Given how absolutely fucking diabolical our line-out was last year, i dont think anyone would be ahead of him (or should be).Fardy is playing very well but at lock almost exclusively for Leinster. As we already know, he would most likely not be selected for the Wallabies as a lock. There are others ahead of him. He may be a good option on the bench as a 5/6.
The euro standard is pretty good in important games, Heineken cup etc.
There are others who would also be in contention for a wallaby squad spot. I agree about Skelton. Same player 30kgs lighter but still doing the stupid shit. Would not make the Wallabies IMHO.
I'm not sure if its the quality of the play that is higher but more the quality of the coaching and the structure at the clubs in general. Thats the difference that sees most of our players improve considerably when they play there.
The game you saw was average that’s for sure played by two teams that were struggling. Happens plenty of times in Super Rugby. But a club game in front of about 70 thousand explains the difference in comps pretty clearly from a finacial point of view.After seeing my first Premiership game live at "twickers" between two mid table sides (quins vs wasps), I wouldn't get too excited about playing standards, a clear step down from Super Rugby. The top teams are surely better, but faark it was rubbish.
Club owners subsiding the English premiership at $50m a year (ie losing $50m a year) doesn't hurt either.....The game you saw was average that’s for sure played by two teams that were struggling. Happens plenty of times in Super Rugby. But a club game in front of about 70 thousand explains the difference in comps pretty clearly from a finacial point of view.
All their clubs bleed as much if not more than the Super Rugby franchises.The game you saw was average that’s for sure played by two teams that were struggling. Happens plenty of times in Super Rugby. But a club game in front of about 70 thousand explains the difference in comps pretty clearly from a finacial point of view.
Fardy is playing very well but at lock almost exclusively for Leinster. As we already know, he would most likely not be selected for the Wallabies as a lock. There are others ahead of him. He may be a good option on the bench as a 5/6.
Both Beale and Elsom were outstanding in the NH before coming back to be somewhat underwhelming here.
I love Fardy as a player, but would fear that.
Besides, he just doesn't want to play under Cheika. It's time for everyone to move on.
Agree on the chat that we need to move past talking about him too.
Do you know about Fardy (interested to know not a crack)? I've had this arguments before and there has always been a lot of assumptions about why he left (myself included). Other things to note are that majority of the time in NH he has played lock and not 6. Would you pick him as a lock in Australia over Coleman and Rodda or the overrated Arnold that plenty of people suggest should be picked)? Do you think that Cheika wouldn't pick him if he was dominate here because he didn't like him? I think Cheika made a call at the back of 2016 that Fardy wasn't going to improve by RWC19 (as a 35yr old) and they decided to give some younger guys a crack. Part and parcel of managing teams and $$$.
He would (or rather, should if in Australia) be starting for the Wallabies at 6, easily....
He's not a test lock, but he's head and shoulders (almost literally) above any other option we have at 6.
Light mobile packs. Play 8 X Back rowers in the Forwards wherever they fit.Agreed, but interesting that Leinster do not play him there when they have other more beefed up lock options.
Those club owners also own the competition in partnership which is valued at about 1 billion having got a huge input of capital for a share from private equity. Don’t think they are complaining. I have a funny feeling billionaires know more about business than our local Super Rugby ceos.All their clubs bleed as much if not more than the Super Rugby franchises.
Sure they probably bring in more, but they spend all of it and then some on those stupidly massive player wages.
And they have to, to stay competitive. Race to the bottom.
Just because a business is worth a lot doesn't mean it's viable. I hate the specious argument that because a person has money they automatically know more than others. Fucking nonsense Donald J Trump reasoning. Its common knowledge the clubs lose a shitload and the owners cover the costs because they like rugby.Those club owners also own the competition in partnership which is valued at about 1 billion having got a huge input of capital for a share from private equity. Don’t think they are complaining. I have a funny feeling billionaires know more about business than our local Super Rugby ceos.