Rebels 2014

[USARugger]

Because he's a coach who can work out great tactics to play with, just not an excellent skills coach.

So why not hire a specialist skills coach? At this level I son really think the head coach joule be spending time worrying about/developing basic skills. I really feel like any professional organization without a dedicated skills/attack coach is hamstringing themselves in a way.

 

[Dumbledore]

Sorry but Taps isn't going anywhere. When he's on form he is a better 12 than JOC (James O'Connor). Honestly JOC (James O'Connor) has never really strung together successively impressive games at 12.

Except for when he worked his way into for the Wallabies as the second youngest debutant in Australian rugby history. JOC (James O'Connor) is potentially a much better 12 than Taps, however he's a monumental dickhead and I'd be surprised if the Reds want him, let alone want him to the point where they would let Taps go.

The rumours building around McGahan are starting to worry me. I'd be much, much, more comfortable with Deans or McKenzie. I'd almost prefer McKenzie just so we don't have to deal with more years of hand-wringing about Deans. Lindommer because we really haven't progressed all that much. Basic skills are completely lacking. We're no good at the breakdown. There's no coherent and consistent gameplan. And we lose. A lot.

 

[Scooter]

Despite our effort v the Tahs if fit JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale are both in our starting XV and both Wallabies. So if they both left that would IMO leave a hole in our back line.

In any case if they both leave we are losing 4 backs along with Phipps and Kingi and currently have recruited two backs - Burgess and Kingston. So there is a hole in terms of our back line depth at the very least.

Interesting we have increased our efforts to re-sign Beale. I would have thought Beale was more trouble than JOC (James O'Connor).

Do you think the Rebels' new direction will include a Victorian in the EPS? If so who are the likely candidates?

 

[USARugger]

Except for when he worked his way into for the Wallabies as the second youngest debutant in Australian rugby history. JOC (James O'Connor) is potentially a much better 12 than Taps, however he's a monumental dickhead and I'd be surprised if the Reds want him, let alone want him to the point where they would let Taps go.

He played well at Super Rugby level but also made very poor mistakes at 12 at Super Rugby level as well. His test play at 12 has been far less convincing so far and his Super Rugby form at 12 was inconsistent overall. He's consistently excellent on the wing though at any level.

He had one good bench appearance against South Africa after 30 very quiet minutes (20 v. France, 10 v. NZ) off of the bench. Other than that he has had 7 minutes against Scotland and one very good game..against Italy, if we're talking about his tests at 12.

He's potentially a better 10 than QC (Quade Cooper) too. Potentially.

Taps is in a slump but will shake it as he has before. We're also getting rid of the last remnants of the entitlement culture it would seem so why invite it back?

 

[Dumbledore]

He had one good bench appearance against South Africa after 30 very quiet minutes (20 v. France, 10 v. NZ) off of the bench. Other than that he has had 7 minutes against Scotland and one very good game..against Italy, if we're talking about his tests at 12. He played his first three games at 15 also, so not sure what your point is.

He's potentially a better 10 than QC (Quade Cooper) too. Potentially.

Taps is in a slump but will shake it as he has before. We're also getting rid of the last remnants of the entitlement culture it would seem so why invite it back?

Well, the two seasons he played at 12 for the Force when he was a better player than Taps is now. I don't think he's potentially a better 10 than Cooper, I never have. A safer one maybe, but certainly not better.

I'm agreeing you wouldn't want JOC (James O'Connor). There's a reason why everyone is dusting their hands of him. All I'm saying is that your suggestion that an in-form Taps is a better 12 than JOC (James O'Connor) is, in my opinion, wrong. Regardless, the Reds would never make that trade and I don't blame them.

 

[USARugger]

My point was unless Taps is in a slump there isn't a large enough gap between his play and JOC (James O'Connor)'s to warrant the baggage of picking up Brand O'Connor.

 

[Ash]

It says something the Rebels prefer to try to keep Beale (maybe against the odds) than JOC (James O'Connor) who is not wanted elsewhere. Could be a few reasons - for example, maybe behind the scenes JOC (James O'Connor) is actually more trouble for team culture than Beale, or that the Rebels can only keep one, they need a 10 more than a 12 or wing or fullback, and Beale is seen as having the best potential at 10.

Would love to hear some inside information from the Rebels.

The shame for me is that the Rebels missed out on Foley at 10 thanks to ARU intervention. Gaining Foley would have meant that the loss of both Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) would not have left a massive hole at 10.

Mark me as another who would prefer not to have JOC (James O'Connor) at the Reds, I prefer Taps, even A. Finger currently (both are probably better foils to Cooper anyway). I'll miss Digby, but really with how much it emerged that he's a huge problem behind closed doors, I'm not that sad to see him go. Think it is a similar thing with JOC (James O'Connor) and the Rebels.

 

[Braveheart81]

If JOC (James O'Connor) decides he's willing to take enough of a paycut on his Super Rugby contract he'll be picked up by one of the franchises.

I expect that is what will happen rather than him going overseas to continue earning the big bucks.

