Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
I'll take that on as a bet.
Which part?
Them coming back?
Them being Super Rugby quality?
Or them being in their prime?
I'll take that on as a bet.
Sorry, either one of them going anywhere near making the RWC 2019 squad.Which part?
Them coming back?
Them being Super Rugby quality?
Or them being in their prime?
I think Izzy would have a really valuable perspective on the work/rest ratio in Rugby Union considering he's got the benefit of having played at the top level in Australia for two other sports.
For example, AFL would have flogged him with cardio but no international games (no real ones) and limited travel would support that there is less need for sabbaticals than RU.
Similarly, NRL is physically demanding but there is a substantial off-season, limited international touring and only moderate travel demands.
So yeah, I think Izzy's response to a question, being an in-principle approval of sabbaticals is entirely appropriate.
So uncle Bill has 'zero appetite' for sabbaticals. The line in the sand has been drawn. I like the sentiment of his view, but I think he should also look trying to balance the tension between game growth and a good product that puts the bums on seats.
http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-unio...er-says-no-to-sabbaticals-20140619-zsevg.html
''Why would you choose Wallabies from overseas markets, which would most likely then allow a serious exit of playing talent from this country and dilute the calibre of our competition? That's not what we want to do with the game in Australia.''
These players are really no real loss for the Wallabies. They are a huge loss for Super Rugby though. By allowing more to go it just undermines Super Rugby.
Yes and no, it opens opportunities for youngsters with promise to get more game time.
Sometimes the older squad player can be a hindrance as well, safe? sure, but never special
Maybe, and maybe not - the locks that have walked, I'd be interest to see the Super Lock next year and the year after - Australians V Non Australians.
Yes I'd like to see youngsters stepping up, but if they continue to flow overseas we sooner or later wont have enough players to step up.
We will see more of Staniforth at the Brumbies, Coleman at the Force, Cummins at the Rebels.
All three are good young locks
Add to that Hollaway at the Tahs, McDulling at the Reds as players to watch
As i said, i look forward to the young guys stepping up.
Coleman locking partner is from South Africa.
Skelton possibly locking partner from South Africa being Jackpot.
All I'm saying is I hope we have the young guys step up instead of pulling more players from Over Seas.
On an entirely different note.
I took the opportunity to dick around and assemble an Australian expats XV, to look at the depth of potential lost overseas. The leagues I've covered are the English Premiership, French Top 14 and D2, all the Celtic League teams (Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy), and the Japanese Top League.
Behold your mighties and despair:
1 Dan Palmer - Grenoble
2 Huia Edmonds - Gloucester
3 Salesi Ma’afu - Northampton
4 Sitaleki Timani - Montpellier
5 Mark Chisholm - Bayonne
6 Peter Kimlin - Grenoble
7 George Smith - Suntory Sungoliath
8 David Lyons - Stade Francais
9 Josh Valentine - Narbonne
10 Berrick Barnes - Panasonic Wild Knights
11 Digby Ioane - Stade Francais
12 Matt Giteau - Toulon
13 Tyrone Smith - Narbonne
14 Drew Mitchell - Toulon
15 James O’Connor - London Irish
16 James Hilterbrand - Edinburgh
17 John Ulugia - Bourg-en-Bresse
18 Anthony Hegarty - Grenoble
19 Dean Mumm - Exeter
20 Leroy Houston - Bath
21 Richard Kingi - Stade Francais
22 Brock James - Clermont Auvergne
23 Alfi Mafi - Brive
Honourable mentions go to Ben Hand (Grenoble), Dan Heenan (Panasonic Wild Knights), Mitch Chapman (NTT Docomo), Julian Salvi (Leicester), Jono Jenkins (Narbonne), Josh Holmes (Bourgoin), Matt Henjak (Dax), Afusipa Taumoepeau (Pau), Junior Pelesasa (Agen), Chris Siale (Tarbes), Craig Wing (Kintetsu?), Brackin Karauria-Henry (NTT Shining Arcs) Ben Jacobs (London Wasps), Peter Hewat (Suntory Sungoliath).
There are a fair bunch of players who didn't make the cut above - mostly ex-mungoes, journeymen, bright young things, or names which I'd never bloody heard before.
While you can draw any number of conclusions from the above, it's notable that almost all of the first XV named are ex-Wallabies. The long-time argument that Australia doesn't have the playing depth to support five Super Rugby teams does seem to fly in the face of the above. The real issue isn't depth (apart from perhaps our front-row stocks), but in our ability to retain talent.