He really is rather ordinary and still plays like a schoolboy. I see Dingo is keen for Kurtley Beale to try his hand at 15. Yet another schoolboy star who was rocketed in above his station too soon, and played like it. Management of young players is key, hence Teds patience in leaving likes of Cruden & Robinson at home and taking Delaney instead.

That should put a smile on Old Ted’s kisser.

I’m a big fan of Shepherd, real shame about his injuries.
On form I was looking forward to a back 3 of Ioane, Shepherd and Gerrard this year, with Shepherd and Gerrard both covering fullback depending on what the other was doing (like Roff and Walker did for the Brumbies).

Of the guys on tour, any youngsters/rookies in there that you are picking to shine?

what you make of ryan cross. i think he has good ball carrying skills. lacks some pace to be a winger, but i think he could be better suited to wing in an aussie backline setup. they need one big winger to balance the back 3. he has struggled adjusting to 13 defensive systems in test matches, but still has talent for this level.

hynes, mitchell and turner are 3 of the same and then there is o’connor as well.

yep tyrone smith is quality. totally agree. would brumbies answer national interests ahead of their own and play ashley coops there instead. like you say he more likely to stay at 15 which means deans might have to look else where for a reliable and long term 12 option ahead of injury prone barnes.

my best pick at 15 for aussie is cameron shephard. reminds me of roebuck, joe roff and an early larkham.

They do have Tyrone Smith at 12 though, who I also look forward to getting some time on the EOYT. He’s like a smaller faster version of his brother

9. Genia
10. Giteau/Barnes (I guarantee one will be injured most of time).
11. Hynes
12. Ashley-Cooper
13. Ioane
14. Turner/Mitchell
15. O’Connor/Gerrard/Shepherd

Solid backline with a lot more big explosive runners than the current team, which is getting smaller and smaller.

ashely cooper like you say could develop into a dynamic 12. he nees game time there in super 14 to develop those skills, not at test level.

o’connor is a good long term prospect at 15, but he needs more experience round him from his wingers. someone like lote would have been good to have there to support him. turner and mitchell imo are good wingers. gerrard was solid with special talent. no idea how he got away without cheque book thrown at him.

I actually think Ashley-Cooper would make a good 12 in the Horan or JdV mould if given time in the position. Not a classic playmaker, but strong fast and creates opportunities.
Move him to 12 permanently, and make O’Connor, Turner or Mitchell the main fullback. Or even easier, get Gerrard back from Japan ffs!!

ashley cooper is good footballer. not sure if he is 12 material though. he is very solid at 13, and copes at 15 most of the time.

wonder if deans will take a punt with the king carlos wannabe kid, cooper, at 10 and gits at 12 or visa versa. this could be a solid combination for 2011.

The Wallabies need to find a dedicated back-up no.12 and stick by them. Given Barnes’ injury woes they will be starting more often than not.
Ashley-Cooper is a great player, but continually dicking him around like this week by week isn’t fair on him or the rest of the backline.
If you want him at 12, then play him at 12 and get another fullback.

aussie will need to keep it tight, but that just isn’t on the cards given dean’s gameplans. ABs by 13+ i reckon.