Brumbies 2015

[Brumby Runner]

that's they way I reckon they'll go, Auelua looked a little off the pace in the NRC, though it may be Fardy at 6 with Staniforth or Arnold partnering Carter.

I'm a little bit surprised about your comment regarding Fotu in the NRC. In my book, it was the best he'd played in a couple of years. His fitness level was quite surprising and he was very aggressive with ball in hand and in defense.

I know it's a long way to Wallabies from the NRC and he will have to have a stand out Super campaign, but at his top he plays a much harder game than Ben McCalman and if Cliff Palu doesn't come back from his injuries as good as ever, then he just might do a Mann-Rea.

I for one would like to see Fardy stay at 6 for the good of both the Brumbies and the Wallabies. I think Tom Staniforth is a couple of years off being a starting Super player, and Arnold and Enever are largely unknown quantities atm. Therefore, Smiler to partner Carter at lock. Again, he had quite a strong NRC playing there and has had a reasonable amount of Super experience.

Butler did particularly good this year playing at 7, but I think he is more of a 6/8 myself. If Fotu gets injured or doesn't come up to form, I'd expect Butler to replace him at No 8. And yes, I think he could be a future Wallaby, but probably not in 2015. He will have a lot of competition in years to come in Gray, Timani and especially Cottrill and Holloway imo.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Yeah but Butler has played the last 2 years and has form on the board. Pocock has zero form, to suggest he's going to come back and be as good as he was straight away is naive.

Maybe naive. Not long to wait to see however.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Yeah that's how I see it playing out, Fotu is the type of guy who needs to be eased back in to regain match fitness, especially after his injury run and history of easily packing on the weight.

Pocock will take back open-side, Butler will be bumped to elsewhere in the backrow. Depends where Fardy will play, lock or blindside.

But Fotu played every game of the NRC as captain of the Canberra Vikings and was quite outstanding. There was certainly no question about his fitness levels, and with a full pre-season under his belt I believe he will be raring to go in February.

 

[Gillys_ghost]

I should remind you about Radike Samo. An older bloker who had 1-2 decent seasons with the wallabies.

If Fotu has an outstanding season their absolutely no reason why he wouldn't be select for the wallabies and serve them for a good 1,2 or even 3 seasons.

But Samo was in a different league to Auelua i think, not that it definitely wont happen, but i dont see them as similar.

 

[Viking]

But Samo was in a different league to Auelua i think, not that it definitely wont happen, but i dont see them as similar.

I disagree. If you watched some of the game in his debute season in 2012, the SA tour especially. He was extremely destructive. He has struggled with injuries too which has hurt his game time. This year should be his first year at the Brumbies where he is fully fit and could be a regular starter. More destructive running and dominate tackling could easily see him fill a similar role to Palu or Samo at the wallabies. He does have some work to do though to prove himself, but the similarities are there.

Big hard strong and destructive players are certainty a favourite of mine, and lacking from the current wallabies.

 

[Gillys_ghost]

I disagree. If you watched some of the game in his debute season in 2012, the SA tour especially. He was extremely destructive. He has struggled with injuries too which has hurt his game time. This year should be his first year at the Brumbies where he is fully fit and could be a regular starter. More destructive running and dominate tackling could easily see him fill a similar role to Palu or Samo at the wallabies. He does have some work to do though to prove himself, but the similarities are there.

Big hard strong and destructive players are certainty a favourite of mine, and lacking from the current wallabies.

I hope your right mate, another Samo would be great for the brumbies, but More so the Walllabies.

 

[Braveheart81]

I disagree. If you watched some of the game in his debute season in 2012, the SA tour especially. He was extremely destructive. He has struggled with injuries too which has hurt his game time. This year should be his first year at the Brumbies where he is fully fit and could be a regular starter. More destructive running and dominate tackling could easily see him fill a similar role to Palu or Samo at the wallabies. He does have some work to do though to prove himself, but the similarities are there.

Big hard strong and destructive players are certainty a favourite of mine, and lacking from the current wallabies.

I think the overarching point is that Auelua will be 31 when the next Super Rugby season starts and realistically, he's only produced excellent Super Rugby form for short bursts in the last couple of years. Generally he's been most effective off the bench.

I can't see him making the Wallabies based on that.

He had a good NRC season but he was hardly dominant. You'd pick several players who played 6 and 8 ahead of him based on the NRC like Timani, Gray and Holloway.

Samo's pace, size and skillset were pretty unique. I don't think it's unfair on Auelua to suggest that he isn't in the same league.

 

[Slim 293]

Smiler filled in at lock during the NRC but there's absolutely no way he'll be playing lock for the Brumbies.............

It'll be Fardy-Carter in the second row.

 

[Viking]

I think the overarching point is that Auelua will be 31 when the next Super Rugby season starts and realistically, he's only produced excellent Super Rugby form for short bursts in the last couple of years. Generally he's been most effective off the bench.

I can't see him making the Wallabies based on that.

He had a good NRC season but he was hardly dominant. You'd pick several players who played 6 and 8 ahead of him based on the NRC like Timani, Gray and Holloway.

Samo's pace, size and skillset were pretty unique. I don't think it's unfair on Auelua to suggest that he isn't in the same league.

Based on everything above - you are right he would not, and should not be selected. He isn't in the same league... yet. I would say this is his last season to prove he is though.

IF at the end of the 2015 super rugby he has a dominate season then he should get selected, or at least be considered. He is still young enough to have 1-2 good seasons for the wallabies.

Creating combinations etc. for the long term I don't think is as big an issue in the backrow, especially at 8 where I would say players like Palu, Fotu, Samo, Vaea, would almost seamlessly fit in.

