Planet Rugby Forum

Ellafan wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 7:27 am

shanky wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:50 pm I’d say Lonergan but we already know he’s in

I’ll pick Uru, and maybe that 6 from the Brumbies (Stowers?)

kiwigreg369 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:25 pm Good call on Carter Gordon - def a player to watch.

Is Uru (spelling?) - the Fijian/Aussie lock - back rower available?

At least he’s a good line out option and supports a fast game (if that’s what Aus are playing).

Not sure what strategy Rennie is building but I hope it’s a fast / passing game.

Carter Gordon has had some hype for a while - never got a shot at the Reds and took ages to get time at the Rebels.

https://rugbynews.net.au/carter-gordon- ... ade-rugby/

A lot of people were pissed when the Reds let him get away - Bryce Hegarty and Hamish Stewart got contracts though. Fml.

Gordon’s younger brother looks cut from the same cloth; except he seems bigger and quicker.

Also surprised by no Hosea. Looks good from what I've seen.

What has happened to Folau Fainga'a this year?

mrbrownstone wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:13 am Also surprised by no Hosea. Looks good from what I've seen.

What has happened to Folau Fainga'a this year?

FF is off contract after next year, and unless he has a form reversal will probably be heading o/s...

The Brumbies have just re-signed both Lonergan and McInerney, and Pollard is contracted until 2023.

Zakar wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:41 am

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:56 pm Swinton is quality those lads giving him shit wouldn't know a blindside flanker from a bar of soap.

There's a problem there with a bit too much uncontrolled aggression, but that's a f-ck load better than too little aggro. Once he gets a handle on that he's going to be a star. If it wasn't for that red card in the dying minutes he would have nailed-down his place in the squad with his performance today. As it happens he may well have brain-farted his way out of the squad. Them's the breaks sometimes.

If he's available he might still get selected. But probably not.

I wouldn't be shocked either way. But if he does happen to be given a chance, I look forwards to having a laugh at the the howls of protest on PR.

I'm giving him shit because he's red card penalty magnet. He's quality otherwise.

However, its kind of like praising a sports car that's got great acceleration, corners beautifully, but they just forgot to install brakes. Its kind of a big deal.

Anyway, after years of fielding back-rows made up of under-sized specialist open-side flankers we are suddenly spoiled for choice when it comes to big, boshy ones. Which is a good thing. Having a specialist fetchy openside is over-rated IMO. Let alone two or three of them. One can be useful on occasion, but I'd much rather have three big boshers who can jump in the line out as well as smashing the rucks, the tackles, and with ball in hand.

That Swinton got selected is not a surprise. And it shows where Rennie's mind is at selecting him even though he got that red card. It would have been easy to just leave him to cool his jets for a year. But he obviously he is featuring in Rennie's plans.

Still it will be interesting to see what those plans are with Valetini, Wilson and Naisarani all playing well.

Love that Leota has been given a go... been improving on a weekly basis, but I still believe it is a little early with the Wobs being spoilt for 2nd and back row talent currently.

Don't like Alaatoa being there, he is a known entity and that is mediorcity.

Hosea is a surprise, has been very good.

Concerned with our world class 10's absolute fooken dross. Not an ounce of composure in the most important position on the pitch. Talents of a brick. A very dull blunt brick.

Selections seem fine. Depth is an issue as ever. A good few of these players would be nowhere near a top 3 squad.

Hopefully, Rennie can work some magic. He wasn't great (or even good) last year, but he's had time to settle into the role now.

'Lolesio?! To'omua?! You're having a laugh!'

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:07 am

Zakar wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:41 am

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:56 pm Swinton is quality those lads giving him shit wouldn't know a blindside flanker from a bar of soap.

There's a problem there with a bit too much uncontrolled aggression, but that's a f-ck load better than too little aggro. Once he gets a handle on that he's going to be a star. If it wasn't for that red card in the dying minutes he would have nailed-down his place in the squad with his performance today. As it happens he may well have brain-farted his way out of the squad. Them's the breaks sometimes.

If he's available he might still get selected. But probably not.

