Rebels 2014

[en_force_er]

For what it's worth.

Smith
Shota
Lahiff
Pyle
Neville
Jones
Fainga'a
Higgers
Burgess
Hegarty
Kingston
Ellison
Inman
English
Woodward

Weeks
PAE
Sexton
Timani
Fuglistaller
Zacker
Veainu/Mitchell/Rokobaro

You've named two starting LH props and two bench TH props.

Also, Lahiffs form in the ITM can be easily described with "Eh", quite similar to his form with the Not-nots. The blokes an okay signing as a bench LH, but he's no more.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

You've named two starting LH props and two bench TH props.

Perhaps but I'm pretty sure that both Lahiff and PAE can play either side of the scrum. I've thought Lahiff has looked pretty solid for Hawkes Bay, I wouldn't be suprised to see him start ahead of Weeks and have PAE cover loose head.

 

[swingpass]

Lahiff is a LH

starting will probably be
Smith
Horie
Weekes

Lahiff, Sexton/Leafa, PAE

i think PAE will alternate with Weeks as a starter. he played some good football in the ITM

 

[en_force_er]

Perhaps but I'm pretty sure that both Lahiff and PAE can play either side of the scrum. I've thought Lahiff has looked pretty solid for Hawkes Bay, I wouldn't be suprised to see him start ahead of Weeks and have PAE cover loose head.

I don't think I've seen PAE play LH as anything but a necessity (it's 10 to go and our LH is down). But he even played hooker once in that scenario, so I don't think that's saying much. Lahiff is okay. I've never seen him play TH.

The thing is 90% of props CAN play the other side of the scrum, they just won't do a good job. We extanded to 23 man squads for a reason, props specialise now.

Lahiff is a LH

starting will probably be
Smith
Horie
Weekes

Lahiff, Sexton/Leafa, PAE

i think PAE will alternate with Weeks as a starter. he played some good football in the ITM

I'd say this is bang on.

I could see the hooker jersey getting passed around though, with no standout. Really, we have 3 good quality Super Rugby bench hookers, but none of starting quality. Though if Tessman shows anything it's that front rowers can come of age randomly.

 

[Ruggo]

That is gonna be a bloody good back row in Higgers, Colby and Jones. You have got good seconds but just need to sort out that front row.

 

[swingpass]

was quite impressed by Lahiff last night. strong scrummager, carried the ball well, lots of work at the breakdown; he will be avery good back up to Toby Smith.
also very happy with the signing of Veainu, my first sighting of him yesterday. hard runner, good step and decent hands. with him, Kingston and English i think the rebels have three great finishers

 

[Dumbledore]

That is gonna be a bloody good back row in Higgers, Colby and Jones. You have got good seconds but just need to sort out that front row.

Smith is good. PAE and Weeks are both adequate, PAE has the potential to be very good though. Haven't seen a whole lot of Lahiff, haven't been super impressed by his scrummaging, but he's been decent around the park. I think what we're forgetting is just how bad Henderson was. Great bloke I'm sure, but he'd have been close to the worst player in Australia by the end of things. The step up from dreadful to good at loosehead is going to make an enormous difference. If we can get Timani Super Rugby. in as well, we might suddenly have quite a good scrum.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Smith is good. PAE and Weeks are both adequate, PAE has the potential to be very good though. Haven't seen a whole lot of Lahiff, haven't been super impressed by his scrummaging, but he's been decent around the park. I think what we're forgetting is just how bad Henderson was. Great bloke I'm sure, but he'd have been close to the worst player in Australia by the end of things. The step up from dreadful to good at loosehead is going to make an enormous difference. If we can get Timani Super Rugby. in as well, we might suddenly have quite a good scrum.

Wasn't Lahiff more known for his work around the pitch than in the scrum?

 

[Dumbledore]

Wasn't Lahiff more known for his work around the pitch than in the scrum?

Yep. And from what I've seen that holds. He can hold his end up, but can seriously shift around the park. I'm starting to get unreasonably excited for this season. So much is going to come down to coaching, which has been deliriously sub-standard in seasons past.

I really, really, want Timani though.

 

[Highlander35]

If we get Sita and another option at 10, we're in for a good season if the coaching's up to scratch.

Woodward
English
Inman
Ellison
Veainu
Hegarty/New 10
Burgo

Smith
Horie
Weeks
Pyle
S. Timani
Jones
Fa'ainga
Higgers

Sexton
Lahiff
PAE
Neville/ L. Timani
Fuglistaller/L. Timani
Stirzaker
Hegarty/Roberts/New 10/15
Kingston

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Yep. And from what I've seen that holds. He can hold his end up, but can seriously shift around the park. I'm starting to get unreasonably excited for this season. So much is going to come down to coaching, which has been deliriously sub-standard in seasons past.

I really, really, want Timani though.

I think we'll have quite a strong conference this season. The Tahs are working hard as Chieks has the whip out early. The Brumbies should continue along the lines of this year even without White, the Force if they discover what backline play is will be good and the Rebels have recruited very well.

Should be good. I think this year Super Rugby tournament was the best we had seen for a long time and next season seems to be building up nicely to top this year's. I'm already getting excited.

 

[Bronzewhaler]

If we get Sita and another option at 10, we're in for a good season if the coaching's up to scratch.

Woodward
English
Inman
Ellison
Veainu
Hegarty/New 10
Burgo

Smith
Horie
Weeks
Pyle
S. Timani
Jones
Fa'ainga
Higgers

Sexton
Lahiff
PAE
Neville/ L. Timani
Fuglistaller/L. Timani
Stirzaker
Hegarty/Roberts/New 10/15
Kingston

Manly Rebels Pat, Eddie,Caydern, Luke & Jordy where standouts in every Shute Shield game they played & especially against full strength Uni & Southern Districts. They will get plenty of game time this year for Rebels.

 

[Zander]

Lopeti Timani will have a breakout season at 6. He could be Australia's Liam Messam. He was excellent throughout the Shute Shield once he moved to 6, big impact and high workrate.

 

[KevinO]

Sean Hedger has been appointed as attack coach for the Rebels.

Josh Bird, Physio
Alison Garth dietitian

http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/hedger-to-rebels-20130910-2ti9o.html

 

[Bowside]

West hasn't been picked up by any NZ super rugby team.

I reckon he's joined the Rebellion.

 

[en_force_er]

West hasn't been picked up by any NZ super rugby team.

I reckon he's joined the Rebellion.

He's not even named in any extended squads, and he's better than even some of the fully contracted players, so he's going somewhere that isn't NZ.

It could be France or Japan (even England apparently with JOC (James O'Connor) walking the road less travelled) but you'd put them at long odds for a young player who (as a pessimist) needs to play some Super rugby before he can pull big pay cheques or (as an optimist) probably was looking for a Super rugby team who could promise him a starting jersey (and we can more than any of the Kiwi sides).

Don't start uncorking champagne bottles yet, but we're at short odds.

 

[Tex]

Pop quiz, chaps. Who here is yet to put their money on the table and take out a club membership?

 

[oztimmay]

Pop quiz, chaps. Who here is yet to put their money on the table and take out a club membership?

Not me. I'm signed for 2014

 

[KevinO]

Pop quiz, chaps. Who here is yet to put their money on the table and take out a club membership?

Me, waiting till after next weekend to put money on the table. Spring racing is taking priority at the moment, but will be paying up straight after to make sure i get my same seat.

 

[Tex]

I opted for the staggered payment.