Sam Wykes

[DPK]

Could we rebadge this thread as the Wallaby 4/5 discussion? If it's cool with AC.

 

[Utility Back]

For mine its still Simmons>Wykes. But wykes probably is our 4th national option at present.
Simmons has been getting through a mountain of work for the reds and an unsung hero.

 

[kiap]

Could we rebadge this thread as the Wallaby 4/5 discussion? If it's cool with AC.

Start your own. This is about Wykes and not necessarily about him being a frontline lock at test level.

 

[RugbyReg]

Thread has reached hyperbole.

Yep, world class hyperbole.

 

[Utility Back]

Yep, world class hyperbole.

Once in a generation hyperbole.

 

[DPK]

Once in a generation hyperbole.

The worst hyperbole ever.

 

[kiap]

 

[Lee Grant]

Can he play number 8?

His season to date has been sensational. Surprised a bit that they didn't cheat a bit and measure his height from the top of his hair do down.

Maybe they did. He doesn't seen that massive when you are standing close to him.

He played no.8 a bit last year but I don't know that he started any games there.

I would be reluctant to pick Sam in a Wallabies team this year. What you can do well in Super Rugby does not always relate to success in test rugby. You don't get as many chances to make breaks around the ruck in big test matches as you do in Super games. And you have to work a lot harder in the trenches.

It's difficult for someone of Sam's build to get and hold a 2nd row test spot unless you are an athletic freak like Matfield, who is also skinny and has legs like a table - and is a lineout quarterback as he is.

If Sam plays for Oz it is likely to be as a bench lineout 6 who can play lock if needs be. I said the same thing about him when he joined the Force but he is doing a lot better in pro rugby in the 2nd row now than I thought he would. Maybe I will be proved wrong again.

 

[farva]

He is doing well. We needed one of him or Hockings to stand up this year and partner Sharpe as I doubted that McCalman would want to play 4 given he is now the starting Wallaby 8 (Palu is going to have to work to get it back off of him).

He is not a lineout running lock however. He is more a Botha / Thorn style enforcer.

And with Horwill and Sharpe the starting locks and Elsom the 6, he wont be starting. But he could be an option for the bench.

I guess my real concern in the locking department is who is going to call lineouts. Sharpe can. Can Horwill? If so, then Im not so worried about carrying a 4/5/6/8 style player like Wykes on the bench. But if not then we need someone who can run a lineout there.

But at Super level, Im really happy with how he is now going. He and Dellit are the finds of 2011. Its a pity that Inman hasnt gone on with it from last year (although to be fair injury and signing with the Rebels didnt help his cause).

 

[Jets]

One of the great things that the Reds have done this year is mix up who calls the lineouts. At times I have seen Van, Horwill and Simmons do the job and I am sure in one game even Higgers called a few. I would be great if Wykes was given the responsibility to do it at some stage for the Force as it would be another string in his bow.

I agree with most others that he has been in great from when I have seen him play this year but I think he will more than likely wear a gold jersey next year rather than this one.

 

[Lee Grant]

He and Dellit are the finds of 2011..

There are a few Dellit types around the traps. It didn't surprise too many folks who follow club rugby in Sydney that he would go well. With a bit more pace he would be better still.

But it's hard to know beforehand, for sure, how a new player will perform. I bet if the ARC was still going that Pat would have been identified a year or two earlier. I also bet that about 10 players would be in Super squads now that are not, and that some from the U/21 generation who do have Super contracts, wouldn't be. As a side wager I'd bet, in that parallel universe, that there would be fewer Super duds in squads and also more hard players.

But alas it's just a theory.