T
TOCC
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never mind
Brumbies 2012
- Thread starter Slim 293
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Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
If anyone is a natural Sevens forward it is Vanderglas. In XVs rugby he is good enough at the (amateur) club level but lacks something for Super Rugby. You will see professional backrowers the same weight and height as he is carving out a good professional career, and they may not be as fast as he is, but they will be tougher players who play a heavy game.
I have seen him play all three back row positions for either Randwick or the Brumby Runners and have come to the conclusion that he is a notter: not really a 6, nor a 7, nor an 8. Hugh Perrett of Eastwood, who got onto the park last year in 6 games for the Tahs, is in a similar category: born for Sevens.
N
Newter
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I believe the Force won their last start at Canberra. Pretty comfortably, too, 27-19.
We'll know more after the pre-season trial they play in Canberra in a few weeks, but I'd say the Force have the better playing roster at the moment.
M
Maroon Army
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Thanks for your reply Lee.
T
tranquility
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I would think the Force will be favourites for the match against the Brumbies in round 1. The Force weren't too far away from good results last year, whereas the Brumbies were an absolute shit show. Add to the fact that the Force have not had too much turn over, and will have the best player on the paddock by some margin and I think that it would be silly to notch it down as a win 3 months out from the season.
10 will be the issue (and opportunity for someone) for the ponies I reckon.
Matt To'omua played a long way behind the action last year and did little of note; and the other option, Christian Lealiifano, hasn't been playing 10 much for a couple of seasons.
Matt To'omua played a long way behind the action last year and did little of note; and the other option, Christian Lealiifano, hasn't been playing 10 much for a couple of seasons.
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
Didn't happen that way, it was an ugly win by the Force... Force only sealed the win at the end. Most of the points came from David Smith and James O'Connor neither of which will be at the force this year. The 2012 Brumbies are a new crew with better depth with a better forward pack.
I also have no doubt that To'omua and Lealiifano will be better players this year.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/s...ver-the-brumbies/story-e6frf4qu-1226040532593
"A second-half tryscoring double from winger David Smith and a 15-point haul from playmaker James O'Connor."
"Giteau and O'Connor traded further penalty goals as the lead changed hands four times in the final half-hour before Smith sealed victory for the Force two minutes from time when he crossed under the sticks."
That is some strange logic, because
a) A game is about more than who scores the tries and kicks the goals,
b) The loss of JOC (James O'Connor) is surely the same as the Brumbies losing Gits!, and
c) The Force players will also be coming back better players you would think
On paper the Force are a better side than the Brumbies, there is no getting around that. But anything can happen in the first game of the year.
a) A game is about more than who scores the tries and kicks the goals,
b) The loss of JOC (James O'Connor) is surely the same as the Brumbies losing Gits!, and
c) The Force players will also be coming back better players you would think
On paper the Force are a better side than the Brumbies, there is no getting around that. But anything can happen in the first game of the year.
Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
I think we have the Brumbies covered from 4-15. You have a slight edge in the front row.
Brumby Jack
Steve Williams (59)
Newter,
The trial is actually in Darwin so you could be turning up to an empty field on Feb 4 - or wait til Feb 24.
One thing everyone has to remember is that Jake White hasn't actually seen half the squad play so it will be a learning exercise for both parties, so expect all available players to get a run in the first trial at some stage.
I have to admit I don't even know half the players nor seen most of them play in any form of the game.
The trial is actually in Darwin so you could be turning up to an empty field on Feb 4 - or wait til Feb 24.
One thing everyone has to remember is that Jake White hasn't actually seen half the squad play so it will be a learning exercise for both parties, so expect all available players to get a run in the first trial at some stage.
I have to admit I don't even know half the players nor seen most of them play in any form of the game.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Murday chasing test against Brumbies' best
BY CHRIS DUTTON, RUGBY UNION
18 Jan, 2012 04:00 AM
A brief taste of brutal pre-season training with the ACT Brumbies did little to satisfy Tom Murday's desire to play Super Rugby.
And the university student and part-time landscaper wants to prove he is ready to make the step to the next level when he lines up against the Brumbies at Viking Park next month.
Murday was one of three players invited to train with Jake White and the Brumbies for the 10 weeks before Christmas.
He put his degree and job on the back-burner to throw everything he had into training with the two-time champions.
It has already paid dividends for the Tuggeranong Vikings lock and Murday has added 3kg to his 200cm frame.
His first major test will be when he lines up for the ACT XV against the Brumbies in the last trial before the Super Rugby season.
Putting hardened professionals up against amateurs who have jobs outside of rugby hardly seems fair. But Murday is itching for the contest and urged the Brumbies to unleash a full-strength team for the clash.
''Everyone wants to test themselves against the best to see where you're at and have a little go at the Brumbies boys,'' Murday said.
''It's definitely going to be a physical match and a lot more physical than what a lot of our guys are used to.
''Everyone wants them to have a crack at us and we'd like to take on the full-strength side.''
Murday joined the Brumbies for training again yesterday.
It was the first time he had been called back to join White's squad since December and the players were put through an intense session in Canberra's heat.
When Murday first trained with the Brumbies, he struggled to get through the fitness sessions.
The 22-year-old had never been in a professional environment before and slowly found his feet training alongside fellow locks Leon Power, Ben Hand and Sam Carter.
''Once you've got a taste, everyone wants to be in that environment and it's completely different going back to club training and having to go to work and uni as well,''
Murday said.
The ACT representative side will play at the Darwin Sevens tournament this weekend before ramping up preparations to take on the Brumbies.
The side is made up of the best players from Canberra's premier competition, the John I Dent Cup.
ACT XV coach Nick Leah said that the opportunity to take on the Brumbies would boost the development of Canberra's best club players.
''The difference this year is that it's just players committed to playing in the ACT competition and it's refreshing that it's home grown and there's some tribalism,'' Leah said.
''If the local guys show they can work hard and are strong culturally, there's potential for them to get opportunities with the main squad which could lead to things later on.''
February 4: v Western Force in Darwin
- BRUMBIES TRIALS
February 11: v Queensland Reds in Cairns
February 16: v ACT XV at Viking Park
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
The only player who is unquestionably better than his opposition brumbies number is David Pocock... perhaps Sharpie with his lineout experience but his on old legs... the force doesn’t have a specialist 10 with genuine tier 1 experience.... jeez I count 6 discarded Brumbies in their squad...
Fair point about Jake White that he hasn’t seen them play live, but he has seen them all on tape many times… I watched them train the other week while down in Canberra and they were look’n fit, fast and sharp…
N
Newter
Guest
This is a bit of a wild claim. New crew? Apart from Ben Mowen it's basically the same pack minus a few Wallabies. Better depth? Why, because Jake recruited some old journeymen and leaguies?
I'll grant you that the team as a whole should perform more cohesively and probably win more games than last year, but that's mainly because Laurie Fisher has returned to coach the forwards and he knows what he's doing. No doubt they'll put up a stiff resistance in Round 1. I just think the Force have a good coach and a better playing roster.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I just hope that Palmer starts, as he was dominating the Force scrum in the first half of the match in Canberra last year, but then went off in the second half through injury and the Force pack got on top...
It should also be noted that Hegarty started agains the Force in that match too and the lineout was a complete shambles...
It was these two set piece issues, particularly in the second half that cost the Brumbies in that match... but with a full strength pack it won't be the same this time around...
The Force backrow will have the advantage, and I hope White has instilled some mongrel into our guys to simply bash them off our ball...
Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
That Canberra game had no David Pocock and no Matt Hodgson. You guys got off lightly.
Brumbies Guy
John Solomon (38)
Mowen, Murphy, Carter, Silvia, Power, Sigg, Sio, Fardy and Auelua; lots of new faces. Plus yongsters Hooper, Fainga'a and Vaea. Looks like a "new crew" to me.
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
with 2 rookie hookers and Ma'afu and Chisholm. This year there are players Leon Power, Mowen, Auelua, Carter, Sigg, Siliva Fardy, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Murphy and Owen. Thats just the forwards.
http://www.brumbies.com.au/Team/BrumbiesSquad.aspx
Below is teh Brumbies team list against vs Force in Canberra 2011, note the pack is quite different,
1. Ben Alexander
2. Anthony Hegarty (Replaced by Elvis Levi)
3. Dan Palmer (Replaced by Salesi Ma’afu)
4. Ben Hand
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Peter Kimlin
7. Michael Hooper
8. Ita Vaea (Replaced by Colby Fainga'a)
9. Josh Valentine (Replaced by Pat Phibbs)
10. Matt Giteau
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Andrew Smith
14. Pat McCabe
15. Matt To'omua (Replaced by Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Reserves
16. Elvis Levis
17. Salesi Ma’afu
18. Colby Fainga'a
19. Julian Salvi
20. Pat Phibbs
21. Tyrone Smith
22. Adam Ashley-Cooper
http://www.brumbies.com.au/Team/BrumbiesSquad.aspx
Below is teh Brumbies team list against vs Force in Canberra 2011, note the pack is quite different,
1. Ben Alexander
2. Anthony Hegarty (Replaced by Elvis Levi)
3. Dan Palmer (Replaced by Salesi Ma’afu)
4. Ben Hand
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Peter Kimlin
7. Michael Hooper
8. Ita Vaea (Replaced by Colby Fainga'a)
9. Josh Valentine (Replaced by Pat Phibbs)
10. Matt Giteau
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Andrew Smith
14. Pat McCabe
15. Matt To'omua (Replaced by Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Reserves
16. Elvis Levis
17. Salesi Ma’afu
18. Colby Fainga'a
19. Julian Salvi
20. Pat Phibbs
21. Tyrone Smith
22. Adam Ashley-Cooper
Brumby Jack
Steve Williams (59)
But I doubt there are any hot Eastern Europeans
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