Brumbies 2010

[Spook]

- Christian Lealiifano. Owned this game. He's a real match winner and Saturday was no different. Fantastic control and his defense saved a match winning try. He looks really good at 12.

Been saying for ages he should be an inside centre. Has a good passing game, running game (made a lot of line breaks in S14) and defensive game. He doesn't have the kicking or control for a 10 (although improved a lot last year again before injury) .

Next year will be fascinating. I can see T Smith be squeezed out with To'omua at Fullback, Lealiifano at 12, Gits at 10 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13 (presuming Morty is gone). You never know, maybe Gits will be forced to play 12 with To'omua at 10 and Lealiifano at 15 - who is brilliant under the high ball..need to improve his kicking though.

What'll happen in the front row? Will Sheperdson learn to play loose head so that Alexander can keep playing tight head with Jerry Y on the bench? Probably not..I can see Alexander switching to tight head with 20-30 mins to go.

1. Alexander
2. Moore
3. Sheperdson
4. Kimlin
5. Chisolm
6. Elsom
7. Smith
8. Holies
9. Valentine
10. Gits
11. Fanifo
12. Lealiifano
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Mafi
15. To'omua

16. Edmonds
17. Hand/Timani
18. Chapman
19. Henry V
20. Phibbs
21. T Smith/Fairbanks
22. McCabe?

 

[Lee Grant]

Good post louie. It's good for the Canberra comp, but I reckon that its better for the play of Canberra Super14 players to play for Sydney clubs. I reckon that To'omua is getting more improvement playing for Eastern Suburbs than he would playing for a Canberra club. Half of the teams they play against in Sydney are of a good standard and teams like Uni and Randwick are a good benchmark for young players.

I was disappointed that the NSW club alickadoos kicked out the Canberra Vikings (twice) as most of the local Canberra players seemed to play for it and it was another good team to have in our comp.

Talking of Brumbies players: Frankie Fainifo has been playing well for Randwick. There's some hoo-ha in the papers that Deans may be slumming around the Sydney club finals for a smokey or two for the EOYT. Frankie could be a smokey though wingers have to be fullbacks also these days.


Spook - sorry to be a smart-arse but you may need to have a reserve prop in your team.

 

[Spook]

Spook - sorry to be a smart-arse but you may need to have a reserve prop in your team.

Good point!

16. Ma'afu
17. Edmonds
18. Hand/Timani
19. Chapman
20. Phibbs
21. T Smith/Fairbanks
22. McCabe?

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Sorry Lee - being a smartass is my job, I just do it better than most.
- in a 22 man squad you need 3 (three) front row reserves.

 

[louie]

Good post louie. It's good for the Canberra comp, but I reckon that its better for the play of Canberra Super14 players to play for Sydney clubs.

It is and for players like frankie and Matt it is great but i think this year Christian really needed to be close to Andy Friend. He provides with a lot of guidence and individual skills training (he was a 10 himself).Plus Friend could keep a close eye on him and see what he's like at 12 and 15 (which he played both of for the Vikings).

I was disappointed that the NSW club alickadoos kicked out the Canberra Vikings (twice) as most of the local Canberra players seemed to play for it and it was another good team to have in our comp.

What pisses me off about Canberra being shown the door is that we weren't doing that badly.

Talking of Brumbies players: Frankie Fainifo has been playing well for Randwick. There's some hoo-ha in the papers that Deans may be slumming around the Sydney club finals for a smokey or two for the EOYT. Frankie could be a smokey though wingers have to be fullbacks also these days.

would love to see this. Frankie has some serious pace and can really open a game up. Like Cooper i think he would do wonders under deans. He's what deans is look for in a coach.

1. Alexander
2. Moore
3. Sheperdson
4. Kimlin
5. Chisolm
6. Elsom
7. Smith
8. Holies
9. Valentine
10. To'omua
11. Fanifo
12. Gits
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Mafi
15. Lealiifano

16. Ma'afu/Jerry
17. Edmonds
18. Hand/Timani
19. Chapman/Fainga'a.
20. Phibbs
21. T Smith/Fairbanks
22. McCabe?

To'omua has siad that he doesn't want/won't play 15. I think Christian would do very well at 15 much like Bernie mold.
Friend will play Gits at 12.

 

[Lindommer]

The decision by the Sydney clubs to show Canberra the door (has it been twice the last 15 years?) was disgraceful. It's not difficult to travel down the Hume Highway for an away game only once a year. That's the excuse the Sydney clubs used, they didn't like the travel! Conveniently forgetting Canberra had to travel to Sydney once every fortnight.

