I was looking specifically at the potential national selection players. Lets start off with the games this morning:-
Highlanders - Blues game : Really difficult - but I would say that the Weakest Link here was a toss up. Who do you think"
Hurricans - Rebels game : Beale had an atrocious game and was replaced early. He can never be the Wallaby flyhalf - but who can?
Brumbies - Reds : The real shocker was Cooper. Did he do anything right this morning?
highlanders vs blues - i dont think anyone but the most die hard of blues fan thought that the blues would win. highlanders first half was solid but they lost their way in the 2nd. nonu and weepu coming of the bench produced some of their best rugby, but i think the real weakness was the team as a whole, which has been their signature for 2012 and gareth anscombes poor decision making, which i hope improves in the future.
hurricanes vs rebels - beale was atrocious, but the rebels are still a new team and they produced some great efforts lately, their match against the bulls which went down to the wire and the scalp of the crusaders which is hanging over the rebels fire place and in both ghames beale was instrumental, especially the crusaders. admittedly beale had a poor game today, but their whole team did to be honest, and this season has seen them punch far above their weight.
reds vs brumbies - the most anticipated match in OZ for a while and what a mind numbingly boring match. cooper played very well in his first 40mins against the lions, but this week he played more like a person who just returned back from a lengthy injury enduced absence. so i wouldnt rule him judge him too quickly.
IMO the wallabies have many a good option for 10, beale is who i would put there, once hes supported by australias best and not the dribs and drabs from the rebels, we will see him produce a consistent high level performance.
cooper is another option, but i think he will be used on the bench after being away for so long.
