Brumbies 2009

[Lee Grant]

Have heard only rumours on this forum but nothing official.

It has been mentioned so many times it has almost the status of a fact, though not quite. It is something that Norman Mailer called a factoid.

 

[Biffo]

If one feature defines Andy Friend's coaching, it is his drive for precision by the forwards.

 

[Spook]

In 2007 the Brumbies forward play was the best in Oz (particularly in the second half of the S14) and Sheperdson deservedly won the tight head position for Oz. 2008 was an absolute diasaster at every point.

 

[fatprop]

Isn't Campbell returning to the Tahs next year?

It appears not

The Vickerman hole is the biggest. "We first looked at the Australian prospects. We just weren't satisfied we had found someone who could at least go some of the way to filling Vickerman's shoes," Hickey said.

"The Australian Rugby Union then changed the rules and allowed overseas players to come in. So we cast our net a little bit wider, which has seen us speak to players from South Africa, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

"We've narrowed that down to a couple of players - one South African and a New Zealander, whom we are continuing to negotiate with. They're not capped players, but have good Super 14 experience."

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/news/hickey-warms-to-daunting-job/2008/09/25/1222217430687.html

 

[RugbyReg]

One of Charles or Jerry Y would have to be in the Academy right? From my workings, before these signings, the Brums have Moore and Edmonds as hookers with John Ulugia as well. I guess he is a hooker now too?

At prop they have Alexander, Henderson, Maafu and Shepherdson. Jerry Y's signing makes it a reasonable 5 props (with Ulugia as cover). I doubt they would have 4 hookers contracted to a full contract though.

 

[naza]

One of Charles or Jerry Y would have to be in the Academy right?

Both are signed up, no mention of Academy contracts http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24406958-23217,00.html

SYDNEY University prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa and hooker Nathan Charles have been signed by the Brumbies after the Students won their fourth successive Sydney first-grade premiership.

 

[RugbyReg]

Ok, my Brumbies - 09 style.

15 Mark Gerrard
14 Clyde Rathbone
13 Stirling Mortlock (c)
12 Tyrone Smith
11 Adam Ashley-Cooper
10 Christian Lealiifano
9 Josh Holmes
8 Stephen Hoiles
7 George Smith
6 Mitchell Chapman
5 Peter Kimlin
4 Mark Chisolm
3 Salesi Maafu
2 Stephen Moore
1 Ben Alexander

16 Huia Edmonds
17 Guy Shepherdson
18 Sitaleki Timani
19 Julian Salvi
20 Patrick Phibbs
21 Gene Fairbanks
22 Francis Fainifo

- AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13 in my mind but until Australia's best ever 13 retires he must play elsewhere. For the Brums it may be 11 with Gerrard at the back,more because Gerrard is too slow for the wing now.
- Gees I hope Rathbone can get back to form. Limited in skills he may be, I love his pure finishing abilities.
- Holmes v Phibbs is a ? Of course. This selection is more a hope than anything else.
- Hoiles and Chapman could face a battle for their spots from Salvi.
- that's a mobile, yet solid, front row and a good forwards bench. I am less sold on the backs aspect of the reserves.

 

[disco]

Noddy,

- AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13 in my mind but until Australia's best ever 13 retires he must play elsewhere. For the Brums it may be 11 with Gerrard at the back,more because Gerrard is too slow for the wing now.

Totally agree but this is a Brumbies 15 I would like to see.

15.Gerrard
14.Rathbone
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12.Mortlock
11.Mafi
10.Lealiifano
9.Holmes/Phibbs doesn't matter they're both ok
8.Salvi Prefer him to Hoiles
7.Smith
6.Chapman
5.Chiz
4.Kimlin
3.Shepherdson
2.Moore Should still be in Red
1.Alexander

 

[Lee Grant]

- AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13 in my mind but until Australia's best ever 13 retires he must play elsewhere. Exactly so, but I disagree with disco - I wouldn't put Mortlock anywhere near a 12 jersey again.


For the Brums it may be 11 with Gerrard at the back,more because Gerrard is too slow for the wing now. Geez I said when the first Wallaby squad was picked that Gerrard should have been in it as a fullback in case Oz had to play in a wet match of the Tahs v Brumbies type this year when he was awesome. It was only when I saw him play a bit for the Rats this year that I realised how slow he has got. Maybe he has slowed down since his RWC injury and I didn't notice it during the S14. But fullback or 12 is the best position for a slow back and he should have the 15 jersey so his long punts can be used.


- Gees I hope Rathbone can get back to form. Limited in skills he may be, I love his pure finishing abilities. He didn't look as fast for Easts after being out so long with injury, but I've had a shocker with judging the pace of players; so, let's see.


- Holmes v Phibbs? This selection is more a hope than anything else. Let's all hope that Holmes can step up and play to his natural ability at the S14 level. Phibbs is more street smart than Holmes and is an under rated player, but he doesn't have the native talent of the younger man. Unfortunately I saw Holmes play in a few dozy games for Eastwood this year.