I wouldn't be shocked either way. But if he does happen to be given a chance, I look forwards to having a laugh at the the howls of protest on PR.

I'm giving him shit because he's red card penalty magnet. He's quality otherwise.

However, its kind of like praising a sports car that's got great acceleration, corners beautifully, but they just forgot to install brakes. Its kind of a big deal.

Anyway, after years of fielding back-rows made up of under-sized specialist open-side flankers we are suddenly spoiled for choice when it comes to big, boshy ones. Which is a good thing. Having a specialist fetchy openside is over-rated IMO. Let alone two or three of them. One can be useful on occasion, but I'd much rather have three big boshers who can jump in the line out as well as smashing the rucks, the tackles, and with ball in hand.

That Swinton got selected is not a surprise. And it shows where Rennie's mind is at selecting him even though he got that red card. It would have been easy to just leave him to cool his jets for a year. But he obviously he is featuring in Rennie's plans.

Still it will be interesting to see what those plans are with Valetini, Wilson and Naisarani all playing well.

Interesting

Why is the antidote to having 3 open sides, having (instead) ‘3 big boshers’

If I recall in general, and on here also, not a single person has suggested we play 3 open sides, yet only one (you) has suggested we play 3 boshers

Instead, I’d say 100% of observers have suggested that a balanced back row of, you know, a 6, a 7, and an 8 - might be best

You like Swinton. We get it
But his selection isn’t some magical repudiation of a secret evil plan to pick 3x Sevens.
Rennie has never picked a back row like that and is never likely to

Perhaps a truer interpretation is that Swinton has merely made the squad, like 50 other blokes

There's only 2 specialist opensides in a 38 man squad. That isn't normal for Australia. 3 would usually be the minimum and we'd insist on having one on the bench, just in case Hooper gets injured, which he never does. Just to add, Hooper doesn't really play like a 'typical' Australian openside. He's more like an 8 tbf.

There are 2 blokes that can play 7 and 6 backrowers that can play one or both of the other two spots. They didn't call up Liam Wright who is starting at the Reds. Seems to me that we are looking at a bigger backrow (maybe I'll be eating those words - Rennie might end up going with McReight on the bench).

shanky wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 3:22 pm

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:07 am

Zakar wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:41 am

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:56 pm Swinton is quality those lads giving him shit wouldn't know a blindside flanker from a bar of soap.

There's a problem there with a bit too much uncontrolled aggression, but that's a f-ck load better than too little aggro. Once he gets a handle on that he's going to be a star. If it wasn't for that red card in the dying minutes he would have nailed-down his place in the squad with his performance today. As it happens he may well have brain-farted his way out of the squad. Them's the breaks sometimes.

If he's available he might still get selected. But probably not.

I wouldn't be shocked either way. But if he does happen to be given a chance, I look forwards to having a laugh at the the howls of protest on PR.

I'm giving him shit because he's red card penalty magnet. He's quality otherwise.

However, its kind of like praising a sports car that's got great acceleration, corners beautifully, but they just forgot to install brakes. Its kind of a big deal.

Anyway, after years of fielding back-rows made up of under-sized specialist open-side flankers we are suddenly spoiled for choice when it comes to big, boshy ones. Which is a good thing. Having a specialist fetchy openside is over-rated IMO. Let alone two or three of them. One can be useful on occasion, but I'd much rather have three big boshers who can jump in the line out as well as smashing the rucks, the tackles, and with ball in hand.

That Swinton got selected is not a surprise. And it shows where Rennie's mind is at selecting him even though he got that red card. It would have been easy to just leave him to cool his jets for a year. But he obviously he is featuring in Rennie's plans.

Still it will be interesting to see what those plans are with Valetini, Wilson and Naisarani all playing well.

Interesting

Why is the antidote to having 3 open sides, having (instead) ‘3 big boshers’

If I recall in general, and on here also, not a single person has suggested we play 3 open sides, yet only one (you) has suggested we play 3 boshers

Instead, I’d say 100% of observers have suggested that a balanced back row of, you know, a 6, a 7, and an 8 - might be best

You like Swinton. We get it
But his selection isn’t some magical repudiation of a secret evil plan to pick 3x Sevens.
Rennie has never picked a back row like that and is never likely to

Perhaps a truer interpretation is that Swinton has merely made the squad, like 50 other blokes

You're being disenguous.