 

[Braveheart81]

Based on everything above - you are right he would not, and should not be selected. He isn't in the same league. yet. I would say this is his last season to prove he is though.

IF at the end of the 2015 super rugby he has a dominate season then he should get selected, or at least be considered. He is still young enough to have 1-2 good seasons for the wallabies.

Creating combinations etc. for the long term I don't think is as big an issue in the backrow, especially at 8 where I would say players like Palu, Fotu, Samo, Vaea, would almost seamlessly fit in.

Every Super Rugby player has the potential of being selected for the Wallabies if they put together an excellent Super Rugby season.

It kind of makes the discussion pointless though. I could say the same thing about every number 6 or 8 at every franchise.

Suggesting Auelua and Vaea were seemlessly fit into the Wallabies is completely baseless. Neither of them have been standouts at Super Rugby level for anything more than a few games at a time. Vaea has now gone overseas. This would maybe make some sense if we had a track record of number 8s who have been strong at Super Rugby level going on to be consistently strong in the test arena. The opposite is true.

 

[Braveheart81]

The bro without the fro.

 

[Viking]

Every Super Rugby player has the potential of being selected for the Wallabies if they put together an excellent Super Rugby season.

It kind of makes the discussion pointless though. I could say the same thing about every number 6 or 8 at every franchise.

Suggesting Auelua and Vaea were seemlessly fit into the Wallabies is completely baseless. Neither of them have been standouts at Super Rugby level for anything more than a few games at a time. Vaea has now gone overseas. This would maybe make some sense if we had a track record of number 8s who have been strong at Super Rugby level going on to be consistently strong in the test arena. The opposite is true.

I was referring to the dominate ball-running and destructive style each of those number 8's have demonstrated at one time in there career. As the discussion was involving the similarities in Samo and Fotu.

My point is, that destructive players with primarily dominate ball-running and dominate tackling abilities would seamlessly fit into the role of the wallaby number 8 as that is what is traditionally played their with Kepu, Palu, and Samo as examples. Obviously Kepu & Samo have additional skills which greatly increased their effectiveness, but the point is, I think this destructive style of player would be preferred over say a workman-like style of number 8 like Shatz or McCalman - who could also have an equally outstanding season at super rugby level.

So before attacking some-one opinion on being baseless, you might want to take a step back and realise that is an open forum. Join in respectfully or don't join in at all.

 

[Braveheart81]

OK. I will no longer question your opinions.

Any player who has put in a good NRC season or has played a few good Super Rugby games at some point in the last 3 years would fit in seemlessly in the Wallabies.

Good thing we now agree.

 

[Viking]

OK. I will no longer question your opinions.

Any player who has put in a good NRC season or has played a few good Super Rugby games at some point in the last 3 years would fit in seemlessly in the Wallabies.

Good thing we now agree.

Do you even read my posts?

When did I say that?.. Never! If you learn how to read I stated that AFTER AN OUTSTANDING SUPER RUGBY SEASON he should be considered, and his destructive style would be preferred over a workman-like style.

And I never said you shouldn't question my opinions. I said you shouldn't call them baseless without acknowledging previous posts and the current discussion.

You have chosen to completely ignore all my points about destructive type of players and then go on to criticise my opinion on the basis that

"Any player who has put in a good NRC season or has played a few good Super Rugby games at some point in the last 3 years would fit in seemlessly in the Wallabies."

- something I never said.

Grow up, mate. There is a rule on this forum, attack the ball not the man. You should know this by now.

So learn how to read and stop acting like a 12 year old schoolgirl.

 

[Braveheart81]

Grow up, mate. There is a rule on this forum, attack the ball not the man. You should know this by now.

So learn how to read and stop acting like a 12 year old schoolgirl.

Every single one of my posts has challenged the points in your posts whether quoted directly or paraphrased. At no point have I said anything remotely related to you personally.

Yet you come back with exactly that. A personal (and sexist) attack.

Anyway, I'm done. I can see no point trying to discuss anything with you. In three years, you're the first person I've ever put on ignore.

 

[Viking]

OK. I will no longer question your opinions.

Any player who has put in a good NRC season or has played a few good Super Rugby games at some point in the last 3 years would fit in seemlessly in the Wallabies.

Good thing we now agree.

This quote is filled with sarcasm based on completely incorrect information. Does this look like a post that challenges the points I made in my posts?

And If you call challenging my posts by calling them baseless - backed on incorrect information - as you continually seem to be implying I think Fotu should be picked for the wallabies based on his current experience. Which is completely incorrect.

At least be critical of things I have actually said. Otherwise it is hard to not be personal.

 

[Lee Grant]

No more guys - thank you.

 

[Viking]

Done.

Looks like Butler is in the running for the RUPA medal of excellence. Well done to him.

A funny thought, If Pocock were in the running, I wonder if his recent stint would of had a positive or negative effect, given it is a medal voted by his peers (correct me if I am wrong).

 

[Tomikin]

I love Futo but the fact it seems like his rubbish at the back of the scrum (they push him to 6). Will mean he will struggle to make the Wallabies and probably starting at the Brumbies.

We have options at the moment which is the greatest thing. Fardy, Carter, Poey and Butler to make an absolute mess of opponents breakdowns

 

[Brumby Runner]

I love Futo but the fact it seems like his rubbish at the back of the scrum (they push him to 6). Will mean he will struggle to make the Wallabies and probably starting at the Brumbies.

We have options at the moment which is the greatest thing. Fardy, Carter, Poey and Butler to make an absolute mess of opponents breakdowns

And Moore and Sio. If the forwards hold their own the backline has the talent and ability to make 2015 Super a real competition. But sort of reminds me of the Wallabies atm.