Western Force 2012
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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GaffaCHinO
Peter Sullivan (51)
Isnt everyone at the rebels?
SuperGrover
Darby Loudon (17)
I think the consensus so far is that the quota of foreign players allowed will decrease by two per year, but the existing restriction on any individual foreign player only being allowed to sign for 2 years does not apply.
In theory then, Delve could be signed until the Rebels lose all their privileges (4 more years?) and then sign a 2 year foreign marquee contract as per the rest of the Aus Super Rugby teams.
hammertimethere
Trevor Allan (34)
Brown is hanging around, McCalman is going nowhere for a while, Smart money is on Pocock staying for life, Hodgo will be good for another year or three. You lot don't need Delve, we could use a mentor for Schatz and Quirk at the reds though now with Radike getting on.
On a related note, What do you reckon is the pecking order in the (1st choice) force back row stocks
7 and 8 have to be Poey and Mac
6 will be fought out between Brown and Hodgo, with Hodgson probably with the inside running at the moment (as much as Browns style is more suited to 6, at least in the French left/right mould). Tbh I see Hodgson getting to be on a bit and over the latter part of this season and next, he'll be bench cover and Brown will be the 1st choice 6 (I have long believed this to be his best position, especially if he can be as fully fit and strong as he was in 2008).
Lachy McCaffrey is great cover and pressure for 6/8, and Gus Cottrell is quality and capable in all positions, though I understand he is mostly a 7, I haven't seen him play a great deal but lets hope that he can justify taking Jono Jenkins spot.
I truly resent the force on a personal level for what they did to the reds in 2006-08, but as a rugby fan I will undoubtedly enjoy some excellent play from the Force backrow.
On a related note, What do you reckon is the pecking order in the (1st choice) force back row stocks
7 and 8 have to be Poey and Mac
6 will be fought out between Brown and Hodgo, with Hodgson probably with the inside running at the moment (as much as Browns style is more suited to 6, at least in the French left/right mould). Tbh I see Hodgson getting to be on a bit and over the latter part of this season and next, he'll be bench cover and Brown will be the 1st choice 6 (I have long believed this to be his best position, especially if he can be as fully fit and strong as he was in 2008).
Lachy McCaffrey is great cover and pressure for 6/8, and Gus Cottrell is quality and capable in all positions, though I understand he is mostly a 7, I haven't seen him play a great deal but lets hope that he can justify taking Jono Jenkins spot.
I truly resent the force on a personal level for what they did to the reds in 2006-08, but as a rugby fan I will undoubtedly enjoy some excellent play from the Force backrow.
GaffaCHinO
Peter Sullivan (51)
We dont need or want Delve we were just trying to work out who could replace Mortlock as captain at the Rebels as it looks as though Poey will take over the C.
It will be interesting to see what the make up will be for the back row. Last year i dont think all 4 where fully fit at the same time. Poey did his knee (should i say Bismark tried to rip his head off which resulted in his knee) and then Hodgo got dropped on his shoulder half way through and brownys Shoulder later in the year.
I woul like to see
6-Brown
7-Poey
8-Benny Mac
19-Hodgo
I think this would be the best option with Hodgo as cover for 6/7 and Brown/Benny mac 6/8.
We also have Wykes who can cover 6.
GaffaCHinO
Peter Sullivan (51)
I think it could all come down this year to Toby Lyn, we could see him push Wykes to the bench as lock cover which would give us the option of having the 4/3 split with Wykes as lock and back row cover and another back rower on the bench.
But yes I agree Wykes should be pushing for a world cup spot come 2015 but not sure in what position.
I thought he was one of the form locks of the Super comp this year. But not having seen much of him at 6 I’m not sure which suits him better
Bruwheresmycar
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Wykes had an awesome season. I reckon leave him at lock for another year. It's like having 4 backrowers on the pitch when he is there.
For the backrow I think they will start with Hodgo on the bench. But as we saw last season, injuries are not uncommon so soon enough we wont even have this selection dilemma.
For the backrow I think they will start with Hodgo on the bench. But as we saw last season, injuries are not uncommon so soon enough we wont even have this selection dilemma.
GaffaCHinO
Peter Sullivan (51)
I think Wykes and Charles will be massive this year if they both have good years i cant see why they wont be inline for higher honours!
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
They would have to be and they wouldn't be the Lone Rangers either.
