suckerforred
Chilla Wilson (44)
I believe he had a Speights tattoo removed....
Nah. If it was a Speight's tat then he would have kept it. Good beer.
'Deans for PM' perhaps?
Brumbies 2012
- Thread starter Slim 293
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Nah. If it was a Speight's tat then he would have kept it. Good beer.
'Deans for PM' perhaps?
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
Mowen on captaincy radar
by: Bret Harris
January 23, 2012 12:00AM
NEW recruit Ben Mowen has emerged as the dark horse to lead the Brumbies in this year's Super Rugby competition.
Brumbies coach Jake White is looking for a new captain following the release of number eight Stephen Hoiles and five-eighth Matt Giteau's departure for France.
It was widely assumed that Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore would be appointed captain, but Mowen is a strong contender for the job.
One of only three current Wallabies in the Brumbies squad along with prop Ben Alexander and inside centre Pat McCabe, Moore was once regarded as a potential Test captain and he would seem the logical choice.
Moore has valuable experience and the respect of his teammates, but it is understood White wants him to concentrate on his own game.
A White-Mowen leadership team would also underline the fact the Brumbies are making a fresh start. If White decides not to go with Moore as captain, it will be a test of his man-management skills to ensure he still gets the best out of him.
Brumbies Coach Jake White motivates squad at training, Griffith oval
One of the reasons White is believed to be considering Mowen is because his options are quite limited.
It is unusual for a new player to be appointed captain. Even former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom was content to play under Hoiles when he joined the Brumbies in 2009.
But Mowen, 27, does have some leadership credentials.
A veteran of 48 Super Rugby games since making his debut in his solitary appearance for Queensland Reds against the Sharks in 2006, Mowen has spent the last five seasons with the NSW Waratahs.
One of the best players in Australia not to play for the Wallabies in this period, Mowen is a mobile and talented number eight or blindside flanker.
Mowen captained the Australian under-21 team in 2005 with future Wallabies utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper his vice-captain. That side also included Test players such as Ben Alexander, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, winger Digby Ioane, prop Ben Robinson and second-rower Dean Mumm.
Another possible contender is McCabe, who is mature beyond his 23 years. McCabe is recovering from shoulder surgery and may not be available until the fourth round.
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
Veteran Brumby Stephen Moore vs new recruit veterian Ben Mowen
Your Captain is your rally point, your figure head, not just for the team but for the club and for the sporting media...
I believe Moore’s role this year is to secure the set piece and focus on that significant task... The Brumbies need him to dominate as a specialist to be a chance in 2012... With the greatest respect to him, captaincy would be a distraction...
Stephen Moore has an intense passionate temperament; he can withdraw or be explosive. I don’t believe he is as likely to click with the media and public as Ben Mowen.
Mowen has the advantage of representing “A NEW START” at the Brumbies and that is what the Brumbies are about in 2012. He has a likeable media presence, he is patient and intelligent and interviews very well. The Brumbies supporters need a friendly face in front of the camera each week to take them on the 2012 journey with the new team. If he has the respect of his teammates and has shown leadership qualities in the preseason, he is the man for the job in 2012.
Brumby Jack
Steve Williams (59)
Good to see Harris reads Green and Gold
Ash
Michael Lynagh (62)
Not so sure you guys should by hyping some of the Brumbies' signings as of yet. Give them some chance to perform first - the press releases from the Brumbies is standard for the fringe players brought in in the hope they could be the next big thing - the Reds did this a lot during their lean years in the mid-2000s and half of the players barely players 80mins of S15 rugby, and didn't inspire much when they did.
For example, Leon Power is a 25 year old who played under 21-rep football in NZ. Making the under 21-rep side in NZ is a good effort and shows he has potential, but he hasn't kicked on in the last four years beyond being a regular for Bay of Plenty. Why didn't he make any of the NZ sides? And why will his transition to the Brumbies give him a sudden improvement to the Super 15 level?
I think that some of the hyping of the unproven Brumbies signings in this thread is a little OTT. With the amount of spots the Brumbies have to fill with (fairly) unexperienced but have potential or journeyman S15 players, even having just 3 or so of those stand up will make a solid year for the Brumbies and give them something to build off, which is what they need for this year. My gut feeling is that I can't see the Brumbies more than making up the numbers this year (but they will surprise a few teams), but if they can find a few nuggets of gold and also recruit well then within 2 years they can be a real finals competitor.
