock didn't travel to Japan to explore clubs for fun... it's time... let him play for his place and if he's still number #1 for 2011 World Cup good luck to him but he's now injury prone and as such needs to be under the gun... there are others to be trialled and to be mentored by him!!

Anyhow, here endeth my rant... perhaps if we were winning you wouldn't read about the machinations, but don't ever believe that everything is smooth sailing when that happens... these blokes are always in competition for their spots and so be it... it's the nature of the game!!

Finally: message to the coach... keep it up!! But also please gives Hoiles, Beale and Ioane a good run... and let's see if Pocock is the man!! Hopefully Rocky can do an Owen 'melon' Finegan and blossom on this tour as a ball player and skipper!!

Saturday night 7pm EDST in Oz *not the original word used of course!!