Rebels 2013
- Thread starter James Buchanan
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Dumbledore
Dick Tooth (41)
Great news for the big boy. Pyle's time will come. Deans seems to be looking for a raw, physical lock who can throw his weight around.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
Sharpe and Neville are much more of a like for like switch than Sharpe and Pyle, despite them both being "loosehead" locks.
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
Good Article in the Australian today about Kurtley at 10
Kurtley Beale on way to being perfect 10
IF there was one bright spot in an otherwise dismal display by the Wallabies in Pretoria, it was the impressive performance of born-again five-eighth Kurtley Beale.
With a short haircut, a trimmer physique and a different number on the back of his gold jersey, Beale looked like a new man.
He was certainly a far cry from the out-of-sorts man who bumbled his way through the Wallabies' loss to the All Blacks in the opening round of the Rugby Championship in Sydney.
In the absence of the injured and disenchanted Quade Cooper, Beale assumed the chief playmaking role for the first time in his 30 Tests. There was never any doubt about Beale possessing the skills to play the position - he was a schoolboy superstar at five-eighth and has played about half of his Super Rugby games for the Waratahs and Rebels at No 10. It was more about whether he was mentally ready for the responsibility of directing the team.
Well, he was ready for that and more. While so much of Australia's game was falling apart around him, Beale maintained his composure.
Cooper had criticised Wallabies coach Robbie Deans for selecting an attacking five-eighth like himself and asking him to direct a defensive game plan.
There were no such shackles on Beale. If anything, he was guilty of trying to do too much attacking, possibly because his opportunities were few and far between.
He demonstrated his attacking intent by standing very flat.
Unfortunately, the Wallabies forwards were beaten at the breakdown and failed to provide him with a platform.
Still, Beale never stopped trying to make something happen.
It was Beale who made the try-assist for the only five-pointer to replacement back Mike Harris.
Receiving a pass from Anthony Fainga'a in the midfield, Beale used his footwork to get around winger Francois Hougaard before flicking the ball on to Harris. The combination between Beale and the Wallabies will get better the more he plays in the playmaker role.
Early in the second half, Beale made a break down the right side of the field, but lacked support.
He also executed a beautifully weighted cross-kick, but winger Digby Ioane hesitated for a fraction of a second and missed it.
On another occasion, Beale threatened the defence when he touched the ball a second time in a movement, but it broke down when the ball went to ground.
This is something Beale has to do more of. As they used to say about Mark Ella, if Beale touches the ball once, something is likely to happen. If he touches it twice, the team will make a break. If he touches it three times, they will score.
To be sure, Beale's effort was not flawless. It was his long, floating pass into touch that allowed Springbok winger Bryan Habana to take a quick throw and end up scoring his second try.
There was also an errant chip-kick that saw Springboks captain and inside centre Jean de Villiers launch a counter-attack.
But Deans is a coach who is tolerant of positive mistakes and the only errors Beale made were from good intent.
He has shown that the Wallabies do not need Cooper, who is at loggerheads with the ARU over his contract renegotiation.
When James O'Connor returns from injury, Deans will have two playmaker/strike players with the ability to interchange seamlessly from five-eighth to fullback.
In the meantime, Beale is re-establishing himself in the role that he first established himself. And he looks comfortable.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...being-perfect-10/story-e6frg6n6-1226486167097
Kurtley Beale on way to being perfect 10
IF there was one bright spot in an otherwise dismal display by the Wallabies in Pretoria, it was the impressive performance of born-again five-eighth Kurtley Beale.
With a short haircut, a trimmer physique and a different number on the back of his gold jersey, Beale looked like a new man.
He was certainly a far cry from the out-of-sorts man who bumbled his way through the Wallabies' loss to the All Blacks in the opening round of the Rugby Championship in Sydney.
In the absence of the injured and disenchanted Quade Cooper, Beale assumed the chief playmaking role for the first time in his 30 Tests. There was never any doubt about Beale possessing the skills to play the position - he was a schoolboy superstar at five-eighth and has played about half of his Super Rugby games for the Waratahs and Rebels at No 10. It was more about whether he was mentally ready for the responsibility of directing the team.
Well, he was ready for that and more. While so much of Australia's game was falling apart around him, Beale maintained his composure.
Cooper had criticised Wallabies coach Robbie Deans for selecting an attacking five-eighth like himself and asking him to direct a defensive game plan.
There were no such shackles on Beale. If anything, he was guilty of trying to do too much attacking, possibly because his opportunities were few and far between.
He demonstrated his attacking intent by standing very flat.
Unfortunately, the Wallabies forwards were beaten at the breakdown and failed to provide him with a platform.
Still, Beale never stopped trying to make something happen.
It was Beale who made the try-assist for the only five-pointer to replacement back Mike Harris.
Receiving a pass from Anthony Fainga'a in the midfield, Beale used his footwork to get around winger Francois Hougaard before flicking the ball on to Harris. The combination between Beale and the Wallabies will get better the more he plays in the playmaker role.
Early in the second half, Beale made a break down the right side of the field, but lacked support.
He also executed a beautifully weighted cross-kick, but winger Digby Ioane hesitated for a fraction of a second and missed it.
On another occasion, Beale threatened the defence when he touched the ball a second time in a movement, but it broke down when the ball went to ground.
This is something Beale has to do more of. As they used to say about Mark Ella, if Beale touches the ball once, something is likely to happen. If he touches it twice, the team will make a break. If he touches it three times, they will score.
