Tahu played for the Wallabies
Thoughts on Folau to rugby
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Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
More and more young blokes are going to try their hand at both codes. This shouldn't be seen as a negative, but as a positive.
It doesn't mean that rugby should not develop our own talent, but we start miles behind league in terms of junior player numbers. Talent knows no geographical boundaries and league dominates in southern and western Sydney, where there is a huge pool of boys, youths and young men who have the ability, if properly coached, to play rugby. Many of these players will have had little or no exposure to rugby in their formative years as there probably isn't a village club nearby but there are 2 or more junior league clubs close to where they live and league at school.
This shouldn't mean that we right them off as leagies who have no idea about rugby. We should be thinking of innovative ways to identify class athletes and get them into rugby. You have to pick the right ones, which is where talent indentification comes in.
Long term of course NSWRU and ARU need to spend buckets of money setting up junior/village clubs in this part of Sydney.
It doesn't mean that rugby should not develop our own talent, but we start miles behind league in terms of junior player numbers. Talent knows no geographical boundaries and league dominates in southern and western Sydney, where there is a huge pool of boys, youths and young men who have the ability, if properly coached, to play rugby. Many of these players will have had little or no exposure to rugby in their formative years as there probably isn't a village club nearby but there are 2 or more junior league clubs close to where they live and league at school.
This shouldn't mean that we right them off as leagies who have no idea about rugby. We should be thinking of innovative ways to identify class athletes and get them into rugby. You have to pick the right ones, which is where talent indentification comes in.
Long term of course NSWRU and ARU need to spend buckets of money setting up junior/village clubs in this part of Sydney.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
T
Train Without a Station
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I think some of the best value converts have come across with either a rugby background or minimal fanfare.
I thought Choc and Mac were both great for the Reds.
Ryan Cross was a good convert, but he did play Aus schoolboys. Probably a better rugby grounding.
What Folau has against him is that they are no longer gifting the jerseys for converts like they did for Sailor, Tahu Tuquiri(ended up doing quite well) and Rogers (would have made it anyway).
I thought Choc and Mac were both great for the Reds.
Ryan Cross was a good convert, but he did play Aus schoolboys. Probably a better rugby grounding.
What Folau has against him is that they are no longer gifting the jerseys for converts like they did for Sailor, Tahu Tuquiri(ended up doing quite well) and Rogers (would have made it anyway).
scaraby
Ron Walden (29)
We can debate the league/union debate all day but even with the lists above you've got guys like Polla Mounter and Wally Lewis who were Aussie Schoolboys before league as was Cross at Waverley. So if the cream of the union guys went to league for the money then came back to Rugby are they converts?
He played in the centres for the Broncos at times
My concerns are about his ability to adapt in weeks positionally
Henry said that it took SBW 4 years to become a rugby player and not just an athlete who could play
Methinks he will do some great things and quite a few dumb things. How the ledger tallies in 6 months - dunno
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qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Yes SBW was not great at all in his first year in Toulon, he made a lot of simple errors and was caught out defensively often. I really have doubts that he will make the 22 often in 2013, that's why I would've preferred he earned big $$ in France for 1-2 years before playing Super rugby.
RL 2nd rowers often play the inside centre role in the right/left structure of most modern league teams
scaraby
Ron Walden (29)
Good point but I don't think Izzie will be asked to direct defensive patterns from inside. Catch, run ,drop back ,catch high ball
run over QLD backs etc(that was a fun dig don't shoot me). He'll be asked to read overlaps but they do that in league.
Good point but I don't think Izzie will be asked to direct defensive patterns from inside. Catch, run ,drop back ,catch high ball
They do, but often on just one side of the field for their whole careers, guys like Tahu had major issues in defensive reads at 13 because he could be managing 40m of space and overlaps (not just a 15m channel(ie defensive decision making, not just tackling)) and passing to his wrong side
With Folau's limited time, I just can't see him playing anywhere but wing, and then we will see his understanding of the work ethic off the ball needed, not just hit ups and catching high balls.
BDA
Jim Lenehan (48)
yesterday there was a story in the paper where Folau was being asked about playing in the Lions Series. Today mcKenzie giving his two cents; stating that he doubts he'll be involved in the Lions series.
Seriously the Media are really eating up the Folau Defection Saga. The truth is Folau has 0.00% chance of playing for the Wallabies in next years June tests. He'll need at least an entire Super season to find his feet and prove himself. Even guys that have proved themselves at Super level (such as Tomane or Speight) wont get a call up for the Lions tour if they dont already have test match experience. Any respectable rugby journalist knows this reality. Nevertheless they write the story.