If there is any advice I would give to Wykes, it is for him to play a harder game at lock and even when he gets a gig in the back row. His ball running skills are well known already but selectors will be looking at technical ability and forward grunt first with anything else an extra.
As a new lock the likes of Pyle and even Douglas, if he gets his mojo back, would be in front of him in the hardness stakes - as does, probably, his closest rival, type to type: Timani. Both are locks who can play 6, rather than the other way around.
As a new 6 only he would have to compare with the likes of Higginbotham and also other non-specialists Mowen and McCalman.
I could see Wykes getting in a Wobs 22 one of these days as the lock/6 backup, especially if the no. 8 of the day is not a lineout man. That would be his first step up IMO.
As for Charles: he would be one of the candidates to displace S. Fainga'a as 3rd string hooker. Another candidate is his Force team mate Whittaker, who has different attributes.
There are other candidates for 3rd string and in a year or two there will be more as the schoolboy hookers from the last 2 years emerge. Hooker is a growth area for Oz rugby in the medium term.
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If there is any advice I would give to Wykes, it is for him to play a harder game at lock and even when he gets a gig in the back row. His ball running skills are well known already but selectors will be looking at technical ability and forward grunt first with anything else an extra.
As a new lock the likes of Pyle and even Douglas, if he gets his mojo back, would be in front of him in the hardness stakes - as does, probably, his closest rival, type to type: Timani. Both are locks who can play 6, rather than the other way around.
As a new 6 only he would have to compare with the likes of Higginbotham and also other non-specialists Mowen and McCalman.
I could see Wykes getting in a Wobs 22 one of these days as the lock/6 backup, especially if the no. 8 of the day is not a lineout man. That would be his first step up IMO.
As for Charles: he would be one of the candidates to displace S. Fainga'a as 3rd string hooker. Another candidate is his Force team mate Whittaker, who has different attributes.
There are other candidates for 3rd string and in a year or two there will be more as the schoolboy hookers from the last 2 years emerge. Hooker is a growth area for Oz rugby in the medium term.
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Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
There's something that has gone under my radar - or more likely - I have forgotten about it, but who gets to play THP when Ma'afu is crocked since Fairbrother and Dunning have gone?
Cowan, Faulkner and Longbottom are all LHPs and so is Manu in the EPS, although the Rats put the 3 jersey on him at end of the season because they ran out of THPs (and barely had a LHP either) - and he was the biggest bloke still standing.
Cowan, Faulkner and Longbottom are all LHPs and so is Manu in the EPS, although the Rats put the 3 jersey on him at end of the season because they ran out of THPs (and barely had a LHP either) - and he was the biggest bloke still standing.
spectator
Bob Davidson (42)
Is Cruz Ah Nau still with the Force, and what side of the scrum does he play?
GaffaCHinO
Peter Sullivan (51)
Cruze was cut after their trip to Samoa in August, i did ready somewhere that he was going to play in the Sheild for Norths but not sure if thats correct or not?
Real shame if you ask me iv know the kid for years but the environment change might be good for him and hopefully he gets picked up somewhere else after a couple of years in the sheild.
Real shame if you ask me iv know the kid for years but the environment change might be good for him and hopefully he gets picked up somewhere else after a couple of years in the sheild.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
The Force will have something cooking. Scrum was very much improved in 2011 and Stiles seemed to be a good scrum coach. What is known is that you can make a servicable tight head prop from a LHP. May not be brilliantly domminant but most definatly servicable. Greg Holmes is a fine example that it can be done in a fairly short space of time. Props are evolving anyway and it is becomming more desirable that they can play both sides of the scrum. Ben Franks springs to mind as I type this.
mudskipper
Colin Windon (37)
Rockys done now... the Wallabis No.6 jersey is up for grabs in 2012... Higginbotham and Mowen are likely front runners...
Lance Free
Arch Winning (36)
Longbottom plays both sides of the scrum.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Can anybody remember his starting a game there at any level? No doubt he had a few stints from the bench on the TH side of the scrum for the Force last year but he didn't start a game there.
Can't recall that he ever played THP for Eastwood either.
What's his THP pedigree outside of Perth, anybody know?
Can't recall that he ever played THP for Eastwood either.
What's his THP pedigree outside of Perth, anybody know?
GaffaCHinO
Peter Sullivan (51)
I think longbottom can do the job at THP but I would rather Ma'afu got fit over the next couple of weeks and avoids injury I think if he get him self alittle bit fitter be can have a great year
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