Brumbies 2011

[Slim 293]

I'm hearing Sills to contract and Cam Crawford remaining rookie making up the 32. Anyone heard anything?

I really hope they haven't elevated two outside backs when there are already enough of them in the squad and they have the possible scenario of 3 frontline forwards injured.

 

[Lee Grant]

It is good to see Brumbies staff have not succumbed to the temptation to include recent schoolboy Lindsay Crook in the main squad despite being one of the fitter and fastest of their plethora of outside backs.

It is in everyone’s best interest that the younger players are given an opportunity to develop their game and to avoid the errors made in the situations of Beale, Cooper and O’Connor being elevated way too early.

The first and second years out of school are vital to the young players in their development.

Agree on all of that. Those three were done no favours by being promoted before their time so credit should be given to them in overcoming that adversity. That may give ammunition to the naysayers of the if they are old enough they are good enough school of thought because things turned out OK, so what is the problem with it?

The problem is that they could have succumbed to physical injury because they weren't prepared physically to oppose 120kg brutes playing with power - and they could have succumbed to mental injury also. It was particularly problematic for the flyhalves to learn their trade of running a backline in professional rugby instead of briefly with Colts, then Grade.

Of the three JOC (James O'Connor) adapted to the senior pro game with least trauma, even though the All Blacks rightly put him through the wringer playing fullback in a Bledisloe match. It didn't surprise me that he coped best mentally, as the other two were confidence players and needed things to go well.

On Crook - you are right. He would be the fastest in the Brumbies stable, or near enough to it. If he is good enough he will come through in time and I think he will be.

Actually, if a young back is used too early I do not mind so much if he is not playing in high traffic areas, as was the case with Cooper and Beale at flyhalf. Out on the wing, where Crook would be, front on tackles can be avoided more than in any other spot and he has the touchline to help him on defence.

 

[Lee Grant]

I really hope they haven't elevated two outside backs when there are already enough of them in the squad and they have the possible scenario of 3 frontline forwards injured.

This makes sense but Friend blundered by not having a seasoned backup for George Smith in 2010; so he may be guilty of fingers-crossed squad selection again.

 

[Slim 293]

I actually think the Brumbies are fine at openside with Salvi returning and two good young up and comers behind him...

The biggest problem for me is at no. 8 where there's no one in place in the senior squad to take over from Hoiles if there's injury...

And I'm sure at this stage they'll probably still Salvi there, who'll probably do a reasonable job at best...

I'm just perplexed that despite the obvious concern to a few of their topline forwards, and the fact that the balance in the squad is in favour of the backs rather than the forwards, that they're still opening up the extra senior position to an outside back...

At the moment the squad is (injury concerns in bold):

Forwards (15) : Alexander, Ma'afu, Palmer, Yanuyanutawa, Moore, Edmonds, Chisholm, Chapman, Hand, Kimlin, Elsom, Salvi, Fainga'a, Hooper, Hoiles

Backs (15) : Valentine, White, Phibbs, To'omua, Giteau, Coleman, Lealiifano, Ashley-Cooper, Stubbs, T Smith, A Smith, Fainifo, McCabe, Wara, Speight

The Brumbies don't need any more backs at this stage...

 

[Aussie D]

Is it just me or does that squad look badly out of balance. Lots of backrowers and lock/flankers in the forwards and only one specialist lock (Chisolm is a lock / flanker - Hand is the only lock). Are there any hookers in the pro training group as that is a specialist position also?

 

[Brumby Jack]

They need a few flankers since Rocky is most likely out of the first round(s) and Kimlin is also returning from his knee injury.

 

[Slim 293]

Is it just me or does that squad look badly out of balance. Lots of backrowers and lock/flankers in the forwards and only one specialist lock (Chisolm is a lock / flanker - Hand is the only lock). Are there any hookers in the pro training group as that is a specialist position also?

Chisholm is a specialist lock as well... never plays in the backrow...

He may have been experimented in the backrow by Connolly five years ago but it didn't work out...

 

[mudskipper]

brumbies have some very good academy forwards... perhaps Friend sees some of these guys getting a chance in 2011 and will be rookies in 2012

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Is it just me or does that squad look badly out of balance. Lots of backrowers and lock/flankers in the forwards and only one specialist lock (Chisolm is a lock / flanker - Hand is the only lock). Are there any hookers in the pro training group as that is a specialist position also?

Anthony Hegarty from Manly, been with the Brumbies for a while and a pretty handy player.

