Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Correct - though Simmons (at the moment) and Sharpe, are LH locks (or, Sharpe should be) and don't have the same value in scrummaging.
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Correct - though Simmons (at the moment) and Sharpe, are LH locks (or, Sharpe should be) and don't have the same value in scrummaging.
I realise - I was inferring an injury to Horwill especially, as I would hate to see Sharpe at TH lock again. Also, it would be nice to have another lock that hits hard up the coaches' sleeves.
Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
I wouldn't assume anything at this stage. The man is a consummate professional. He never retired but had the opportunity to round off his education in a world class environment. All reports suggest that he has really applied himself diligently to that. He continued to play, albeit at a non-demanding level and his body has had adequate time to heal.
When he left for Cambridge he said that he would wait until he completed the degree before deciding whether he wanted to continue playing professionally. He signed a contract with the ARU and the Waratahs in advance of his final year of study so it is reasonable to assume that he is rested up and keen to get back into the heavy stuff. He has now started playing with Northampton in time to get some serious games in before coming back for the final games of the Super series.
Australian rugby has never had an abundance of hard men and natural leaders, so I for one would not be surprised to see him reclaim a starting spot with the Wallabies, but it is far too soon to tell.
S
slasher
Guest
if any of our current locks hit the ruck with the force and technique Vick did in the parts i caught last night, we would not need him back. We need him to keep progressing, we don't need a second receiver in the row with the backs we should have.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
So a good start then. Let's just hope he stays healthy enough to make an impact later on the season. It will be good to have him back.
jason
Sydney Middleton (9)
Had a chat with a mate of mine who starts at tighthead for the Cambridge Blues with Dan.
As Bruce said, apparently he's the total professional. My mate reckons he changed the entire mentality of the group - if a hooker missed a lineout he'd get absolutely blasted, every set piece move had to be executed to perfection every time. By the sounds of it he's an incredibly hard task master and a stubborn perfectionist. Not to mention his own game - my mate has played against guys like Euan Murray and Nathan Hines but says that Vickerman is the single most physically imposing player he's ever come up against, partly because he works harder in the gym than anyone else. He said he'd never seen anyone hit rucks or push in scrums quite as hard as Vicks.
Anyway, this is all stuff that we know already - but it's good to know that he hasn't lost it over the last couple of years. He hasn't been slacking off in semi-retirement, so I'm very optimistic as to what he can bring the Tahs/Wobbs over the next few years.
As Bruce said, apparently he's the total professional. My mate reckons he changed the entire mentality of the group - if a hooker missed a lineout he'd get absolutely blasted, every set piece move had to be executed to perfection every time. By the sounds of it he's an incredibly hard task master and a stubborn perfectionist. Not to mention his own game - my mate has played against guys like Euan Murray and Nathan Hines but says that Vickerman is the single most physically imposing player he's ever come up against, partly because he works harder in the gym than anyone else. He said he'd never seen anyone hit rucks or push in scrums quite as hard as Vicks.
Anyway, this is all stuff that we know already - but it's good to know that he hasn't lost it over the last couple of years. He hasn't been slacking off in semi-retirement, so I'm very optimistic as to what he can bring the Tahs/Wobbs over the next few years.
Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
That's potentially very exciting feedback, jason, particularly his commitment to the gym. Those of us who know the big fella should have realised he wouldn't have wanted to come back if he couldn't play at a high standard.
Similarly with his studies. He won't mind me saying that he is not hugely gifted academically but I have recently had feedback that he has been really hitting the books with his finals coming up.
They reckon Julie Bishop and Tony Abbott are exponents of the death stare. I'd have my money on Vicks.
Similarly with his studies. He won't mind me saying that he is not hugely gifted academically but I have recently had feedback that he has been really hitting the books with his finals coming up.
They reckon Julie Bishop and Tony Abbott are exponents of the death stare. I'd have my money on Vicks.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Ruggo,
That's the beauty of Horwill.
The negative of having two TH locks in the team like a Thorn type and a Bakkies type is that you lose some ability that a LH lock has. Usually he's the more athletic lineout jumper at 4 (with the other guy at 2); he's the guy who is a good ball runner and maybe a good linker (like Lawes of England), and he gets around the park better.
But, in the main Horwill, covers those areas, and potentially Douglas could too.
Yep - the above is full of generalisations, I know.
That's the beauty of Horwill.
The negative of having two TH locks in the team like a Thorn type and a Bakkies type is that you lose some ability that a LH lock has. Usually he's the more athletic lineout jumper at 4 (with the other guy at 2); he's the guy who is a good ball runner and maybe a good linker (like Lawes of England), and he gets around the park better.
But, in the main Horwill, covers those areas, and potentially Douglas could too.
Yep - the above is full of generalisations, I know.
T
Toby Lerone
Guest
I'll chip in with my thoughts here - great to see Vickerman back, not a great game for Northampton but he was solid.
Excellent attitude too, offering to play as an amateur for the rest of the season - he's obviously trying very hard to work his way back to match-fitness.
Excellent attitude too, offering to play as an amateur for the rest of the season - he's obviously trying very hard to work his way back to match-fitness.
Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
I wasn't aware of that but it does not surprise me. He has always said that he doesn't play for money. That didn't stop him from being quite hard-nosed in negotiating with the ARU. It rankled him that all the big dollars went to the blokes who did none of the hard graft.
A unique individual, Vicks.
My memory of Horwill is unfortunately vague, hopefully he plays as well as others remember him, but I never saw Horwill as a quality TH lock, more of a LH lock as TH locks don't run round at 6.
Can you imagine Vickerman, Botha or Thorn being stuck at 6? TH lock is the engine room, the close in guy who cleans out, tackles hard, pushes hard and makes direct hard yards 5m either side of the ruck.
I see Horwill as the 2 jumper and the mobile ball runner
I think he could play anywhere, I think he could have been as good a 13 as Tindall is now when he was younger as well.
But I think Thorn likes the physicality of being a tight forward
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
Big powerful blokes like him generally are not as quick and mobile as Horwill. He most certainly can play different styles of games including tight. That is what makes him quality.
I look forward to him demonstrating it throughout the S15 comp and the Test series
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
A fit trio of Sharpe, Horwill and Vicks all of a sudden takes a second row squad that might have been a bit shaky into one that looks like the business at test level, when you add kids like Douglas and Simmons into the mix.
T
TOCC
Guest
I think there is a fine line between being a enforcer and being a loose cannon(ie Adam Byrnes).... When he was younger Horwill tiptoed often drifted into the loose cannon category.. Sure, try and physically intimidate the opposition, but dont do it in a way which gets us penalised off the park..
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