I dont mind one specialist openside. But as good as our opensides have been, if I had to pick between recent history of short asses all across the backrow and three big boshers, I'd go for three big boshers.

It's not an either-or, nor is it some secret plan.

Towny is right that Hooper plays more like an eight, but he's still an undersized backrower, and we can only afford one of those in the entire team. Not two starting and one on the bench.

I'm also not saying that's what Rennie was ever going to do. More that it's a breath of fresh air that we have the options not to.

I remember back in the day when Eddie Jones (?) first played Waugh and Smith and it was hailed as some kind of stroke of genius. But in reality it didn't really work and never has.

Did the Wallabies ever lose a test because Pocock and Hooper were too small? In 2015 we won the RC and gave the RWC a good shake with that pair.
In 2003 Waugh and Smith were part of a team that almost won the RWC.

Does it really matter what numbers are on their back?

Before we used the 'two fetcher' excuse to explain away bad performances, I would first like to look at the locks, hookers and props that failed to impress for years.

Scott Sio hasn't had a good game since the first game of the 2015 RWC and he's back in the squad. How many rubbish performances in a row did Stephen Moore put in? There were plenty of others - we were never consistent enough up front. Meanwhile, Pocock and Hooper were usually close to our best.

It's different now - it looks like we've got a few big contenders with quality for the backrow.

Yes. Too much line out ball lost, too little physical impact in the tackle and too little bosh taking the ball forwards. Yes, they get some great turnovers, but at the price of reduced oomph and mongrel in the forward pack.

Did we so lose tests due to that? I think so. Probably. But can't say 100%.

I do recall one of our worst performances was when we picked Ben McCalman at 7 and had no dedicated fetcher.

Mog The Almighty wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:24 pm Yes. Too much line out ball lost, too little physical impact in the tackle and too little bosh taking the ball forwards. Yes, they get some great turnovers, but at the price of reduced oomph and mongrel in the forward pack.

Did we so lose tests due to that? I think so. Probably. But can't say 100%.

Hooper doesn't really get turnovers though. He usually has more go-forward than the other pigs and dominates the tackle regularly. Can't remember too many times Pocock was bossed at the tackle/ruck either.

Meanwhile, the big units were being tossed around or not getting to the rucks in time. I'm not saying the Pooper was in anyway ideal, and you definitely need 3 genuine lineout options and you need some PoW on the bench, but I think we had way bigger problems that were overshadowed by a minor problem in the backrow.

Farva wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:27 pm I do recall one of our worst performances was when we picked Ben McCalman at 7 and had no dedicated fetcher.

Fuk u Dingo!

towny wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:16 pm Did the Wallabies ever lose a test because Pocock and Hooper were too small?

The Wallabies, objectively, are a mediocre outfit.

Only won 47 of 99 tests in the last 8 years.

Arguing over Swinton here is a waste of time given he'll be copping a 6-8 week ban.

Pocock is yesterday's man and Hooper will be soon. It's time to move on.

Farva wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:27 pm I do recall one of our worst performances was when we picked Ben McCalman at 7 and had no dedicated fetcher.

Ah.

The Robbie Deans Sleeper Cell.

kiap wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:25 pm

towny wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:16 pm Did the Wallabies ever lose a test because Pocock and Hooper were too small?

The Wallabies, objectively, are a mediocre outfit.

Only won 47 of 99 tests in the last 8 years.

Arguing over Swinton here is a waste of time given he'll be copping a 6-8 week ban.

Pocock is yesterday's man and Hooper will be soon. It's time to move on.

8 week ban, eh?
We’ll see.

Is it okay if we discuss the current Australian captain, considering he’ll play another 30-40 tests?

The Pooper was not ideal however, Pocock was not as tall but wider than most tight five players. He was also as strong in the carry and made many more dominant tackles than most locks. We only lost a bit in the lineout playing that combination. Pocock would walk back into this starting 15 now.
As Kiap says, time to move on. You pick the squad that is at your disposal. In that respect nothing changes.
Wells can play 7 so we have more than enough cover there and a lot of options at 6/8.

