Fotu Auelua - WC no 8?

[Skippy]

Just putting an idea I had today out there.

Fotu Auelua formely of West Harbour and Toulon in France has got a contract with the Brumbies for 2012 with an ARU top up. At present he's in Japan with NTT on a short term deal.

Now personally I find it quite strange that he got an ARU top up without ever having played Super rugby and according to reports he's been on the ARU radar for a while and by getting an ARU top up, I think its likely we will see him in Wallaby colours in the future if his French form continues.

However, he's a thought.

Given Rocky and Palu are injured and no certainties for the WC, question marks remain (at least in my mind) over whether Higgers is ready for international rugby and the possibility Sharpy may not make the side (with Horwill and Vickers/Simmons/Timani etc possibly getting picked ahead of him) And if all three of these don't make it, the need for a big tackling, tackle busting, defensive line bending no 8 with the ability to run the ball (given Sharpe, Palu and Rocky) are the three preferred ball carriers in the Wallabies - could Deans pull a massive suprise selection in Fotu??

Yes he is overseas but it's not like selecting George Smith or eligible Aussie currently overseas lke McMenimem etc because this bloke HAS a contract with the ARU already (maybe it doesn't start till 2012 however I doubt that's the case?).

Now I haven't seen a huge amount of the bloke but videos on Youtube show him to be pretty handy and I definetly think he wouldn't be out of place in the squad. To me he looks a better player than Palu. As i said, he's been watched over and desired for a while and to be given a ARU top up to me says he part of Deans' bigger picture.

But given the injury 'crisis' coulds Dean pull a massive rabbit out of the hat this tri nations and WC??

Discuss.

 

[Nusadan]

Certainly a precedent has been set with Rocky Elsom so it is within the realm of possibility here...Deans would be keen to grasp the opportunity to do so in the early Wallabies games with all these injuries sidelining the usual suspects...

Now the Tahs have to got to sign this Fotu fella up next!

Edit: Bugger...(from Wiki) he's signed up to play for a Japanese club from next month, and then the Brumbies next year...geez, Brumbies don't need another back rower!

 

[Skippy]

Yeah I just wonder if he has a clause in his contract with NTT in Japan to be released if called up by the Wallabies. I reckon he probably does given he has an ARU contract.
I just find the whole thing interesting. Deans plays his cards pretty close to his chest and given they've clearly gone after this bloke, I just wonder if he could be a left field selection.

 

[Lee Grant]

We knew when he signed for the Brumbies that he was going to Japan before he played for them..

I've seen quite a lot of him in the last couple of seasons in the Top 14. Didn't know that he was getting an ARU top up. Are there any links to that info?

He certainly has the potential to be a big bopper no. 8 Oz candidate but he's overweight. He is surprising good in the lineout, is very skilful and quite quick for an Oz 8. Toulon have used him as a 12 and even a 13 and he hasn't embarrassed himself.

Not too sure about his engine for international or even Super rugby and I'm confident that the ARU don't know either.

 

[Skippy]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/af...ocId=CNG.c35e2f78df8589a1f99188c72ecb2a30.211

Yeah ARU top up and I'd be suprised if he didn't have a get out option at NTT in Japan if called up to the Wallabies. As Nusadan says, the precedent was set by selecting Rocky who had an ARU contract but was overseas/coming back from overseas.

I don't know about his fitness etc and I don't know if he would be any good... but given the injuries we've got and the need for a big no 8 I just thought perhaps Deans might pull a suprise here and have a look at the bloke ahead of schedule. Deans always has a plan and perhaps see's potential in this bloke post WC with a view to the Lions in 2 years, but may need to fast track his plans.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Article from the Canberra Times here

 

[Cutter]

From what I've seen, he is perhaps more at home on the wing than in the ruck. If he was selected for the Wallabies before proving himself in Super Rugby or Club Rugby there would, quite rightly, be an outcry.

 

[Richo]

From what I've seen, he is perhaps more at home on the wing than in the ruck. If he was selected for the Wallabies before proving himself in Super Rugby or Club Rugby there would, quite rightly, be an outcry.

...unless he immediately performed at an outstanding level.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Isn't it great to see that our national body is travelling so well that it can afford to invest in perhapsers? Someone who has only played at club level here some years ago. Whatever he's paying his manager he's getting value.

I note that, according to AFP: "In signing for the Brumbies, Auelua has also part-signed a contract with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), who will pay part of his salary." "Part-signed", eh? Does that mean he only scribbled "Fotu" on the contract?

 

[naza]

I remember this guy for the Pirates as being fat. Very very fat.

Better than Palu ? :lmao::lmao:

 

[Jets]

Just putting an idea I had today out there.

Fotu Auelua formely of West Harbour and Toulon in France has got a contract with the Brumbies for 2012 with an ARU top up. At present he's in Japan with NTT on a short term deal.

Now personally I find it quite strange that he got an ARU top up without ever having played Super rugby and according to reports he's been on the ARU radar for a while and by getting an ARU top up, I think its likely we will see him in Wallaby colours in the future if his French form continues.

However, he's a thought.

