Rebels 2014

[Ado Tornado]

Fainga'a spent the first half last weekend at 8 and then moved to 6 for a while in the second, so probably not a fair indicator of how he will go. That said, Reid, Fugges and the new kid McMahon all played really well on the side of the scrum. IMO Reid at 6 was the pick of the flankers against the Canes with the new kid McMahon not far behind him.

 

[tranquility]

Before he was injured in the 2012 pre season Fainga'a was rated above Hooper in the pecking order at the Brumbies. Hooper took his chance with both hands & is now a Wallaby regular. I have no doubt Fainga'a could have done the same with a similar opportunity.

So many hypotheticals around the 3 young 7s. Gill could quite easily have had the position as well.

 

[tranquility]

IMO Reid at 6 was the pick of the flankers against the Canes with the new kid McMahon not far behind him.

McMahon is one of the best players to leave QLD in the last 5 years.

 

[swingpass]

its nice the rebels seem to have some backrow depth at last. i dont think any of (in no particular order) reid, timani, fuglistaller, faainga, jones or mcmahon will look out of place on the side of the scrum, either starting or coming on later. clearly TT has a particular pattern of backrow defence/offence in mind which is why he is trialling the troops in the possies as he has or,...
he thinks faainga is so good at 7, he thought he'd see how he went at 6 & 8
fridays team will tell us a lot imo
ps does anyone know why lopeti timani didn't play last week, he wasn't on the injured list

 

[Highlander35]

Would be suggesting that, if all are fit, Colby, Higgers, Timani, Pyle, Neville, Jones and Fugs would be the non-front row forwards to start the year, with Jordy hot on their heels.

With Max and Toby at loosehead, the only obvious weaknesses are Hooker and Fly half.

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[Scooter]

Panasonic beat Suntory 45 - 22. Shota Horie flew out for Melbourne last night.

 

[Braveheart81]

Panasonic beat Suntory 45 - 22. Shota Horie flew out for Melbourne last night.

Berrick Barnes kicked 11 from 12 scoring a total of 30 points!

 

[TOCC]

McMahon is one of the best players to leave QLD in the last 5 years.

Yes I've heard good reports on him, might be another season away from been ready for more game time

 

[KevinO]

Rebels preview, would have English in the best 15 though.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/r...der-tony-mcgahan/story-fnibc6qy-1226823584217

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Panasonic beat Suntory 45 - 22. Shota Horie flew out for Melbourne last night.

Apparently Shota had a very good game. Perhaps Panasonic are benefiting from Robbie Deans involvement?

Rebels preview, would have English in the best 15 though.

Absolutely!

And, in other news, my membership pack finally arrived yesterday. Happy to see that we have Capt'n Higgers photo on the membership card to replace that guy from last year, whose name I have forgotten.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

And, they have just announced that Jock Merriman has been signed as injury cover for Stirzacker. It also looks like Steve Faulau will be staying on as cover for Sexton.

 

[tranquility]

Who is Steve Faulau? Other than being a hooker.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Who is Steve Faulau? Other than being a hooker.

*Fualau

He played last year for Southern Districts, played in the ITM Cup and has played a couple of tests for Samoa.

 

[swingpass]

team sheet up on the rebs v reds match forum

1. Toby Smith​

2. Pat Leafa​

3. Laurie Weeks​

4. Hugh Pyle​

5. Luke Jones​

6. Sean McMahon​

7. Scott Fuglistaller​

8. Scott Higginbotham (C)​

9. Luke Burgess​

10. Bryce Hegarty​

11. Tom English​

12. Tamati Ellison​

13. Mitch Inman​

14. Lachlan Mitchell​

15. Angus Roberts​

17. Steve Fualau​

18. Paul Alo-Emile​

19. Cadeyrn Neville​

20. Colby Fainga'a​

21. Ben Meehan​

22. Telusa Veainu​

23. Tom Kingston​

24. Max Lahiff​

25. Jason Woodward​

27. Lopeti Timani​

interesting, i would think some are being given the opportunity to prove themselves, cant see gus roberts as a preference to woodward for example, or mitchell over either english, kingston or veainu.

