2015/16 Rugby 7's Round 4 - Sydney 6/7 February

[Pfitzy]

Of course it's not necessarily going to work. But it is one way of perhaps finding out. Having him sit on the sidelines won't clarify anything.

...

Was never going to be blooded at Wellington as his contract only releases him for Sydney, Paris and London.

Those conditions seem pretty pointless overall then. Who negotiated that and expected it to work magic?

Three tourneys. Maybe three weeks of prep and assessment to decide. Hardly a sure bet.

Large parts of rugbydom complained loudly when leaguies were signed into the game and "given" Wallaby Caps.

Are we now saying we should do the same for the prodigal son?

 

[Slim 293]

Where the fuck is Quade running to?

Speight has the ball!

 

[I like to watch]

Large parts of rugbydom complained loudly when leaguies were signed into the game and "given" Wallaby Caps.

Are we now saying we should do the same for the prodigal son?

It was a crap argument then,and it's a crap argument now.
Especially in an underperforming squad.

 

[fo!!ower]

Where the fuck is Quade running to?

Speight has the ball!

In retrospect, back to the airport it seems.

 

[RugbyReg]

Where the fuck is Quade running to?

Speight has the ball!

its not an actual photo. Just an illustration.

 

[qwerty51]

Killingworth's omission seems to have gone under the radar with the Quade saga. I wasn't alone in thinking he was one of our best last week? Offers a hell of a lot more than Kingston who doesn't look suited to 7s. Lacks a passing game, not a strong runner and has weak defence.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Wholeheartedly agree Qwerty, and at this stage Hutchinson is not much better than Kingston. One on one tackling seems to be a bit lacking and I really haven't seen the reputed jet-shoes yet either. Kingston has been one of the weaker performers so far, which has surprised and disappointed me as I thought he would be well suited to 7s. Killingworth, however, has been a standout imo.

 

[Pfitzy]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/s...d/news-story/d001a1e3d7c2d9d62dd208c913af8f9a

Friend said the late arrival and limited preparation of the France-based playmaker ultimately led to the decision to delay his sevens debut.
“Quade is an exceptional footballer and has shown real character to put his hand up and say ‘I want to be part of this team and work hard for this opportunity’,” Friend said.
“That’s exactly what you want.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he will be a tremendous addition to the squad as we build towards Rio, but due to circumstances which were beyond Quade’s control, and our control, he just couldn’t get enough work in this week with the team.
“Quade is going to get his opportunities during the series and we are really excited to have him here in our group and with us throughout this preparation.
“He’ll spend the weekend embedded with the squad as well, that contact is a really important part of his learning process in a different version of the game.”

 

[Pfitzy]

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quelle_surprise

 

[RugbyReg]

Two classic teams featuring past heroes of Queensland and New South Wales Rugby will square off during the final day of action at the sold-out HSBC Sydney 7s on the same turf in which many of them made their name as Wallabies stars.

New South Wales v Queensland Classics Match – HSBC Sydney 7s weekend
Sunday 7 February, Allianz Stadium
Kick off: 1.03pm AEDT

Teams
New South Wales: Adam Freier, Pete Miller, Robbie Miller, Brendan Williams, Morgan Turinui, Stephen Hoiles, Ryan Cross, Pat Phibbs, Scott Staniforth
Queensland: Elton Flatley, Nathan Sharpe, Luke Doherty, Radike Samo, Sam Cordingley, Karl Te Nana, Lote Tuqiri, Damian McInally, Tom McVerry, Nick Gregorski, Moses Raulini, Tomasi Cama

The NSW Wara-old-farts v the QLD Ring-ins!

 

[Heavyd]

You have to just shake your head and laugh.

Off the back of a RWC, which exceeded all hopes and provided a long suffering code the opportunity to bask briefly in the mainstream media the ARU knocks on the head one of its its highest profile players playing rugbys 1st showcase event of 2016. QC (Quade Cooper) has the best pass and step and in the game and whilst not '7s' fit would have attracted enormous media attention (remember the mungos have there 9s tournament this weekend in Auckland so any media advantage helps).
What makes the decision even more dissappointing is that the current team are simply not much chop. Heads need to roll.

 

[Slim 293]

its not an actual photo. Just an illustration.

I thought the Bridge and Opera House looked a little off scale to planet Earth.........

 

[wamberal]

You have to just shake your head and laugh.

Off the back of a RWC, which exceeded all hopes and provided a long suffering code the opportunity to bask briefly in the mainstream media the ARU knocks on the head one of its its highest profile players playing rugbys 1st showcase event of 2016. QC (Quade Cooper) has the best pass and step and in the game and whilst not '7s' fit would have attracted enormous media attention (remember the mungos have there 9s tournament this weekend in Auckland so any media advantage helps).
What makes the decision even more dissappointing is that the current team are simply not much chop. Heads need to roll.

It might that Friend either does not want him at all (under the obviously difficult constraints) or perhaps wanted him for longer than two days before the event started.


Friend will be judged on the team's performance, not the popularity or otherwise of the event.

