What the lock? - wallaby lock update

[Gagger]

A few posts back I sprayed a few words about the Seagull - Nathan Sharpe - and it sparked off a bit of conversation. Since then, the crappy news landed that the most promising Wallaby find of 2008 - Big Kev Horwill - won't be touring the Northern Hemisphere owing to a buggered foot. With Vicks off to Europe, all of a sudden the quality locking cupboard is looking bare.

Yeah, I know the theory is that this gives McMenimen and Mumm a shot. But I've got a couple of problems with that. First, despite the odd flashes off the bench, and in the case of McMenimen, truckloads of hype, neither have staked a real claim yet, especially at lock. Mumm may just need more time, but MMM has actually looked downright dodgy, particularly at scrum time

Secondly, they're not locks, and don't see themselves as locks. Both seem to be chasing 6, and in the case of MMM was espousing himself as the next Reds 8 just a few months ago. Living proof of how this doesn't work is supplied by Mark Chisholm, the perennial 5.5, who precisely because of this has never really cut it as either a lock or blindsider.

To clarify matters, Mark gave an interview in which he talked about how he was now gunning for the vacant lock spot....and then finished the article like this:

Used occasionally as a blindside flanker, Chisholm would prefer to stay at lock permanently unless given an extended run as a back-rower.

That's dedication for you!

The good news (in another article in which the Seagull announced his reformation) is that the only other specialist lock of note is finally on the scene:

A replacement for Horwill has yet to be named but Stephen Hoiles trained with the squad last week, while Julian Salvi and Peter Kimlin are doing the same this week along with halfback Josh Holmes.

Europe is not a place to bring a part-timer tight five. Time to make some minds up, quick.

 

[RugbyReg]

So we should pick Al Campbell or Van Humprhries as they are the only specialist locks currently fit?

 

[formeropenside]

Could do worse than Van the Journeyman, actually. Not a Horwill but solid in the set piece.

Sorry, I started laughing at the thought of Hoiles being forced to pack into the second row.

Gagger - I saw Chisholm's parting comment and had a chuckle too. It was nearly as bad as Dunning talking about scrumtime awhile back and how THP was really hard because "you had to switch on for every scrum" or words to that effect.

 

[Pfitzy]

Hoiles packing in the back row still gives me a bad itch between the shoulder blades. Hoiles running against a broken defensive line is fine, however.

Get young Kimlin in there. Its a nothing tour so give him a hammering against some Euro packs and see if he's up to it. Chisholm can dream about 6 but he's not quick enough on defense so might as well position himself as an 8.

 

[Gagger]

Yet another 5.5

This is exactly the same article I've read about McMinimum over the past 4(?) years, just with a few name changes. Where do they get the aggression angle from, he still justs looks like an excited teenager to me.

Looking forward to Mumms version of this article

McMeniman eyes permanent role

By Darren Walton
October 07, 2008

BACK row or second row, Hugh McMeniman is not fussed. He just wants to nail down a spot anywhere in the Test side on Australia's looming Spring Tour.
With the injured James Horwill, plus possibly Wycliff Palu, joining Dan Vickerman and Rocky Elsom on the absentees' list, McMeniman seems certain to be granted his birthday wish of a starting berth against New Zealand in the tour-opening Bledisloe Cup fixture in Hong Kong on November 1.

The Wallabies are seriously light on mongrel in the pack and McMeniman says he's more than happy to serve as Australia's forward enforcer, if that means more game time.

?I like to play aggressively but within the rules,? he said after Wallabies training in Sydney.

?You know, hard defence and that but I'd just really like to get that run-on spot.?
McMeniman has good reason to be champing at the bit.

The highly-rated Queenslander's career has had a wretched run with injury since being one of the rare shining lights on the Wallabies' forgettable 2005 Spring Tour.

His 2006 Spring Tour lasted less than 10 minutes when he was stretchered off with a neck injury in the opening mid-week games against the Ospreys in Swansea.

Then, breathing easier after surviving the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France without breaking down, McMeniman's Super 14 season was wiped out in round two this season when he broke his leg.

Once again, he fought his way back into the Wallabies side - but has only managed to start one of his five Tests in 2008.

And, feeling as fresh as any time in his stop-start career, McMeniman is eager for more of a centre-stage role.

?Training's been really, really good,? he said.

