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| Did I mention he was born in Melbourne? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sorry he's a fly half. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If you mean Toomua, he's from the Brumbies. He is the U20's half back that played probably half the season for senior Brumbies side. Very good young talent from Queensland. Interesting to see that he is playing Currie Cup. Smart move if it's the same guy. Hard competition like that is exactly what he needs.Very good prospect for the Wallas going forward. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anyone got a heads up on Matt Tamua.He is an Oz playing in the Currie Cup for Western Province ? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quite right Sprou. Get a rock star side going here and the existing local level grass roots will flourish. And if we get the nod I'm sure it will happen. There were four Victorians in the Australian schools side that smashed Tonga a few weeks back, so there is good talent already emerging. I think the Melbourne Storm model is a good one. Whilst their NRL side is all imports, their under 20's isn't and they also won the grand final. I also believe they have a gun U17's team that were runners up this year too. Now the U17's side is all Melbourne kids and the game has only been going here for 12 years and it would be 10% the size of the union scene. Very greenfields in Melbourne for the game. If Melbourne does well, so will the game nationally. There's 4 million people in this city and according to some of the numbers I've had my analysts do, there is over 350,000 people in Vic who are either interested in the game, prticipate in it, have watched it or take an interest in it at some level. Now that's without even having a side here! So I think there is a massive opportunity to grow the game at grass roots. |
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| You are right Mark.The underlining problem with Australian rugby is the grass roots. It's generally only played in private schools and doesn't have the reach into the Public schools.They all play league/Afl or Soccer. Until Rugby becomes more accessible to more kids we are going to struggle. Having said that if Melbourne can get a team up and get some hero's going then Vic could become a great feeder to Oz rugby.They are a great sporting state and need a S14 franchise to get the support rolling |
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| All due respect to Ado's commitment to VIC rugby and the next S15 spot, this is a much bigger issue for AUS rugby. O'Neil and the honchos are focused on short-term goals with big financial rewards. That's the way modern businesses work, in large part because that is the way compensation packages are structured. Nobody has a Critical Element in this year's package that says "Takes strategic steps for the long-term development of rugby in AUS by balancing Club-Provincial activities with Elite programmes." And so, nobody does anything about it. So, how is the development of front-row forwards coming, actually? I mean seriously, with a continued position for Matt Dunning? And who do you reckonwill be more match-fgit across the 22-man squad come Bledisloe IV? Mark L. |
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| Can you believe that NZ are still belting it out in their Air NZ cup.We haven't played in weeks and don't have a competition beyond our local comps. It would'nt be hard to have a comp where the top finishing sides in each state play each other for the top club side in Australia. It wouldn't cost that much and would prove who is the top provincial club in Australia. Sometime I think OZ players are put in cotton wool whereas our competitors are playing rugby all the time. |
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| Generally agree, as Gale said, squad probably as good as it can be at this point. I don't really have an opinion of Elsom as a captain, except to say I think it had to be someone other then Smith or Mortlock. Does he have any captaincy record at club level? Bitterly disappointed to see Waugh left out, sure he hasn't the skills of Smith or the future of Poc@!k, but he has real passion and mongrel, something sadly lacking from the Wallabies this year. Deans really has a problem with him for some reason. Dunning very lucky, saved I guess by the fact that he plays both sides of the scrum. Locks will be really interesting, the only one with real experience (Horwill) had a very forgettable 3N. We look really understrength there, still a great opportunity for a couple of the younger players to step up and launch a career. Ado, I think Ben McCalman is the son of Duncan McCalman from Warren, who passed away in very sad circumstances a couple of years ago. Froggy |
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| Rocky Elsom great choice IMO.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Squad looks as good as it can be at this point. Good to see Dennis get a shot - Sharpe's loss is his deserved gain. Elsom & Barnes great choice of leadership. I have no doubt Rocky can read the game well. He doesn't have the personality of some of the previous leaders, but his presence on the field, in the pack and in the minds of opponents is unquestionable. Great choice Dingo! Ditto Barnesy. Much more settled personality than Gits. Less flashy, less flappable. In fact, if there is one Aussie who COULD challenge DC for his title, it would be Barnes. Gits has plenty going on @ 10 & being goal kicker. Plus his personaility -IMO - doesnt really suit captaincy: cheeky jokesters tend not to fit the mould. Agree with Ado - Dunnng has earned his recall and unlike Alison, he actually does have some skill in the front row. Disagree with Ado re P0k0k. He is still very young and had precious little time @ 7 in Wallabies jumper. I have no doubt he will be a star and potential future captain. Biggest risk appears to be set piece where each of the 5 opponents will try to test them early. Absence of Sharpe is notable. Will be very interesting to see how the new locks gel... |
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| I'm with Ado on the captaincy. I reckon it will lighten the stress load on Mortlock and allow him to focus on his technical game. I also have high hopes for Elsom as a captain, I take it as a sign from Deans that he wants more mongrel. Is he smart enough? The only guy who matters thinks so, and I have no reason to disagree. Plus he will have beaucoup senior support on the field. Besides, I like to see captains in the pack. Mark L. |
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| Sprou, If we are to be totally honest, I think Mortlock needs to get his game in order first. On his day he is the best 13 in the world, but he has been injured and when he isn't he's not been having impact. I think Elsom is a great choice. I think he will lift the side through example and boy do they need that. My only query and it's a big one is, does he have the smarts to read the game and make the calls that will deliver the results ala Eales or Farr Jones. Hopefully he has the capacity. One thing I think you can be sure of, is that he will be the first Melbourne Rebels captain! |