It would improve rugby competition immensely if Canberra played in the Shute Shield. Maybe it's time to look at Penrith's involvement and see if another method can be used to strengthen rugby in Sydney's outer western suburbs.

 

[fatprop]

The decision by the Sydney clubs to show Canberra the door (has it been twice the last 15 years?) was disgraceful. It's not difficult to travel down the Hume Highway for an away game only once a year. That's the excuse the Sydney clubs used, they didn't like the travel! Conveniently forgetting Canberra had to travel to Sydney once every fortnight.

It would improve rugby competition immensely if Canberra played in the Shute Shield. Maybe it's time to look at Penrith's involvement and see if another method can be used to strengthen rugby in Sydney's outer western suburbs.

It was a bit more than that. The ACT side didn't want to provide a full set of grades and colts, just the two teams.

 

[Lindommer]

It made for scheduling difficulties to not play all grade and colts when playing Canberra but the 12 Sydney clubs cobbled another draw together when Premier Rugby was played a few years ago which didn't include lower grades and colts. It isn't perfect to not play all teams against one other club on any Saturday but this myopia that things can only be in Sydney is a blight on rugby in Australia's biggest and best competition.

My mail was the Sydney clubs used the travel excuse to boot Canberra out. Disgraceful.

 

[Lee Grant]

Yeah they could have fitted in the Vikings if they really wanted to but they didn't. I seem to recall an offhand statement from somebody to the effect of: why should we give the Brumbies a leg up by exposing their bench and fringe players to a high level of competition?

The Vikings were a good team and strengthened our comp. It should have been win-win.

 

[louie]

I seem to recall an offhand statement from somebody to the effect of: why should we give the Brumbies a leg up by exposing their bench and fringe players to a high level of competition?

The Vikings were a good team and strengthened our comp. It should have been win-win.

They do this anyway!!! Randwick, Easts, Uni, Eastwood etc does it all for us. We spend no money of Training or Coaching. Plus NSWRU clubs are paying their match fees.
And also whinge and bitch when we take over players out for a french tour. pft. just NSWRU trying to control everything (as they alays try and do) and it now really working.

 

[Spook]

Yeah they could have fitted in the Vikings if they really wanted to but they didn't. I seem to recall an offhand statement from somebody to the effect of: why should we give the Brumbies a leg up by exposing their bench and fringe players to a high level of competition?

Just shows you why an ARC was needed...and is still needed.

 

[Calexico]

Just got my membership renewal pack - and note that Lealiifano is listed as inside back/fullback. Perhaps a sign that Friend plans to play him at inside centre or fullback?

 

[louie]

yeah he played there on the french tour and has been there for the vikings all season. He's really good at 12 and 15.
With To'omua and Gits at 10 it's good to see him switch around. i'm a huge Lealiifano fan!!!

 

[Spook]

Brumbies chase speed and power for Super14
Article Published: Thursday 5 November 2009
Edited by: Rugbyweek.com.
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Brumbies chase speed and power for Super14

The CA Brumbies’ quest for speed and power has seen a revamp in the side’s Strength and Conditioning (S and C) Department for the 2010 Super 14 season.

Rod Lindsell (Head S and C Coach) and Marcus Kain (S and C Coach) will pair up in a new-look athletic performance team following Damian Marsh’s move to the Queensland Reds after nine years with the CA Brumbies.

Lindsell’s promotion sees him head the S and C program after five years with the CA Brumbies. Lindsell, who has also held posts with the Wallabies and Australian Prime Minister’s XV in 2006, spent three years as S and C Coordinator at the Australian Institute of Sport and four years with the NSW Institute of Sport prior to joining Brumbies Rugby.

Lindsell says he’s enjoying the challenge of leading the CA Brumbies’ S and C program in 2010.

"I see our role as understanding where individuals are at and doing what we can to help them take their game forward," he said.

""There’s always a push to be fitter and faster but we’re looking to pick our battles, make sure where we achieve that really matters and transfers to a player’s performance on the field.

"It’s not necessarily all about the physical side, there’s a mental aspect as well. It’s about knowing the personalities, driving them and working with them as individuals to get the most out of them."

Kain joins the ACT province from the National Rugby League’s (NRL) St George Illawarra Dragons where he spent two years (2007 and 2008) as NRL Speed Coach and Rehabilitation Coordinator, and Assistant S and C Coach.