The ARU is already benefiting heaily from Folau's signing by way of an increased presence in the media.
Hopefully Folau has enough success this year that he decides to stick around for the 2015 WC. By then I would expect him to be considered in the same vien as O'Connor, Ioane, and Beale in terms backline importance.
Seriously the Media are really eating up the Folau Defection Saga. The truth is Folau has 0.00% chance of playing for the Wallabies in next years June tests. He'll need at least an entire Super season to find his feet and prove himself. Even guys that have proved themselves at Super level (such as Tomane or Speight) wont get a call up for the Lions tour if they dont already have test match experience. Any respectable rugby journalist knows this reality. Nevertheless they write the story.
The ARU is already benefiting heaily from Folau's signing by way of an increased presence in the media.
Hopefully Folau has enough success this year that he decides to stick around for the 2015 WC. By then I would expect him to be considered in the same vien as O'Connor, Ioane, and Beale in terms backline importance.
O
Ole Two Blue
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I think it's a great coup for rugby. in terms of recruiting a talented player and also arguably the most high profile Polynesian rugby player of either code. So marketability will also benefit.
And from a playing perspective, here's hoping the Tahs don't teach him to kick like they have to every other backline player in living memory!! Run the ball Izzy, from anywhere.
I'd play him on the wing too. Or atleast until I'm convinced he can organise the defence effectively enough from 13. The Tahs outside backs on paper look very impressive, issue is though who they play at 9,10,12. McKibbin's pass is average at best, Barnes kicks too much at 10, Carter can't (won't) pass at 12 (sorry Bruce, I know he's your love child) and it will be interessting to see where they play Foley. I am a huge fan of the passing and deception ability of Volavola and believe he'll be a darkhorse in getting that 10 jersey. I would anticipate they'll play AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15.
If they want to attack, then I'd like to see something like this.
9- McKibbin (isn't there anyone else)
10- Volavola
11 - Folau
12 - Barnes
13 - Horne
14 - Mitchell
15 - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
then when Horne gets injured (we all know he will) the options available would be either moving AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13 and Foley to 15 or Folau to 13 and Turner onto the wing. BIG question mark over the 9 and 10 though. Perhaps Foley plays 10 til he goes into the typical Uni conservative style. If Barnes plays 10, none of them will get the ball.
if Barnes plays 15, they could only play Carter at 12, which means we'll kick more often than not and when we run it, we'll turn it over in contact as per last 5 years.
And from a playing perspective, here's hoping the Tahs don't teach him to kick like they have to every other backline player in living memory!! Run the ball Izzy, from anywhere.
I'd play him on the wing too. Or atleast until I'm convinced he can organise the defence effectively enough from 13. The Tahs outside backs on paper look very impressive, issue is though who they play at 9,10,12. McKibbin's pass is average at best, Barnes kicks too much at 10, Carter can't (won't) pass at 12 (sorry Bruce, I know he's your love child) and it will be interessting to see where they play Foley. I am a huge fan of the passing and deception ability of Volavola and believe he'll be a darkhorse in getting that 10 jersey. I would anticipate they'll play AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15.
If they want to attack, then I'd like to see something like this.
9- McKibbin (isn't there anyone else)
10- Volavola
11 - Folau
12 - Barnes
13 - Horne
14 - Mitchell
15 - AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
then when Horne gets injured (we all know he will) the options available would be either moving AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13 and Foley to 15 or Folau to 13 and Turner onto the wing. BIG question mark over the 9 and 10 though. Perhaps Foley plays 10 til he goes into the typical Uni conservative style. If Barnes plays 10, none of them will get the ball.
if Barnes plays 15, they could only play Carter at 12, which means we'll kick more often than not and when we run it, we'll turn it over in contact as per last 5 years.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
This is Folau's 2012 done right (in my opinion):
- Starts from the bench and moves into the starting XV mid-season as he learns about the game and (no doubt) the Tahs get some injuries.
- During the Lions window he plays Shute Shield rugby.
- Post Super Rugby he plays NPC in NZ, get a shitload of rugby into him in a very short window. There would be literally nothing better than him playing 2 times every week for a short period, this is something SS doesn't offer.
- Take him on the Spring Tour only to play midweek games (which we will hopefully have) unless he is coming along excellently.
Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
Glad to see the positive comments are starting to flow. I'm still thinking of investing in a hat factory though.
http://sphotos-b.AK (Andrew Kellaway).fbcdn.net/hphotos-AK (Andrew Kellaway)-prn1/559772_10151233194582144_615623281_n.jpg
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