Digby Ioane in 2010

[disco]

Digby was on sports tonight a couple of days ago & the Reds trainers said that he started training six weeks later than most of the squad & he is already the fittest & strongest in the squad.

I just assumed that he would play 13 this year & then go on to be 1st choice 13 for the Wallabies but looking at the Reds squad would Digby at 13 best serve the team?

This is the Reds backline I had in mind.

9.Genia 10. Quade 11. Morahan 12. Turnui 13. Digby 14. Chambers 15. Peter Hynes

Rumour is that Turnui wants to play 13 & I think his smarts are essential for the Reds this season so I definitely want him in the 1st 15 so do we drop Chambers to the bench & play Faiinga at 12 with Morgs outside & Diggers on the wing?

I personally want Diggers at 13 for the entire season.

 

[Redsfan]

Rumour is that Turnui wants to play 13 & I think his smarts are essential for the Reds this season so I definitely want him in the 1st 15 so do we drop Chambers to the bench & play Faiinga at 12 with Morgs outside & Diggers on the wing?

That's exactly what I want. That centre pairing will be very good in defence. I don't think we'll see Chambers in the 1st XV too soon.

I'd have:

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. Fainga'a
13. Turinui
14. Morahan
15. Hynes

 

[RugbyReg]

I know what you're saying about Diggers at 13, and it does have appeal. But a blindside winger can be used just as effectively, and may get more opportunity from counter. He will obviously have a roving commission anyway.

My preferred backline at the moment, is like the one you ended up with:

15 Hynes 14 Morohan 13 Turinui 12 Fainga'a 11 Diggers 10 Cooper 9 Genia

I am a little less sure on the pack. I think the front row will be 1 Daley 2 Hardman 3 Weekes. In the 2 row probably 4 Van 5 Kev. Then the backrow is a little uncertain. I am guessing 8 Higgers 7 Braid 6 Ezra.

The bench is then up in the air. I think SFaingaa has the edge for 16. Holmes likely for 17. Byrnes I guess for 18? And then Tomeki at 19?

Backs? Kingi would have to be 20. Not sure about the rest. Probably Chambers and perhaps Lucas? Maybe Tapuai may sneak in over Lucas?

That starting team is leaving the kicking up to Quade. If he came off then its Fainga'a or Kingi if he's on. That's why Lucas may be on the bench.

 

[Biffo]

Digby wing

 

[TOCC]

I would rather a backline of

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Chambers
12. Fainga'a
13. Ioane
14. Morahan
15. Hynes

not just for the reds but for the wallabies as well, give digby some real time at 13 so he can learn the position properly

 

[Biffo]

I would rather a backline of

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Chambers
12. Fainga'a
13. Ioane
14. Morahan
15. Hynes

not just for the reds but for the wallabies as well, give digby some real time at 13 so he can learn the position properly

"Provincialism" is a sin in this forum. Wanting an all-Queensland backline for the Wallabies is going a little too far, don't you think?

Three selections for the Wallabies who have played only a few minutes, or no, S14?

One selection for the Wallabies who has not played any rugby outside school?

 

[spectator]

You forgot the :fishing icon Biffo.Presuming you weren't being facetious, I think TOCC meant that the incumbent Wallaby 13 should be played at that position for his S14 side.

I don't actually agree with that. I think Digby is one of the world's best wingers and provides the best value there. Turinui at 13 for mine. I like Noddy's starting backline.

 

[Biffo]

No :fishing appears on the post as I read it.

Ioane is a wing, pure and simple. Question: is he pure, or even simple?

 

[TOCC]

I would rather a backline of

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Chambers
12. Fainga'a
13. Ioane
14. Morahan
15. Hynes

not just for the reds but for the wallabies as well, give digby some real time at 13 so he can learn the position properly

"Provincialism" is a sin in this forum. Wanting an all-Queensland backline for the Wallabies is going a little too far, don't you think?

Three selections for the Wallabies who have played only a few minutes, or no, S14?

One selection for the Wallabies who has not played any rugby outside school?

sorry, i was reffering to Digby, the topic of this thread

You forgot the :fishing icon Biffo.Presuming you weren't being facetious, I think TOCC meant that the incumbent Wallaby 13 should be played at that position for his S14 side.