Given Rocky and Palu are injured and no certainties for the WC, question marks remain (at least in my mind) over whether Higgers is ready for international rugby (But you are ready to throw in some guy that hasn't played Super Rugby before?)and the possibility Sharpy may not make the side (Sharpe will be one of the first picked if he isn't injured)(with Horwill and Vickers/Simmons/Timani etc possibly getting picked ahead of him) And if all three of these don't make it, the need for a big tackling, tackle busting, defensive line bending no 8 with the ability to run the ball (given Sharpe, Palu and Rocky) are the three preferred ball carriers in the Wallabies - could Deans pull a massive suprise selection in Fotu??It would be a huge risk and I think Ita or Samo would be more likely

Yes he is overseas but it's not like selecting George Smith or eligible Aussie currently overseas lke McMenimem etc because this bloke HAS a contract with the ARU already (maybe it doesn't start till 2012 however I doubt that's the case?).

Now I haven't seen a huge amount of the bloke but videos on Youtube show him to be pretty handy and I definetly think he wouldn't be out of place in the squad. To me he looks a better player than Palu. As i said, he's been watched over and desired for a while and to be given a ARU top up to me says he part of Deans' bigger picture. I think that footage on youtube isn't the best way to rate a player. I could make a clip of any player to make them look good or bad

But given the injury 'crisis' coulds Dean pull a massive rabbit out of the hat this tri nations and WC?? No

Discuss.

 

[mudskipper]

Certainly a precedent has been set with Rocky Elsom so it is within the realm of possibility here...Deans would be keen to grasp the opportunity to do so in the early Wallabies games with all these injuries sidelining the usual suspects...

Now the Tahs have to got to sign this Fotu fella up next!

Edit: Bugger...(from Wiki) he's signed up to play for a Japanese club from next month, and then the Brumbies next year...geez, Brumbies don't need another back rower!

Dan Vickerman is another signed for RWC duties... Good point with Fotu Auelua... the Youtube I've seen is nice rugby... Shame he isn't available for the Samoan match to see what he's got...

 

[DPK]

Certainly a precedent has been set with Rocky Elsom so it is within the realm of possibility here...Deans would be keen to grasp the opportunity to do so in the early Wallabies games with all these injuries sidelining the usual suspects...

Now the Tahs have to got to sign this Fotu fella up next!

Edit: Bugger...(from Wiki) he's signed up to play for a Japanese club from next month, and then the Brumbies next year...geez, Brumbies don't need another back rower!

The difference being both of these players had played for the Wallabies before (and Deans).

 

[fatprop]

Dan Vickerman is another signed for RWC duties... Good point with Fotu Auelua... the Youtube I've seen is nice rugby... Shame he isn't available for the Samoan match to see what he's got...

You would have a point if he was killing in club rugby in Aus for the next few months (what Vicks will need to do to get picked), instead he is adding to his superannuation fund playing subbies.

 

[Joe Mac]

Radike Samo has been one of the form No8's if not the form No8 of Super 15 this year. His performances against the Stormers, Blues & Crusaders were nothing less than exceptional. What else does the guy have to do to get the Wallaby 8 jersey? Win the Super 15 for the Reds?

 

[Slim 293]

I very much doubt Fotu Auelua is any sort of consideration for the Wallabies...

He'll probably wind up playing 6 for the Brumbies as Vaea deserves the 8 jersey, but as already pointed out he's quite the seagull...

Ideally, he would be an impact bench player for the Brumbies if they had room to sign up another big looseforward (someone like Mowen)...

He's obviously a very powerful runner, excellent in the lineout and under the high ball... but you're not going to see him do a lot of counterrucking, which is unfortunate for a man of his size not to use it to its full potential...

What I would hope to see is Jake White tighten up his game a bit, and so he develops an all round game like Elsom with the big powerful runs, but the high work rate... I'm probably wishing for too much though...

 

[Joe Mac]

I just watched the youtube video of him.

Could RD have given him the ARU contract, not to fill a forward position but to bring some size to our centres? He looks to have pace, great hands and a devastating running... He would more than counter the AB centres current size advantage...

 

[Novocastrian]

You would have a point if he was killing in club rugby in Aus for the next few months (what Vicks will need to do to get picked), instead he is adding to his superannuation fund playing subbies.

Vickerman won't need to kill it in club rugby to make the RWC - if he can walk onto the pitch he'll make it regardless of form, the ARU didn't pay big dollars to bring him back to have him win another Shute Shield title with Uni.

 

[fatprop]

Vickerman won't need to kill it in club rugby to make the RWC - if he can walk onto the pitch he'll make it regardless of form, the ARU didn't pay big dollars to bring him back to have him win another Shute Shield title with Uni.

If he doesn't "kill it", he doesn't deserve to go

 

[Lee Grant]

What I would hope to see is Jake White tighten up his game a bit, and so he develops an all round game like Elsom with the big powerful runs, but the high work rate.

Good point Slim - Jake should sort him out or spit him out.


Skippy

Thanks for the link. I missed that point before about the ARU topping up his salary which I assume paying part of his salary means.

Bruce

Very droll.