Rebels 2013

[Ado Tornado]

I'd very much like to see us play this team this week:

1. Henderson
2. Ged
3. Weekes
4. Jones
5. Pyle
6. Reid (because Delve is probably injured)
7. Fugistaller
8. Higgers

9. Phipps
10. O'Connor
11. Vuna
12. Sidey (I can see no clear separation between him and Mitchell form wise and since he played okay in a win he should stay)
13. Inman
14. Kingi
15. Woodward

Interesting selections bolded.

Thoughts?

Personally I would start PAE over Weeks everyday. PAE goes direct and makes good gains ball in hand. Weeks falls off every second tackle. They won't chuck Reid in at 7 because they reduce the number of genuine lineout jumpers. So I reckon they will keep the pack as is.

JOC (James O'Connor) must remain at 10. The experiment with Roberts failed dismally. I totally agree with Woodward at FB. Great talent and that's his natural spot. If Mitchell makes the bench this week, I wouldn't mind seeing Kingi back at half when Phipps takes a smoko. I still reckon he's the best half we have, but he hasn't been given a shot there this year. Aggressive and annoying - Most excellent qualities for this position. Also means you could dump Stirzaker and go with a 5 forward 2 backs bench.

 

[James Buchanan]

JOC (James O'Connor) must remain at 10. The experiment with Roberts failed dismally. I totally agree with Woodward at FB. Great talent and that's his natural spot.

There's no such thing as a 'natural positon' after under 15s. That's why rugby players train their positions to learn how to play them better.

JOC (James O'Connor) probably does have a great deal more of the composure required for a Super Rugby level 10 currently. But that's like getting a colts player into starting first grade for a couple of games and then dismissing him when he isn't a superstar immediately. The kid will invariably adapt to the level of intensity required for Super Rugby and will then learn to play at 10 at that level.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Reid can play 7 if fugilaster is off or on the bench.

1. Henderson
2. Ged
3. PAE
4. Jones
5. Pyle
6. Higgers
7. Reid
8. Delve
9. Phipps
10. O'Connor
11. Vuna
12. Sidey (I can see no clear separation between him and Mitchell form wise and since he played okay in a win he should stay)
13. Inman
14. Kingi
15. Woodward

Hotie
Weeks
Neville
Saffy
Fug
Zack
Mitchell

 

[Ado Tornado]

James

There's no such thing as a 'natural positon' after under 15s. That's why rugby players train their positions to learn how to play them better.

JOC (James O'Connor) probably does have a great deal more of the composure required for a Super Rugby level 10 currently. But that's like getting a colts player into starting first grade for a couple of games and then dismissing him when he isn't a superstar immediately. The kid will invariably adapt to the level of intensity required for Super Rugby and will then learn to play at 10 at that level.

James, Woodward plays Fullback, fly half and wing. He played fly half through school and ended up as an FB at Wellington. To say FB is his natural position is to say that is the one he excels at. Not sure what you mean by "players train their positions". I can only assume you mean they specialise in them. If this is what you mean, you I can give you buckets of examples of players who moved positions within the back line during their careers at elite level.

As for the kid, I am not saying he won't be something in the future. But why on earth experiment by chucking him in the deep end as the key playmaker on a South African tour against 2 gun sides? He is very, very green. There's a way to wean new players and bring them in to the game in the right position and at the right moment. Not the way he was thrust into it. Also he plays a totally different game to JOC (James O'Connor). He stands deeper & wider, isn't as direct and doesn't threaten the line with the ball in the same manner as JOC (James O'Connor). That makes a huge difference to how your entire attack functions. The results were pretty obvious.

And that is why the experiment failed.

 

[swingpass]

Reid can play 7 if fugilaster is off or on the bench.

