Rocky Elsom

[disco]

Do you think he might be a bit worried about getting back into the 15 or even 22 with Mumm & MMM both playing so well?

Rocky seems a bit more erratic than Mumm & MMM which isn't a good attribute at test level, he sometimes has that headless chook style of play where he will sprint around the field & look busy but without much affect on the play.

 

[Sully]

Rocky who


That's right I said it!

 

[Gagger]

I reckon you're right - he'll be justifiably worried. There are questions over the aspects you mention, but he does have a great running game (I know, I know, need to do hard work first......).

 

[naza]

As usual, I am the Scarf's Oracle. I saw this before it happened.

Headless chook is a perfect description of him.

No, when it comes to the pack I'm worried about depth at lock & hooker, and the lack of emerging youngsters at tighthead.

 

[disco]

No, when it comes to the pack I'm worried about depth at lock & hooker, and the lack of emerging youngsters at tighthead.

Naza,
I don't see lock as a problem with Hockings & Kimlin both looking good on super 14 form plus we still have James Horwill & maybe Vickerman(2011) to comeback also.

Tighthead depth is a problem as is hooker I don't see any quick solutions to our depth in these positions.

We need TPN to become consistent with his throwing as he proved in the super 14 that he could do it.

 

[Pfitzy]

Need Blake to get fit overseas and come back learned in the ways of scrummaging to help fix the THP issue.

Hooker I'm not as concerned over - we still have capable guys like Freier running around.

 

[cyclopath]

Yeah, lock worries me less with those Disco named, plus Mumm is more than handy there if needs be.
Competition for the 6 jersey can only be good - if it focusses Elsom as Sharpe seems to have been focussed, all the better.
Hooker - what about some of the schoolboys coming through? A while off, yes, but still may be some bright spots. TPN really needs to start making some obvious progress...or get rebuilt as a THP!

 

[fatprop]

It would be nice to have them all available, it is called depth

 

[Spook]

Rocky is still bloody good. Let them fight to the death!

What if Alexander establishes himself as an exceptional loose head? Him and Robinson could be competing for years. I think Alexander should think about switiching to tight head although Ma'afu might also come good. There's also Jerry Yanuyanutawa but he's a loose head as well.

 

[Virgil]

Thought Elsom was lost to an overseas contract?
Or is he due back shortly?

 

[Lindommer]

Virgil, Rocky's contract is for one year with the option of another. He can come back in May/June next year if he wants to try and get back into the Wobblies. Otherwise, he can continue his retirement in Dublin. A fair city. Where the girls are so pretty. Eating cockles and mussels.

 

[Aussie D]

Virgil, Rocky's contract is for one year with the option of another. He can come back in May/June next year if he wants to try and get back into the Wobblies. Otherwise, he can continue his retirement in Dublin. A fair city. Where the girls are so pretty. Eating cockles and mussels.

well he does play for Randwick...


Personally, I don't expect to ever see Vickerman represent Oz again and if he does I don't think he will be up to the standard he has been. Thought this year his form had started to wane and the European option was the right time with quality youngsters coming through. I am hoping that Timani (Tomane?) steps up for the Brumbies next year to give the Wallabies further options.

 

[Lee Grant]

I can't believe the low regard that Elsom is held in by some posters here.

They will probably say the same about me in reverse, but I still won't be able to understand their view. I remember a test this year when he missed a lot of tackles but Smith missed just as many in the same game and never got a mention for it.

I haven't seen every Leinster game, as they are not always offered for download, but he has been in cracking form in the games I watched.

 

[Sully]

I can't believe the low regard that Elsom is held in by some posters here.

They will probably say the same about me in reverse, but I still won't be able to understand their view. I remember a test this year when he missed a lot of tackles but Smith missed just as many in the same game and never got a mention for it.

I haven't seen every Leinster game, as they are not always offered for download, but he has been in cracking form in the games I watched.

I never said he was a bad player Lee I was suggesting that we weren't missing him.

 

[Moses]

He had an ordinary game in Joberg but apart from that his form's been superb

 

[RugbyReg]

I am a massive fan of Rocky's. But its heartening to see that while he is chasing the euro we have Mumm and McMeniman (and Heenan?) back here more than adequately filling in.

S14 form should be the key factor when it comes to test jerseys next year.

 

[Biffo]

I am a massive fan of Rocky's. But its heartening to see that while he is chasing the euro we have Mumm and McMeniman (and Heenan?) back here more than adequately filling in.

S14 form should be the key factor when it comes to test jerseys next year.

Some time ago, I appointed myself president of the Rocky Fan Club on this board. Noone opposed my self-nomination.

Rocky is, simply, a superstar.

Have a think about some of the looseness of our breakdown since Rocky left. Think about how our ball carrying on the edge of the ruck has dropped off without Rocky. Effects and causes.

Think how good this 25 year old kid will be when he grows up.

 

[Lee Grant]

He had an ordinary game in Joberg

... and who did not?

I never said he was a bad player Lee I was suggesting that we weren't missing him.

I never said you did, but there has been a murmur of disapproval this year that is unaccountable in my eyes.

No we are not missing him - I remember saying before he went that the Tahs would miss him more than the Wallabies would.

And as I have said a few times - if Mumm and 3M stay healthy we are going to have depth at 6 when Elsom comes back. We can argue about who should be preferred then.

I don't blame a young bloke like Elsom for taking a sabbatical for a season or even two. He's done a good job and it has the benefit of letting 2 other young blokes have a crack and proving themselves.

I wouldn't say that if he were a 2nd rower. Getting on my high horse has limits.

 

[Cutter]

Elsom can be hot and cold. He isnt as brutal in defence as he should be for a bloke his size. His running game is pretty good. His work at the breakdown can be a little bit headless chicken.

I like what I am seeing from Mumm and MMM. I hope Rocky does come back, but I wouldnt pick him for this weekend if he was available.

 

[naza]

Elsom can be hot and cold. He isnt as brutal in defence as he should be for a bloke his size. His running game is pretty good. His work at the breakdown can be a little bit headless chicken.

Blindside's primary job is defence, support & ball winning. He's never been a big hitter. But he's not accurate with his tackling either, missing plenty as many posters here finally cottoned onto this test season. When he makes the tackle, the ball carrier still makes plenty of yards.

His support play can be erratic. Too often for my liking he finds himself running the ball on the wing. That's not where he should be. He should be aggressively cleaning out on the fringes and binding onto ball running forwards, driving them over the advantage line. I'm puzzled some rate his running game. As a ball runner, with his high centre of gravity and tendency to run angles, he gets driven back very easily. He is no help at making the hard yards.

His ball winning is where he's delivered for us. He's got the height and hands to win ball in the air but has the fitness and speed to contest the ball on the ground too.

I just find he doesn't have the physicality to be a brute, and doesn't have the humility & determination to be a clinical grafter.