Brumbies 2011

[louie]

I really hope they start to move out t smith this year, I think he's done his dash and doesn't offer that much

 

[Slim 293]

I do have to agree...

I didn't think he was too spectacular this year, and Stubbs and Andrew Smith are two emerging talents...

And hopefully Nic White will get plenty of game time because Valentine and Phibbs are really only short term options...

 

[louie]

Brumbies have too many should have beens. Players that could have been great but it never really happened.
T.Smith, Josh Valentine, Frankie, Gits, Holes,

 

[Slim 293]

Brumbies have too many should have beens. Players that could have been great but it never really happened.
T.Smith, Josh Valentine, Frankie, Gits, Holes,

Gits has been a great... but I don't think taking a large sum of money and going to the Force has helped his career...

Valentine showed glimpses of why he was a good buy early in the season but wasn't very consistent...

Hoiles was the best Aussie forward in the S14 in his debut year with the Brumbies... after injury he never fully regained his form...

Fainifo really blew his chance of making the Wallaby EOYT with a poor Shute Shield final performance...

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Brumbies have too many should have beens. Players that could have been great but it never really happened.
T.Smith, Josh Valentine, Frankie, Gits, Holes,

Giteau a "should have been"? Rubbish, a 'has been' now maybe, but the Giteau of old (around 2004) was great, especially compared to the others you mention.

 

[mudskipper]

Brumbies have too many should have beens. Players that could have been great but it never really happened.
T.Smith, Josh Valentine, Frankie, Gits, Holes,

louie... fly stirring the pot, Holies and Gits have been great players. Lealiifano puts a lot of presure on Tyrone for a starting spot.

 

[fatprop]

Gits has been a great... but I don't think taking a large sum of money and going to the Force has helped his career...

.

I thought Gits played some great rugby at 10 in the West and has gone backwards since returning to the ACT

 

[en_force_er]

I thought Gits played some great rugby at 10 in the West and has gone backwards since returning to the ACT

Agreed but that was in some ways because they played a very Gits centric game-plan involving much more depth than one would usually play with.

You can't base your game around 1 play at international level.

 

[fatprop]

Agreed but that was in some ways because they played a very Gits centric game-plan involving much more depth than one would usually play with.

You can't base your game around 1 play at international level.

You build a game to play to your strengths, it worked pretty well, most sides build a game to the strengths of their play maker

 

[en_force_er]

You build a game to play to your strengths, it worked pretty well, most sides build a game to the strengths of their play maker

Yes, certainly to an extent but you need to take into account the rest of the teams strengths.

Though the Force that year's strength was really only Gitts.

 

[Lee Grant]

Before folks want to get rid of Tyrone Smith they should think who will replace him.

Somebody mentioned a cast of players but none of them are specialist 12's - A.Smith FFS. People sometimes discuss centres as though a fellow who is good at inside centre can be just as good at outside centre, and vice versa. They are different positions and anybody who watches the game closely knows that there are fewer elite 12s around the traps than 13s. True some folks can play either position with equal facility at the professional level but they are very bloody rare outside of France.

The comment that made sense was mudskipper mentioning Lealiifano as a 12. Fair enough, and Stubbs is a terrific player for the Runners and may get some time on the park also.

 

[Bowside]

Why not have Giteau at 12 and To'omua at 10?

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Before folks want to get rid of Tyrone Smith they should think who will replace him.

Somebody mentioned a cast of players but none of them are specialist 12's - A.Smith FFS. People sometimes discuss centres as though a fellow who is good at inside centre can be just as good at outside centre, and vice versa. They are different positions and anybody who watches the game closely knows that there are fewer elite 12s around the traps than 13s. True some folks can play either position with equal facility at the professional level but they are very bloody rare outside of France.

The comment that made sense was mudskipper mentioning Lealiifano as a 12. Fair enough, and Stubbs is a terrific player for the Runners and may get some time on the park also.

If Smith was to go I'd see the 12 pecking order;

Giteau > Lealiifano > Stubbs > Coleman

 

[Lee Grant]

Why not have Giteau at 12 and To'omua at 10?

Super coaches love Giteau at 10; he's a lot better at it there than in big test matches. He played twice as many games at 10 than at 12 last year for the Brumbies. Perhaps that will change in 2011, and it should because of succession planning; but will it?

Either way I wouldn't be getting rid of T.Smith. I'd like him there playing against the likes of Nonu and the big SAffer guys in either centre position.

 

[Bowside]

Giteau should be playing 12, not just because it's his international position, but also because To'omua is arguably the third best 5/8 in the country and brings more to the team than T.Smith.

As you said, maybe against the big saffas you might play him but otherwise I'd take Matt and Gits over him anyday.

 

[Lee Grant]

Fair enough but earlier talk on the thread that he should be discarded are over the top..

Sure young Matt should be used at 10 in the national interest but that is not always a Super coach's priority. Giteau can get outside breaks at the Super level.

 

[Slim 293]

Giteau was shifted to inside centre when it was obvious the backline wasn't functioning...

Giteau only reclaimed his flyhalf spot when To'omua injured himself against the Cheetahs...

There's no doubt that Giteau won't be playing flyhalf next year if To'omua is fit...

It'll most likely be -

9. Valentine/White
10. To'omua
11. Fainifo
12. Giteau
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/T Smith/A Smith/Stubbs
14. McCabe
15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Lealiifano

 

[Paradox]

I would like to see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) play at 13 and stay there.

 

[Crow]

Then who do you move to 15? Lealiifano? Isn't he a 10? I don't think he's played at fullback.

 

[nathan]

Then who do you move to 15? Lealiifano? Isn't he a 10? I don't think he's played at fullback.

Plays fullback in the ITM/NPC at the moment and has done so in the past too. Can play 10/12/15.