FORCE INJURY CRISIS

[Waylon]

just when you thought things were going well for the Force, injuries have struck

Turner
Fairbanks
Rapana
Stanley
Tupou
Wara
Cowan
Wykes (season)
Longbottom
Harvey
Stannard
Shepherd
Maafu
Whittaker (season)

Ripia sacked
Richard Graham sacked

If I was a QLDer, I'd be whining and moaning about how injury has affected our form

If you attend NIB stadium on Saturday in Perth, there is a lucky door prize. First, second, third and fourth prize is a seat on the Force bench, so bring your boots.

We would like to thank the ARU for cutting the squads back to 30

 

[Brumbies Guy]

If I was a QLDer, I'd be whining and moaning about how injury has affected our form

Can't see why else you would create a new thread, so, where abouts in QLD are you from?

 

[Waylon]

Not very clever are you

 

[qwerty51]

Ma'afu, Cowan, Longbottom out huh

Who are their props this week?

 

[todd4]

Ma'afu, Cowan, Longbottom out huh

Who are their props this week?

non-contestable scrums from the kick-off...

 

[brokendown]

hope they dont play the last post on Saturday

 

[tigerland12]

non-contestable scrums from the kick-off...

Now thats the advantage every Australian side could use!

 

[PaarlBok]

Why isnt Pocock on that list?

 

[Brumby Jack]

Pocock doesn't get injured. He injures.

 

[PaarlBok]

Pocock doesn't get injured. He injures.

His own players if I look at the list.

 

[Brumby Jack]

They must have had some arm wrestling contests recently

 

[PaarlBok]

They must have had some arm wrestling contests recently

and the coach did not like this.

 

[qwerty51]

Now thats the advantage every Australian side could use!

Ahem...

 

[tigerland12]

Ahem...

Yes don't worry as soon as I posted that I knew at least one Tahs fan would single out my error. Sorry precious.

 

[redstragic]

We would like to thank the ARU for cutting the squads back to 30

How many paid players do the kiwis and safa's teams have. Somebody was saying 60 or 70 in another thread around here. Surely that is not right?

If it is, it shits me that we choose put extra limitations on ourselves in a really tough comp. I'm sure our boys are breaking down this year so much because they had so much rugby last year.

 

[RedsHappy]

A number of us said it at the time, then said it again, and say it now (in support of Waylon above): the '30 man squad' ARU imposition was simply stupidity of the highest order and would have as it principal consequences (a) the hindering of Aus S15 teams' ability to enhance the development and maturing of our players as it was an 'artificial' constraint on sound, close squad rotation opportunities and (b) it would almost certainly disadvantage us against non-Aus teams operating more loose constraints on squad sizes.

So acidly amusing that the ARU will not intervene to improve the strategic management quality of State franchises, they will permit badly structured introverted Boards, but yet they nanny-manage items like 'thou will only have 30 player squads so thou saves money in the way we deem right as we know you are not able to do this well enough for yourselves'. Go figure how these vastly different 'hands right off at top level' and 'hands right on bottom level' policies have any consistency or coherence.

 

[ACT Crusader]

The NZ franchises have Wider Training Groups (WTG) of I think 8 or so players that come in only when injury.

However each of the NZ franchises have B teams that play each other. Otherwise those players play club rugby

 

[tigerland12]

Just a random thought about having depth growth in Aus, and in relation to ACT Crusaders point about NZ B sides playing, would developing an u20 Australian comp before the start of the Brisbane and Sydney Premier Comps be a smart investment long term?

I know money issues ect. But they have the National Academy in place, which can stay (i dont think it will be removed anytime soon), so why not draw state players from there then bring in the rest of the squad from 7's or club competitions? Pay the non academy players match fees and cover flight/accomadation costs.

Just a thought but it could be a great way to develop the young talent in a competitve team environment instead of having them train for months on end before club competitions start.

And yes I know there are A sides who play against the likes of Tonga A ect, but this is only 4 or so games. A u20's competition could be as simple as playing as a curtain raiser to the local derby games.

The only major downside i see is that NSW and QLD would dominate due to their strong colts programs ect. But it goves an opportunity for WA and Melbourne players to persist with rugby knowing there is a chance of being signed from the competition.

Thoughts? (Probably wrong thread but fuck it)

 

[qwerty51]

I've been wanting an u20s comp between each franchise for fucking ever.. not just for the development of Super Rugby sides but so our u20s are playing at a level higher than club colts before they go over to the JWC and get smashed by players who have been involved in professional set-ups for years.

 

[waratahjesus]

The cut down to 30 wasn't just for money, it ws to spread talent to Melbourne as well.

4 clubs x 35 players = 140
5 clubs x 30 players = 150

There is more opportunity for players now then there was.
The Tahs have had to grab players outside there group the last two years. Im not sure with the current spate of injuries in a number of sides 5 extra players would have helped that much anyway.

Just A side question, last year Chris Hickey was to blame at the Tahs for injuries due to his refusal to rotate (no matter the injury I might ad) why are Richard Graham and Ewen McKensie not under that same criticism for running there squads into the ground?