Brumbies 2016

[mst]

I'd like to think Roachy will begin to see some proper time, Taf won't last forever as much as we want him to and In my mind he's as good a Hooker as Latu, he just plays in a completely different frame: a 3rd flanker rather than a 3rd prop. At just about any other franchise he'd have regular game time

Sounds a bit like Michael Ala'alatoa and his punt on playing in the ITM to find more opportunity.

 

[Brumbieman]

Is this the strongest squad in Super rugby? Not just in the number of quality first rankers, but the quality in depth is outrageous.

First XV would be

Sio
Moore
Alexander
Arnold/Enever
Carter
Fardy
Pocock
Vaea

Cubelli
Lealiifano
Tomane
To'omua
Kuridrani
Speight
Coleman

Alaalaatoa
Mann-Rae
Smith
Enever/Arnold/Smiler
Butler
Powell
Smith
Dargaville

Forward pack is leaving out blokes like Makin, Staniforth and one of Arnold/Enever/Smiler.

Backs are not going to be able to fit all of the quality depth players. 9-12 is a little thing, but from there out our depth is Andrew Smith, Dargaville, Ah Wong, Tauliali, Niumata, Toua, Fainifo and Thompson, all of whom are seriously good players.

Powell will be our starting 9 by the end of the season and will make the Wallaby squad as the third halfback, with Phipps and Stirzaker. Here first.

Anything less than the title next year should be considered a failure, and Bernie held responsible. (Catastrophic injury toll aside, and even then we have so much depth we should be able to handle it)

 

[Brumby Runner]

Expect them to fight out the Aus conference again with the Tahs, but there is some serious competition in a couple of the NZ sides. Highlanders are again strong and as defending champs, will go very good in 2016. Hurricanes also look to be a very good side and will be well in the running. Argentina will probably be the stongest side in the SA conference, and will give the comp a good shake.

Not a past the post proposition by any means, but it will be a definite opportunity for the Brumbies next year.

EDIT : BTW, I agree with your assessment of Joe Powell.

 

[Brumby Jack]

News on Cubelli - signed for 2 years

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/20...es/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Welcome Thommo!

 

[MarkJ]

Cubelli
Lealiifano
Tomane
To'omua
Kuridrani
Speight
Coleman

Fullback is probably the weakest position. While Coleman is a fine player, I'm not sure he's the right bloke for fullback - particularly if the opposition start putting up high balls.

Hopefully Toua can stay injury free (unlikely I suspect) and improve his defence.

The other big question is what kind of game are the Brumbies going to play. The game plan of the past few years has depended on the long kicking games of White & Mogg giving the Brums a territorial advantage. I think they might be in trouble if they try to play the same kind of game relying on To'omua & Lilo's boots. So will they play a more ball in hand style next year?

 

[Brumbieman]

Based on the squad, you'd have to think we're going to try and open up a bit.

The field position game worked well for the last few years, as it gives a solid framework for young players to work off, knowing what their role is and what to do.

With an almost entirely international quality backline available and the mobility of our backrow, i'll be disappointed if we dont adapt the gameplan to be more fluid and related to the Wallaby gameplan.

It's such a dynamic pack, and such a talented group of ball running backs it would be daft to not play to those strengths.

 

[Brumby Jack]

The other big question is what kind of game are the Brumbies going to play.

Hit it up the middle then spin the ball out wide.

 

[Brumbieman]

Is that a guess, or something more concrete?

 

[Brumby Jack]

Is that a guess, or something more concrete?

I suggest listening to the team song

 

[Brumbieman]

Was hoping you'd heard something on the grapevine about a plan to start returning to Brumbies rugby

 

[Slim 293]

The UAR has also made the sensible decision to allow Argentinians playing in other Super Rugby franchises to remain eligible for the Pumas............

Win/Win.

 

[mudskipper]

Welcome Tomas Cubelli, looking forward to seeing him play with th e Brumbies, great signing...

 

[mudskipper]

Brumbies certainly need to craft a new specialist fullback, not sure who perhaps Andrew Smith, Dargaville or Taliauli...

 

[qwerty51]

The UAR has also made the sensible decision to allow Argentinians playing in other Super Rugby franchises to remain eligible for the Pumas....

Win/Win.

Now we just need the SANZAR countries to allow their players to move around and be eligible. And also accept foreigners. Will make the comp twice as interesting.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Brumbies certainly need to craft a new specialist fullback, not sure who perhaps Andrew Smith, Dargaville or Taliauli.

Think it will probably be Dargaville. With Andrew Smith returning, backup 13 is covered, while Taliauli covers wing. Robbie Coleman will probably still be No 12 cover, so that all frees James Dargaville up to contest the 15 spot with Aiden Toua.

 

[qwerty51]

What's To'omua's contract status? Apparently he's signed with Wasps.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Signed til end of 2017

 

[Brumbieman]

If Dargaville can kick, he'd be a great fullback, got all the required skills.

Plenty of pace and aggression, excellent defender, seems fairly solid under the high ball and is generally just a hard fluffybunny.

 

[Slim 293]

L'equipe gets it wrong again..........

To'omua has signed a 3 year deal with Leicester:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...year-deal-with-leicester-20151115-gkzbxo.html

 

[Brumby Jack]