Rebels 2013

[KevinO]

His been quite impressive and at the moment looking at the team on paper their is one spot up for grabs depending in how Hill selects.

 

[Scooter]

I did watch the Wellington game yesterday and Woodward was very good. He played wing for the first 65 minutes and then moved to fullback. He made a number of incisive runs including one with a good offload that one pass later resulted in Fuglistaller scoring his try. Woodward also showed his pace giving a Taranaki player a head start to chase down a kick for one of his tries. He also showed some calmness under pressure when he received a poor pass from a scrum inside his defensive 22 which he lost behind him he was able to coolly regather the ball and kicked the ball into touch on the half way line.

One of the commentators said at one stage about Woodward: "He is very good. Can we (ie NZ) avoid to lose such a good young player. He is only going to get better over the next two years and the Rebels will reap the benefit of that."

Fuglistaller was also quite good. He started at 7. He was quite involved at the breakdown and backed up well for his try.

I think that Woodward may get the 15 jersey. IMO, the starting backline could be 9. Phipps, 10. Beale, 11. Vuna, 12. O'Connor, 13. Inman, 14. Mitchell, 15. Woodward. The other backline players we have in the main squad are Kingi, Roberts, Rokobaro, Sidey, Sitauti and Stirzaker. I can't see Kingi or Sidey getting a game ahead of Woodward. Sitauti may get a gig on the wing which would mean Mitchell would drop to the bench. Stirzaker is purely a half. I haven't seen Roberts or Rokobaro play, may be one of them may get picked ahead of Woodward.

 

[swingpass]

i agree this is the most likely starting backline. even though he has been probably the most consistent performer in the opening 2 seasons, mitchell may start on the bench because of his versatility. rokobaro would be the other winger in that case, with stirzaker and ?5 forwards on the bench. i suppose it depends on the game plan and the opposition of the day. i think kingi is going to struggle to make the 22 on a regular basis if everyone stays fit

 

[Dumbledore]

i agree this is the most likely starting backline. even though he has been probably the most consistent performer in the opening 2 seasons, mitchell may start on the bench because of his versatility.

He might be consistent, but he's also been consistently average. His defence was really, really bad in his first season. Better last year, but his positioning is still suspect. He gets the utmost out of his talent, which is admirable on many levels (and something a fair few Wallabies could learn from) but he's only an okay player - nothing more than that. If it came down to a choice between him and Kingi, I'd rather have Kingi.

 

[jermano]

Kimami Sitauti and Patrick Leafa both made an appearance Box Hill RC for the Fiji 7's tournament on Saturday. Digby Ioane was also on hand.
Good to see the young fellas getting out and getting a profile.
OH and the rugby was not to bad either.

 

[Lee Grant]

I'm just advocating more foreigners for the non-traditional states(ie Force and Rebels).. 8 foreigners in both teams could significantly increase the competitiveness of these teams whilst still ensuring 54 positions available to Australians.

Good idea, but I would give it a wrinkle.

Ignoring the dispensation that the Rebels have with foreigners, for the moment, I would give the foreigner quotas of the 3 other teams to the Force and the Rebels for a period of 5 years and see how that works; then renew it if appropriate

Thus the Brumbies, Reds and Tahs would not have foreigners and the Rebels and Force would have 5 marquee and 5 foreign developing players between them.

Keen eyed readers will notice that that doesn't divide by two; so make it 6 and 6, or 3 and 3 for each team.

I wouldn't wait until the Rebels foreigner dispensation expires: I would allow the Force to get favourable treatment starting in 2014 - 3 foreigner marquee players plus 3 developing players.

The normal constraints would apply: the ARU would have veto rights if too many individual positions in Oz were given to foreign players. Also, they could have a constraint like: you can have a marquee 9 but not a 10 - or not too many foreigner backs, or forwards.

There would be transition problems but 10 minutes of planning should resolve them.
.

 

[swingpass]

dumbledore, mitchell may be consistently average but IMO kingi is more extreme and erractic, with some great touches but a lot of poor decision making. i think more a liability than an asset. last season it may have been a reflection of his lost confidence and confusion as to what position he wants to play half, wing, fullback ?
so if and when he gets his chances next year i hope he is more consistent and "average good"

 

[Dumbledore]

dumbledore, mitchell may be consistently average but IMO kingi is more extreme and erractic, with some great touches but a lot of poor decision making. i think more a liability than an asset. last season it may have been a reflection of his lost confidence and confusion as to what position he wants to play half, wing, fullback ?
so if and when he gets his chances next year i hope he is more consistent and "average good"

Yeah I know where you're coming from. I guess I'd rather having a bench player being someone who's going to win you a match, someone with X Factor etc. etc. I don't have anything against Mitchell in particular, it's more that I can't see what he does to deserve the praise he gets on here.