 

[TOCC]

Killingworth's omission seems to have gone under the radar with the Quade saga. I wasn't alone in thinking he was one of our best last week? Offers a hell of a lot more than Kingston who doesn't look suited to 7s. Lacks a passing game, not a strong runner and has weak defence.

Killingworth and Kingston don't play the same position, Ed Jenkins has replaced Killingworth.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[qwerty51]

I'm well aware of that but Kingston shouldn't be there anyway. Also I'd argue Jenkins took Figg's position given he was on the wing a lot. Jenkins is a forward but plays the wide wing role.

This is how I'd base the team

Killingworth - Breakdown specialist, big body​

Cusack & Myers - Tall lineout forwards​

Stannard, Foley and Holland - Playmakers​

Jeloudev, Jenkins, Hutchison - Wingers​

Clark, Speight and Faalavaau - Centres​

 

[I like to watch]

No one fields only 3 forwards & has 3 wingers

 

[Lee Grant]

It's pity that Pama Fou is still injured but Clark and Jenkins will make a big difference.

Fou's restart receptions will be missed, but otherwise the big improvement of Jeloudev will counter the big guy's absence.

Another big improver from last season is Allan A who I thought used to step to a fault but most of his efforts now are productive and he can break tackles more than he could before.

It will be good to see Hutchison, who doesn't turn 19 until next week, playing Sevens in Sydney. I don't know if he will make the team for Rio later in the year, because the team has to have a fine balance of attributes; but he should give it a shake.

I'd like to see him play XVs later though. Everybody says he is too small but he's bigger than Giteau is now, let alone when Gits played first in the Super 12. And he is a better front-on tackler than Gits on his best day.

I hope we don't see too many lads around too many tackles tomorrow. One of their weakness in Wellington was over-commitment then having to charge to the other side where the ball was - and sometimes the ball would go back to where they came from.

It was from a lack of experience in some players, so that may fix itself when the more seasoned guys are on board.

I thought Killingworth (from my home team, the Rats) played well this 7s season. I was looking forward to seeing him at the ground here but he missed out on selection for the Sydney event.
.

 

[Pfitzy]

You have to just shake your head and laugh.

Off the back of a RWC, which exceeded all hopes and provided a long suffering code the opportunity to bask briefly in the mainstream media the ARU knocks on the head one of its its highest profile players playing rugbys 1st showcase event of 2016. QC (Quade Cooper) has the best pass and step and in the game and whilst not '7s' fit would have attracted enormous media attention (remember the mungos have there 9s tournament this weekend in Auckland so any media advantage helps).

I assume you're talking about the same great stepper and passer who signed himself away to French club rugby? Who realised he maybe made a mistake, but didn't want to pay the $200K out of his greedy agent's own pocket to rectify that? Who effectively turned his back on Australian rugby, tried to get a compromise deal going, trusting his reputedly ruthless French club owner to play nice?

As we say here in Australia: Yeah, nah.

Pulver has come out publicly in support of Friend. As he should, no matter how unwilling. It doesn't make it any less of a fuck up, but then the fuck up can be traced to Quade's departure in the first place. So let's not lay all the blame at the ARU's door.

And Cooper's presence will make little difference to how the mungoes, or the general public, see the 7s. We will finish 2nd in our pool at best, exit at the QF, and then maybe win a trophy in 5th again.

The NRL has already got enough dog-fucking, piss-sinking publicity to completely obliterate rugby presence even if their Nines tournament is in the eastern states, and then their season starts in full, while Super Rugby disappears into PayTV land for three months before Cheika strikes like a bolt of lightning.

I have to say, all the people getting their cocks in a knot over this are being very selective with their slings and arrows.

 

[qwerty51]

Not sure why you're all predicting we'll exit at the QFs. We face England or USA. Both beatable and should beat them at home.

 

[I like to watch]

I assume you're talking about the same great stepper and passer who signed himself away to French club rugby? Who realised he maybe made a mistake, but didn't want to pay the $200K out of his greedy agent's own pocket to rectify that? Who effectively turned his back on Australian rugby, tried to get a compromise deal going, trusting his reputedly ruthless French club owner to play nice?

As we say here in Australia: Yeah, nah.

Pulver has come out publicly in support of Friend. As he should, no matter how unwilling. It doesn't make it any less of a fuck up, but then the fuck up can be traced to Quade's departure in the first place. So let's not lay all the blame at the ARU's door.

And Cooper's presence will make little difference to how the mungoes, or the general public, see the 7s. We will finish 2nd in our pool at best, exit at the QF, and then maybe win a trophy in 5th again.

The NRL has already got enough dog-fucking, piss-sinking publicity to completely obliterate rugby presence even if their Nines tournament is in the eastern states, and then their season starts in full, while Super Rugby disappears into PayTV land for three months before Cheika strikes like a bolt of lightning.

I have to say, all the people getting their cocks in a knot over this are being very selective with their slings and arrows.

If Quade offered something we already had,I'd be first in line saying fuck off,you took the $$ live with it.
But we don't.

But ATM,we simply do not have the cattle to beat the better sides in Brazil.refusing to test out all options is dooming us to mediocrity.

The coaching staff telling us it's all under control,perturbs me greatly.