Oz U20 Team
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formeropenside
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9 Queenslanders (including To'omua) in the run on 15. 8 of them have Reds or Reds Academy contracts.
I've reached the point of giving up on recruiting, or trying to get lapsed Queenslanders to come home, just dont lose the players we have and want to keep.
We'd contribute the Finger twins, and possibly Turinui, to this "5th team" come 2011 though.
I've reached the point of giving up on recruiting, or trying to get lapsed Queenslanders to come home, just dont lose the players we have and want to keep.
We'd contribute the Finger twins, and possibly Turinui, to this "5th team" come 2011 though.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Robbie Coleman, the Oz Schools flyhalf from last year and ahead of Corey Brown for the wing spot, is a huge surprise. Fair enough that he should be on the bench to back up To'omua, but on the wing??
McDuling ahead of Kane Douglas is a bit of a surprise too, but Nucifora probably wanted a bit more grunt and McDuling has that.
The others are as expected, given that O'Conor was pulled out of the original team and Beale and Horne were injured over there.
2 hookers on the bench looks a bit goofy, but Fitzpatrick can play in the backrow if needs be, and Whittaker is probably the reserve prop.
McDuling ahead of Kane Douglas is a bit of a surprise too, but Nucifora probably wanted a bit more grunt and McDuling has that.
The others are as expected, given that O'Conor was pulled out of the original team and Beale and Horne were injured over there.
2 hookers on the bench looks a bit goofy, but Fitzpatrick can play in the backrow if needs be, and Whittaker is probably the reserve prop.
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formeropenside
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Lee, it gets better, Albert Anae can play hooker as well.
Ash
Michael Lynagh (62)
formeropenside said:
Quite seriously, I doubt the Reds will hold on to most of them.
Kingi is a good 'un, but will struggle for game time behind Lucas and Genia. Which is fine in a way, as all have great potential as half backs. Can see him going elsewhere.
Tapui will struggle for game time behind Barnes, Chambers, Turinuri. Like Kingi, can see him going elsewhere.
I think that Slipper is more promising than Anae at prop, and he has time to develop. With all the Australian sides now pretty settled in the propping stakes, Slipper will probably hang around at the Reds and maybe leapfrog Edwards in a year or two as the second THP. Anae will maybe lose a contract behind Holmes and Daley.
Simmons litmus test will come maybe not next year, but the year after when Van is sure to be gone and he'd be fighting the ill tempered Byrnes (and maybe Taylor) for a starting spot. If 3M was gone, I doubt the Reds would keep Simmons.
My biggest hopes are for Shaw and Schatz. Shaw to develop as an openside the Reds need, and Schatz to bulk up to a combatative number 8 in a few years. The Reds will either really be relying upon Shaw or Luafutu soon.
I am really keen to watch this game to see how this side goes. Really disappointed not to be seeing Beale and Horne running around though.
spectator
Bob Davidson (42)
Didn't think Betham was in the original squad so maybe he has been flown in to cover for injuries? Would have though that maybe he, DHP and Davies would have been the starting back three.
Despite those missing through injury it is still a strong team. Hope they do well.
Despite those missing through injury it is still a strong team. Hope they do well.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Pete got flown over to cover for Beale but he hasn't been in great form. He played first grade last Saturday but he's been playing 2nd Grade mostly.
Still, I'd rather have a real winger starting as wing instead of a flyhalf. It's ironic: flyhalf Coleman replaced Rabbit O'Connor, a fullback or centre, in the team and now he's wearing the 11 jersey.
Yeah, it's a strong team but it was last year too. They had better take their chance this year because I'd predict that the 2010 team won't have the same standard of players as in 2008 and 2009.
Still, I'd rather have a real winger starting as wing instead of a flyhalf. It's ironic: flyhalf Coleman replaced Rabbit O'Connor, a fullback or centre, in the team and now he's wearing the 11 jersey.
Yeah, it's a strong team but it was last year too. They had better take their chance this year because I'd predict that the 2010 team won't have the same standard of players as in 2008 and 2009.
P
poolersaint
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Thomond78 said:
Diolch yn fawr, Thomond78 !! ;D
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Nicholas Shehadie (39)
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