1. Henderson
2. Ged
3. PAE Weekes (to start this time)
4. Jones Neville (again)
5. Pyle
6. Higgers Jones
7. Reid
8. Delve Higgenbotham (dont think Delve will be fit till after the bye)
9. Phipps
10. O'Connor
11. Vuna
12. Sidey (I can see no clear separation between him and Mitchell form wise and since he played okay in a win he should stay)
13. Inman
14. Kingi Woodward (dont think Kingi defends well enough on the wing better when he only has one choice as to who to tackle)
15. Woodward Kingi

Hotie
Weeks PAE
Neville
Saffy
Fug
Zack
Mitchell
Roberts

i think they will more or less stick to this lineup. reid v fuglistaller for the opening 7 . the could go 5/2 on the bench but i doubt it

 

[qwerty51]

I see the Rebels are considering doing a Jake White and forcing the non-Wallabies to play in the Melbourne club comp after Super rugby. I cannot see how this is a good thing, unlike the Canberra comp the Melbourne one isn't of a high quality that this wouldn't help the players or club comp develop in anyway.

 

[swingpass]

team for saturday pretty much as i thought, except for Weekes/PAE



i think playing the rebels in the local club competition is a good idea. one of the objectives is to raise the overall standard of the game in victoria.

 

[blues recovery]

The standard down here is far better at the first grade level than given credit for.I reckon best teams would be very close to best in ACT.
Rebels management have made it clear since they kicked off that they are committed to growing the game in Victoria as part of the plan to develop support for professional Rugby in the state. Sounds like a sensible, cohesive strategy to me.
Their responsibility is not to Sydney clubs.

 

[kronic]

Boland set to resign also.

 

[swingpass]

Boland set to resign also.

where does that come from

real or speculation ?

addenum: sorry just saw it on the age rugby website.

cameron schwab is looking for a new job

 

[qwerty51]

The standard down here is far better at the first grade level than given credit for.I reckon best teams would be very close to best in ACT.
Rebels management have made it clear since they kicked off that they are committed to growing the game in Victoria as part of the plan to develop support for professional Rugby in the state. Sounds like a sensible, cohesive strategy to me.
Their responsibility is not to Sydney clubs.

It's not good for their development as players to participate in such a weak competition they'll run rings around.

 

[blues recovery]

I've heard that too. Apparently scored a very big gig in the financial sector. Good luck to him,I bet managing the egos involved in professional Rugby gets pretty tiring

 

[Slim 293]

The standard down here is far better at the first grade level than given credit for.I reckon best teams would be very close to best in ACT.
Rebels management have made it clear since they kicked off that they are committed to growing the game in Victoria as part of the plan to develop support for professional Rugby in the state. Sounds like a sensible, cohesive strategy to me.
Their responsibility is not to Sydney clubs.

Nah..........

 

[TOCC]

What's with the arrogant replies?

 

[FiveStarStu]

I've heard that too. Apparently scored a very big gig in the financial sector. Good luck to him,I bet managing the egos involved in professional Rugby gets pretty tiring

Link?

Good on him if so. Met him quite a few times and, regardless of the reports in this thread, believe him to be a very capable bloke who cares about the club and the code.

If it's timed with the VRU takeover, it might help to get a nice, clean break going into the new era of the Rebels.

 

[p.Tah]

Nah....

We'll find out when the ARU brings the Vic and WA clubs into the National club comp. probably a while away but apparently on the cards.

 

[blues recovery]

And this also will significantly lift the standard

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

It's not good for their development as players to participate in such a weak competition they'll run rings around.

and the japanese league has been bad for George Smith's game....
it's a small part of the year until rebels pick up pre-season and on record their annual tour to the UK or elsewhere for games. reckon it would be max 8 weeks of play

 

[qwerty51]

WE are reliably informed that coach Damien Hill would have been asked to stand down if the Rebels had lost to the Force. His future is still dire because Melbourne are in advanced discussions with a well-known coach in Europe to take over next year.

Scott Johnson?

 

[kronic]

^ Link? I think he's gone regardless, just buying time.

Look at the big picture, the only team we've managed to beat away, is the Force. The only team we've managed to beat this season, are the Force. Looks bad from both our fan's perspective and a Force fan's.