Regarding the captaincy, agree with Moore, but I don't think they'd go wrong with Mowen either. Bit of lazy journalism from Harris there - why mention that Mowen was the U21 Aus captain, but not that Moore was as well?
For example, Leon Power is a 25 year old who played under 21-rep football in NZ. Making the under 21-rep side in NZ is a good effort and shows he has potential, but he hasn't kicked on in the last four years beyond being a regular for Bay of Plenty. Why didn't he make any of the NZ sides? And why will his transition to the Brumbies give him a sudden improvement to the Super 15 level?
I think that some of the hyping of the unproven Brumbies signings in this thread is a little OTT. With the amount of spots the Brumbies have to fill with (fairly) unexperienced but have potential or journeyman S15 players, even having just 3 or so of those stand up will make a solid year for the Brumbies and give them something to build off, which is what they need for this year. My gut feeling is that I can't see the Brumbies more than making up the numbers this year (but they will surprise a few teams), but if they can find a few nuggets of gold and also recruit well then within 2 years they can be a real finals competitor.
Regarding the captaincy, agree with Moore, but I don't think they'd go wrong with Mowen either. Bit of lazy journalism from Harris there - why mention that Mowen was the U21 Aus captain, but not that Moore was as well?
suckerforred
Chilla Wilson (44)
I actually disagree. Got the chance to meet and talk to him a bit during the world cup and he seemed to handle it pretty well. I think the passion is what the Brums need from their captain and last year showed that he is not backward in coming forward.
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
Its all press releases preseason.... and theres No point talking down a good press release... this article extract may explain a few things about Leon Powers past few years in NZ ITM cup... with Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty... It’s good for Jake White to back his players, that’s healthy motivation from the head coach…
Big year for Power, he had a great ITM cup which is what got noticed
Ash is not chastising the Brumbies for putting out the press releases, rather those who treat them as gospel in regards to a players talent.
I can recall a similarly glowing release written about Cam Jowitt. And Hendrick Roodt. And we all know how that turned out...
.
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
Ash is being a naysayer... its preseason its all hype... I'm happy to talk it up and take a more positive approach to the new season... All Power to Jake White for pushing his charge...
Ash
Michael Lynagh (62)
Not being a naysayer; just being a pragmatist.
It's very hard for a team to find replacements in so many positions when they do not have a strong, settled core. The Brumbies of yesteryear could do so, especially in the backs where the Gregan-Larkham-Roff (and Giteau for a time as well) nexus was just so effective. Role players like Bartholomeusz could be added to add some composure, or Walker to add spark, and those guys could make journeymen like Bond, Wilson, and so on look great in the Brumbies backline.
Now, the Brumbies don't have that core that allows so many new players (no matter their potential) to just slot in. There really isn't a settled position in the backline at all to go with nearly half the pack not being settled. To top it off they have new coaching staff.
That's just so much to deal with - getting so many new combinations sorted, getting players sorted with the coaching staff, finding the best combination of players in the best positions for the team. It will likely take more than a season, in my opinion, and that is with what I think is a good set of coaching staff for the job. Optimistically, I think that the best position is mid-table, but more likely they will be in the bottom quarter of the overall table for 2012.
What I want to see out of the Brumbies this year is continual improvement and some promise to be shown, but the realist in me says this will take a while.
The danger of having such high expectations for the Brumbies this year is the disappointment if they do finish in the bottom quarter of the table. If you're being pragmatic and see this as a rebuiling year and instead look for improvement, then I don't think you will be disappointed, and will more likely be surprised on the upside. I definitely think the Brumbies this year will pick off a couple of their more fancied Australian rivals, they always have that in them no matter the team they field.
It's very hard for a team to find replacements in so many positions when they do not have a strong, settled core. The Brumbies of yesteryear could do so, especially in the backs where the Gregan-Larkham-Roff (and Giteau for a time as well) nexus was just so effective. Role players like Bartholomeusz could be added to add some composure, or Walker to add spark, and those guys could make journeymen like Bond, Wilson, and so on look great in the Brumbies backline.
Now, the Brumbies don't have that core that allows so many new players (no matter their potential) to just slot in. There really isn't a settled position in the backline at all to go with nearly half the pack not being settled. To top it off they have new coaching staff.