The Pooper only worked because it caught teams by surprise. We won a match against the ABs because they were all "WTF" and we won that match against England in the RWC because they were certain they'd bash us up and didn't count on our pack playing the best match of their lives.

After that teams worked out how to nullify it. Basically force the Pooper to do hard work at the rucks.

towny wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:07 pm Is it okay if we discuss the current Australian captain, considering he’ll play another 30-40 tests?

He'll be the craptain playing France.

So I'll allow it.

Well, Moeroa has left the Tahs and gone to the Storm

Was on 500k apparently, and a promise of a gold jersey

Now, RA have paid part of his freight to move him on

Good ole Tim Rapp on the recruiting?

Farksake...

shanky wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:05 am Well, Moeroa has left the Tahs and gone to the Storm

Was on 500k apparently, and a promise of a gold jersey

Now, RA have paid part of his freight to move him on

So, basically a loig "backrow forward" who bombed as a centre in the real game, and was too small to play in the forwards. Good luck to him back in the lite code.

Good ole Tim Rapp on the recruiting?

Heard it was Chubby.

Bit of both, apparently.

He was a star centre at school. Parramatta busted him by making him bosh it up all the time. Heaps of injuries.

Shame really, because there was a good athlete hidden in there

Here’s a vid of his potential back in the day

https://youtu.be/NF7HU5dG0NI

shanky wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:56 am Bit of both, apparently.

He was a star centre at school. Parramatta busted him by making him bosh it up all the time. Heaps of injuries.

Shame really, because there was a good athlete hidden in there

Here’s a vid of his potential back in the day

https://youtu.be/NF7HU5dG0NI

True, he was genuinely the business as a younger man.

First time I saw him for the Tahs, though, I posted that he looked 35. He ain't that but just looked busted up and out of shape, overweight, with tits fer hands.

How can you hire a bloke like that (for what, half a mil???) on schooboy reputation without having top recent form to show - in rugby or even mungo ... when RA and NSW are already millions bust?

Chubby should be paying out of his own pocket ... and Rapp, was he fired yet?

Indeed. Terrible value on big money

Rapp has left. Gone to Newington as head of something

kiap wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:09 am

shanky wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:56 am Bit of both, apparently.

He was a star centre at school. Parramatta busted him by making him bosh it up all the time. Heaps of injuries.

Shame really, because there was a good athlete hidden in there

Here’s a vid of his potential back in the day

https://youtu.be/NF7HU5dG0NI

True, he was genuinely the business as a younger man.

First time I saw him for the Tahs, though, I posted that he looked 35. He ain't that but just looked busted up and out of shape, overweight, with tits fer hands.

How can you hire a bloke like that (for what, half a mil???) on schooboy reputation without having top recent form to show - in rugby or even mungo ... when RA and NSW are already millions bust?

Chubby should be paying out of his own pocket ... and Rapp, was he fired yet?

You both missed it. Too subtle? Too small for the Wallaby back row, according to Mog.

He is 6'3", and about 110 kegs. That is a touch above Sir Sterlo size. Parramatta-lite, however, had at one stage moved him to prop. I suspect, as far as back line play is concerned, he peaked at about age 19- yet, he may have had an elite level future as a rugby 6. Was he even trialed there?

Ellafan wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:36 am

kiap wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:09 am

shanky wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:56 am Bit of both, apparently.

He was a star centre at school. Parramatta busted him by making him bosh it up all the time. Heaps of injuries.

Shame really, because there was a good athlete hidden in there

Here’s a vid of his potential back in the day

https://youtu.be/NF7HU5dG0NI

True, he was genuinely the business as a younger man.

First time I saw him for the Tahs, though, I posted that he looked 35. He ain't that but just looked busted up and out of shape, overweight, with tits fer hands.

How can you hire a bloke like that (for what, half a mil???) on schooboy reputation without having top recent form to show - in rugby or even mungo ... when RA and NSW are already millions bust?

Chubby should be paying out of his own pocket ... and Rapp, was he fired yet?