To be sure, Beale's effort was not flawless. It was his long, floating pass into touch that allowed Springbok winger Bryan Habana to take a quick throw and end up scoring his second try.
There was also an errant chip-kick that saw Springboks captain and inside centre Jean de Villiers launch a counter-attack.
But Deans is a coach who is tolerant of positive mistakes and the only errors Beale made were from good intent.
He has shown that the Wallabies do not need Cooper, who is at loggerheads with the ARU over his contract renegotiation.
When James O'Connor returns from injury, Deans will have two playmaker/strike players with the ability to interchange seamlessly from five-eighth to fullback.
In the meantime, Beale is re-establishing himself in the role that he first established himself. And he looks comfortable.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...being-perfect-10/story-e6frg6n6-1226486167097
kronic
John Solomon (38)
Squad is out on Monday at 1pm, live chat with Hill.
From what we know (minus EPS):
Props
1. Paul Alo-Emile
2. Nic Henderson
3. Eddie Aholelei
4. Laurie Weeks
Hookers
5. Ged Robinson
6. Ryan Tyrrell
Locks
7. Hugh Pyle
8. James King
9. Cadeyrn Neville
10. Chris Thomson
Flankers/8s
11. Tim Davidson
12. Luke Jones
13. Gareth Delve
14. Jarrod Saffy
15. Scott Higginbotham
16. Scott Fuglistaller
Half-backs
17. Nick Phipps
18. Richard Kingi
19. Nic Stirzaker
Fly-halfs
20. Kurtley Beale
Inside Backs
21. Mitch Inman
22. Lachlan Mitchell
23. James O'Connor
24. Rory Sidey
Outside Backs
25. Cooper Vuna
26. Jason Woodward
27. Kimami Sitauti
28. Angus Roberts
29. Alex Rokobaro
30. ???
EPS
1. Pat Leafa, Hooker from Tuggeranong
2. Trent Dyer, Flanker from Sydney Uni
3. Jordy Reid, Flanker from Manly
4. Bryce Hegarty, Fly-half from Brisbane Broncos 20s
5. Tom English, Centre from Sydney Uni
From what we know (minus EPS):
Props
1. Paul Alo-Emile
2. Nic Henderson
3. Eddie Aholelei
4. Laurie Weeks
Hookers
5. Ged Robinson
6. Ryan Tyrrell
Locks
7. Hugh Pyle
8. James King
9. Cadeyrn Neville
10. Chris Thomson
Flankers/8s
11. Tim Davidson
12. Luke Jones
13. Gareth Delve
14. Jarrod Saffy
15. Scott Higginbotham
16. Scott Fuglistaller
Half-backs
17. Nick Phipps
18. Richard Kingi
19. Nic Stirzaker
Fly-halfs
20. Kurtley Beale
Inside Backs
21. Mitch Inman
22. Lachlan Mitchell
23. James O'Connor
24. Rory Sidey
Outside Backs
25. Cooper Vuna
26. Jason Woodward
27. Kimami Sitauti
28. Angus Roberts
29. Alex Rokobaro
30. ???
EPS
1. Pat Leafa, Hooker from Tuggeranong
2. Trent Dyer, Flanker from Sydney Uni
3. Jordy Reid, Flanker from Manly
4. Bryce Hegarty, Fly-half from Brisbane Broncos 20s
5. Tom English, Centre from Sydney Uni
tigerland12
John Thornett (49)
1- Nic Henderson
2- Ged Robinson
3- Laurie Weeks
4- Caydern Neville
5- Hugh Pyle
6- Scott Higginbotham
7- Jarrod Saffy
8- Gareth Delve
9- Nick Phipps
10- Kurtley Beale
11- Cooper Vuna
12- James O'Connor
13- Mitch Inman
14- Lachlan Mitchell
15- Richard Kingi/ Jason Woodward
Not bad, looking a bit thin in the outside backs though.
2- Ged Robinson
3- Laurie Weeks
4- Caydern Neville
5- Hugh Pyle
6- Scott Higginbotham
7- Jarrod Saffy
8- Gareth Delve
9- Nick Phipps
10- Kurtley Beale
11- Cooper Vuna
12- James O'Connor
13- Mitch Inman
14- Lachlan Mitchell
15- Richard Kingi/ Jason Woodward
Not bad, looking a bit thin in the outside backs though.
kronic
John Solomon (38)
Thanks for reminding me. Updated.
Dumbledore
Dick Tooth (41)
Who's third string flyhalf? Kingi?
kronic
John Solomon (38)
2 spots still free.
blues recovery
Billy Sheehan (19)
Add Rory Sidey and you have it right. One main squad spot left and it will be another prop.
Angus Roberts is definitely main squad.
Can confirm EPS as
Leafa ( hooker )
Reid ( flanker )
Dyer (flanker )
Hegarty ( 5/8 )
English ( centre )
Also hearing Adam Freier has been appointed Media and Communications manager . Nice to seeing ex players staying involved with the club. Sam Cordingley also runs player recruitment.
blues recovery
Billy Sheehan (19)
If you think looks thin inoutside backs you obviously havent seen Woodward play.
James Buchanan
Trevor Allan (34)
I would suspect Angus Roberts.
kronic
John Solomon (38)
Mentioned a few pages back, couldn't prove his fitness.
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