- Hoiles and Chapman could face a battle for their spots from Salvi. As long as the other two are lineout options, especially Chapman, Salvi will struggle for game time. Good player though, and big hearted, but too much of an all rounder in a specialist's world. He should have a few starting games instead of Hoiles though. Sometimes Smith and Hoiles play like clones of each other.

- that's a mobile, yet solid, front row and a good forwards bench. Hopefully so, but the T5 forwards will have to put in better in the physical contests that last year's mob did. We look too much at the players' names and not at the size of their hearts.

From a national point of view, including long term, I will be interested in:

Ben Alexander - will he able to be competitive at scrum time and make his mark in the physical stuff?

Peter Kimlin - will he work in the tight stuff or spend too long waiting to run with the ball and be another Chisholm, apart from the odd game of grunt?

Alfi Mafi - is he an eventual Wallaby prospect or just another talented outside back not long out of school?

Sitaleki Timani - will he get some game time and if he does, will he show the superb form at the end of the Sydney club season at the S14 level?

Salesi Ma'afu - will he give evidence of being a Wallaby prospect?

Matt To'omua - will he get the same chance as Beale and Cooper got at the same age and make the Brumbies 10 jersey his own this year or next?

Mitchell Chapman - will he play well enough to have his name mentioned in the same breath as current Oz favourites: 3M and Mumm?

 

[Aussie D]

- AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13 in my mind but until Australia's best ever 13 retires he must play elsewhere. For the Brums it may be 11 with Gerrard at the back,more because Gerrard is too slow for the wing now.

Noddy,
Andrew Slack etired 20 years ago and Oz' second best, Jason Little, nearly 10 years ago. Think you need to check your eyepatch.

 

[Scotty]

Lets not forget Dan Herbert.... sheesshh..

 

[disco]

No I'm with Noddy on the Stirlo comment, Horan/Mortlock centre pairing in my all time aussie 15 would be unstoppable.

Oh to dream.

 

[RugbyReg]

Aussie D, are you suggesting I am a one-eyed Brumby fan?

 

[Scotty]

I thought he was making a joke, and suggesting your Qld eye patch wasn't on properly?

Hence my Dan Herbert comment...

 

[Lindommer]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13 in my mind but until Australia's best ever 13 retires he must play elsewhere. For the Brums it may be 11 with Gerrard at the back,more because Gerrard is too slow for the wing now.

Noddy, Andrew Slack retired 20 years ago and Oz' second best, Jason Little, nearly 10 years ago. Think you need to check your eyepatch.

Having watched Slack play at Ballymore many times (and had more than one beer with him) he has every right to be considered up there with Australia's best captains. I said to a mate of mine after watching a test in the early 80s "Wouldn't it be better to play Slack and O'Connor the other way around?". I still don't know why that wasn't done before O'Connor turned to the dark side.

Slackie was a very good rugby player but he's not in the top notch of outside centres.

 

[RugbyReg]

Ahhh Scotty, thanks. I thjink you're right, though Nigel Kassulke may have been a better call.

Speaking of best ever out centres, do the Brums have that young uni centre who was awesome v Qld on their books still? Leo Afaeki or something?

 

[Cutter]

I'm with Lee and Noddy. Mortlock is a 13 only and may be getting too slow for it as well. He has shown us more times than I need to see that he cant play 12.

I would, if at all possible, play AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15. Dingo will have him practicing his positional play and kicking and he will be a better player as a result. Give Gerrard game time at 12 during the trials and if he isnt up to it, use him as a bench player. Move Mafi to the wing.

 

[Pfitzy]

I reckon you'd need Rathbone back in the centres where his style of sidestepping can be put to best effect. No I've no idea how you'd arrange the team around him, but you could do worse than have Aussie Clyde / Mortlock / Tyrone rotate through the two centre positions.

 

[Lee Grant]

Slackie was an under rated player but I agree with Lindommer that he's not in the same league as Mortlock - well, the Mortlock of earlier this winter.

Jason Little was also under rated - for his defensive work. He read the game like a fullback in the midfield as Horan could of course. They were a terrific combo both with and without the ball.

Eventually Dan Herbert came along and couldn't be denied. He had a stellar year in 1999 when he was the best in the world IMO, but you could never compare his career with Mortlock's.

 

[Spook]

Noddy,

- AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13 in my mind but until Australia's best ever 13 retires he must play elsewhere. For the Brums it may be 11 with Gerrard at the back,more because Gerrard is too slow for the wing now.

Totally agree but this is a Brumbies 15 I would like to see.

15.Gerrard
14.Rathbone
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12.Mortlock
11.Mafi
10.Lealiifano
9.Holmes/Phibbs doesn't matter they're both ok
8.Salvi Prefer him to Hoiles
7.Smith
6.Chapman
5.Chiz
4.Kimlin
3.Shepherdson
2.Moore Should still be in Red
1.Alexander

Looks pretty close to what I would like. We need real speed on the wings this year and Mafi is quick...hopefully rattlebones gets his old pace back. I'm hoping the huge islander Timani makes a lock position his own with Chisolm which means Kimlin moves to 6 or 8 and Chapman to the bench. A backrow of Smith, Salvi and Kimlin would get stuck in. Kimlin is very quick apparently.