Strengths and weaknesses of Super teams

[RugbyReg]

Wahoo. I know who you mean and agree.

 

[PaarlBok]

The most useless international no 3. Aftert all his injuries he can barely run. I just watched the 2010 Magners final. He jogs from scrum to scrum. Go watch the EOYT games where he came on. He is a liability. Will not suit S15 rugby. Simply too slow to make any impact. A prop needs to hit rucks. The rucks are over when CJ gets there.

As for the Stormers that's a fantastic squad. On paper they can definitely win it. Your problem is self belief in big games. Semi final loss is my prediction.

Its make or break time for CJ. If he dont starts game after game for the Stormers he'll be gone. Did not mention it but the Stormers backup, WP Vodacom Cup squad will be pack with talent from 2010 WP U21 CC winners. Saw Dewald Duvenhage yesterday at Struisbaai, driving a big Audi these days.

 

[tranquility]

Wahoo. I know who you mean and agree.

yep. and his mate the back also looks pretty handy.

 

[disco]

But who is the next Cliffy?

Yeah 8 is our weak point. We have blokes who can fill in but will never be world beaters.

 

[TOCC]

I watched a few replays of Reds games the other day, now I know this player receives a lot of criticism, but jeez Leroy Houston plays sublime at times, his running game is good but his ball playing ability and off loading is top notch, maybe a full pre-season with link and injury free will have him conditioned to test standard, he is after all still only 24.

Palu didn't get picked for the Wallabies until he was 24...

 

[tranquility]

I watched a few replays of Reds games the other day, now I know this player receives a lot of criticism, but jeez Leroy Houston plays sublime at times, his running game is good but his ball playing ability and off loading is top notch, maybe a full pre-season with link and injury free will have him conditioned to test standard, he is after all still only 24.

Palu didn't get picked for the Wallabies until he was 24...

he was also a missionary, and hence didn't do any serious work for 12 months in his early 20s? maybe longer?

But yes the potential of Leapin Leroy is still very much untapped.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I watched a few replays of Reds games the other day, now I know this player receives a lot of criticism, but jeez Leroy Houston plays sublime at times, his running game is good but his ball playing ability and off loading is top notch, maybe a full pre-season with link and injury free will have him conditioned to test standard, he is after all still only 24.

Palu didn't get picked for the Wallabies until he was 24...

My mate and I were talking about him the other day. Can't help but think that by somebody getting in his ear about doing more extras on the training track and less extras at KFC, he could become an international standard player.

 

[TOCC]

he was also a missionary, and hence didn't do any serious work for 12 months in his early 20s? maybe longer?

But yes the potential of Leapin Leroy is still very much untapped.

Leroy also had a sojourn from rugby.. I just mentioned his age because it feels as though he has been around for much longer

 

[Train Without a Station]

He has been around for a while though hasn't he? Didn't he get selected as a 17 year old in 2005 by fast Eddie?

 

[observer]

He had some discipline problems when he was originally at the Tahs (missing training etc) not mungo-type stuff. At the end of the 2006 season he decided he wanted a break from professional rugby because of the pressures involved. So in 2007 he signed on to play mungoball with Asquith Magpies (where he grew up) in was was known then as the Jim Beam Cup a 3rd tier Sydney competition. I think he then signed with the Reds in 2008.

I first saw him as a 16 year old playing colts for Eastwood. He was a prodigious talent then and many people predicted he would be a star one day.

 

[Refabit]

Leroy certainly leads the way in tackle busts. Maybe not so hot on the training paddock as he always looks like he's carrying around too many quarter pounders. It looked like poor hands also were the original reason he was demoted under Mooney.
Bring on the magic Link ...

 

[Train Without a Station]

Can't forget playing for Australia A in 2008 I believe when he was fatter than any prop on the field.

 

[Gnostic]

Leroy has reminded me often of Jone Tawake. Talent in abundance but lacked that final finishing edge to really make the step up. I hope the steps that he made last year are built upon this year. He could easily take the back up spot to Palu if he could apply his talent on the park.

I have always felt it a great pity that Tawake didn't step up as I could see another Willie O in his club play.

 

[Slim 293]

Tawake was in good form back in 2007 for the Brumbies when he was playing blindside flanker... made a great combination with Smith and Hoiles in the second half of the season when they won their last six games straight...

Probably deserved the chance at a step up but Connolly wasn't picking on form when he announced his first test squad that year...

Unfortunately he fell back into old habits and had to go...

 

[tranquility]

Tawake was in good form back in 2007 for the Brumbies when he was playing blindside flanker... made a great combination with Smith and Hoiles in the second half of the season when they won their last six games straight...

Probably deserved the chance at a step up but Connolly wasn't picking on form when he announced his first test squad that year...

Unfortunately he fell back into old habits and had to go...

Ha ha. The poor bugger also lost a finger, which couldn't have helped..

 

[Slim 293]

His ball handling did seem to improve after he had it removed... temporarily...