 

[oztimmay]

team sheet up on the rebs v reds match forum

1. Toby Smith​

2. Pat Leafa​

3. Laurie Weeks​

4. Hugh Pyle​

5. Luke Jones​

6. Sean McMahon​

7. Scott Fuglistaller​

8. Scott Higginbotham (C)​

9. Luke Burgess​

10. Bryce Hegarty​

11. Tom English​

12. Tamati Ellison​

13. Mitch Inman​

14. Lachlan Mitchell​

15. Angus Roberts​

17. Steve Fualau​

18. Paul Alo-Emile​

19. Cadeyrn Neville​

20. Colby Fainga'a​

21. Ben Meehan​

22. Telusa Veainu​

23. Tom Kingston​

24. Max Lahiff​

25. Jason Woodward​

27. Lopeti Timani​

interesting, i would think some are being given the opportunity to prove themselves, cant see gus roberts as a preference to woodward for example, or mitchell over either english, kingston or veainu.

I'd also put McMahon vs Fainaga'a in that category too. Taking more that I expected.

 

[Jimmy C]

team sheet up on the rebs v reds match forum

1. Toby Smith​

2. Pat Leafa​

3. Laurie Weeks​

4. Hugh Pyle​

5. Luke Jones​

6. Sean McMahon​

7. Scott Fuglistaller​

8. Scott Higginbotham (C)​

9. Luke Burgess​

10. Bryce Hegarty​

11. Tom English​

12. Tamati Ellison​

13. Mitch Inman​

14. Lachlan Mitchell​

15. Angus Roberts​

17. Steve Fualau​

18. Paul Alo-Emile​

19. Cadeyrn Neville​

20. Colby Fainga'a​

21. Ben Meehan​

22. Telusa Veainu​

23. Tom Kingston​

24. Max Lahiff​

25. Jason Woodward​

27. Lopeti Timani​

interesting, i would think some are being given the opportunity to prove themselves, cant see gus roberts as a preference to woodward for example, or mitchell over either english, kingston or veainu.

I agree, this is Tony giving Gus one last shot to show us what he's got and maybe secure the bench 15 spot. Woody will start at 15, no doubt. Mitchell, i'd think it a way of seeing if he can back up last weeks heroics. My head is saying 'start Veainu', but Mitchell has a lot of experience in a very young back line.

I'd also put McMahon vs Fainaga'a in that category too. Taking more that I expected.

Agree with McMahon starting. He needs to show whether he can back up as well. If the McMahon experiment works, i think we'll see a mix of him and Colby, depending on what team we play against. I have a feeling that Tony is a huge fan of Fugistaller's work rate and hi tackle count in games.

I think the person that needs to worry the most from the starting 15, and needs to have a HUGE game is Laurie Weeks. I love the guy, and love having him at the club (and my 6 month old son can't stop staring at his mug on the junior rebels gear) but he has Max Lahiff and Big Paul Alo breathing down his back. Both had great games last week, especially Max. The guy is a beast and partnered with Smith, would make a monster from row.

 

[oztimmay]

I think the person that needs to worry the most from the starting 15, and needs to have a HUGE game is Laurie Weeks. I love the guy, and love having him at the club (and my 6 month old son can't stop staring at his mug on the junior rebels gear) but he has Max Lahiff and Big Paul Alo breathing down his back. Both had great games last week, especially Max. The guy is a beast and partnered with Smith, would make a monster from row.

Think you are right here too. Laurie has a LOT of experience on his side and combined with Toby's experience at LHP you've got a good combination. Key this year will be a rock solid scrumbase, good lineout work and support in the tight play. If the Props can do this well they increase their chances of a starting berth. Bonus points for beast modes in the scrum (wheel) and a good ability to bend/smash the advantage line.
I thought Max and Laurie combined well last week and as I said in the match day thread I think Max turned at least three scrums in the first half.

Also think this is the fittest I've seen Laurie in a Rebels jumper before. Max is already a beast; seems like someone bolted old railway sleepers to his chest and threw a Rebels jumper over him. No wonder he is good at wheeling scrums.

Not sure how PAE is fitting into the pecking order, but maybe a little down compared to the other guys? Same for Cruz.

IIRC Max can play both sides, which makes him a real asset of the bench. Imagine that power against a tired LHP/THP? I'd be fairly impressed to see that front row starting come the Cheetahs match.

 

[swingpass]

i think that smith and lahiff are going to play LHP only and weekes and PAE on the tight. as to whether LW or PAE starts that may be different each week and obviously dependent on form.
feel sorry for jordy reid, thought he put in a big game last week, perhaps he is already pencilled in and mcmahon and faainga are fighting for a spot ?

 

[tranquility]

Cheers for the work on PAE boys!!

We'll take him home now.. You can have him for the season.

 

[Highlander35]

Ok we'll take taps when he gets back in form this year.

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