Rocky going?

[fatprop]

Elsom's French connection likely to lead him to Paris this year

• by: Bret Harris
• From: The Australian
• May 02, 2012 12:00AM

FORMER Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom is likely to leave Australia at the end of the season to continue his career in Europe and Japan.
Elsom, who inspired Irish province Leinster to the Heineken Cup in 2009, is believed to be in high demand in Europe and Asia and may play on both continents in the coming season.
It is unclear which European club is set to snare the powerful backrower, but France appears to be the most likely destination as Elsom has strong ties with Parisian club Stade Francais, which is coached by Australian Michael Cheika.
It is understood Elsom has only a slim chance of meeting the injury clauses in his contract which would allow him to exercise his second-year option with the NSW Waratahs and the ARU.
While many observers still regard the 75-Test veteran as one of the most important players in Australian rugby, his departure would be made easier by the consistent form of Queensland Reds backrower Scott Higginbotham and Brumbies backrower Ben Mowen.
After recovering from shoulder and hamstring injuries, Elsom has only played two matches off the bench for NSW this season and is likely to continue his cautious return against his former team, the Brumbies, in Canberra on Saturday night.
Elsom's housemate in Sydney, Waratahs fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, is returning to Canberra for the first time since leaving the Brumbies to join NSW.
While Elsom, who had played for the Waratahs before going to Ireland, only spent two years in Canberra, Ashley-Cooper had played for the Brumbies since making his Super Rugby debut against the Crusaders in 2005. ..... blah blah

 

[barbarian]

While many observers still regard the 75-Test veteran as one of the most important players in Australian rugby

I think the only two 'observers' that actually believe that are Robbie Deans and Bret Harris.

 

[waratahjesus]

Heard it depends on his comeback. If his body handles it well and he thinks he is a shot of playing in the lions tour he will stay, if he feels it's not holding up then he will be off to Japan, first I've heard of France though.

 

[tigerland12]

Suprised they mentioned Higginbotham and Mowen (deservedly) but didn't point to the fact that Dave Dennis is easily the Waratahs first choice 6.

Rocky doesn't seem to have the will-power to persist and actually improve his game to become a starting player for the Wallabies and Waratahs again. It comes off as him going " I'm not starting, why should I stay and get paid for less, when I can earn a shitload in France and play every week".

Eh look out for number 1, we have depth now (Higgers, Dennis, Mowen).

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I actually don't reckon I care too much if he goes or stays now. We've got other blokes who are ready to step up and Rocky is hardly out on the paddock these days.

 

[fatprop]

Kudos to the Tahs for writing a decent contract.

Rocky is a bloody good option if he can get on the field, a great competitor

But if he can't meet the numbers. best of luck

 

[Braveheart81]

If Rocky leaves, the Tahs will definitely need a good replacement akin to Dean Mumm who can play 6 and 4/5.

 

[waratahjesus]

If Rocky leaves, the Tahs will definitely need a good replacement akin to Dean Mumm who can play 6 and 4/5.

L.Timani has to be upgraded to a full contract as well, I heard foley talk about him as an 8/6, with Dennis as well 6 is alright for cover, we definitely need another lock though.

 

[fatprop]

If Rocky leaves, the Tahs will definitely need a good replacement akin to Dean Mumm who can play 6 and 4/5.

nah, Dennis & Timani are the 6/5s.

The key issue is for Greg Peterson to step up

 

[Braveheart81]

I guess this will depend alot on Vickerman's situation next season. At this stage he is surely unlikely.

Surely with Mumm gone, S Timani and Douglas are our starting 4/5, and our starting backrow is Dennis, Palu, Hooper/Alcock (As good as Hooper is, Alcock has been superb this season. I'm not sure Hooper is an absolute walk-up starter yet. He probably will be though).

That leaves Lopeti Timani on the bench to replace Palu, probably Peterson to replace Timani or Douglas and I guess Alcock or Hooper.

I guess Dennis is expected to play 80 minutes almost every week.

 

[Moses]

Looking forward to seeing more of Greg Peterson, is he the tallest lock in Oz?
Certainly plays hard and tight from the little I've seen.

 

[cyclopath]

How big a second row pairing would Peterson and Sitaleki Timani be (not that I am specifically suggesting that combo)?? 2 very large humans.

 

[Moses]

How big a second row pairing would Peterson and Sitaleki Timani be (not that I am specifically suggesting that combo)?? 2 very large humans.

and they'd have 2 rats tails between them

 

[Inside Shoulder]

If Rocky leaves, the Tahs will definitely need a good replacement akin to Dean Mumm who can play 6 and 4/5.

The last thing any team needs is a player akin to Mumm.....although i don't think he gave away a penalty on Sunday did he?
I cannot see how Rocky would ever be selected ahead of Dennis on Dennis' current form.

Rocky doesn't seem to have the will-power to persist and actually improve his game to become a starting player for the Wallabies and Waratahs again.

My credentials in rocky bashing are second to none but i don't see what basis there is for this statement: he has been playing irregularly for nearly 2 seasons - clearly playing with pain and physical limitations last season leading to the surgery that has disrupted this season - so how would anyone know (a) what level his game is at, and (b) whether he has given up on trying to improve it?

He must have done the work to have even got back on the park last week so I can't see the basis for asserting lack of will-power: there'd be a lot of long lonely rehab fueled only by will power for him to get back to playing I would have thought.

Man - Id be happy to see him go but not for these reasons

 

[RugbyReg]

Looking forward to seeing more of Greg Peterson, is he the tallest lock in Oz?
Certainly plays hard and tight from the little I've seen.

media guide saying:

Battye 2.04
Petereson 2.04
Vickerman 2.03
T-Money 2.03
Van 2.03
Douglas 2.02
Cadeyrn Neville 2.02
Byrnes 2.01
Campbell 2.01
Pyle 2.01

Weren't Peterson and Battye locking partners in the oz Schoolboys team? Handy height.

 

[Braveheart81]

The last thing any team needs is a player akin to Mumm.....although i don't think he gave away a penalty on Sunday did he?
I cannot see how Rocky would ever be selected ahead of Dennis on Dennis' current form.

I didn't mean someone who played like Mumm. Just someone who can play both lock and blindside flanker.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I didn't mean someone who played like Mumm. Just someone who can play both lock and blindside flanker.

Fair enough - but you can understand by alarm at the thought of getting another Mumm?

 

[qwerty51]

media guide saying:

Battye 2.04
Petereson 2.04
Vickerman 2.03
T-Money 2.03
Van 2.03
Douglas 2.02
Cadeyrn Neville 2.02
Byrnes 2.01
Campbell 2.01
Pyle 2.01

Weren't Peterson and Battye locking partners in the oz Schoolboys team? Handy height.

Peterson and Jones, same as the u20s locks last year

I don't rate Peterson, solid at club rugby due to his size but a lack of skills won't see him progress further on imo

 

[Bardon]

Not sure how strong Rocky's ties to Stade will be by the end of the season. I would say it would hinge on Cheika still being there and not being tempted back to Aus with the Force. Just speculating but there's a possibility of Rocky joining Cheika at the Force if he takes the gig. There are some ex-Leinster players at Stade that Rocky played with but I still think the decision would hinge on the coach.

 

[fatprop]

Peterson and Jones, same as the u20s locks last year

I don't rate Peterson, solid at club rugby due to his size but a lack of skills won't see him progress further on imo

what skills is he lacking?, he is a big lock, his job is to push, move rucks and catch the ball above his head.