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daz
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Ok, so, JW arrives in Canberra after getting his coaching team in place, and a quick review of the playing stocks for 2012 reveals that the first player call he needs to make is to Matt Dunning?
Really?
Brumbies 2012
- Thread starter Slim 293
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Ok, so, JW arrives in Canberra after getting his coaching team in place, and a quick review of the playing stocks for 2012 reveals that the first player call he needs to make is to Matt Dunning?
Really?
The upside is that he is more than serviceable at Super Rugby level, and they might get him relatively cheap, so may not be that bad an option to have there. He's never lacked for strength - maybe Jake has the secret to get him to use it purposefully?
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
I feel for Dunning. Tucky came in during an era in Oz when the scrum was a neglected after thought, when it was given any thought. None of the front rowers that have been so vilified in Oz really got any support or coaching to develop the scrummaging area of their game and critically the combinations with front and second row at both province and national level. Other aspects of play took precedence of this. IMO Tucky always had the makings of a very good prop and just never really got the technical support he needed to develop. That has changed since 2008 but Tucky spent so much of the past 3 years injured he has again missed the boat and is a very long way behind Kepu, Alexander and even Tilse as LH's who can play TH.
I wish people would stop bagging him with little thought about the situation that put him where he is. He remains a highly skilled prop, who still has the potential to develop further.
I wish people would stop bagging him with little thought about the situation that put him where he is. He remains a highly skilled prop, who still has the potential to develop further.
Brumby Jack
Steve Williams (59)
It was reported tonight that he's on a full time contract now for 2 years.
Stats- Fullback, 193cm, 96kg, from Norths in Sydney.
Stats- Fullback, 193cm, 96kg, from Norths in Sydney.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Crawford is a good player, rangy and big enough - though not most likely not 103 kgs as the ABC had him last week. He's been playing fullback for Norths but, though he played there some in Colts, he's not a good enough footie player yet to play there in senior rugby IMO. He's really a winger who could become a fullback at the Super level after training full time in the Brumbies stable - and he has a bit of toe which is what the Brumbies need.
He could turn out OK but I would have grabbed somebody like Aidan Toua instead. He is good now.
It was interesting to listen to Jake White on the Rugby Show on Thursday night when he said that the Brumbies had too many players who were the same. It was good to hear somebody cut through the crap, as Rea did in South Africa on another matter.
Between Gandalf and Friend they recruited too many people who could play 10, 12 and 13, 3 specialist fetchers, yet not enough back 3 players who had pace, nor enough 2nd rowers with grunt. One has mentioned these deficiencies before.
Australia has a small pool of professional players yet no semi-professional competition to provide a bridge between amateur and pro rugby, and to assess which new players deserve a precious Super spot.
Without that Oz rugby needs to do things a lot smarter than they have before to man 5 Super teams, yet they seem to be doing things dumber. I can't remember reading anything official about the requirement for Oz Super teams to reduce the number of contracted players to 30, but if it is so, it will help a few years down the track if they pick the right ones. Some good players will have to move.
I wouldn't count on teams getting their mixes right with fewer contracted players in the stable, but they will have to if they want to be competitive.
He could turn out OK but I would have grabbed somebody like Aidan Toua instead. He is good now.
It was interesting to listen to Jake White on the Rugby Show on Thursday night when he said that the Brumbies had too many players who were the same. It was good to hear somebody cut through the crap, as Rea did in South Africa on another matter.
Between Gandalf and Friend they recruited too many people who could play 10, 12 and 13, 3 specialist fetchers, yet not enough back 3 players who had pace, nor enough 2nd rowers with grunt. One has mentioned these deficiencies before.
Australia has a small pool of professional players yet no semi-professional competition to provide a bridge between amateur and pro rugby, and to assess which new players deserve a precious Super spot.
Without that Oz rugby needs to do things a lot smarter than they have before to man 5 Super teams, yet they seem to be doing things dumber. I can't remember reading anything official about the requirement for Oz Super teams to reduce the number of contracted players to 30, but if it is so, it will help a few years down the track if they pick the right ones. Some good players will have to move.
I wouldn't count on teams getting their mixes right with fewer contracted players in the stable, but they will have to if they want to be competitive.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
I recently read that the aru run academy system is to be in Sydney, Brisbane and act. Is that correct? I thought it was just Sydney and Brisbane?
Have there been any details on how big they are going to be and how they will work? I'm not sure it will help in the long run and may rather see a concurrent oz super A team comp run. Probably only home and away though so 8 weeks in length.
Have there been any details on how big they are going to be and how they will work? I'm not sure it will help in the long run and may rather see a concurrent oz super A team comp run. Probably only home and away though so 8 weeks in length.
Brumby Jack
Steve Williams (59)
I've borrowed the following list from the Canberra Times to see how the squad looks for 2012 and beyond. (Contract expiry in brackets)
Forwards:
Ben Alexander (2013)
Colby Fainga'a (2013)
Stephen Moore (2013)
Ben Hand (2012)
Michael Hooper (2012)
Dan Palmer (2012)
Julian Salvi (2012)
Jerry Yanuyanutawa (2012*) * if he is selected for Fiji in the RWC this becomes and void and then would be considered a marquee player.
