Reds 2011

[RugbyReg]

you think they'll run out with just 14 men?

 

[Ruggo]

Link will rotate his squad a fair bit. We'll see plenty of movement particularly in the back row.

I think Gill at 7, Houston at 8 and Higgers at 6, assuming all are fit and in form, is my backrow of choice.

I think we will very much see a horses for courses attitude from Link with his back row options. For some applications, we may see the back row used to stack the pack with talls. It is a nice feeling knowing we have the flexibility to do these things now. The puzzle may not be complete yet until after the Wallaby tour. McCalman may be the incumbant and done well but don't forget the opportunity only came as a result of a late injury pull out of Higgers in Pretoria. I suspect we will see him start at eight in a test this tour and if it goes well, he may be our number eight for the super 15.

 

[Spewn]

you think they'll run out with just 14 men?

Yes. That's what I was trying to say.

 

[Tangawizi]

Is Albert Anae any good? He's been around the squad for a while now without getting any game time. With Hardman retired you'd think he'll get game time at some stage next season. Couple of injuries and he could be key. Physical stats suggest he's a bit of a unit and will probably be a bigger one in Febraury.

 

[en_force_er]

Is Albert Anae any good? He's been around the squad for a while now without getting any game time. With Hardman retired you'd think he'll get game time at some stage next season. Couple of injuries and he could be key. Physical stats suggest he's a bit of a unit and will probably be a bigger one in Febraury.

James Hanson was amazing off the bench during the ARC. Seeing how much he has struggled to crack the Reds 22 pains me.

Surely he will get first run.

 

[TOCC]

For Albert Anae's sake i hope he gets a set position soon, there is no such thing as a prop/hooker, for 2011 i think that James Hanson will be the 2nd hooker with Albert Anae waiting in the wings. Only thing working against James Hanson is he is a little bit on the small side, his stats say 102kg which isnt terrible, but considering the props(daley and slipper) are lightweights as well you would preferably have a bigger hooker.

 

[en_force_er]

For Albert Anae's sake i hope he gets a set position soon, there is no such thing as a prop/hooker, for 2011 i think that James Hanson will be the 2nd hooker with Albert Anae waiting in the wings. Only thing working against James Hanson is he is a little bit on the small side, his stats say 102kg which isnt terrible, but considering the props(daley and slipper) are lightweights as well you would preferably have a bigger hooker.

That is a good point TOCC. Then again, there are advantages to having a shorter front row that I don't think are respected properly in the modern game.

 

[TOCC]

i dont think any of the props are terribly short, they are all in the 180cm bracket which is pretty average, yes you can counter weight with good technique to a certain extent however extra bulk can always come in handy.

 

[DPK]

That is a good point TOCC. Then again, there are advantages to having a shorter front row that I don't think are respected properly in the modern game.

You'd want a taller hooker (not by much though), am I right?

 

[en_force_er]

i dont think any of the props are terribly short, they are all in the 180cm bracket which is pretty average, yes you can counter weight with good technique to a certain extent however extra bulk can always come in handy.

180cm is a bit short for a professional prop today but i see you point. i still enjoy seeing a mammoth of a man being worked over by a little fellow like ben robbinson.

 

[Ruggo]

Slipper is not really a light weight but Daley is. I would like to see Holmes get the LHP back and between Shepherdson and Slipper, the THP options look good. It is nothing against Daley but Holmes is the second best loose head in this country behind fat cat. With our depth in locks, we going to have a bloody good engine room behind these blokes as well.

As for short props, I deffinatly rate them better as loose head props.

 

[Ruggo]

180cm is a bit short for a professional prop today but i see you point. i still enjoy seeing a mammoth of a man being worked over by a little fellow like ben robbinson.

Look at the way he dished up John Hayes last year in Ireland. Scotland has a fairly short front row and it is as solid as a rock.

 

[Red Rooster]

For Albert Anae's sake i hope he gets a set position soon, there is no such thing as a prop/hooker, for 2011 i think that James Hanson will be the 2nd hooker with Albert Anae waiting in the wings. Only thing working against James Hanson is he is a little bit on the small side, his stats say 102kg which isnt terrible, but considering the props(daley and slipper) are lightweights as well you would preferably have a bigger hooker.