 

[James Buchanan]

I don't have anything against Mitchell in particular, it's more that I can't see what he does to deserve the praise he gets on here.

He works bloody hard and tends to do the non-flashy stuff well.

 

[Dumbledore]

He works bloody hard and tends to do the non-flashy stuff well.

He's our Tom Carter?

 

[KevinO]

He's our Tom Carter?

He is not as annoying as Tom Carter, he is a Work Horse and that's why he is the most capped Rebel.

Before last season I thought he would be struggling to get a game and he proved everybody wrong, was one of the most consistant players in 2012 and if he keeps improving the way he has he will be a vital part of the backline. Doing the important things right is more important than being flashy at times, we have Beale for the Flashy stuff and if Mitchell continues to be in the right spot for the off loads Beale creates that's enough. Solid defender and can take a hit.

 

[stoff]

Keen eyed readers will notice that that doesn't divide by two; so make it 6 and 6, or 3 and 3 for each team.

I wouldn't wait until the Rebels foreigner dispensation expires: I would allow the Force to get favourable treatment starting in 2014 - 3 foreigner marquee players plus 3 developing players.

The normal constraints would apply: the ARU would have veto rights if too many individual positions in Oz were given to foreign players. Also, they could have a constraint like: you can have a marquee 9 but not a 10 - or not too many foreigner backs, or forwards.

There would be transition problems but 10 minutes of planning should resolve them.
.

I have a feeling that over time, the teams based in the big cities on the eastern seaboard will be best placed to attract the top local talent. In Sydney and Brisbane the players are in the spotlight. Melbourne can offer an experience similar to that enjoyed by the Storm, where the current Kangaroos captain, current Churchill medallist and whatever Billy Slater currently is, can go anywhere and most likely not be recognised unless they are wearing their club gear. Perth can also offer this, but it is significantly geographically disadvantaged in attracting players from the east coast. Without trying to be disparaging to Canberra, I don't believe that it would be a home of choice for most young men from the larger cities. Of course the above assumes all things being equal with the respective rugby programs. I agree that the Force should be given a higher foreign player allowance now, but in the long term the Brumbies may need it more than the Rebels if there is still a lack of depth in the Super Rugby ranks.

Next year should be an interesting year for player movement. I would think that any player with RWC15 ambitions would prefer minimum two seasons at their province to maximise their chances. Given the Rebels also come back to pack in terms of foreign player allowances for 2015, I think they will be in everything in terms of recruiting quality uncontracted local talent.

 

[kronic]

Add in the equation a new CEO and what ever ambitions there are for a 3rd tier.

 

[Slim 293]

Without trying to be disparaging to Canberra, I don't believe that it would be a home of choice for most young men from the larger cities.

But unless there's a grotesque amount of money involved, Canberra will continue to be a more attractive option for rugby players than Perth or Melbourne due to its rugby program.

 

[en_force_er]

But unless there's a grotesque amount of money involved, Canberra will continue to be a more attractive option for rugby players than Perth or Melbourne due to its rugby program.

Don't be 'that' guy Slim!

I think that's pretty incorrect, Melbourne's rugby program is obviously still developing but pre-Jake White the Brumbies weren't offering more than the current Rebels. Obviously now they have their strengths (Jake + check-ins of legendary players like Gregan/Finegan and fulltimer Larkham) but everything goes in cycles.

Also, the Force have some great coaches too.

 

[Slim 293]

But pre-Jake the Brumbies were still pulling some big signatures despite their lack of on-field success.

Anyways, not trying to be 'that' guy, ignoring what the other cities have to offer I just have to disagree with stoff's point that Canberra will struggle to get players due to the "attractiveness" of the city.

Plenty of other factors involved.

 

[en_force_er]

But pre-Jake the Brumbies were still pulling some big signatures despite their lack of on-field success.

Anyways, not trying to be 'that' guy, ignoring what the other cities have to offer I just have to disagree with stoff's point that Canberra will struggle to get players due to the "attractiveness" of the city.

Plenty of other factors involved.

That we can agree on, different opportunities to be pitched.

For example, many of the young islander men live quite a humble existence despite being professional athletes. They wouldn't be as attracted by Melbourne bar culture when they don't go to bars.

Obviously I'd be ridiculous to presume all Islanders live this way but it's certain that many do, Izzy Folua is not a rugby player but he is a good example.

 

[Gagger]

But pre-Jake the Brumbies were still pulling some big signatures despite their lack of on-field success.

Marquee players had a lot to do with it, no?

 

[Slim 293]

Marquee players had a lot to do with it, no?

I don't think so. Particularly in the post-Gregan/Larkham years.

 

[Gagger]

I do - Elsom, Giteau, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Benny A, George Smith, Mortlock - the list goes on

It officially fell to shit when these guys cleared out, until Jake turned up