Where are we - personnel

[fatprop]

Yeah, I didn't get down the list to Mortlock, but him too.

And the best 15 in the country is a fit Cameron Shepherd, he has pace, safe hands, height and a solid kicking game.

 

[Spook]

I don't think Deans has forgotten about these guys. He knows what they can do. He's trying to build depth. I'm hoping we going through pain now to see gain for 2011.

 

[Blue]

Personnel roster based on Biffo's groupings (currently RWC standard; potential to reach the standard next year; may get to standard with time; pray they'll get to standard one day)

Props: Robinson, Alexander, Kepu
Hookers: Moore, Polota-Nau
Locks: Horwill, Mumm, Kimlin, Chisholm (Vickerman = joker in the pack)
Openside flankers: Smith, Pocock
Blindside flankers: Elsom
No. 8s: Palu, Houston, Hoiles (joker: Brown)
Backrow utility: Higginbotham
Halfbacks: Genia, Lucas, To'omua, Burgess
Five-eighths: Cooper, Lealiifano, Beale
Hybrid 10/12s: Giteau, Barnes
Centres: Ashley-Cooper, Horne, Gasnier (jokers: Mortlock, Cross)
Wingers: Hynes, Turner, Ioane, Fainifo
Fullbacks: O'Connor
(Back 3 utilities: Mitchell, Ashley-Cooper)

Unplaced 'cos I don't know enough about them: Cowan, Fairbrother, Cummins, Hockings, Fitzpatrick

Colour coding is a terrific idea; well done, Mate. If we could have some form of grouping in colours as we amend the list over the next two (why not 22?) years, we could very easily see where we are.

However, I along with about 12% of all males, have some colour vision impairment - commonly called by the very misleading term "colour blindness".

How about the Category 1 being a strong red, Category 2 a bright yellow, Category 3 a bright blue and Category a pink?

I think those colours are OK for almost all those with colour vision impairment.

Can we have pink? :fishing

 

[Scotty]

However, I along with about 12% of all males, have some colour vision impairment - commonly called by the very misleading term "colour blindness".

Me too. Had to look very closely to tell the difference between the green and red on one of the lines.

 

[Scotty]

Incidentally, I heard on the radio the other day that they have made some sort of breakthrough step in being able to 'cure' colour blindness.

 

[Lindommer]

Yeah, it's called "beer". Drink lots of it.

Cures a lot of other conditions, too.

 

[Biffo]

I can testify that it works.

 

[Biffo]

OK, Scarfie and Fat Thingo, I have added those injury-riddled geriatrics :thumb Do we have consensus?

The now-empty "spent options" category will fill rapidly in the next few months. :lmao:

 

[Gagger]

Sharpe, despite his propensity to fall over at times, does carry the ball well.

We also haven't competed in the lineout since he got boned.

 

[Spook]

Chisolm should rank higher than Mumm at the moment. Please swap those 2. Clearly Deans rates Chisolm higher and Chisolm, whilst inconsistent, has generally had good games (and one ordinary game on the weekend but so did Horwill) - Chisolm also had a good tour last year. Mumm has been very disappointing this year.

 

[Scarfman]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13. Mumm is a lock. Giteau is a 12. JOC (James O'Connor) is not ready. How come we can all see these things clearly but Deans-Williams-Nucifora do not?

And I'm not being ironic. I think sometimes it is a case of having all week to think about something and making a worse decision than if you had 10 seconds.

 

[fatprop]

adam frieir will be in the mix as well

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13. Mumm is a lock. Giteau is a 12. JOC (James O'Connor) is not ready. How come we can all see these things clearly but Deans-Williams-Nucifora do not?

And I'm not being ironic. I think sometimes it is a case of having all week to think about something and making a worse decision than if you had 10 seconds.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a 13, but still a better 15 than JOC (James O'Connor).

I think if Mortlock was fit this season AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would have been playing 15 with JOC (James O'Connor) learning and making cameos off the bench.

 

[Scotty]

Yeah, he certainly would have. We desperately need a few more to put their hands up for fullback in next years S14.

