Fainga'a's are flankers
- Thread starter Moses
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Brumbies Guy
John Solomon (38)
Ant actually topped the Reds pilfers for last season, ahead of Daniel Braid.
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Travi34
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This was brought up by Moses at lunch last week. I wholeheartedly agree, not because he bought me beer, but thanks 
Saia is a Backrower playing the frontrow, unlike TPN who made a move from 8 to 2, Saia struggles at the set pieces (TPN's throw hasnt always been great)
Ant, due to his lack of Wallabies exposure in comparison, and my lack of seeing Reds games, I cant comment on as much, but he does seem to be a good defender, and does lack the flair that backs usually have....
If you can have props/hookers that play like flankers, but are still strong at setpiece, you have a team to be worried about!
Saia is a Backrower playing the frontrow, unlike TPN who made a move from 8 to 2, Saia struggles at the set pieces (TPN's throw hasnt always been great)
Ant, due to his lack of Wallabies exposure in comparison, and my lack of seeing Reds games, I cant comment on as much, but he does seem to be a good defender, and does lack the flair that backs usually have....
If you can have props/hookers that play like flankers, but are still strong at setpiece, you have a team to be worried about!
A
Alex-A
Guest
I can see the logic, and the stat about Ant's pilfer count is very interesting. However we do have under-supply of outside centres, and Saia is probably the wallabies 3rd choice hooker which would suggest that they are both quite likely to make the Wallabies squad in their current positions. Its very hard to imagine how good they could be at 7 without seeing them play there. Saia would be an interesting experiment and at just over 100kg he seems the appropriate build.
vidiot
John Solomon (38)
I think their Mum decided they all needed to be in the same team and so tasked them to different positions, despite their similarities. You can see it in their weaknesses.
Anthony is running in treacle when he tries to chase down a nippy back or convert a half-gap. He'll make Robbie Fruen look like Usain Bolt in a couple of weeks when the Reds meet the Crusaders. His hands are actually ok, his kicking ordinary and you get the impression he is both coachable in that he will pretty much do what McKenzie wants and whatever it takes for the team. A problem perhaps under Deans at international level (ahem) where the instructions involve "whats in front of him".
Anthony is running in treacle when he tries to chase down a nippy back or convert a half-gap. He'll make Robbie Fruen look like Usain Bolt in a couple of weeks when the Reds meet the Crusaders. His hands are actually ok, his kicking ordinary and you get the impression he is both coachable in that he will pretty much do what McKenzie wants and whatever it takes for the team. A problem perhaps under Deans at international level (ahem) where the instructions involve "whats in front of him".
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
God help us if Saia is the 3rd choice hooker.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
Saia is a backrower out of position but Ant is ok where he is. I like and respect all three of them as players and as people. They all strike me as very grounded, willing to learn and very well grounded. I am sure Mr and Mrs Fainga'a are very proud of their boys and they should be.
Bullrush
Geoff Shaw (53)
A bit like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) did when they met the Brumbies? Fruean is pretty quick....
Bullrush
Geoff Shaw (53)
Sorry, I thought that the suggestion was that Ant was slow rather than Fruean being fast....
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tranquility
Guest
Villi is also a flanker. He plays for the QLD uni premier side
Brumbies Guy
John Solomon (38)
Good to see him back from the dark side after a couple a years with the Melbourne Storm in the NRL, I thought he'd disappeared. How is he playing?
Langthorne
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Moses - absolutely spot on.
Although they have their good points (not least their dedication to their team), A is somewhat limited in skill and pace for the centres, and S is too small for the front row. Not huge issues at Super level but a problem at jnternational level.
Although they have their good points (not least their dedication to their team), A is somewhat limited in skill and pace for the centres, and S is too small for the front row. Not huge issues at Super level but a problem at jnternational level.
Proud Pig
Tom Lawton (22)
I agree particularly about Ant and Saia, Colby seems a bit more like a centre than the other two as he is a bit more explosive across the ground.
I like Saia as a player but if he is forced to player as hooker in the RWC we have real problems and given TPN's and Moore's injury records this is not hard to imagine. His line out throwing is not great and he adds nothing whatsoever to the scrum. While he is great in open player and a good crash and bash defender and clean out merchant these are the extras that turn a good hooker into a great hooker. It is the key components of the role where he is weakest that is the problem.
I like Saia as a player but if he is forced to player as hooker in the RWC we have real problems and given TPN's and Moore's injury records this is not hard to imagine. His line out throwing is not great and he adds nothing whatsoever to the scrum. While he is great in open player and a good crash and bash defender and clean out merchant these are the extras that turn a good hooker into a great hooker. It is the key components of the role where he is weakest that is the problem.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
It hard to pick the 3rd choice hooker at the moment. Saia is definitly up there but he is a pretty poor scrummager. I dont think he is a very good carrier of the ball either. I personally think he lacks strength for test rugby but he is great around the park and mostly good at line-outs. He's a great super 15 player.
Ant i rate pretty highly, I think he probably the best defending centre in Aus rugby and not too bad at distributing the ball. I remember a few flick passes last season so definitly has some skills. He also does his job and has a great work ethic. I think the only thing he lacks to be a great test player is a decent running game. He does run hard and straight at times but I dont think his straight running will be hard enough to be effective at test level. He doesnt exactly have the power of mortlock or the quick feet of JOC (James O'Connor). The stat on pilfering is pretty impressive though.
Colby i also like. He seems very explosive. He is a little small though and still pretty fresh. To be a good 7 he's got to work on his pilfering skills.
Ant i rate pretty highly, I think he probably the best defending centre in Aus rugby and not too bad at distributing the ball. I remember a few flick passes last season so definitly has some skills. He also does his job and has a great work ethic. I think the only thing he lacks to be a great test player is a decent running game. He does run hard and straight at times but I dont think his straight running will be hard enough to be effective at test level. He doesnt exactly have the power of mortlock or the quick feet of JOC (James O'Connor). The stat on pilfering is pretty impressive though.
Colby i also like. He seems very explosive. He is a little small though and still pretty fresh. To be a good 7 he's got to work on his pilfering skills.
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tranquility
Guest
Good post
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TOCC
Guest
yep good post serb
Joe Mac
Arch Winning (36)
6 Saia F
7 Ant F
8 Colby F
That would be a decent Super 15 backrow. Lacking a little bit of height but they would be competitive. I would love to see that.
In regards to the Wallaby 3rd placed hooked. Is Ged Robinson from the Rebels eligible? I know he is from Kiwi land but does anyone know if he has any long lost aussie relatives? If so, he would be my third choice Hooker. If he isn't, i have no idea. Light years between 1/2 and then 3 at the moment.
7 Ant F
8 Colby F
That would be a decent Super 15 backrow. Lacking a little bit of height but they would be competitive. I would love to see that.
In regards to the Wallaby 3rd placed hooked. Is Ged Robinson from the Rebels eligible? I know he is from Kiwi land but does anyone know if he has any long lost aussie relatives? If so, he would be my third choice Hooker. If he isn't, i have no idea. Light years between 1/2 and then 3 at the moment.
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