Rebels v Waratahs Round 2 - 2012R02 - Dunlop Shield III

[Wallatahs]

How long can David Pocock be called a QLD lol he is from Zimb and spend 3 years in QLD when he first moved to Aus and has been in WA for almost 6 years now...I think he is a Sandgroper now.

Fair enough, I guess NSW can claim back Mowen on that list (Barnes is next) - I was taking more of a Rugby League / State of Origin approach (i.e. where they player their first schoolboys / premier grade club rugby match).

As a side (for the trivia buffs out there), I would be interested to know who the most successful and current "Western Australian" rugby player is? (under the club rugby / schoolboys classification)

 

[Ash]

Fair enough, I guess NSW can claim back Mowen on that list (Barnes is next) - I was taking more of a Rugby League / State of Origin approach (i.e. where they player their first schoolboys / premier grade club rugby match).

How can NSW "claim back" Mowen and Barnes?

Mowen was born in Brisbane. Was in age rep teams, captained U21 Aus team. Spent several years in Reds Academy and then full team, but only got one cap, mainly due to an awful run of injuries. Finally he moved to the Tahs when he was 24 years old, where he spent a whole 4 years.

Interesting laws that exist in NSW - spending 4 years of your life (from about age 24 to about age 27) in NSW means NSW can "claim you back". Seeing as I've lived in Sydney for approaching 12 years now, NSW much be able to "claim back" the last three generations of my family (one of which was born in England). Impressive!

 

[daz]

A gut-feel prediction or two:

Inman will have a monster game and JOC (James O'Connor) is going provide the kind of ball that allows Mitch to crash and bash through the defensive line. Watch this guy as I reckon he is going to have a big 2012.

Vuna will put someone in hospital at some point. I think this guy has suddenly flicked a switch and realised he enjoys the contact after all.

That said, the Rebs cannot match the Tahs and will go down, but go down swinging.

 

[Lee Grant]

daz - you should talk about the Rebels forwards more. You will find that when the forwards have a good go forward day the names of the backs don't matter that much. They all look good.

There are not too many backs who look good behind bad forwards, though Catchpole and Hipwell did best.

 

[Dumbledore]

Is it really so terrible I'm beginning to think about maybe contemplating whether I should put some money on a sneaky Rebels upset?

 

[daz]

I hear you Lee, and I take your point as a good one. My observations are simply based on the 3 trial games I attended and I must admit I took a shine to both Inman and Vuna as they just seem to be ready for a major step up.

While I agree that a back can only (usually) be as good as the go-forward ball they are getting, it is also true that some backs can make things happen. Opportunistic, if you will.

Of the forwards, I do have a concern about Frieir. I don't doubt his heart or his ability, but he is not exactly battle hardened and has been a sideline spectator for some time. Is it possible his time might have been and gone?

As a newly interested Rebels member, I do not have enough historical visibility of each squad member to make an informed opinion just yet. Give me a bit of time and I'm sure that will change...

 

[Wallatahs]

How can NSW "claim back" Mowen and Barnes?

Mowen was born in Brisbane. Was in age rep teams, captained U21 Aus team. Spent several years in Reds Academy and then full team, but only got one cap, mainly due to an awful run of injuries. Finally he moved to the Tahs when he was 24 years old, where he spent a whole 4 years.

Interesting laws that exist in NSW - spending 4 years of your life (from about age 24 to about age 27) in NSW means NSW can "claim you back". Seeing as I've lived in Sydney for approaching 12 years now, NSW much be able to "claim back" the last three generations of my family (one of which was born in England). Impressive!

I've got the feeling that I should delete my original comment or risk offending other precious little flowers.

My point was simple - Queensland, through schoolboys and/or grade rugby, have blooded all of our current captains (the Rebels aside). I then amended my original list, based on Gaffa's comments regarding naturalisation, to note that since their blooding, Pocock would now consider himself a Western Australian (based on the last 6 years) and to a lesser extent, both Barnes and Mowen are in a similar category (notwithstanding that Mowen has now left).

 

[Moono75]

Talk around that Beale won't be fit for the match with the hamstring complaint.

 

[Ash]

No offence was taken, just correcting a ridiculous statement - "claim back", indeed. I am not too sure you become "naturalised" after living in a state for a few years, either.