?My body's actually staying together, I'm keeping weight on ... hopefully I can just make the side because it's been hard for me, and for the other guys on the edges, to prove myself going on in the last 10 minutes.?

While blindside flanker remains his preferred position, McMeniman accepts Horwill's foot injury, coming on top of Vickerman's European sabbatical, has left him more likely to be thrust into the second row.

?I've definitely thought about that, but I don't care where I play,? he said.

?I know how to play both positions, so I really don't mind.?

After tackling the All Blacks, the Wallabies play Italy in Padova, England at Twickenham, France in Paris and Wales in Cardiff on successive Saturdays in November before winding up the six-match tour against the Barbarians in London on December 3

 

[RugbyReg]

Gagger, have you watched much S14? Specifically the Reds?

I know he's been injured, but the first game of last year v the Highlanders, MMM played the best forward game I have seen by any Australian for a long long time. PRetty sure he was playing lock that night too.

 

[whocares]

And here is Mumm's

[size=10pt][size=10pt]Mumm's the word as Dean steps up[/size][/size]
By Bret Harris
October 07, 2008 DEAN Mumm's breakthrough season with the Australia squad has been an intermittent process, but he is looking to make an enduring mark on the tour of Hong Kong and Europe.

Mumm has been in and out of the Wallabies' squad since making his Test debut against Ireland in the opening match of the year in Melbourne in June.

He has played in five of the nine Tests, starting in the second row in the 40-10 win against France in Brisbane, and coming off the bench in the other four.

But the spring tour offers Mumm an opportunity to secure a regular place in the Wallabies' 22-man squad, if not the starting line-up.



"I'm very excited about the trip," Mumm said. "It's a big test for me. I've had this opportunity throughout the year and now it's time for me to make my mark.

"I've got to put the work in in these next couple of weeks and prove to Robbie (Deans) and the coaches that I'm good enough to be consistently in the 22.

"It's time for me to set myself some challenges to step up.

"I've got confidence having been in the camp for a certain period of time. I feel like I'm part of the team. It's important for me personally to perform and for the team to perform as well."

Mumm, 24, has coped well with a start to a Test career, which has alternately ceased and restarted.

"It's been a wonderful ride," Mumm said. "I'm loving it, to be honest.

"I haven't been picked in every Test, but I've had significant opportunities in my first year ... so I'm very thankful for that.

"If I can continue to do the work behind the scenes, hopefully the opportunities will come."

Mumm demonstrated he has the ability to start for the Wallabies when he replaced Dan Vickerman in the 38th minute of the Test against South Africa in Durban, standing his ground against the world's premier second-rower Victor Matfield.

The Wallabies pressed on to win 27-15, their first in South Africa in eight years.

"I never expected Vicks to come off so early," Mumm said. "It was a significant challenge, but it was one I really enjoyed.

"James (Horwill) has been playing well all year so it was easy for me to slip in and get the work done.

"Sitting in the changeroom with a lot of those boys who hadn't won in Africa. I think Stirling (Mortlock) was the only one. To be part of that was a pretty special moment."

The departure of Vickerman and Rocky Elsom and injury to Horwill will provide Mumm with a golden opportunity on the spring tour to cement his place in the team.

"The key word is potential for opportunity," Mumm said. "It's a massive loss for us because James has been one of the most exciting people to come through this year.

"He has played in every Test and he has been very good in all of them. I think he is equal top try-scorer so it's not bad for a second-rower.

"It's a big loss missing him, but the potential for opportunity is there. That's the way I've got to take it. It's up to me and Chizz (Mark Chisholm) and others to work it out and fight for that opportunity."

While Mumm has covered both second-row and blindside flanker for the Wallabies, he has received almost all of his opportunities so far at lock.

Mumm is likely to start in the second-row in the first Test of the tour against the All Blacks in Hong Kong.

"Some people think I'm more suited to six because of the open game and the rules (ELVs) and that sort of thing," Mumm said.

"That may be the case, but I've had more opportunity in the second row.

"If it's open in the second-row, I'll take it. If it's open at six, I'll take it. I'm not fussed. Wherever they want to pick me, I'll pull that jersey on."

 

[Gagger]

Noddy - we get rationed S14 up here thanks to Sky, and the Reds and Brumbies didn't really figure in their fixture setting this year.