This season he was the High Performance Unit S and C Coach for the Dragons. He also spent two years as Head S and C Coach for the Thirroul Rugby League Club.

Kain’s role will feature overseeing the CA Brumbies’ speed component as well as working with players during their injury rehabilitation process.

The former beach sprinter is well-equipped to manage the CA Brumbies’ speed needs having been crowned three-times National Beach Sprint Relay Champion between 2003 and 2005 and winning three consecutive World Beach Relay titles in 2002, 2004 to 2006.

Kain says he’s looking forward to working with the CA Brumbies this season.

"My main strength is my speed background and my rehab experience that I had at the Dragons for two full years but I’ll be looking to work in with Rod and use my broader S and C experience to mix into what he’s put in place for next season," he said.

"The Brumbies are a very well structured club that has recruited well for 2010. It’s exciting to be working under a new structure and in a fresh set-up. There are a number of big name players within the squad which makes it very exciting, as does the challenge of crossing from league to union."

CA Brumbies Head Coach Andy Friend says the pair is a perfect combination for the CA Brumbies.

"We’ve got a real focus on speed and power this year and Rod and Marcus will compliment each other well in helping us achieve that," he said.

"Rod’s been around the organisation for a number of years now. He knows the players and the structures inside out and this is a fantastic opportunity for him to lead the program. He did a fantastic job overseeing a number of the guys during the off-season, he’s extremely knowledgeable across all facets of S and C and I believe he knows how to get the best out of the players.

"Marcus’ expertise is in the speed department and he’ll add a great deal to our performance. We received a number of quality applications for his role, but when we looked through his resume, his skill set fitted what we were after.

"He’s been with the Dragons for four years and he received some glowing references from Wayne Bennett and some of the players there, and having met with him he fits the ‘good bloke’ mould which means he’ll fit in well here."

The CA Brumbies will begin their pre-season on Sunday (8 November) with their annual Orientation Day before taking to the field on Monday (9 November).

 

[Brumby Jack]

Word on the street is that Kimlin has a shoulder injury that may require surgery which would rule him out of the Super 14 for 2010. The Brumbies are monitoring this and are looking at Dave Dennis as a replacement if Kimlin undergoes surgery. :'(

 

[Brumby Jack]

Good and bad news on the Kimlin front. His shoulder injury does not require surgery but will still be sidelined for 3-6 months so a replacement is being sought.

In other Brumbies news, they are trying to get some funds together to upgrade their woeful training facilities. Without doubt they are some of the worst facilities a professional team has ever had and the local residents are a bit worried about what the plans are and worry that they won't be able to use the oval the Brumbies train on when they aren't there. The idiots don't realise there is another oval right next to this one which can serve the purpose of letting kids and dogs run all over it.

There is nothing good about training and falling on/in a dog turd so they can do it on the the 2nd oval as far as I am concerned!

Imagine the headline 'Player contracts infection from falling in dog $hit on sub standard training oval'?

 

[aussie1st]

That sucks, Kimlim was really starting to make his mark.

 

[Ash]

Good and bad news on the Kimlin front. His shoulder injury does not require surgery but will still be sidelined for 3-6 months so a replacement is being sought.

Interesting to see that they think they need a replacement at this stage. Hand, Chisholm, Timani plus the possibility of Chapman still provides a good S14 second row and some options. I struggle to think how they'd get anyone in front of any of those players, but they must now be thinking of giving, say, Dennis a one year contract which will give him the opportunity to join the new franchise the following year.

 

[Newb]

thanks for the updates jack. always good to get a little inside info. hope kimlin gives it a chance to heal. shoulder injuries seem to linger sometimes. diggers has had his issues with both shoulders now.

and i agree entirely on the training oval issue. it's an oval not a neighborhood park. should be used for training/sport only.

 

[Lee Grant]

.......they must now be thinking of giving, say, Dennis a one year contract which will give him the opportunity to join the new franchise the following year.

This makes sense.

If Daisy does get picked up I hope that he can stay healthy; so he can prove himself a good S14 player - and me wrong. If that happens Melbourne will get a good pick up, though the new team will be moving fast in their acquisition programme.

Melbourne may take him on trust, as to his ability, since he has been picked for a Wallabies tour, but he will have to get on the park early for the Brumbies to prove to them that his body can cope with S14 rugby.