This.Kevin, At the moment we have Holloway and Valetini one runs the lineout and the other is an option jumper. Our issue is not the lack of a big 7 (although I would like one, Wright?) the issue is the limited number of our team that can pilfer. The French are a great example of a pilfering team they have a centre name? who is as good a pilferer as I have seen.
Yes this is part of what I have statedLol NZ players play less club rugby than we do. They play NPC and the very occasional club game if there is strangely a week with no Super Rugby or NPC.
Can we just stop this narrative? Australian players play more amateur rugby than any other country.
I just don't see Samu nor Gleeson getting to the breakdowns fast enough playing at 7.I think the suggestion of Samu or Gleeson at 7 is more a reflection of what Hooper and McReight aren't providing. Hooper looks well off his best and McReight didn't exactly grab the opportunity with both hands last weekend. Both Hooper and McReight have looked a little lightweight in TRC so far. What's the value of an athletic mobile backrower if they can't physically match it at the breakdown.
Gleeson is the fastest of our forwards apparently. Mind you, experience counts for a good #7.I just don't see Samu nor Gleeson getting to the breakdowns fast enough playing at 7.
They can be impact players with their size and speed therefore at 6.
Perhaps the idea of playing two larger players on the side is to have a left 6 and a right 6? So many teams seem to be playing a bigger body at 7 these days and it has an obvious benefit in tightening up the defences. Our best 7s, Hooper and McReight, might be a bit quicker to the breakdown, but particularly in Michael Hooper's case over the past couple of years, he is down on physicality at the breakdown. Neither of them make a swag of turnovers, indeed some games they don't make any, so if they are somewhat ineffective and easily get dominated by the larger bodies in the opposition then its almost like going into the match with half a player compared with the opposition. Now, if it becomes the responsibility of every player to be hard at the breakdown and to look to pilfer, it looks like a team might be better off with the bigger body playing like a second No 6 in the side.I just don't see Samu nor Gleeson getting to the breakdowns fast enough playing at 7.
They can be impact players with their size and speed therefore at 6.
So for McReight's paudits & criticisms of his player contributions , you have to weigh up the pros Vs the cons.Despite the stats and hard facts, in the eyes of some size queens, he will always be 'too small'
Hooper's strength has never been pilfering and it has never needed to be. He gets through a mountain of work because he is the most athletic forward on the field. Regularly tops the tackle count and hits the most rucks in offence and defence. Usually the best link play in the forwards, etc. Granted after 110+ appearances he hasnt been able to maintain the standard he once met.Perhaps the idea of playing two larger players on the side is to have a left 6 and a right 6? So many teams seem to be playing a bigger body at 7 these days and it has an obvious benefit in tightening up the defences. Our best 7s, Hooper and McReight, might be a bit quicker to the breakdown, but particularly in Michael Hooper's case over the past couple of years, he is down on physicality at the breakdown. Neither of them make a swag of turnovers, indeed some games they don't make any, so if they are somewhat ineffective and easily get dominated by the larger bodies in the opposition then its almost like going into the match with half a player compared with the opposition. Now, if it becomes the responsibility of every player to be hard at the breakdown and to look to pilfer, it looks like a team might be better off with the bigger body playing like a second No 6 in the side.
Fastest in a straight line =/= fastest to rucks around the park.Gleeson is the fastest of our forwards apparently. Mind you, experience counts for a good #7.
Perhaps the idea of playing two larger players on the side is to have a left 6 and a right 6? So many teams seem to be playing a bigger body at 7 these days and it has an obvious benefit in tightening up the defences. Our best 7s, Hooper and McReight, might be a bit quicker to the breakdown, but particularly in Michael Hooper's case over the past couple of years, he is down on physicality at the breakdown. Neither of them make a swag of turnovers, indeed some games they don't make any, so if they are somewhat ineffective and easily get dominated by the larger bodies in the opposition then its almost like going into the match with half a player compared with the opposition. Now, if it becomes the responsibility of every player to be hard at the breakdown and to look to pilfer, it looks like a team might be better off with the bigger body playing like a second No 6 in the side.
Excellent news, he is our best hooker and a good scrummager needs to be in the WC squad for us to go deep, will also be good to slightly free up overseas based selections now he is back in AusA little bit of hope for the hooker position
BPA signed with force for 2023
Bring him in
He is busted though isn’t he? I think everyone on the forum would be happy to have him in the squad, the ankle injury was reported as season ending in April - it’s a different season up there obviously but that’s only 3 months ago. Might be a stretch to have him fit? He surely would have been one of ‘the 5’ if he was fit.Excellent news, he is our best hooker and a good scrummager needs to be in the WC squad for us to go deep, will also be good to slightly free up overseas based selections now he is back in Aus
I do love me some D.This is for Derpus and any of you who think it is OK to focus on the D and, by doing so, give poor support to your fellow players.
Watch from 5:30 to 6:15. A player from the 1920s for Derpus to take the piss out of?
No, it wouldn't. The more interesting stat is how many rucks we set and how many we lose, from memory in the ARG match we set 55 and lost 7 the worst performance in this comp. Then the other stat is how many we commit to attacking rucks v defensive rucks which would of course show up how Hooper/McRight are lone soldiers. Many think we have a pilferer and if he doesn't win the ball then 'it's not my fault as I'm in the D to protect our line' (BS).I do love me some D.
So what's your point. The dude talks about securing ruck ball in attack. We are going to be able to do that better with less mobile forwards? Maybe a statistical comparison of the number of offensive rucks Hooper and McReight hit compared to everyone else would be useful here.
Interesting as he was adamant he'd be fit for next game when questioned at both the Argies game and on the GBRA podcast.It sounds like M Hooper won't be available for the first game so it will be interesting to see what Eddie does.