Brumbies 2010

[Spook]

Good to see Brumby Jack here. He has insider knowledge - a hoof on the pulse one could say.

I thought Kimlin was very good in the second half of the S14 when he moved to lock. He's tall and aggressive. Can carry as well.

 

[naza]

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

Gerrard disease. Symptoms include dribbling, chronic self pity, and tortoiselike ponderousness.

 

[Moses]

Smith's syndrome. Symptoms include rapid loss of hair, loss of spatial awareness (hanging around at 12) and chip kicks.

 

[Spook]

Stop trolling or the Waratah thread will go down fast :angryfire:

 

[cheezel]

I just read on the Roar that Justin Harrison has signed to the Brumbies for next year. He's suposedly signed as the marquee player as he's not signed with the ARU. Should add some aggression to the Brumbies pack.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/29/roar-exclusive-justin-harrison-has-agreed-to-play-for-the-brumbies-in-2010/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theroar+%28The+Roar%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

 

[fatprop]

So, do the Brumbies still plan to play "the best THP in the country (Sheperdson)" at starting THP next season?

 

[Brumby Jack]

So, do the Brumbies still plan to play "the best THP in the country (Sheperdson)" at starting THP next season?

It'll probably be Alexander starting there

 

[Aussie D]

I just read on the Roar that Justin Harrison has signed to the Brumbies for next year. He's suposedly signed as the marquee player as he's not signed with the ARU. Should add some aggression to the Brumbies pack.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/29/roar-exclusive-justin-harrison-has-agreed-to-play-for-the-brumbies-in-2010/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theroar+%28The+Roar%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Waste of a contract IMHO. they don't need a has-been, coke sniffing, racist, thug on their books. Young Timani or Kimlin may miss out on game time because of this signing.

 

[James Buchanan]

Waste of a contract IMHO. they don't need a has-been, coke sniffing, racist, thug on their books. Young Timani or Kimlin may miss out on game time because of this signing.

The reports I've seen have stated that he's been recruited as a replacement for Kimlin while he is injured.

 

[Spook]

So, do the Brumbies still plan to play "the best THP in the country (Sheperdson)" at starting THP next season?

Surely that's Baxter by your own definition :lmao: . Will you start him over Kepu?

 

[fatprop]

So, do the Brumbies still plan to play "the best THP in the country (Sheperdson)" at starting THP next season?

Surely that's Baxter by your own definition :lmao: . Will you start him over Kepu?

Kepu is an average THP, Baxter has to keep his place from Palmer.

 

[Lee Grant]

The recruiting of Harrison may seem odd but you can't blame the Brumbies for getting some insurance for a season.

He played well in NH games when I saw him in 2007/08 but in 2008/09 he was a bit of a comic book character; though one has to admit that you don't see a lot of every NH club in every comp to form an accurate opinion of every player.

One aspect of his game has always been valuable though. There are certain opponents that annoy the players in your team, distract them and make them less productive - and often these guys do it at key moments. You find yourself yelling at the TV screen that the ref is blind not to notice the interference.

Ali Williams, Rodney So'oialo and Bakkies Botha come to mind and the king was Dallaglio. Harrison is such a player too.



On the props: both Baxter and Shepherdson will be champing at the bit for the next S14 to begin.

Since Alexander did better as a THP since the start of the 2008 EOYT than anybody would have thought, the demise of Baxter may be no bad thing for Oz rugby. Deans was forced to use Alexander a lot after Baxter was dudded by Joubert in 3N and then pinged in the following game. IMO Joubert guessed to let the game go on and to get a tick from his assessor for doing so. None of the 'no bad thing' argument will resonate with the affable Baxter though, and he will want some quiet vengeance.

Shepherdson would have been very proud of his work in the 2nd half of the 2009 S14. The Brumbies scrum finished the season well and got plaudits from the Chiefs front row. I couldn't work out why he was overlooked for LHP Cowan by the Wallabies and when Baxter was discarded it was unaccountable.

Sure, he is not as handy around the park as PK and Kepu, but the time we pick THPs on their ability in open play will the time when our scrum progress will stop.

Provided Shepherdson can anchor the Brumbies scrum, I don't think it will be a bad thing if Alexander plays a lot at LHP for them now that Henderson is gone. It is a technical spot and needs more practice than the strength THP position.

In particular, the Fat Cat special of attacking the THP's chest without stepping around and thereby being pinged - or at least inviting the THP to attack your hooker, because your bind on the hooker is compromised - is a skill that has to be honed. Alexander's strength, now forged harder by playing THP in test matches, will do him no harm on the left hand side of the scrum either. Os du Rant was a destructive LHP partly because he was stronger than the average no. 1 and so was Sheridan in his pomp.

 

[Ash]

The Brumbies three remaining "main" props now can all be considered THs: Alexander, Shepherdson, and Ma'afu. Looking at those props, based on past S14s you'd think that they'd have 3. Sherpherdson, 1. Alexader, 17. Ma'afu.

I would like to see Alexander stay at tighthead in the S14. Maybe Shepherdson or Ma'afu could switch, or Jerry Y might get an early change. If Alexander is the best TH in Australia, and I think that he has shown himself to be just that beyond a shadow of a doubt, then he should stay there at provincial level. Certainly playing at loosehead for the entire Super 14 will not benefit his TH play as much as playing TH instead would.

Lee Grant; you can't blame them, but I hope that we don't see The Plank on the field. With Chisholm, Hand, Timani and possibly Chapman the Brumbies should have enough options for the 2nd row. I understand that Chapman does not like playing 2nd row, but if that's what it takes to get gametime (which he probably won't get with Elsom and Hoiles around) then he should put his hand up.

 

[Pfitzy]

Brumbies T5 should therefore be:

1 Ma'afu (maybe Shep if he wants to stretch himself)
2 Moore
3 Alexander
4 Harrison
5 Chisholm

With a back row of
6 Elsom
7 Smith
8 Hoiles

Not bad.

 

[Viking]

hope they play gits at 12! n hope To'omua becomes a star, oh and i hope lealifano becomes a great fullback. I hope for a lot of things.

 

[Spook]

Great post Lee. A different bent on things.

 

[Lee Grant]

Being bent was never a problem for me.

 

[aussie1st]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/new...-to-move-gits-around/1694874.aspx?storypage=2

Giteau happy to play either 10 or 12. So that's great to know he won't force Friend to play him there. To'omua at 10, Giteau 12 and Lealiifano 15 would be perfect.

 

[Newb]

any estimate on when To'omua will be back? his jaw has to heal, and i would imagine he'll be off his playing weight if his diet is restricted cuz of it.

 

[Ash]

Giteau happy to play either 10 or 12. So that's great to know he won't force Friend to play him there. To'omua at 10, Giteau 12 and Lealiifano 15 would be perfect.

A lot depends on when Mortlock leaves. If Mortlock sticks around, then:
10. To'omua / Lealiifano
12. Gits
13. Mortlock
15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

21. To'omua / Lealiifano
22. T. Smith

But I suspect you might find Gits at 10, T. Smith at 12 at least sometimes during the season. If Lealiifano plays fullback, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will switch to wing. Not too sure Friend will do that.

Otherwise if Mortlock departs, would Friend put T. Smith or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) into 13?