Rocky?

[RugbyReg]

Thoughts on his form? He was a little better in the 2nd half, but I didn't see him do too much.

Big tackle on Banahan. One lineout jump (on the defence).

If he wasn't just made skipper I think we'd be entitled to question his place in the team.

Big match for him v the Paddies next week!

 

[waratahjesus]

big call,

when you think of our options at six, i think he is still a long long way ahead of any other possibility.

dont honestly think he is playing that badly, he is the leader we need right now, know he can do better, but he isnt exactly playing 'bad' rugby!

 

[fatprop]

I thought he was much better this week, defended well and worked hard at the breakdown.

He is getting double teamed when he runs.

 

[Pfitzy]

He did a bit more lineout work than that I thought Nodster. :nta:

His second half featured some big hits and ball running. I think he has to learn to switch between captain mode and player mode - while the ball is in play, get on with being a good blindside. When the ref blows the whistle, be John Eales.

 

[Spook]

I thought he was excellent. Big runs, great lineout work, big tackles. I think he's getting into form.

 

[cyclopath]

Rocky's going OK. There is daylight behind him too at the moment, I might add.

 

[RugbyReg]

happy to take that all on board and perhaps have a Rocky veiwing of the game gain.

I don't know about such a big gap at the moment, happy to have Smith or Mumm at 6.

But like I said, I may be too harsh on Rocky, and probably need to watch him specifically.

 

[Spook]

Nod, Smith or Mumm at 6? Really? :nta:

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah, that's coming from a position that I don't think Rocky is contributing much. But as I said, I need to review the match again.

 

[Spook]

What about his carries. I think he busted the line twice. I thought his lineout work was good as well.

 

[Pfitzy]

He ran sideways a bit but that's habit from playing against lesser lights in Europe

 

[Ash]

Don't think we could afford Smith at 6. Without a Vicerkman or Eales in the second row we really need a 6 who can jump well at 2. Mumm or Chapman would have to be the two considered.

Thought Rocky went OK, and also agree there's daylight next if it's Mumm or Chapman. The good thing is he's getting better - remember he spent a while injured.

 

[straightshooter]

Don't think we could afford Smith at 6. Without a Vicerkman or Eales in the second row we really need a 6 who can jump well at 2. Mumm or Chapman would have to be the two considered.

Thought Rocky went OK, and also agree there's daylight next if it's Mumm or Chapman. The good thing is he's getting better - remember he spent a while injured.

No question that Rocky is a champion player - NOW captain he needs to play champion games each game - lead from the front etc - God, the bloke gets paid a fortune, is placed on a pedestal AND he needs to perform at the top end each and every time

 

[Scotty]

Noddy, I'm with you in that he was non-existant in the first half, but did pick it up in the 2nd. I'd give him a average pass mark overall.

 

[Scotty]

PS He will never live up to the hype he got overseas against some weaker defenses, and by some here when he has a cracking game in a loose match. As Naza says, he can't make meters in heavy traffic, but I do think he is good two passes off the breakdwon, or in support.

He was good in the lineout last night.

 

[Lee Grant]

One thing I like about Noddy is that he gives an opinion and when it is challenged he doesn't respond with a diatribe justifying his view. We can all learn a lot from that. I wouldn't mind $10 for every time I have given an opinion in good faith and watched the game a 2nd time and said "Faaaarque".

I'll have to watch it a 2nd time too. My view was that his comeback was like that of a thoroughbred who has been coming back from a long injury and before that hadn't had a spell for a long time - too long actually. Last night he showed signs that he was coming back into work well whilst not yet back to the form in Group 1 races that he had before he left for overseas.

For the knockers who may wish to say that he was always over-rated - don't bother.

 

[louie]

I thought he was good without bring great. paid eith a lot of heart and kept going.
But as a capo i want to see him in the refs ear a bit more. even we were 6-0 down on pens he should have been blowing up about it.

 

[Hugonaut]

He ran sideways a bit but that's habit from playing against lesser lights in Europe

Not that much differences in terms of backrow competition in Europe and the southern hemisphere - David Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Imanol Harinordoquay, Sergio Parisse, Thierry Dusautoir et al are as good as [if not better in the latter two cases] than anything in the Tri-Nations bar McCaw*.

Rocky doesn't seem to be playing as well as he did when he was with Leinster. He absolutely owned Tom Croft in the the HEC final [Croft and the rest of the Leicester backrow, to be honest] whereas Croft held his own today. That's just my opinion, but I did see every match that Rocky played last season, and he doesn't look like the same player that he was a couple of months ago. I've no doubt that he'll come roaring back into form ... just in time to put a licking on us!

* I don't think that there has been a 7 to compare with him in the pro era. Another masterclass today against the Welsh.

 

[Viking]

This is probably going to sound dumb but im just going to throw it out there. Ever thought about making elsom a lock, he's tall enough!, then we could have pocock at 6 and smith at 7. That would solve the breakdown problem! why not get adventurous

 

[naza]

You guys are just realising this now ? :lmao: :lmao: