Rebels 2014

[Lee Grant]

Agree, Zacker has the best pass in Oz probably, but Burgess is of the Mike Phillips 9th defending forward school, who does not mind taking the ball up the middle in traffic like Phillips either.

The game of Burgess is more important if your forwards are not going places.

On the other hand: Zacker, probably the most promising Schools' scrumhalf of the last five years, has to get a lot of game time as RoffsChoice mentions, including chunks of starting matches, to develop him.

McGahan has to get the balance right, but that's what he is there for.
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[Tex]

I paid in full. I hope paying in installments wouldn't have an impact on the priority of member pack shipping. If so, it's pretty poor form from the membership team.

I don't think it was a preference thing, but the pre-planned installments may have gone into the new year.

As long as the packs are out prior to the trials there's no cause for complaint!

 

[Tex]

On another note i'm looking forward to seeing Timani have a run. There have been plenty of quotes coming out of the team about his impact at training. Looks to be a monstrous human being.

 

[oztimmay]

I don't think it was a preference thing, but the pre-planned installments may have gone into the new year.

As long as the packs are out prior to the trials there's no cause for complaint!

Meh, I would just have worn the old stuff anyway. I still own a 2011 home jersey and happily wear that to matches. I'm not the one for fashion, for those who know me well enough.

 

[Lee Grant]

On another note i'm looking forward to seeing Timani have a run. There have been plenty of quotes coming out of the team about his impact at training. Looks to be a monstrous human being.

He is a natural number eight who is a line bender but he has a problem with managing the pick-up at the back of the scrum. Most of the times that the ball is scrappy in that area, it is not the fault of the 8, but others manage the problem better than Lopeti does.

The other thing I noticed at Tahs' training last year was that he didn't 'get' what his coaches were telling him a few times. And sometimes his hands were a bit "hard" which was surprising, because he was handy at taking lineout ball at practice.

But there's no doubt about the potential, especially if Higgers spends some time with him, as I'm sure he will.
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[Jimmy C]

Me too. I called and they pointed out that I had paid in installments, hence the later delivery. Package is due to be posted next week.

Ahh that would explain it. I did the instalment payments as well. At least I know some postie isn't out there enjoying my rebels loot! Cheers Tex

 

[swingpass]

so, just over a week away from the first practice game, and just over a month till the Cheetahs game and the Rebels are still 2 short of a full deck !
do any of the gaggers know who the remaining two spots will go to ?
do the Rebels ?
assume waiting till the end of either the japanese or european seasons, or perhaps the decisions haven't been made as yet or can't be announced ?
any help blues recovery ?

 

[Train Without a Station]

Apparently Steve Folau is training with them. Played in Sydney and Christchurch and has represented Samoa A as a prop.

 

[oztimmay]

so, just over a week away from the first practice game, and just over a month till the Cheetahs game and the Rebels are still 2 short of a full deck !
do any of the gaggers know who the remaining two spots will go to ?
do the Rebels ?
assume waiting till the end of either the japanese or european seasons, or perhaps the decisions haven't been made as yet or can't be announced ?
any help blues recovery ?

Depends a bit on our immediate priority for positions. Seems there is debate on here as to what positions should be covered (always love a debate). For me I think we need a Hooker as cover for Tom Sexton and probably a seasoned 5/8 (for injury cover and development of Bryce and Gus). Ideally a seasoned Hooker (Andrew Hore anyone) would be ideal on a one-year deal.

Other views?

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Depends a bit on our immediate priority for positions. Seems there is debate on here as to what positions should be covered (always love a debate). For me I think we need a Hooker as cover for Tom Sexton and probably a seasoned 5/8 (for injury cover and development of Bryce and Gus). Ideally a seasoned Hooker (Andrew Hore anyone) would be ideal on a one-year deal.

Other views?

I guess one option for a third hooker would be to promote Pat Leafa from the EPS and give his EPS spot to the best young hooker they can find.

Maybe Kosei Ono from Suntory could be worth looking at for 5/8? He's quick, has a good field kicking game and, in a pinch, can take shots at goal.

Goal kicking is one thing that worries me a bit about this season. Aside from Woodward who else do we have? If they are looking for a 5/8 I reckon "can take shots at goal" should be pretty high on the list of boxes to tick.

 

[Highlander35]

While a lot of people here don't seem to like him very much, I thought Gus Roberts was a pretty decent kicker last year.

He was good in his debut too, prior to the switch to 10 on the South Africa tour. That first game still puzzles me.

Why the Fuck would you play a 10-12-13 combination that's never played together on the first game of the tour, when all 3 are playing out of position, one is on debut, and the other is playing his 2nd/3rd game.

Sent from my LG-P713 using Tapatalk

 

[Tah and feathered]

Depends a bit on our immediate priority for positions. Seems there is debate on here as to what positions should be covered (always love a debate). For me I think we need a Hooker as cover for Tom Sexton and probably a seasoned 5/8 (for injury cover and development of Bryce and Gus). Ideally a seasoned Hooker (Andrew Hore anyone) would be ideal on a one-year deal.

Other views?

Steve Folou the hooker from Sydney starting in the trial against the Waratahs
Could struggle a bit with fitness but is a quality player.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Is Steve a hooker though? Didn't he play prop for Samoa A? My mail was that he's a prop that also plays a bit of Hooker.

 

[Tah and feathered]

Is Steve a hooker though? Didn't he play prop for Samoa A? My mail was that he's a prop that also plays a bit of Hooker.

100% hooker, highlanders wanted to sign him last season to cover injuries with there hookers and he declined.
Very good line out thrower.
Once he gets his fitness up he will be an asset

 

[Train Without a Station]

Yes I've heard his fitness is the biggest issued. Skinfolds something like 50% above any other front rower.

 

[en_force_er]

100% hooker, highlanders wanted to sign him last season to cover injuries with there hookers and he declined.
Very good line out thrower.
Once he gets his fitness up he will be an asset

Why? Seems like an unmissable opportunity.

 

[Tex]

Is anyone making the trip up to Albury? It'd be good to get a slightly un-biased report of the match as I'm assuming vision and non-club reporting will be limited.

Also, my rugby mates have all but petered out in Melbourne and I'm often going to matches solo. Not that this bothers me, but if there're any other GAGRs around who want to meet up for a beer prior to the Cheetahs match (or other) I'd be keen.

 

[oztimmay]

Is anyone making the trip up to Albury? It'd be good to get a slightly un-biased report of the match as I'm assuming vision and non-club reporting will be limited.

Also, my rugby mates have all but petered out in Melbourne and I'm often going to matches solo. Not that this bothers me, but if there're any other GAGRs around who want to meet up for a beer prior to the Cheetahs match (or other) I'd be keen.

Nah I'll be skipping this weekend but seriously considering a Geelong Roadtrip. Anyone heading down the princess for that?

Like every home match, would be up for a beer before the cheetahs. I typically hang out in Richmond pubs or under the stadium.

 

[Lindommer]

I'm making the trip DOWN to Albury, Tex. Staying with my brother in the sporting capital of the western world, Wagga Wagga. Apparently there's a meeting of (Wagga) Waratahs Old Boys on Friday night, spose I should be going.

 

[KevinO]

Is anyone making the trip up to Albury? It'd be good to get a slightly un-biased report of the match as I'm assuming vision and non-club reporting will be limited.

Also, my rugby mates have all but petered out in Melbourne and I'm often going to matches solo. Not that this bothers me, but if there're any other GAGRs around who want to meet up for a beer prior to the Cheetahs match (or other) I'd be keen.

Nah I'll be skipping this weekend but seriously considering a Geelong Roadtrip. Anyone heading down the princess for that?

Not heading this weekend, Road trip to Geelong? Get the train so you can have those few extra beers. That's the plan anyway, head down in the afternoon for a few beers and than catch the train back afterwards. (Will be back in time to watch Ireland v Wales)

Regards to pre-game drinks, normally in Richmond at the Post Office cafe near the train station with a few friends. We all sit in different areas but meet for beers before every game.