He'll still have an ARU top up for next year so he could take a low value Super Rugby contract and still earn a lot.

 

[daz]

If JOC (James O'Connor) decides he's willing to take enough of a paycut on his Super Rugby contract he'll be picked up by one of the franchises.

I expect that is what will happen rather than him going overseas to continue earning the big bucks.

He'll still have an ARU top up for next year so he could take a low value Super Rugby contract and still earn a lot.

Yeah, but the thing is, I suspect JOC (James O'Connor) likes being the poster boy.

He was at the Force, and he was at the Rebels. For the last few years, he has also been that at the Wallabies.

My gut feeling is he prefers that individual accolade to being a member of a "team", even if that team is successful.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yeah, but the thing is, I suspect JOC (James O'Connor) likes being the poster boy.

He was at the Force, and he was at the Rebels. For the last few years, he has also been that at the Wallabies.

My gut feeling is he prefers that individual accolade to being a member of a "team", even if that team is successful.

If that isn't forthcoming though, is he going to turn his back on Australian rugby to chase money rather than swallowing his pride and staying put in Australia with a reduced pay cheque and profile?

Everything I hear about JOC (James O'Connor) is that he trains incredibly hard and is very driven. My guess is that he will decide he wants to be playing rugby in Australia and keep playing for the Wallabies and make it happen for that reason.

The reality check that this whole process will bring could be the best thing for him.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Damien Hill's out the door too.

New coach expected to be announced this arvo.

 

[daz]

Damien Hill's out the door too.

New coach expected to be announced this arvo.

Source?

 

[Slim 293]

Damien Hill's out the door too.

New coach expected to be announced this arvo.

Any hints?

 

[daz]

If that isn't forthcoming though, is he going to turn his back on Australian rugby to chase money rather than swallowing his pride and staying put in Australia with a reduced pay cheque and profile?

Everything I hear about JOC (James O'Connor) is that he trains incredibly hard and is very driven. My guess is that he will decide he wants to be playing rugby in Australia and keep playing for the Wallabies and make it happen for that reason.

The reality check that this whole process will bring could be the best thing for him.

I agree with your last statement, but does JOC (James O'Connor)?

Yes, he trains hard. Yes, he is driven. No-one questions his talent.

But his behaviour is that of an individual boy who escapes sanction so regularly that he nows feels bulletproof. Will he take his bat and ball and sulk off to Japan/France?

I would love to see him at the Tahs for a dose of Cheika.

He is at a crossroads. No question of that. The question is - Will he go on to become one of our greatest Wallabies? Or will he follow the Cipriani path to rugby oblivion?

Stay tuned.

 

[Brumby Jack]

And confirmed it's TONY McGAHAN.

http://www.melbournerebels.com.au/News/ArticleDetails/tabid/270/ArticleID/9762/Default.aspx

 

[Braveheart81]

I agree with your last statement, but does JOC (James O'Connor)?

Yes, he trains hard. Yes, he is driven. No-one questions his talent.

But his behaviour is that of an individual boy who escapes sanction so regularly that he nows feels bulletproof. Will he take his bat and ball and sulk off to Japan/France?

I would love to see him at the Tahs for a dose of Cheika.

He is at a crossroads. No question of that. The question is - Will he go on to become one of our greatest Wallabies? Or will he follow the Cipriani path to rugby oblivion?

Stay tuned.

My bet is that he will take his dose of medicine and take a gig at an Aussie franchise on terms that are very likely not to suit him on the basis that he will back himself to restore his brand to its former glory as one of the poster boys of Australian rugby.

I certainly hope that is the case.

 

[daz]

That tells me Link will be Wobs coach.

The Rebels would never have appointed Tony so soon unless Link had been ruled out.

I don't know what to think about Tony being appointed Rebels coach. I don't know much about him, except that for the last 2 years he has been buried in a back-room at St Leonards doing something called "Wallabies Coaching Co-Ordinator", whatever the fuck that is.

 

[Proud Pig]

I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to Japan. He would be the big fish in the samll pond and would be paid an absolute fortune over there. Huge money and constant massaging of his ego, sounds right up his alley.

 

[oztimmay]

That tells me Link will be Wobs coach.

The Rebels would never have appointed Tony so soon unless Link had been ruled out.

I don't know what to think about Tony being appointed Rebels coach. I don't know much about him, except that for the last 2 years he has been buried in a back-room at St Leonards doing something called "Wallabies Coaching Co-Ordinator", whatever the fuck that is.

+ 1 Daz, totally agree. Tell you what Rob Clarke doesn't mess about, seems a real action man with all h personnel movement over the last few days. At this current rate I suspect a KB (Kurtley Beale) announcement will be made tomorrow, followed on Wednesday by the renaming of AAMI park to the "Rebel Army Stockade".

 

[oztimmay]

Someone also raised a good point on the rebels FB feed - are we hiring Todd Louden as a assistant coach? Bruce Ross do you have any inside news here (you seem to know a lot about the man).