Aussie Player Exodus

[Hugh Jarse]

That's good news for Australian Rugby.

 

[ShtinaTina]

Yay Kepu's coming home to the Tahs

 

[Marcelo]

What's the family issue of Kepu?

 

[Braveheart81]

What's the family issue of Kepu?

His family want to live in Sydney not Bordeaux.

 

[kaze33]

His wife doesn't feel good in France

Laurent Marti, the UBB president, says "His wife made ​​him leave Australia . She complained that her husband was too touring with the Waratahs and the Australian team . No luck for us , she is not suited to France"

 

[kiwi]

Zack Holmes 2nd highest points scorer in Top 14.

 

[Highlander35]

Watching the replay of the Castres v Stade Francais game.

Pat Sio played quite well in the time that I've watched. Poor Paullie though. Back to 2013 levels of puppy fat, no consequential increase in scrummaging, but a not impacting as much around the ground either.

 

[kiwi]

Zack Holmes rated 2nd best number 10 behind Colin Slade in the top 14 on Rugby Rama. Not bad for his first year in the top 14. The Force are useless at developing talent.

 

[Bullrush]

Probably says something about the Top 14......

 

[Hawko]

Zack Holmes 2nd highest points scorer in Top 14.

Zack Holmes rated 2nd best number 10 behind Colin Slade in the top 14 on Rugby Rama. Not bad for his first year in the top 14. The Force are useless at developing talent.

I was surprised the Force tipped Zack Holmes out. I always thought he played quite well behind a beaten pack. But when it comes to coaching, Foley has absolutely no clue whatever once a player has two digits on his back.

Not just Foley though. Before he went to Europe, Brock James played at the Force and got shunted. Turned into the best 10 in France over multiple years.

 

[Slim 293]

Zack Holmes looked good when he was starting for the 2012 Brumbies after they lost both To'omua and Lilo for the season..........

I think his Australian career suffered at the hands of the Foley coached Force.

 

[wamberal]

Not just Foley though. Before he went to Europe, Brock James played at the Force and got shunted. Turned into the best 10 in France over multiple years.

Brock James? Give us a break. Next you'll be saying Dan Parks didn't get a fair chance.


Two good goal kickers. End of story.

 

[formerflanker]

Brock James? Give us a break. Next you'll be saying Dan Parks didn't get a fair chance.


Two good goal kickers. End of story.

Brock is the type of 5/8 who forwards love playing in front of as he has a very good territorial kicking game.
Outside backs value his ability to set up faster players with accurate passes and his ability to read a game.
I rate him. He could have been a successful Australian Super rugby 5/8.
Winning games with his boot is not a bad skill.

 

[Viking]

Zack Holmes looked good when he was starting for the 2012 Brumbies after they lost both To'omua and Lilo for the season....

I think his Australian career suffered at the hands of the Foley coached Force.

I remember his stint their when we had the flyhalf injury crisis. Thought he did very well for a rookie. I was excited for him on his move to the Force thinking he would get more game time - didn't happen though.

Hopefully he comes back in a few years and adds to our flyhalf depth.

 

[kaze33]

Hello everybody

Last news from France, Bordeaux try to sign Nick Cummins ...

 

[Highlander35]

BJ Botha is thinking about going around again? Brave man, switching clubs at 36 after a season destroyed by injury.

 

[oztimmay]

Good luck to Nick. I still believe he's earning the big bucks for the right reasons, and hope it helps his family out.

 

[Gnostic]

I was surprised the Force tipped Zack Holmes out. I always thought he played quite well behind a beaten pack. But when it comes to coaching, Foley has absolutely no clue whatever once a player has two digits on his back.



Not just Foley though. Before he went to Europe, Brock James played at the Force and got shunted. Turned into the best 10 in France over multiple years.

Lets not forget Maloney as well had exactly the same results there but couldn't even get a start in NSW under Link and then Foley/Hickey. Dan Parkes also.

I think it says something about this mythical "running" game that Australian coaches are chasing, instead of developing the more complete 10s that there are in the country.

 

[Highlander35]

Highlander's occasional "Good God anything but Uni Work" Long post

Super Rugby. NPC. Currie Cup. Top 14. ProD2. English Premiership. English Championship. Pro12. These are the leagues whom are professional, more than a year old, and mostly easy to find squads in English.
If a player is playing for a team in one of these leagues for the 16/17 season, isn't signed to an Aussie Rugby side in 2017, and isn't David Pocock (because I just realised I forgot him) he should be somewhere in this list. If he isn't well, this was an exercise in boredom relief. No guarantees are made on accuracy.

