Palu

[Shiggins]

I wanted too know why everyone thinks Palu is the be all and end all at 8? He hasn't played much rugby in ages and know one really knows what form he is in but when we talk world cup his name is in everyones head strait away.

I know when he is in form he is one of the best in the world but that was quite some time ago. When was his last test? How many tests has he played under deans?


Go the force!!!!

 

[Richo]

Name someone who played well at 8 anytime recently. Palu, even if he has barely played in a year, at least offers the possibility of dominance.

 

[Slim 293]

Name someone who played well at 8 anytime recently. Palu, even if he has barely played in a year, at least offers the possibility of dominance.

Ita Vaea.

Although I doubt he'll be in contention for this year.

He'll be one of the post-RWC young ones to come through.

Mowen has also played well at 8 this year.

 

[Lachlan]

He showed enough in his brief stint against the Cheetah's to remind us all of his quality. Why'd he come off so early - injured again?

 

[Shiggins]

Ummm what about the current wallaby number 8 who is playing some pretty damn good rugby.

And his backup is playing pretty damn well at 6.

At the moment you could not break up the force backrow , until pocock comes back that is.

Force back row = wallabies back row ATM.

I do hope cliffy can go well and get too his top form but it's not a guaranty.

I think he is injured again anyway. Someone said "shame about palu" on the ruck podcast.

Go the force!!!!

 

[fatprop]

He showed enough in his brief stint against the Cheetah's to remind us all of his quality. Why'd he come off so early - injured again?

First game back, he doesn't have match fitness yet. It was deemed a better option to have him fully warmed up and start, than cool down sitting on the bench before getting a run.

 

[Gagger]

For me McCalman is really a 6. Doesn't (yet) have the impact running or big hitting impact at 8. Goes double for Brown

 

[fatprop]

For me McCalman is really a 6. Doesn't (yet) have the impact running or big hitting impact at 8. Goes double for Brown

or the soft hands, with a scrum that can be on roller skates, a guy who has good hands and the ability to hold off two or three defenders is handy

 

[cyclopath]

I agree re McCalman probably being more a 6. Hodgson is a very good 7. Brown has played well this year, as he has in the past for the Force, but at Test level has usually been a) ineffective in attack and b) a penalty magnet with occasional cardage. It might be the sum of the parts at the Force is the greater thing rather than all the individuals being "best" in position necessarily. So the argument to have them as a unit has more weight, I guess. But Robbie won't, I suspect. One of our abiding failures at Test level is to have consistent guys that get over the gain line, and that is what Palu does (when fit) that many others don't. McCalman and Brown both carry too high in contact, and are more effective in looser play running into gaps. You really need 2 or 3 guys up front who can crash over the gain line with regularity.

 

[Shiggins]

I completely agree with the above.
Let's hope palu gets through the year and finds form.

How old is he? Would he be one too last until 2015?

I hope he doesn't find form and piss off over seas. The tahs need a hard ass monster ATM as do the wobs.

Until he does show everyone that he's the man for the cup let's not just say he is. He needs too do a lot of hard work first.

Come on cliffy!!


Go the force!!!!

 

[Scotty]

I agree re McCalman probably being more a 6. Hodgson is a very good 7. Brown has played well this year, as he has in the past for the Force, but at Test level has usually been a) ineffective in attack and b) a penalty magnet with occasional cardage. It might be the sum of the parts at the Force is the greater thing rather than all the individuals being "best" in position necessarily. So the argument to have them as a unit has more weight, I guess. But Robbie won't, I suspect. One of our abiding failures at Test level is to have consistent guys that get over the gain line, and that is what Palu does (when fit) that many others don't. McCalman and Brown both carry too high in contact, and are more effective in looser play running into gaps. You really need 2 or 3 guys up front who can crash over the gain line with regularity.

Brown and McCalman's games are more suited to the slightly looser play in S15. They aren't really tight loose forwards, they are loose loose forwards. They use speed and stepping to get them yards. You don't always get this opportunity in big test matches so you need to rely on a combination of balance, acceleration and sheer strength. Palu is the only one that offers this, although does go up and down in form a lot at times. Vaea is a player I'm looking forward to seeing more of though.

It is also a balance thing for the wallabies as well though. Elsom often plays a looser role, so we require a tighter 8. If Elsom could play tighter, then the likes of McCalman or Mowen would be options at 8.

 

[Gagger]

I think Mowen's been playing a tighter game this year with his extra bulk - not quite there in attack but has been a great hitter behind the gain line in defence. Is an exceptional line out option

 

[Slim 293]

The problem is that when Elsom plays a tighter game he seems to get criticised for not 'playing like he did in Ireland'.

 

[cyclopath]

The problem is that when Elsom plays a tighter game he seems to get criticised for not 'playing like he did in Ireland'.

Not by me, he wouldn't. In Ireland he probably had a couple of dour munters to do the graft so he could show-pony with his loose crazy-mutha running style which is when he looks his best. Here, his brief needs to be getting shit done in close more often - we have more than enough seagulls as it is.

 

[Slim 293]

He copped a lot of shit last year for supposedly being 'shit' at the Brumbies, but really he just played a much tighter game and the stats showed he put in a lot of work...

I'm not suggesting he was at his best but he certainly didn't deserve all the criticism he got from some Aussie supporters...

 

[cyclopath]

He copped a lot of shit last year for supposedly being 'shit' at the Brumbies, but really he just played a much tighter game and the stats showed he put in a lot of work...

I'm not suggesting he was at his best but he certainly didn't deserve all the criticism he got from some Aussie supporters...

I agree, Slim. Towards the latter parts of the EOYT he was showing some very good form, I thought. I think his defensive work, in particular, is pretty good.

 

[Gagger]

Always a good work rate. Good 6's often go unnoticed.

 

[Slim 293]

I agree, Slim. Towards the latter parts of the EOYT he was showing some very good form, I thought. I think his defensive work, in particular, is pretty good.

What I liked about him during the EOYT was he was starting to balance out his game a bit more...

Elsom is good with ball in hand so you do want him to make some runs as well..

 

[TheTruth]

IMO the revelation at 8 this year has been Leroy Houston. Has gone from an imopact player off the bench due to, i reckon, fitness to an 80 minute player. has dropped a heap of kgs, is fit and generally always gets over the advantage line. Sure there are players ahead of him but he may be a "smokie" if he continues his form (and the Reds do as well)

 

[waratahjesus]

I think palu is the same as elsom when it comes to being unnoticed. The main criticism I hear of him is he goes missing or doesn't have the Same impact against the all blacks or southern Africans. Problem is our scrum usually doesn't achieve parity against them and pall is forever taking ball from behind it and trying to set a platform from well behind the advantage line while getting smashed. The difference was gaping with brown there as pall stands his ground and brown went backwards or sent risky passes

It's not pretty work butunfotunately someone has to do it and pall is the best we have.

Also, I've said it before but kepu for all his impact when you watch old classic matches spends a lot of time hanging out the back of play with his hands on his head. He was great at interjecting himself but I actuallythink his impact would have been less against today's defensive lines.