 

[Slim 293]

Elsom is confirmed out for at least the first match against the Chiefs, and at this stage Hoiles is looking like he'll also miss some early games.

So Friend, please promote Vaea because it looks like you have no choice. And let's hope that Kimlin will be fit in time.

I would guess for the first game of the season they'll go with a backrow of 6. Chapman 7. Fainga'a 8. Salvi

 

[Bruce Ross]

Is it just me or does that squad look badly out of balance. Lots of backrowers and lock/flankers in the forwards and only one specialist lock (Chisolm is a lock / flanker - Hand is the only lock). Are there any hookers in the pro training group as that is a specialist position also?

Chisholm is a specialist lock as well... never plays in the backrow...

He may have been experimented in the backrow by Connolly five years ago but it didn't work out...

The smokey for the locking position is a very good kid who is training with them but hasn't been contracted by them in any form yet. My mail is that they have been running Sam Carter with the main squad. He is ready for professional rugby.

 

[en_force_er]

The smokey for the locking position is a very good kid who is training with them but hasn't been contracted by them in any form yet. My mail is that they have been running Sam Carter with the main squad. He is ready for professional rugby.

I've heard a heap about this Carter fellow, probs mostly from you University lot.

Do you have a photo so I can put a face to the name?

 

[Bruce Ross]

I've heard a heap about this Carter fellow, probs mostly from you University lot.

Do you have a photo so I can put a face to the name?

Best I could find at short notice is this link:

http://procarlos.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/TNSS-Rd-9-Manly-v-Sydney-Uni-12-6-10/G0000T0UEi_j0V_s/I0000NRJgy6tmLx4

The elevation is characteristic of the lad.

 

[topo]

I've heard a heap about this Carter fellow, probs mostly from you University lot.

Do you have a photo so I can put a face to the name?

Bruce has provided the photo. I'll try to fill in what I know. Sam is the son of Dave Carter who played about 6 tests in the late 80s out of Quirindi Rugby Club. Probably one of the last players to play tests from NSW Country. He is tall (about 6'7 or 6'8 in the old money) and has a great leap. He missed out on Schoolboy rep teams because of a knee injury when he was in yr 12 at Scots which prevented him playing at all that year. He has been an enormous improver at Uni. Last year he was still young enough to play Colts but spent nearly all year in 1st grade and mixed it with the big boys. With Dave McDuling he formed a great physical 2nd row for Uni for most of the season. He missed out on the grand final because the nagging leg injury that he had been putting up with for 3-4 weeks turned out to be a fractured fibula, so he's probably fairly tough. I think he is the real deal.

 

[en_force_er]

Topo/Bruce,

Thanks for the picture/info sounds like an interesting player.

Sadly, I don't feel the wider Australian rugger public has a heap of love for hard nosed locks.

 

[Wallaby Way]

Elsom is confirmed out for at least the first match against the Chiefs, and at this stage Hoiles is looking like he'll also miss some early games.

So Friend, please promote Vaea because it looks like you have no choice. And let's hope that Kimlin will be fit in time.

I would guess for the first game of the season they'll go with a backrow of 6. Chapman 7. Fainga'a 8. Salvi

Slim, the Brumbies strategy is not normally to fill the entire 33 man squad, rather have 29-30 fulltime players and convert an academy player to the main squad if they meet the RUPA quota (believe this is 4 Super games in a season). That way they don't have to pay Super wages for players that they don't use.

A good example of this is Leo Afeaki where he was initially in the academy squad even though the only outside centre at the time was Mortlock.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Sadly, I don't feel the wider Australian rugger public has a heap of love for hard nosed locks.

I agree, en_force_er, and it's very much to our detriment. We would be the only major Rugby nation that has this attitude.

 

[TheTruth]

just heard that the young-gun Crooke had a good game in 7's and scored a blistering 3 million metre try. If lad is good enough maybe worth a shot later in season (with senior team)

 

[observer]

just heard that the young-gun Crooke had a good game in 7's and scored a blistering 3 million metre try. If lad is good enough maybe worth a shot later in season (with senior team)

I believe the aussie 7's played against the Brumbies 7's yesterday in Canberra. Do you have a score and any other details?

 

[Aussie D]

just heard that the young-gun Crook had a good game in 7's and scored a blistering 3 million metre try. If lad is good enough maybe worth a shot later in season (with senior team)

Yeah but there is a huge difference between 7s and the 15 man game. Let's wait and see how he goes for the Runners before putting him forward for the Brumbies top team.