Pick Rocky at 8

[Cutter]

They could all catch, pass and tackle. Dallaglio and Brooke both provided a hit on the scrum engage, bound the locks and could control the ball at the back of the scrum, they both ran good defensive lines as a no. 8 and both supported their back three as a no.8 (although Brooke was more prominent at this).

Even at club level, someone who cant do these things will be replaced by someone who can (or who does them better). Its like being a prop who is good around the field but cant scrummage or a halfback who has a great kick and snipe but cant pass.

 

[RugbyReg]

Yeah sorry Disco. I am done with the DVd. Thanks for that. Do you want me to send it straight to Biffo? Biffo PM me your details.

 

[Scarfman]

They could all catch, pass and tackle. Dallaglio and Brooke both provided a hit on the scrum engage, bound the locks and could control the ball at the back of the scrum, they both ran good defensive lines as a no. 8 and both supported their back three as a no.8 (although Brooke was more prominent at this).

Even at club level, someone who cant do these things will be replaced by someone who can (or who does them better). Its like being a prop who is good around the field but cant scrummage or a halfback who has a great kick and snipe but cant pass.

Are you telling me that Rocky can't catch, pass and tackle? Provide a hit on the scrum engage, bound the locks and control the ball at the back of the scrum? Run good defensive lines, support their back three?

C'mon! It's about balance. Plenty of times we've been beaten in the ruck contest by sides who have no specialist no. 7. Rodny So'O would be one of the best 7s in the world because he is just so damn good. Give him a job to do and he'll do it.

In short, the idea that Rocky couldn't play 8 is crazy.

[Let the minutes show that at this point Mr Scarf left the meeting of the Australian Rationalists' Society looking tense but dignified]

 

[Lindommer]

Let the minutes show that at this point Mr Scarf left the meeting of the Australian Rationalists' Society looking tense but dignified.

Do they go by the acronym "ARS"? Scarfie, spotted leaving a meeting of the ARS "looking tense but dignified". There's nothing like having tense members at an ARS meeting! :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

 

[disco]

Yeah sorry Disco. I am done with the DVd. Thanks for that. Do you want me to send it straight to Biffo? Biffo PM me your details.

Noddy,
Yeah just ship it straight to Biffo.

Biffo,
Your DVD player has to be able to play the europe region to watch it.

 

[Cutter]

Let the minutes show that at this point Mr Scarf left the meeting of the Australian Rationalists' Society looking tense but dignified.

Do they go by the acronym "ARS"? Scarfie, spotted leaving a meeting of the ARS "looking tense but dignified". There's nothing like having tense members at an ARS meeting! :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

I like what you've done there Lindo.

Scarfie we will have to wait and see how Elsom goes this weekend at 8, whether Deans considers him at 8 (or the Brumbies for that matter), watch Kaino at 8 for the ABs and see monitor other players shifting to 8.

The running lines and support play of a traditional 8 are much different to a 6. Controlling the back of the scrum, making the calls at the back of the scrum and delivering good ball are all harder than they might seem.

 

[Gagger]

Let the minutes show that at this point Mr Scarf left the meeting of the Australian Rationalists' Society looking tense but dignified.

Do they go by the acronym "ARS"? Scarfie, spotted leaving a meeting of the ARS "looking tense but dignified". There's nothing like having tense members at an ARS meeting! :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

Has Scarfie been speaking out of his ARS again?

 

[Spook]

Let the minutes show that at this point Mr Scarf left the meeting of the Australian Rationalists' Society looking tense but dignified.

Do they go by the acronym "ARS"? Scarfie, spotted leaving a meeting of the ARS "looking tense but dignified". There's nothing like having tense members at an ARS meeting! :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

I like what you've done there Lindo.

Scarfie we will have to wait and see how Elsom goes this weekend at 8, whether Deans considers him at 8 (or the Brumbies for that matter), watch Kaino at 8 for the ABs and see monitor other players shifting to 8.

The running lines and support play of a traditional 8 are much different to a 6. Controlling the back of the scrum, making the calls at the back of the scrum and delivering good ball are all harder than they might seem.

We have the mighty Captain Holies at 8 :-\

 

[fatprop]

Let the minutes show that at this point Mr Scarf left the meeting of the Australian Rationalists' Society looking tense but dignified.

Do they go by the acronym "ARS"? Scarfie, spotted leaving a meeting of the ARS "looking tense but dignified". There's nothing like having tense members at an ARS meeting! :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

I like what you've done there Lindo.

Scarfie we will have to wait and see how Elsom goes this weekend at 8, whether Deans considers him at 8 (or the Brumbies for that matter), watch Kaino at 8 for the ABs and see monitor other players shifting to 8.

The running lines and support play of a traditional 8 are much different to a 6. Controlling the back of the scrum, making the calls at the back of the scrum and delivering good ball are all harder than they might seem.

We have the mighty Captain Holies at 8 :-\

Hoiles plays 12 1/2

 

[Cutter]

After Smith being picked at 8 and me saying that was ok but that Rocky wouldnt handle 8, I have tried to articulate my reasoning (which, on the face of it, is slightly inconsistent). Anyway, see below what I posted on TSF where they are having a related discussion.

When you play rugby, moving up a level can often seem easier because everyone in the higher team knows their job and knows where they should be. That means a player can focus on doing their job and not have to worry about what others arent doing. At S14 level, good players (and lets face it, all these guys are good players) can probably make a fair fist of playing out of position. At test level, if you dont instinctively know where to be positionally, you can miss the play. For example, a no. 6 playing no. 8 might drop back at the wrong time or to the wrong place to cover a kick or run the wrong line in cover defence. It might not seem much, but in test rugby that means you are out of the game. If you know where you should be, you wont be out of the game. Some players, but not that many, instinctively know where to be regardless of the number on their back while others learn their position so they will be in the right place.

The other obvious things specific to no. 8 are scrummaging, controlling the ball at the back, linking with the half etc. Its the positional subtleties which I think mean that, for example, Kaino disappeared during tests last year at no.8 but was better at no. 6.

Whaddya reckon?

 

[Scarfman]

The part that I don't agree with is the idea of a "6" playing "8". These roles are flexible - within reason. Not every 8 plays the same way - plays the same lines, has the same job given to them. Plenty of 8s are jumpers, Palu is not. Leeroy Houston is a natural 8 it would seem, and yet he also seems totally disinterested in scrummaging, and has tits for hands.

I think Smith would be a world-class 8-man on day one, but it still doesn't mean it's a good idea, since he is the world's best 7 right now.

The backrow is all about balance.

 

[Ash]

I think it's also in a player's head. Look at Kaino at 8 for the All Blacks - then he moves to 6 and improves. Some players play differently with a different number on their back. Psychological?

 

[formeropenside]

The part that I don't agree with is the idea of a "6" playing "8". These roles are flexible - within reason. Not every 8 plays the same way - plays the same lines, has the same job given to them. Plenty of 8s are jumpers, Palu is not. Leeroy Houston is a natural 8 it would seem, and yet he also seems totally disinterested in scrummaging, and has tits for hands.

I think Smith would be a world-class 8-man on day one, but it still doesn't mean it's a good idea, since he is the world's best 7 right now.

The backrow is all about balance.

I think Leeroy is a natural LHP myself.

 

[Moses]

Has Scarfie been speaking out of his ARS again?

Thought we canned the Australian Rugby Shield?

 

[JimL]

I think Elsom at 8, then Waugh and Smith as Flankers. I reckon Mumm is best at Lock..