Stephen Hoiles (2012)
Ita Vaea (2013)
Jono Owen (2013)
Sam Carter (2013)
Fotu Auelua (2013)
Peter Kimlin - still to be signed but looks like staying.
Backs:
Robbie Coleman (2013)
Francis Fainifo (2012)
Christian Lealiifano (2012)
Andrew Smith (2012)
Matt To'omua (2012)
Henry Speight (2012)
Nic White (2012)
Ed Stubbs (2012)
Cam Crawford (2013)
Pat McCabe - still to be signed but looks like staying.
Jake White has indicated he would go for a 16/14 split between forwards and backs.
Those off contract at the end of this season are:
Rocky Elsom
Patrick Phibbs
Tyrone Smith
Josh Valentine
Samu Wara
Forwards:
Ben Alexander (2013)
Colby Fainga'a (2013)
Stephen Moore (2013)
Ben Hand (2012)
Michael Hooper (2012)
Dan Palmer (2012)
Julian Salvi (2012)
Jerry Yanuyanutawa (2012*) * if he is selected for Fiji in the RWC this becomes and void and then would be considered a marquee player.
Stephen Hoiles (2012)
Ita Vaea (2013)
Jono Owen (2013)
Sam Carter (2013)
Fotu Auelua (2013)
Peter Kimlin - still to be signed but looks like staying.
Backs:
Robbie Coleman (2013)
Francis Fainifo (2012)
Christian Lealiifano (2012)
Andrew Smith (2012)
Matt To'omua (2012)
Henry Speight (2012)
Nic White (2012)
Ed Stubbs (2012)
Cam Crawford (2013)
Pat McCabe - still to be signed but looks like staying.
Jake White has indicated he would go for a 16/14 split between forwards and backs.
Those off contract at the end of this season are:
Rocky Elsom
Patrick Phibbs
Tyrone Smith
Josh Valentine
Samu Wara
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Thanks for posting that BJ. I didn't realise that Owen and Carter had been contracted - or more likely, had forgotten. The Brumbies' website is notoriously behind the times and is not much help as a reference either.
It will take a couple of years before Jake can get the player balance right in the squad and it may not be until 2014, when every contract has matured, that it can be as good as it gets. But by that time the Melbourne team would have discarded a lot of foreigners and will be competing for new players too.
Let's hope that the nice theory of yours truly: that after a few years of having the 5th team we will see the retention of younger players who will never go overseas in the first place to get a pro spot, holds true. It will have to.
But for next year there is a bit of wriggle room. It looks ike there will be 6 contract spots available. There is still room for Toua, if he is interested, and maybe another young pacey Queensland back who can't get a contract up there or a starting spot, and is available. Winger Clinton Sills is looking more and more like a footie player every week too. He could be ready next year and pace will not be a problem. How is Crook playing in ACT club rugby, by the way?
A couple of hard head forwards will be handy too - not necessarily world beaters, but hard nosed and uncompromising. Ed Gower comes to mind.
I will turn my mind to this later but meantime: don't hire anyone who usually wears the 7, 8, 10, or 12 jerseys.
It will take a couple of years before Jake can get the player balance right in the squad and it may not be until 2014, when every contract has matured, that it can be as good as it gets. But by that time the Melbourne team would have discarded a lot of foreigners and will be competing for new players too.
Let's hope that the nice theory of yours truly: that after a few years of having the 5th team we will see the retention of younger players who will never go overseas in the first place to get a pro spot, holds true. It will have to.
But for next year there is a bit of wriggle room. It looks ike there will be 6 contract spots available. There is still room for Toua, if he is interested, and maybe another young pacey Queensland back who can't get a contract up there or a starting spot, and is available. Winger Clinton Sills is looking more and more like a footie player every week too. He could be ready next year and pace will not be a problem. How is Crook playing in ACT club rugby, by the way?
A couple of hard head forwards will be handy too - not necessarily world beaters, but hard nosed and uncompromising. Ed Gower comes to mind.
I will turn my mind to this later but meantime: don't hire anyone who usually wears the 7, 8, 10, or 12 jerseys.
Brumby Jack
Steve Williams (59)
In answer to your question about Lindsay Crook LG, I just saw him playing at 13 for Gungahlin Eagles 2nds (Finegans club) and scored a 90m intercept try at the death.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
What to do with Colby Fainga'a?
Great young player, but doesn't really supply the fetcher role the Brumbies need at 7.
He seems to play the role of a 6/8 but doesn't have the size.
Against the Force the Brumbies could've really used Hooper in the first half with the way the breakdown was being officated.
Can we somehow combine the genetics of these two players to form a new George Smith?
Great young player, but doesn't really supply the fetcher role the Brumbies need at 7.
He seems to play the role of a 6/8 but doesn't have the size.
Against the Force the Brumbies could've really used Hooper in the first half with the way the breakdown was being officated.
Can we somehow combine the genetics of these two players to form a new George Smith?
He could try hooker or inside centre ............................................................
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
But if Tucky and Fairbrother leave the Force they are going to be severely depleted, despite the signing of Maafu. Tucky can play both sides I guess and they have got out of balance with loose/tight heads but I would have preferred to see Tucky finish his career mentoring the good young talent the Force have got. Still he's got a young family in Sydney so Canberra will be better for the travel.
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