TOCC - you had better tell Graham Henry that because he is getting John Afoa ready for the RWC for that specific role. In fact whenever there is a finite number of players (Super rugby and RWC) the coaches will try to develop versatility.It is not necessary in normal test programs as they don't have a squad limitation. Deans and Mitchell have already tried it with Cowan from the Force. The fact it failed is irrelevant and does not stop France and Argentina from employing players who do both.

By the way the third Hooker at the Force (forgotten his name) plays prop at QLD Uni because Hanson is the Hooker

 

[en_force_er]

By the way the third Hooker at the Force (forgotten his name) plays prop at QLD Uni because Hanson is the Hooker

Tessman. He's with the Rebels now.

Unless I'm mistaken because I think Tessman was from Qld Academy.

 

[Red Rooster]

Slipper is not really a light weight but Daley is. I would like to see Holmes get the LHP back and between Shepherdson and Slipper, the THP options look good. It is nothing against Daley but Holmes is the second best loose head in this country behind fat cat. With our depth in locks, we going to have a bloody good engine room behind these blokes as well.

As for short props, I deffinatly rate them better as loose head props.

Sorry to get the facts in the way but Slipper and Daley are both about the same weight (as is Ben Robinson and Ben Alexander) - Agree that Holmes is not a spent force but if he is that good why has Deans not picked him once in 3 seasons. Others get picked without playing much rugby and some from Sevens so what is the impediment if he is that good?? Holmes is not much bigger than the others so not sure where the size arguement is going - its all technique and attitude for me

 

[Red Rooster]

Tessman. He's with the Rebels now.

Unless I'm mistaken because I think Tessman was from Qld Academy.

Yes that him - good player at both prop and hooker but he is only about 106kgs (happy for someone to correct me). Yes he played for the QLD A team this year

 

[Ruggo]

Daley has put some weight on, you are right as slipper is 113kg and Daley 111kg according to the Reds website. I always thought he was 108kg.

Ben Alexander is 120kg according to the Brumbies website. Robinson is 113kg according to the Tahs website.

 

[en_force_er]

I think it's probably more accurate to judge a player's weight by looking at him rather then using the websites.

Obviously it isn't very accurate but at least your eyes can't deliberately misinform you.

 

[Red Rooster]

I think it's probably more accurate to judge a player's weight by looking at him rather then using the websites.

Obviously it isn't very accurate but at least your eyes can't deliberately misinform you.

I agree - there was a good story that used to go around in the 1990's that Troy Coker used to take a year off his age in the program after he turned 30 - everyone thought he was 4 years younger than he was. Might have even got him to the RWC in 1991. If you are a prop and you want people to think you are not too light then why would you write your real weight - perception is reality they say

 

[TOCC]

Both Daley and Slipper will add a few more kilos of muscle as they mature physically over the next few years.

TOCC - you had better tell Graham Henry that because he is getting John Afoa ready for the RWC for that specific role. In fact whenever there is a finite number of players (Super rugby and RWC) the coaches will try to develop versatility.It is not necessary in normal test programs as they don't have a squad limitation. Deans and Mitchell have already tried it with Cowan from the Force. The fact it failed is irrelevant and does not stop France and Argentina from employing players who do both.

By the way the third Hooker at the Force (forgotten his name) plays prop at QLD Uni because Hanson is the Hooker

John Afoa wasnt selected for the June tests on his form at prop so he is transitioning to Hooker beacuse in comparison there is a lack of depth at hooker. John Afoa and Albert Anae are rather different as well, one is a player who has played at Test level, the other is a player who is trying to break into Super Rugby... apples and oranges

On top of that, New Zealand will never start a match with only one front rower on the bench, there will always be a requirement for 2 front row reserves in turn reducing the value or neceissity of having a utility front rower.

180cm is a bit short for a professional prop today but i see you point. i still enjoy seeing a mammoth of a man being worked over by a little fellow like ben robbinson.

when i said the 180cm bracket i meant 180-190cm bracket, i wouldnt say that 6" is short