* Indicates Selected for a different national side
** I don't know If still eligible for Aus
*** Actually a prop but I'm cheating

My "Competent Wallabies" Side
1. Mike Allalatola (Crusaders)
2. John Ulugia (Clermont)
3. Greg Holmes (Exeter)
4. Sitaleki Timani (Clermont)
5. James Horwill (Harlequins)
6. Ben Mowen © (Pau)
7. Liam Gill (Toulon)
8. Scott Higgenbotham (Green Rockets)
9. Will Genia (Stade Francais)
10. Berrick Barnes (Panasonic)
11. Drew Mitchell (Toulon)
12. Matt Giteau (Toulon)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux)
14. James O’Connor (Toulon)
15. Kurtley Beale (Wasps)

16. Huia Edmonds (Narbonne)
17. Salesi Manu (Honda Heat)
18. Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Francais)
19. Hugh Pyle (Stade Francais)
20. Dave Dennis (Exeter)
21. Nic White (Montpellier)
22. Joe Tomane (Montpellier)
23. Nemani Nadolo (Lyon)*


My "Less International but Strong Super Rugby, probably good against Italy and Such" Side
1. Campese Ma’afu (Northampton)*
2. Dave Poreki (London Irish)
3. Salesi Ma’afu (Cardiff)
4. Mark Chisholm (Munster)
5. Luke Jones (Bordeaux)
6. Peter Kimlin © (Grenoble)
7. Julian Salvi (Exeter)
8. Tala Gray (Toulouse)
9. Ben Lucas (Toyota Verblitz)
10. Brock James (La Rochelle)
11. Lachie Turner (Exeter)
12. Mike Harris (Lyon)
13. Anthony Fainga’a (Kintetsu Liners)
14. Peter Betham (Leicester)
15. Jesse Mogg (Montpellier)

16. Steve Fualau (Beziers)*
17. Ollie Hoskins (London Irish)
18. Kieran Longbottom (Sale)
19. Hugh McMeniman (Honda Heat)
20. Curtis Browning (Lyon)
21. Brendan McKibbon (London Irish)
22. Zack Holmes (La Rochelle)
23. Cooper Vuna (Worcester)

The “I can make a starting XV and by cheating a little, a bench too” Side
1. JP Smith (Western Province)**
2. Elvis Levi (Biarritz)
3. Ruan Smith (Toyota Verblitz)**
4. Jake Ball (Scarlets) *
5. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) *
6. Pete Samu (Crusaders)
7. Beau Robinson (Doncaster)
8. Fotu Aeulea (Canon Eagles)
9. Josh Valentine (Beziers)
10. Sam Windsor (Ulster)
11. Digby Ioane (Crusaders)
12. Junior Rasolea (Edinburgh)
13. Sam Johnson (Glasgow)
14. Alfie Mafi (Brive)
15. Mark Gerrard (Toyota Industries)

16. David Feao (La Rochelle)***
17. Lotu Taukeiaho (Aurillac)
18. Chris Seuteni (Albi)
19. Sam Wykes (CC Red Sparks)
20. Pat Sio (Stade Francais)
21. Grayson Hart (Glasgow)*
22. Sam Greene (Toyota Industries)
23. Alex Northam (Edinburgh)


The Others
Locks
Greg Peterson (Glasgow)*
Ollie Atkins (Exeter)*
Ben Hand (Grenoble)
Tom Murday (Agen)
Pheonix Battye (Beziers)
Rory Walton (Carcassonne)
Dave McDuling (Canterbury)
Corey Thomas (Canon Eagles)
Daniel Heenan (Panasonic)
Thomas Boidin (Narbonne)
Dave McKern (jersey)

Back Rowers
Mitch Lees (Exeter)
Ben White (Exeter)
Poutasi Luafutu (Brive)
Henry Vanderglas (Grenoble)
Afa Amosa (La Rochelle)
Junioe Taavili (Bougon-Jaillieu)
Jono Jenkins (Narbonne)
Bean Adams (Bedford)
Nick Haining (Jersey)
Ryan Hodson (London Welsh)
Tim Cree (Rotterham)
Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco (NTT Shining Arcs)

Halves
Brett Sheehan (Narbonne)
Sam Norton Knight (Green Rockets)

Centers
Sasa Tolifau (Edinburgh)
Chris Tuatara-Morrison (Brive)
Tom Matthews (Carcossonne)
Myles Dorrian (Bedford)
Michael Bond (Canon Eagles)
Malietoa Hingano (Honda Heat)

Back 3
Jayden Hayward (Treviso)**
Blair Connor (Bordeaux)
Afusipa Taumoepeau (Castres)
Kimami Sitauti ( Colomiers)
Calugay Franklin (NTT Shining Arcs)
Brackin Karuria-Henry (NTT Shining Arcs)

 

[Spieber]

Having watched a couple of Bordeaux games would have Luke Jones in the first 23 (could have been coached better?) but my overall feel is that this demonstrates how that the concept of 5 Aussie teams is doomed when so many go overseas.