Reds 2018

[TOCC]

No I'm not sure, thats why i said "He may have actually been binned?" with a question mark..

Records show there were 9 penalties and two penalty tries against the scrum, which is the main point of the conversation anyway.

 

[wamberal]

I think we would all give our metaphorical right arms for a 20 year old prop who can scrummage as well as Thor can run with the ball.

 

[TOCC]

Anyway.... 2018

Needs to be some fresh blood in the backline, are there any standouts in the QPR this year, I've only watched a couple of matches on Facebook, its hard to see who is who though.

 

[Tomikin]

Yep all remarkably young props when they debut'd, and to put it into perspective Tupou was younger then all of them on relative Super Rugby debuts.

Sipper was the youngest test debutant when came off the bench for Ben Daley against England, and I wouldn't exactly label it a world class performance on debut, he may have actually been binned?. Thankfully prop stocks have improved since those years..

I was more pointing out the fact that there are currently 'world class' props running around at 24 - 25.

To be fair I don't think Slipper was a great prop when he first started, his got better when he went to LHP, but he was surpassed by Sio pretty quickly.

But fair play to Thor, I hope he continues to grow into a World Class prop, our prop stocks look great.

 

[Brumby Runner]

There are a few more who are close to Thor in age who are also starting to make their mark; Lomax, Sanday, Sione, Vui, for example. I even see on another thread that NZ is interested in young Lomax.

 

[upthereds#!]

Just on Thor - he recently turned 21.
Ala'alatoa (25)debuted for Wallabies at 22 and a half V England
Sio (23)debuted for Wallabies at 22 (almost 23) V All Blacks
Robertson (22) for Wallabies at 22 V Argentina

A lot can change for Tupou (21) in the rest of this Super Rugby season, the NRC season, invites to wallaby camps, and next super rugby season.

 

[Ruggo]

He needs game time at the elite level to improve.

Simples.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Remember back when Ben Daley started for the Reds.

His scrimmaging was average (at best) and didn't really improve much until this year (I reckon). The thing was (and this is a bit different from the Thor) he was very good around the field and bloody enthusiastic around the field.

I'm not sure how old he was then, but probably 19 or 20.

EVERY prop's scrimmaging improves with age but it's that other stuff that separates adequate props from good or fantastic props

 

[qaz]

Hope Thor can improve in the scrims

 

[RugbyReg]

I actually was really impressed with Tupou in his starting debut at THP against the Hurricanes. I thought he scrummed really well and was good across the park. I don't think we can expect the big charging runs out wide. I would like to see him improve his impact with the ball, but prefer that tighter anyway.

The other good performance that game was Talakai at LHP, for the first time I can remember.

 

[Scrubber2050]

^^^^^^
Fair enough Reg

We look and perceive through different eyes.

Only time will tell but he'll be given ample opportunity over the nest 2 or 3 years by being in the top squad.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Just on Thor - he recently turned 21.
Ala'alatoa (25)debuted for Wallabies at 22 and a half V England
Sio (23)debuted for Wallabies at 22 (almost 23) V All Blacks
Robertson (22) for Wallabies at 22 V Argentina

A lot can change for Tupou (21) in the rest of this Super Rugby season, the NRC season, invites to wallaby camps, and next super rugby season.

UTR, AA is only 23 now and made his Wallabies debut against NZ (might have mixed up the bios for AA and SS). Sio is now 26 according to the Brumbies' website and has played over 50 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies.

Think Tupou has a bit to catch up with either of these two.

 

[Tomikin]

UTR, AA is only 23 now and made his Wallabies debut against NZ (might have mixed up the bios for AA and SS). Sio is now 26 according to the Brumbies' website and has played over 50 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies.

Think Tupou has a bit to catch up with either of these two.

Yeah AA is only 23.. The only reason I meanted him and Sio is someone said you cant be a world class prop at 24 -25.. I believe Sio is and AA is probably the form THP in Oz at the moment.. and heading to being world class this year or next.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[upthereds#!]

UTR, AA is only 23 now and made his Wallabies debut against NZ (might have mixed up the bios for AA and SS). Sio is now 26 according to the Brumbies' website and has played over 50 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies.

Think Tupou has a bit to catch up with either of these two.

yep switched those 2 around !

Just making the point he still has time to catch up to those 2 fantastic young props. If Tupou is to go as well as they did at their age, he still has a solid year and a half to continue to improve.

Lots of ground to cover, but lots of time to do it, and that is to be a wallaby debutant at 22 and a bit - which is still so young. He will be 23 1/2 come WC time, but I think both him and Lomax will be hard pressed to push out a Ala'alatoa who will be even better by then (one would think) and Kepu - who will still have a lot to offer in the core no.3 roles.

 

[fatprop]

Rumour on the tele podcast Genia wanted to come back to the Reds next season, Reds said no

 

[RugbyReg]

Rumour on the tele podcast Genia wanted to come back to the Reds next season, Reds said no

besides being old news, it's wrong news.

http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/05/17/01/37/genia-reds

 

[TOCC]

Genias opportunity to return was if Stade Francais merged with Racing92, a surplus of players and excessive wages would have been his opportunity to secure a free release and return to Australia...

But, the merger didn't go ahead and he is a pivotal player within Stade Francais, it should be noted that the club is currently up for sale, those trying to offload the club wouldn't dare release a player if it could impact on the value of the club. Hence, Genia securing a release would come at a fee, which no one can afford.

Perhaps when the new owners are secured things could change, it I doubt we will see anything prior to that.

 

[The torpedo]

Fatprop posted on the Rebels board that the Tele Rugby podcast has heard that Sean McMahon will head for Japan in 2018 and sign with us for 2019

 

[upthereds#!]

Still sounds good. Tui gone next season (japanese limit) Smith probs won't play 2019, Higs last season and Houstons last season (if he sticks around that long). Good to get him and maybe Gilly back then to play with Timu, Korzcyk and probs Hewat & Scottyoung post world cup.

 

[Parse]

Speaking of Gilly, for those that don't know, he was a star last weekend in Toulon's prelim semi win over Castres - even though he was yellow carded. He also was listed in the top 15 players in French rugby this season by french media.

They might not want to let him come back....

Edit: PS: Toulon play LaRochelle this sat morning in a semi final. On live at 5am on Eurosport for those with Foxtel