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| Ado,what are your thoughts on Rocky being captain ? Do u think Sterling(being injured)should have been dropped from being the captain or not.? |
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| Well Sprou, I dont know that I agree that Waugh has never played well in a wallaby jersey. He is a victim of the times when the 2nd best flanker in world rugby happened to be an Aussie as well. I'm sure his attitude and ability will serve NSW well next year. I for one am not convinced that Po *** is the heir apparent to Smith. He lacks the presence at the breakdown at test level. Dunnning has apparently been going well and deserves a second shot. I think we've been too quick to dismiss the Shepardsons and Holmes of this world for the unproven likes of Cowan. Cummins is good. But IMO we aren't short of wingers. I think there are a few equally good kids floating around. I ant to see Lote's cousin be given a crack for the Tahs next year. I think he could be a Joe/Sivi if given the chance. You can't knock Kurtleys selection given his form at 12 for the Tahs late in the season. Not sure if that's his forever spot, but the bit of extra time and space is what he needed. Most important issue, is who of the young kids they've selected will make the tour. I personally want to see McAlman the uni flanker get a start. Does anyone know if he is Andy McCalman's son. Andy was a country NSW boy who played for easts in the 80's and was dammed unlucky not to go further than club footy. Hard as teak. Dennis is the other guy I reckon will travel. They're short of locks and both he and McAlman can do both. I just hope Dingo takes a few greenhorns. Cause we need to see a bit of raw hunger in the line up. |
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| I personally think Waugh has had his time.imo he has never played well in the wallaby jumper and I wasn't surprised to see him not selected but Matt Dunning now that was left field I also thought his career was over as well.I guess deans is thinking that there is a lot of games over a five week period and he may need some back up there,but Dunning. I watched the Shute Shield final and the prop from Uni(Jimmy something)huge guy keep going all game, surely we've moved on from Dunning. Rocky as captain..I don't know about that.I know Sterlo's been injured but why change the captain for the sake of it. Shame that Cummings got injured I like the look of him and good to see Cross back in the frame and I think Kurtley was lucky to get in. All up not a bad squad just lacking a few 2nd rowers |
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| well....this is the squad Backs -James O'Connor, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Rob Horne, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Ryan Cross, Berrick Barnes (vice-capt), Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Luke Burgess, Richard Kingi. Forwards - Richard Brown, Wycliff Palu, David Pok0k , George Smith, Rocky Elsom (capt), Matt Hodgson, David Dennis, Mitchell Chapman, Dean Mumm, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Pek Cowan, Sekope Kepu, Salesi Ma'afu, Matt Dunning, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Damien Fitzpatrick. good decision with Elsom as a captain... i just don't understand how can you dump completely from international rugby someone like Phil Waugh,is not like he got his chance this year and completely made a fool of himself,or the Wallabies dominated so much at the breakdown in every game that it was obvious he is not needed anymore... Al Baxter dumped too....but is room in the squad for Matt Dunning?what the *** ?is he a developing player now?or Deans hopes he kinda became a world class prop during the break he took because injury? |
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| On the money Hansie. I'm a fan of Gerrard's, but he's not world class and does not know how to handle pressure. You are 100% saying he's hot & cold in games. Compare him to Joe Roff and there's daylight between the two... |
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| You guys are joking right? Mark G is the most inconsistant player i have ever watched! He would be both great and poor in the same game and retain his spot because he scored a try but also gave a try to the opposition! My saffa mates also rated him but i never did because he irritated me. There wasnt one game i can remember where he didnt knock the ball on in his own 22m! Cheers L |
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| you obviously don't know how fickle the Aru is mate!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Froggy,i don't think anybody could have done anything to keep McMeniman in Australia...with the amount of injuries the poor guy gets every year he probably realised that he will never be a regular in the Wallabies so he will not be able to ask for top cash...in Japan will be much easier for him, rugby wise and he will get top dollar... Gerard....his downfall with Deans came last year after the game Australia A lost 21-18 to NZ Maori in the Pacific Nations Cup final,i think was in the 1st week of July...even though he played on the wing in the previous games,i remember reading in the news before the game that Deans asked Mooney to play him at fullback for the final....Gerard did not have the greatest game that day,if i remember correctly he also missed a penalty that would have made it 21-21 in the last minute of the game...i guess Deans based his opinion of him on that game solely cause that was the last time he played for Australia at any level,he was not selected in the squads for 2008 after that... and Panther....regarding the selection panel i think is the other way around from what you are saying...i think Deans has a huge say in all selections...he is part of the selectors,together with Jim Williams and David Nucifora...i don't think Williams has much to say there...and i think Deans has the last word between him and Nucifora...remember Auckland?...Phil Waugh being selected in the 22 and Deans not using him at all despite what was going on on the field towards the end of the game |
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| Bish, not suggesting for a minute that's why we performed poorly, just making a point that these are a couple of good talents with plenty of years of good footy ahead of them that we shouldn't be losing overseas. Froggy |
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| Come on guys lets not go down the track of we lost him and thats why..... The ABs have lost more international talent since 2007 then anyone |
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| if theres anyone to blame it's the selection panel. They are a fickle bunch of old crowes not willing to let go of the past. I don't know how much say deans has on putting players on the feild.. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I agree Ado, and imo he was our form FB for the S14 season. For the last 2 years he's been completely ignored by Aus selectors, and I just don't get it. Losing Gerard and McMeniman OS is a bad day's work, someone needs a kick up the @r5e! Froggy |
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