That's just so much to deal with - getting so many new combinations sorted, getting players sorted with the coaching staff, finding the best combination of players in the best positions for the team. It will likely take more than a season, in my opinion, and that is with what I think is a good set of coaching staff for the job. Optimistically, I think that the best position is mid-table, but more likely they will be in the bottom quarter of the overall table for 2012.
What I want to see out of the Brumbies this year is continual improvement and some promise to be shown, but the realist in me says this will take a while.
The danger of having such high expectations for the Brumbies this year is the disappointment if they do finish in the bottom quarter of the table. If you're being pragmatic and see this as a rebuiling year and instead look for improvement, then I don't think you will be disappointed, and will more likely be surprised on the upside. I definitely think the Brumbies this year will pick off a couple of their more fancied Australian rivals, they always have that in them no matter the team they field.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
My Canberra mates seem to think that the head coaching job was always beyond Laurie Fisher and people who had known him long time were flabbergasted that he got the gig.
I think the lack of a stable foundation may be due to that fact coupled with basic instability in the coaching ranks during and since his time - not that it was peaches and cream prior to him.
The consequence is that no one has been able to recruit and plan for the future. Jake White's credentials should see him rise above these issues, for some time at least. If blokes think that there might be some stability down there they will attract the young blokes: the strength of a place like the Brumbies is that the Tahs (particularly) and Reds often take the #1 schoolboy in a position when in fact the #3 may be the better long term proposition. This is the recipe that saw Knox and co playing in the ACT when they couldn't get a gig up here.
I think the lack of a stable foundation may be due to that fact coupled with basic instability in the coaching ranks during and since his time - not that it was peaches and cream prior to him.
The consequence is that no one has been able to recruit and plan for the future. Jake White's credentials should see him rise above these issues, for some time at least. If blokes think that there might be some stability down there they will attract the young blokes: the strength of a place like the Brumbies is that the Tahs (particularly) and Reds often take the #1 schoolboy in a position when in fact the #3 may be the better long term proposition. This is the recipe that saw Knox and co playing in the ACT when they couldn't get a gig up here.
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
Agree with that at schoolboy level you really can't tell, But the Brums haven't signed schoolboys. Jake and Larkham have already attracted some of the best young talent in OZ... I also agree they will be at their best in 2013-2014, nonetheless I'm looking forward to the 2012 journey... I think they can come anywhere form 6-10... with a bit of luck and few injuries...
Fisher is popular in canberra, its good to have him back from munster as the forwards coach...
Fisher is popular in canberra, its good to have him back from munster as the forwards coach...
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Didnt know he was back.
never any question about his popularity - on the contrary everyone tells me he's a good bloke
never any question about his popularity - on the contrary everyone tells me he's a good bloke
K
Keithy
Guest
My last count says more than 1/2 this squad was at the Brumbies last year and they will be reminded of the 2011 season all year in the press.
The financial pressures will takes it's toll if not sorted before the season.
By the way is Dan Palmer really 13 (DOB 13/9/98 according to his profile)?
The financial pressures will takes it's toll if not sorted before the season.
By the way is Dan Palmer really 13 (DOB 13/9/98 according to his profile)?
B
Bilby
Guest
Bit scared about Moore as Captain. Publicly "Dissed Gits" about decisions he made which benefited the team. Particularly the decision to kick in the Reds game last year. He seemed more concerned about rubbing the salt into the wounds of his mates in Reds cause they lost big-time
suckerforred
Chilla Wilson (44)
On the field (not technically in public) I believed that he told Gits to kick the bloody thing out cause they were leading. Gits took the option to go for the goal to extend a lead. Would have thought that it was Gits with the salt. Squeaky was more interested in not risking the reds scoring a try from a bit of magic and winning.
Ghibli
Ted Thorn (20)
To be honest, I have no clue about how the Brumbies will go this season, some of the recruits come with good credentials but no S15 experience, and that is a big question mark. Time will tell, hopefully injuries will not impact negatively on rebuilding the team. IMHO, a key feature of the best performing teams has always been a quality fly-half, not sure about Tomua, he's been promising great things for sometime but still has to deliver. Now, with Gits out of the way, there's no excuses.
Personally, I prefer Lilo in that position.
I truly hope we're gonna get some mongrel back into this team, I'd really like the Brums to be more physical.
Personally, I prefer Lilo in that position.
I truly hope we're gonna get some mongrel back into this team, I'd really like the Brums to be more physical.
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