And I think you were more correct in your original assessments - Michael Foley can be claimed by NSW, for instance, same with Latham, whilst Cannon was a Queenslander. But that's probably enough digression on that topic.

Is it really so terrible I'm beginning to think about maybe contemplating whether I should put some money on a sneaky Rebels upset?

Depends on the odds. I still think the Rebels are rank underdogs. Maybe if you can get 4:1 or 5:1 odds - I reckon that are that big as outsiders.

The NSW pack had a very solid game vs the Reds, and will have a real comp game under their belt, whereas the Rebs don't. On paper, the NSW pack looks better, too, and the difference all this makes will likely nullify the difference in the backs, especially if Beale is out.

 

[Wallatahs]

Interesting (re Beale) - there have been conflicting articles out today.

 

[suckerforred]

- No sign of McCutcheon.

Didn't I see somewhere that McCutcheon has a calf tear and won't be back for 4 - 6 weeks? Or was that some other poor bastard. Injuries are starting to run into each other.

 

[Lee Grant]

Lala Lam was at training today even though he's not in the 35. With Cutch out, he will shadow Alcock. The Tahs have done pretty well choosing their 35 players and getting decent emergencies like Lam, Betham etc interested in the Wider Training Group. It's pretty comprehensive cover up to a point though you can't get like with like cover for Wallabies such as Mitchell, Turner and Vickerman

Getting a few players coming back will be nice: we know there will be more injuries down the track and we will need warm bodies.

 

[qwerty51]

Does that mean he's overtaken Jono Jenkins or was he still there?

 

[Ash]

Didn't I see somewhere that McCutcheon has a calf tear and won't be back for 4 - 6 weeks? Or was that some other poor bastard. Injuries are starting to run into each other.

Nope, you read right. I thought it was more like 3 games, though, but your time frame could also be correct.

Bit disappointed myself; I was looking forward to seeing how Cutch Jnr was going to go.

 

[Ash]

As a side (for the trivia buffs out there), I would be interested to know who the most successful and current "Western Australian" rugby player is? (under the club rugby / schoolboys classification)

Oh, and probably Adam Wallace-Harrison from the top of my head. There's a few local boys in the Force team, but AWH has represented Aus-A, and the I don't think any of the local Force boys have.

John Whelborn was a more successful WA player, having been the first WA player to play for the Wallabies.

 

[Lee Grant]

qwerty

I beg your pardon - I forgot Jono - and he was there.

 

[Bruce Ross]

How can NSW "claim back" Mowen and Barnes?

Mowen was born in Brisbane. Was in age rep teams, captained U21 Aus team. Spent several years in Reds Academy and then full team, but only got one cap, mainly due to an awful run of injuries. Finally he moved to the Tahs when he was 24 years old, where he spent a whole 4 years.

Interesting laws that exist in NSW - spending 4 years of your life (from about age 24 to about age 27) in NSW means NSW can "claim you back". Seeing as I've lived in Sydney for approaching 12 years now, NSW much be able to "claim back" the last three generations of my family (one of which was born in England). Impressive!

I don't think there is any actual legislation, Ash. I think it's more the fact that when people are socialising in Sydney as adults they find it embarrassing to admit they're from the provinces and are very evasive about their origins.

If they've managed to shake off the Queensland drawl they can often pass as locals.

 

[Hawko]

qwerty

I beg your pardon - I forgot Jono - and he was there.

I'm more confused. Has Alcock picked up a knock or are the Waratahs trying to cover for injuries that might happen some time in the future (like next week, the cynic in me says)?

At least we've got our hands on the two best 7's not already contracted and maybe better than some of those with a contract.

 

[Dumbledore]

Sounds like Beale is out boys. Saw Hill being quoted as saying he's still only running at 90% and given his history, he'll more than likely be rested. So Gerrard to fullback and one of Mitchell or Kingi to the wings. Suspect it will be Mitchell so Hill can play a 5-2 split. Massive, massive blow.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

backline still will be
phipps
cipriani
vuna
o'connor
inman
mitchell
gerrard

with kinghi coming on with 30 left to open things up

i'm not that worried.

Inman looks to me like he'll show up Carter. immensely unimpressed by him against the reds and rather upset he was in my fantasy team