I don't actually agree with that. I think Digby is one of the world's best wingers and provides the best value there. Turinui at 13 for mine. I like Noddy's starting backline.

well thats fine, but who then do you play at 13 for the wallabies if like this season Mortlock is injured and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is fullback. Turinui might be good enough for 13 at S14 level but i dont think he would be good enough for the wallabies.

 

[RugbyReg]

that's a really good point re the Wallaby 13 spot TOCC.

I'd like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) there, despite the fact he may not get much game there. Who plays fullback? I'd go for Shepherd. But that is dependant on his season I guess. JOC (James O'Connor) is a chance I guess, another year down. But he will play 12 for the 4s won't he?

Beale will be a roughie (for 15) I reckon.

 

[todd4]

Its been my observation that Digby doesn't like passing the ball very much. He is a fantastic finisher and I think that is usually his intention when he gets his hands on the ball. Probably the best winger in the country - why tinker with it ??

 

[Biffo]

... who ... do you play at 13 for the wallabies if like this season Mortlock is injured and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is fullback. Turinui might be good enough for 13 at S14 level but i dont think he would be good enough for the wallabies.

In the "Expectations" thread in this forum, I posted that one of my hopes for the Wallabies for 2010 is that a test-competent 13 (along with two test-competent locks and a test-competent 15) will emerge. One of the forum's rugby genii retorted that 13 is well covered. His comment included "we have Mortlock, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Cross and Horne". I didn't bother to point out to the genius that Mortlock and Horne have, shall we say, sometime-recurring injury problems, that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will be needed at 15 (the time honoured "there is noone else") and that I had written test-class. If the genius is right, Digby can stay on the wing. If I am right, there may be nobody else for 13.

My wild, wild hope is that Morahan, or To'omua, or Laeliifano, or (??) will develop to, or close to, test-class by the end of the year, allowing the Earl to go to 13.

 

[spectator]

No :fishing appears on the post as I read it.

Ioane is a wing, pure and simple. Question: is he pure, or even simple?

"Pure" excitement, simple..dunno?

 

[Biffo]

No :fishing appears on the post as I read it.

Ioane is a wing, pure and simple. Question: is he pure, or even simple?

"Pure" excitement, simple..dunno?

Early in the 1900s a major English newspaper described a Mr Robert Sievier as "a gambler, pure and simple". Mr Sievier stormed into the editor's office, demanding a retraction and apology; he thundered "I am surely a gambler, I may or may not be pure, but I am certainly not simple."

 

[Lee Grant]

One thing that disturbs me about Ioane is his defence.

Before people crack their knuckles getting ready to type out that old Lee has finally cracked and state that Blind Freddie can see than Ioane can tackle, I didn't mean that. I knew Ioane could tackle before most posters here.

I just get the feeling that there is too much confusion in the defensive line around him especially in the red zone of his team and that he doesn't read things right. Sometimes he's not there to make the excellent tackle.

You have cracked LG - give me an example you old bastard. There you have me. I can't remember when he was definitely at fault but I'll warrant that I'll watch him closely this year. Hopefully I will report that I had a shocker.

Another shocker - although Giteau is a good tackler I think he has some of the same (imagined?) problem - not so much in set piece or where the defensive line is set, but working with other guys defensively in a fluid situation.

Horan and Little - they we masters of the fluid defensive situation.

 

[Biffo]

LG is not cracking at all. He is merely reminding all who have forgotten, or never learned, that the keys to successful backline defence are organization and cohesion.

 

[fatprop]

Wing for me, for the Reds and Wallabies

If we are lucky for the Wallabies we could end up with

15 Shepherd
14 Hynes
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12 Gits
11 Digby
10 Barnes
9 Genia

 

[Biffo]

Wing for me, for the Reds and Wallabies

If we are lucky for the Wallabies we could end up with

15 Shepherd
14 Hynes
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12 Gits
11 Digby
10 Barnes
9 Genia

:thumb :thumb

If anyone disagrees with you, can I be second in line to punch their lights out?

 

[RugbyReg]

yep - love it.

 

[Ishmael]

UNLESS Mortlock has a good year and holds onto the 13 jersey, in which case AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) back to 15. I'm not holding out too much hope but he's been written off before and come back better than ever.