You both missed it. Too subtle? Too small for the Wallaby back row, according to Mog.

Huh?

shanky wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:05 am Well, Moeroa has left the Tahs and gone to the Storm

Was on 500k apparently, and a promise of a gold jersey

Now, RA have paid part of his freight to move him on

Have you got a link to the $500k? L.Ron Hubbard needs some comeuppance and that’s just the trick.

If true, that’s more then any member of the Reds backline was on, with the sole exception of Vunivalu, and likely more than Foketi and Perese put together. The money we’ve pissed away on league ‘stars’ is scandalous; especially as we couldn’t keep so many rugby stars from heading overseas, let alone development officers to support the next generation.

Ellafan wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:36 am

kiap wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:09 am

shanky wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:56 am Bit of both, apparently.

He was a star centre at school. Parramatta busted him by making him bosh it up all the time. Heaps of injuries.

Shame really, because there was a good athlete hidden in there

Here’s a vid of his potential back in the day

https://youtu.be/NF7HU5dG0NI

True, he was genuinely the business as a younger man.

First time I saw him for the Tahs, though, I posted that he looked 35. He ain't that but just looked busted up and out of shape, overweight, with tits fer hands.

How can you hire a bloke like that (for what, half a mil???) on schooboy reputation without having top recent form to show - in rugby or even mungo ... when RA and NSW are already millions bust?

Chubby should be paying out of his own pocket ... and Rapp, was he fired yet?

You both missed it. Too subtle? Too small for the Wallaby back row, according to Mog.

He is 6'3", and about 110 kegs. That is a touch above Sir Sterlo size. Parramatta-lite, however, had at one stage moved him to prop. I suspect, as far as back line play is concerned, he peaked at about age 19- yet, he may have had an elite level future as a rugby 6. Was he even trialed there?

I heard he missed a tackle once, and so justifiably imo, he was not considered for the forward pack ever again.

towny wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:14 am

shanky wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:05 am Well, Moeroa has left the Tahs and gone to the Storm

Was on 500k apparently, and a promise of a gold jersey

Now, RA have paid part of his freight to move him on

Have you got a link to the $500k? L.Ron Hubbard needs some comeuppance and that’s just the trick.

If true, that’s more then any member of the Reds backline was on, with the sole exception of Vunivalu, and likely more than Foketi and Perese put together. The money we’ve pissed away on league ‘stars’ is scandalous; especially as we couldn’t keep so many rugby stars from heading overseas, let alone development officers to support the next generation.

I found this:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 8cc5a7be38

Whatever, what you said is accurate.

It was gossip.

Mog’s link shows RA are chipping in ‘six figures’ to release him for just 50% of a season. That’ll be their top-up portion, on top of the Tahs money.

That’s probably good enough for exaggerating to knock over LRon

Wouldn't be like Fox to try and sink the boot in to RA

I would to have liked to see him tried at 6 TBF, but he really looked average in the centres. I wouldn't be suprised if he was horribly mismanaged by the Tahs.

One thing for sure about the Storm: they seem to be (from my limited knowledge) very good at recruitment.

They are also very good at player management (leaving aside the occasional salary cap scandal).

kiap wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:09 am
xxx

Forgot to mention -

Supernova in the East VI was released by Dan Carlin last week. Runs nearly 6 hours.

Ellafan wrote: ↑Tue Jun 15, 2021 7:52 am

kiap wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:09 am
xxx

Forgot to mention -

Supernova in the East VI was released by Dan Carlin last week. Runs nearly 6 hours.

A great podcast series. He really finds the grimmest moments of human history.

shanky wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:56 am Bit of both, apparently.

He was a star centre at school. Parramatta busted him by making him bosh it up all the time. Heaps of injuries.

Shame really, because there was a good athlete hidden in there

Here’s a vid of his potential back in the day

https://youtu.be/NF7HU5dG0NI

You just know that the Storm will mould him into a champion, Tahs have no idea as useless as he may have been. Where did all that potential go? Too many laps at Daceyville.

I can think of one league player that became a top centre, and he was a freakshow.

Has their been a convert that went well that wasn’t a league superstar?