M
Mica
Guest
Well in recent weeks there has been a lot of discussion around who should be the number 8 for the Wallabies. Until this morning the incumbent has been Ben McCalman who seems to be generally acknowledged by the GnG community as an honest toiler who doesn't really have the physical presence to be the ball carrying number 8 that is needed.
I like McCalman for his heart and his industry but he certainly isn't a player of the calibre of say Toutai Kefu. Who I would consider our last real world class Number 8.
So what are the options - who are the contenders and what are the pros and cons? Also what are the key attributes that we should be focusing on? Is impact more important than work rate? Is ball carrying king and defensive capability second?
With the match in Durban over and the introduction of both Higgers and Samo to the 3N fray some reflection on the options can take place.
So to get the ball rolling here are my impressions
McCalman:
Pros - Industrious, plays with heart, generally gives 100% of his capability, worker, generally low mistake rate.
Cons - Not showing the ability to be the physical presence required. Not dominant with his defense or with the ball in hand. Not angry enough. Is he big enough? Does someone need to ask him did he hear what Kieran Read said about his mother??
:angryfire:
Higganbotham:
Pros - Brings aggression/mongrel to the pack. Adds an x factor with skills you don't normally get in a loosie (kicking in behind the line with accuracy). In good form. Can cover blind side as well.
Cons - Is number 8 the best utilisation of his talents? Inexperienced at international level (but seems to be handling it well in the chances he has been given). Not as big as Samo or Palu (but technique and controlled aggression are more important IMHO). Can he control the aggression so he doesn't become a penalty magnet?
Samo:
Pros - Big physical presence. The ability to intimidate. Currently best traditional style ball carrier that we have (fit). Lot's of capability - has the potential to be an absolute wrecking ball and a match winner.
Cons - Can be lazy (no where near the industry of McCalman). Can also lose intensity. Ball security and handling could improve. Is he an 80 minute player (and is this required - Are you better off with 60 high impact minutes than 80 minutes with less impact?). Will his age hinder him?
Palu:
Pros - Our biggest forward. Similar type of player to Samo. When he has his head in the right space he reminds me of Kefu. Big physical presence, ball carrier and tackler.
Cons - Palu is such a frustration to me. This guy should be killing it. Is it that he is too nice and not angry enough?? He plays one outstanding game in about every eight to ten, a bunch of average performances and couple of shockers. He gets knocked back in the contact (how does this happen to a 120kg monster?) He seems to lack commitment and can go absent as well. Then when I have lost all hope he pulls out a game where he smashes players, runs over the top of people and even pulls out a sidestep while doing it ??? So why can't he do this for 80% of the games he plays rather than 10%
So what do you think? Any other options? Vaea looked good in some of the games he played in a rubbish Brumbies season this year. Who else is a dark horse?.
Hmm maybe we should run a pole with this also with the Title "GnG selectors - number 8 for Wallabies"
What should happen for Bledisloe 2? (For me I'd stick with Higgers starting and Samo on the bench - McCalman misses out)
I like McCalman for his heart and his industry but he certainly isn't a player of the calibre of say Toutai Kefu. Who I would consider our last real world class Number 8.
So what are the options - who are the contenders and what are the pros and cons? Also what are the key attributes that we should be focusing on? Is impact more important than work rate? Is ball carrying king and defensive capability second?
With the match in Durban over and the introduction of both Higgers and Samo to the 3N fray some reflection on the options can take place.
So to get the ball rolling here are my impressions
McCalman:
Pros - Industrious, plays with heart, generally gives 100% of his capability, worker, generally low mistake rate.
Cons - Not showing the ability to be the physical presence required. Not dominant with his defense or with the ball in hand. Not angry enough. Is he big enough? Does someone need to ask him did he hear what Kieran Read said about his mother??
:angryfire:Higganbotham:
Pros - Brings aggression/mongrel to the pack. Adds an x factor with skills you don't normally get in a loosie (kicking in behind the line with accuracy). In good form. Can cover blind side as well.
Cons - Is number 8 the best utilisation of his talents? Inexperienced at international level (but seems to be handling it well in the chances he has been given). Not as big as Samo or Palu (but technique and controlled aggression are more important IMHO). Can he control the aggression so he doesn't become a penalty magnet?
Samo:
Pros - Big physical presence. The ability to intimidate. Currently best traditional style ball carrier that we have (fit). Lot's of capability - has the potential to be an absolute wrecking ball and a match winner.
Cons - Can be lazy (no where near the industry of McCalman). Can also lose intensity. Ball security and handling could improve. Is he an 80 minute player (and is this required - Are you better off with 60 high impact minutes than 80 minutes with less impact?). Will his age hinder him?
Palu:
Pros - Our biggest forward. Similar type of player to Samo. When he has his head in the right space he reminds me of Kefu. Big physical presence, ball carrier and tackler.
Cons - Palu is such a frustration to me. This guy should be killing it. Is it that he is too nice and not angry enough?? He plays one outstanding game in about every eight to ten, a bunch of average performances and couple of shockers. He gets knocked back in the contact (how does this happen to a 120kg monster?) He seems to lack commitment and can go absent as well. Then when I have lost all hope he pulls out a game where he smashes players, runs over the top of people and even pulls out a sidestep while doing it ??? So why can't he do this for 80% of the games he plays rather than 10%
So what do you think? Any other options? Vaea looked good in some of the games he played in a rubbish Brumbies season this year. Who else is a dark horse?.
Hmm maybe we should run a pole with this also with the Title "GnG selectors - number 8 for Wallabies"
What should happen for Bledisloe 2? (For me I'd stick with Higgers starting and Samo on the bench - McCalman misses out)