In the few games I saw he didn't rock my socks - was he injured? - but more importantly he's had more than a few starts in the green and gold and I think I can only remember one tackle where he made any real impact. Don't get me wrong - I'd love it if he lived up to the hype.

Whocares - you beat me to it! Nice mind games from Mumm as he omits MMM from the running

Now for the Kimlin version.....

 

[Gagger]

So we should pick Al Campbell or Van Humprhries as they are the only specialist locks currently fit?

Nope, we should throw Kimlin in the mix as he had a run for Aussie A and looked the goods. Dingo seems to be looking that way.

Excluding Van H etc, we need to ask ourselves the question: how many 5.5's do we need? It currently stands at 3.

Lock has become such an important specialist position with restarts in professional rugby that you can't just keep shoving in a tall 6 and expect it to work. I would have thought we (and the man himself) would have learned that from the previous 3-year Chisholm experiment. I can see how on a 4/3 bench you might need to go for a 5.5, but in a squad you need have at least 3 specialists locks, not just a barrel load of also-rans.

So looking past this next tour, assuming Horwill comes back and Sharpe doesn't have a rugby ability transplant at 31, we need to find at least 2 international level specialist locks. If Chis, Mumm or MMM really wanted a spot they'd knuckle down and stop hedging their bets.

 

[Scotty]

Gagger, I'm with Noddy here. He is only hyped up because of what we have seen he can do. I think it was 07 where a lot of rugby commentators were calling him the form player of the tournament after the first 4 or so rounds. Unfortunately he then got injured.

He will live up the the 'hype' for the Wallabies if he is able to stay fit (which is obviously a big if) and is given consistent game time.

 

[Gagger]

He will live up the the 'hype' for the Wallabies if he is able to stay fit (which is obviously a big if) and is given consistent game time.

In which spot? Lock, 6 or 5.5?

 

[whocares]

I still just dont trust MMM in the scrum
I think Kimlin is the man for the long term but for right now (as much as i hate it) im going to go with: 4 Sharpe 5 Mumm 6 MMM

 

[Cutter]

Hoiles packing in the back row still gives me a bad itch between the shoulder blades. Hoiles running against a broken defensive line is fine, however.

Get young Kimlin in there. Its a nothing tour so give him a hammering against some Euro packs and see if he's up to it. Chisholm can dream about 6 but he's not quick enough on defense so might as well position himself as an 8.

I dont like this NTA. Every test counts.

 

[the gambler]

I thought the same thing when I read it Cutter. Nothing annoys me more than this 4 year build up to a World Cup. Especially as I will be going to all the games except Cardiff and Wembley.

 

[whocares]

Now for the Kimlin version.....

dont worry here it is.

Chance for Kimlin to join squad
By Bret Harris
October 08, 2008 BRUMBIES second-rower Peter Kimlin may be in the right place at the right time to secure a spot in the Wallabies' touring party.

Kimlin and his Brumbies team-mates Julian Salvi, Josh Holmes and Salesi Ma'afu are training with the Wallabies in Sydney in the week that Deans must choose a replacement for injured second-rower James Horwill.

If Deans is looking for another second-rower, Kimlin will almost certainly be added to the squad.

only small but there is one

 

[Gagger]

maybe he should put his hand up for 6 as well.

 

[whocares]

maybe he should put his hand up for 6 as well.

some one will put it up for him

 

[Spook]

It's official: Kimlin is on tour

BRUMBIES lock Peter Kimlin has bbeen called up to replace the injured James Horwill for the Wallabies' spring tour.

The 23-year-old Canberra redhead was brought in after Horwill was ruled out last week because he needs surgery on his left foot.

?The opportunity for Peter has come a little bit earlier than we had perhaps anticipated, but he is certainly a player that we were looking to promote,? Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.

"He was already in the development tube as it were, having been a part of the Australia A programme earlier in the year where he did very well. His performance there told us that he was a player who had the capability to step up to the next level.?

Kimlin performed solidly for the Brumbies this year in his first full Investec Super 14 season, after having made his debut last season while contracted to the Brumbies Academy.

The touring party leaves for Hong Kong on Monday, October 27, and will open the tour with the final Bledisloe Cup Test of the year against New Zealand in the city on Saturday, November 1

 

[whocares]

lets just hope he gets a propper run

 

[Scotty]

In which spot? Lock, 6 or 5.5?

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