The "Finds" of Wallaby EOYT

[Reddy!]

I also think Houston is an option. Great hands, agile, strong, good offload, heavy - just needs to improve his fitness and I hope he has. The Reds backrow of Gill, Higginbotham, Houston will be one of the most athletic in the Super 15 next year. I cannot wait.

As for finds of the EOYT - I think it was very very important that our scrum was shown to be the pathetic lump of crap that it is now, rather than next year in a quarter final. I'd say that was a pretty important find, because it wasn't that clear throughout the tri-nations due to injuries.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think Houston has all the tools, but I question his commitment. He struggles for fitness at times and that's an attitude thing as much as anything else. He'll need to have a very big S15 to even be considered.

 

[cyclopath]

I think Houston has all the tools, but I question his commitment. He struggles for fitness at times and that's an attitude thing as much as anything else. He'll need to have a very big S15 to even be considered.

Lacking the "I'm going to work my arse off" tool is a pretty big deficiency. He has had a lot of opportunity thrown his way, with not much in return. I thought he was a great prospect way back, but would seriously be surprised if he makes the step required.

 

[Ash]

Tend to agree about Houston. He goes missing a little too often, and his work rate is a little low. You can tolerate a lower workrate if the player will make several big energy plays every game; with Houston, it's a big energy play every few games. He's a lesser Lyons, and Lyons really annoyed me - Lyons had the amazing ability to go missing for most of a game, do little to none of the hard work, then pull of one huge tackle busting run in the last 20 minutes to look a world beater, then go missing again.

Someone needs to get Houston's attitude right, and getting him to look at how Palu goes about his work would be a great start as Houston should be in a similar mould of number 8 to Palu. Palu had similar issues a few years back with not being able to time his efforts and maintain his workrate, but overcame it in a most impressive manner.

 

[Groucho]

I think Houston has all the tools, but I question his commitment. He struggles for fitness at times and that's an attitude thing as much as anything else. He'll need to have a very big S15 to even be considered.

Yeah, Houston is a 2015 prospect IMO, if he wants it.

 

[TheTruth]

if a player doesn't have the right attitude then piss him off - don't care who it is

 

[daz]

if a player doesn't have the right attitude then piss him off - don't care who it is

To bastardise my favourite quote - There are no bad players; only bad coaches.

 

[fatprop]

To bastardise my favourite quote - There are no bad players; only bad coaches.

nah, the coach can't stop the player driving through and picking up a load of KFC or maccas after training. There has to be some personal responsibility

 

[Running Rugby]

The find of the 'tour' was for me some semblance of a game plan. O.K it took until the France game and OK it was against what proved to be average opposition, but it did appear to be a game plan.

 

[naza]

Naza; trying to work out where you got John "tits for hands" Roe from. Being an ex-five eighth, Roe had better hands and ball skills (apart from offloading) than a certain 120kg wrecking ball that is, when fit, far and away the best number 8 in Australia. (Of couse, I am not saying that Roe was a better number 8 at all.)

From a test in France in 2004 or 2005 in which he'd finally earned a starting spot due to the selectors giving in to incessant Queensland braying. Only to knock the ball on every single time he touched it. It must have been 8 drops or knock ons, no exaggeration. Christ he was awful that day.

McCalman is a major positive. We have backup for Palu. And he's a tough 22 year old who will only get better. Not a doughy soft fatboy like Dave Lyons who peaked at 18 and got worse every year after.

 

[naza]

To bastardise my favourite quote - There are no bad players; only bad coaches.

Garbage. You can't polish a turd.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I think a lot of people are looking through rose coloured glasses when talking about Palu. Looked good on the EOYT last year, but has yet to make his mark in the tri-nations. As for McCarlman he certainly does leave a little to be desired still and the comment about a lot of other players being messiahs and falling off the face of the earth pretty quickly is extremely relevant.

Also regarding getting in players ears, let's hope Robbie get's in Higginbothom's ear and tells him that he has all the potential in the world and that if he worked harder he could really go places because as much as I rate this guy, I get the impression he is just cruising at the moment.

 

[Groucho]

I think a lot of people are looking through rose coloured glasses when talking about Palu. Looked good on the EOYT last year, but has yet to make his mark in the tri-nations. As for McCarlman he certainly does leave a little to be desired still and the comment about a lot of other players being messiahs and falling off the face of the earth pretty quickly is extremely relevant.

Also regarding getting in players ears, let's hope Robbie get's in Higginbothom's ear and tells him that he has all the potential in the world and that if he worked harder he could really go places because as much as I rate this guy, I get the impression he is just cruising at the moment.

Where is the STRONGLY DISAGREE Button?

 

[Train Without a Station]

On Palu or Higgers?

Palu. Sure on his day the guy is a world beater. Plenty of games though he has gone missing against the ABs and the Wallabies may as well be playing with two loosies.

As for Higgers. Athletically the guy is a superstar. Got a bit of mongrel. But in my opinion the work rate is lacking.

 

[daz]

Garbage. You can't polish a turd.

And why then is the turd on the playing list? Did the player just decide to award himself a contract?

If you are crap at your job, what are the chances you would walk into your bosses office and say "hey, I can't believe how awful I am. I have no motivation, desire or discipline to succeed. Please cancel my x,000,000 a year deal".

Bullshit. If you are crap, the coach either fires you, or brings you back in line.

I stand by my quote.

 

[daz]

nah, the coach can't stop the player driving through and picking up a load of KFC or maccas after training. There has to be some personal responsibility

Yeah, it's called "get on board or fuck off". The personal responsibility of who? The coach...

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Cliffy isn't perfect. He is in many ways the ideal eight: big, got skills, carries well and is punishing in defence. But he does fade out of games from time to time. I haven't seen a lot of full 80 minute performances from him, so I think backup will be important. He's still the best we have though.

 

[Groucho]

On Palu or Higgers?

Palu. Sure on his day the guy is a world beater. Plenty of games though he has gone missing against the ABs and the Wallabies may as well be playing with two loosies.

As for Higgers. Athletically the guy is a superstar. Got a bit of mongrel. But in my opinion the work rate is lacking.

Palu.

I don't think Palu ever disappears, other than to fans watching from the stands.

If you look at his stats, they are always outstanding. What he does do is play tight all the time, which is exactly what the Wallabies currently lack. I'd much rather a 120kg Palu hitting hard in defence, than any kind of 116kg seagull winning the plaudits of the crowd by blockbusting runs one out.

Palu is 10x Higgers at the moment. Higgers is a highly talented loose, fast forward with no aptitude for hard work or tight play, and zero test experience.

We need to be more like the ABs, and less like Fiji if we want to win the RWC.

 

[RugbyReg]

well... 20 minutes test experience

 

[DPK]

Groucho, I dub thee "Mrs Palu".