EOYT 2014

[Scrubber2050]

The biggest problem we have had is our 8 blokes don't act as one. The Argies are a great example of working as a pack.

How many times have we seen the 6, 7 and 8 lifting their heads and not push

 

[Train Without a Station]

Let's also remember that Scott Sio has 5 caps. Hard to blame the Wallabies scrum woes on him, considering he hasn't been there for much of it.

Benn Robinson was considered the best loosehead prop in the world. That's a few years ago, granted. Still there is obviously ability in the bloke. Whether or not he achieves it is another story.

The fact of the matter is until last years EOYT Ben Alexander had been our number 1 tighthead prop. That had always been our main weakness in addition to strong scrummaging on that side with Horwill and Vickerman injured for a number of games in there career (Horwill has 48 caps despite being first choice from 2008 to 2013 - approximately 70 tests in that period alone).

We are weak in one position. Tighthead prop. Kepu has shown to be an adequate international tighthead prop. We need more depth around him though. If we lose him to injury we will not be as strong. But every team could say that about a number of players in their team.

 

[No4918]

Slipper is the number 2 THP. Good to see Faulkner get a gig with the squad. Longer term maybe PAE. Weekes if he continues to improve but time maybe against him.

 

[Viking]

The front row is okay. Our starters hold their own at scrum time. I'm more worried about our locks. Given our current first choice starters are pretty damn horrible. When was the last time our locks outplayed their opposite numbers?

 

[Scrubber2050]

Seb - agree but a part of a good locks' performance also emanates fron the 6, 7 and 8 giving support to them

 

[Viking]

So basically our whole forward pack is shit...

 

[Highlander35]

Yes.

 

[Scrubber2050]

No - not at all.
Think we have very good props. Our scrum can improve dramatically IF the whole 8 blokes act as one - simple as that

 

[No4918]

After this years TRC it seems the scrum is the least of the packs problems.

 

[Scrubber2050]

After this years TRC it seems the scrum is the least of the packs problems.

its all about getting the little things right, one at a time,

 

[Marcelo]

Toulon's Steffon Armitage is rumoured to be heading home to England to fight for a World Cup place, with Bath his rumoured destination.

Mmm Sam Burgess, Steffon Armitage, England will be a very very tough opponent

 

[ACT Crusader]

Toulon's Steffon Armitage is rumoured to be heading home to England to fight for a World Cup place, with Bath his rumoured destination.

Mmm Sam Burgess, Steffon Armitage, England will be a very very tough opponent

In excellent form too Armitage. Has added a couple of bows to his game in the last couple of seasons.

 

[mxyzptlk]

Toulon's Steffon Armitage is rumoured to be heading home to England to fight for a World Cup place, with Bath his rumoured destination.

Doesn't look like the Bath deal is happening.

 

[BabyBlueElephant]

Yup the Armitage deal is off due to finances and possible Toulon not wanting to let him go as his replacement Gorgodze is struggling to find fitness.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9516694,00.html

This is a huge relief for the rest of the international rugby world. Believe me this guy is the form 7 in the world. His body is just suited perfectly for the breakdown. Huge weight, low centre of gravity, and bulky as you'd like. I remember in the Heineken Cup last year, not sure whether it was Saracens or Munster but the opposition had three or four players trying to shift the guy and they just couldn't get him off the ball. He wins your team so many penalties and turnovers. Toulon gained a lot of points from Armitage winning a penalty and Wilko adding three points as a result. Same could easily happen for England with Farrells metronomic kicking.

 

[Train Without a Station]

If he's so amazing why was he just a decent international player when he did player for England?

Right bows he's just another example of a decent playing being the "form x in the world" out of France or England.

 

[mxyzptlk]

If he's so amazing why was he just a decent international player when he did player for England?

Maybe he's getting better competition, in training and in competition, than he was at London Irish or Saracens. I'm not sure who the other flankers were that he played with in the Premiership, but training alongside players like Juan Smith and Gorgodzilla can't hurt -- especially since their imposing size makes him prove his value despite his stature.

Did Giteau play as well when he was at the Brumbies? You also hear commentators make noises about how he's playing some of the best rugby of his career. Toulon seems a bit like a meat-grinder, but it's forcing the best out of some of their former internationals.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Played pretty well when he had a lot of good players around him.

My point is that all these players go over there and are suddenly in career best form. You need to question how much they are being challenged. They play good teams, but they also play teams which are getting relegated to D2 and newly promoted teams, whilst they're in a team full of internationals.

 

[Highlander35]

We're gonna go through this with every bloody player aren't we.

Performances within the strong teams in Europe need to be taken with a grain of salt, in the same way the Performaces of a number of Reds players in 2011 should have been.

At Toulon, Steffon Armitage's strongest games have always come in the tough games. Finals, Europe, strong clashes. Even more impressive that he's playing number 8 as a 175cm openside. He'd slot into my England side, either at 8 ahead of Billy V, or at 7 if Morgan's form was to be rewarded. I'd argue for his selection if a Lions side was picked tomorrow as well.

However, who cares. Its a moot point, he's not going to play for France, and he's not going to play for England.

Back on track, should there be a separate thread for non wallaby November internationals, should it all just be chucked in here, or should it end up randomly strewn across many threads.

 

[mxyzptlk]

Played pretty well when he had a lot of good players around him.

My point is that all these players go over there and are suddenly in career best form. You need to question how much they are being challenged. They play good teams, but they also play teams which are getting relegated to D2 and newly promoted teams, whilst they're in a team full of internationals.

The question, then, is if a team of current English internationals would support him as well as a team of Toulon internationals. If he can thrive in one environment, can he thrive in both?

That actually raises an interesting question -- The Orcs vs Toulon, who takes it?

 

[BarneySF]

Played pretty well when he had a lot of good players around him.

My point is that all these players go over there and are suddenly in career best form. You need to question how much they are being challenged. They play good teams, but they also play teams which are getting relegated to D2 and newly promoted teams, whilst they're in a team full of internationals.

Maybe also these guys are also having a shit-ton of "fun" - South of France lifestyle etc. Not saying that they don't take their rugby seriously and its not an arduous schedule (?) but if these guys are enjoying it more, then they're playing better?