 

[cyclopath]

Chisolm should rank higher than Mumm at the moment. Please swap those 2. Clearly Deans rates Chisolm higher and Chisolm, whilst inconsistent, has generally had good games (and one ordinary game on the weekend but so did Horwill) - Chisolm also had a good tour last year. Mumm has been very disappointing this year.

Mumm has had bugger all time on the field in recent memory - bit harsh to expect him to "shine". I realise, of course thet Chisolm does play for the Brumbies.
Clearly Deans rates various players higher - some have hardly repaid that faith.
I think Chisolm can be very good, but none of out big guys show nearly enough grunt / aggro / whatever week-in, week-out. They are like a bunch of pussies. Why sit Mumm on the bench when we are getting done over? Get him out there and see what happens.

 

[Spook]

Chisolm should rank higher than Mumm at the moment. Please swap those 2. Clearly Deans rates Chisolm higher and Chisolm, whilst inconsistent, has generally had good games (and one ordinary game on the weekend but so did Horwill) - Chisolm also had a good tour last year. Mumm has been very disappointing this year.

Mumm has had bugger all time on the field in recent memory - bit harsh to expect him to "shine". I realise, of course thet Chisolm does play for the Brumbies.
Clearly Deans rates various players higher - some have hardly repaid that faith.
I think Chisolm can be very good, but none of out big guys show nearly enough grunt / aggro / whatever week-in, week-out. They are like a bunch of pussies. Why sit Mumm on the bench when we are getting done over? Get him out there and see what happens.

So you think Mumm should be rated higher then based on his performances for the Tahs and Wallabies this year? :nta: Mumm did get game time this year and he was pretty ordinary (and in the S14). Didn't take his chance. I don't think Chisolm is the answer to be honest. I thought Caldwell would have been a great asset this year but he's crook.

 

[fatprop]

Mumm failed to succeed this season when given the opportunity to play 6. He has been good playing lock.

I would suggest we have four average test locks at the moment each with their strengths and weaknesses.

It also worth noting that Sharpe still needs to come through a fitness test for the next squad, so his demise I think maybe premature. We fell apart on Saturday partly due to a lack of experience.

 

[cyclopath]

Mumm playing lock for the Tahs? Absolutely proved himself. At least as much as Chisolm at provincial level, and he has had little game time at lock internationally to be able to judge.
Playing 6 at Test level? No, I agree not his best position. Sitting on the bench doing fark-all serves no-one. If Deans doesn't want to give him game time, he should have sent him to clubland. I think off the bench, playing lock he could have been very useful.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

Ioane back for EOYT.

Destructive three-quarter Digby Ioane believes he's ready to make a typically powerful return in a major boost to the Wallabies' spring tour hopes.

Ioane will begin contact work on his reconstructed left shoulder next week to put his hand up for selection in the squad for the five-week tour.

The Wallabies are desperate for the tackle-shedding Queensland speedster to spark their backline attack after a disappointing Tri-Nations campaign.

Ioane starred at both outside centre and wing for the struggling Reds this year where he broke more tackles than any other player in the Super 14.

His eye-catching form had Australian skipper Stirling Mortlock under pressure to retain his No.13 jersey before Ioane sustained his shoulder injury against the Brumbies on May 2.

The reconstruction was expected to leave him touch and go at best for the highly-anticipated Grand Slam tour but Ioane's rehabilitation has impressed Reds medical staff, who have rated his work ethic as "exemplary".

The 24-year-old is confident he'll be fit for selection in the 33- to 35-man squad after a frustrating wait on the sidelines.

"It will all come down to the coach and his selectors, I have to be selected first, but I think it will be sweet," Ioane said on Thursday.

"My shoulder is coming along well and I start with contact next week and I should be sweet for that."

With Mortlock also set to return from knee surgery, Ioane is unfazed about whether coach Robbie Deans was looking to select him at outside centre or the wing, where he's been capped four times.

Adam Ashley-Cooper ably stood in for Mortlock in the second half of the Tri-Nations while wing spots are open with Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell and Peter Hynes failing to lock down the 11 or 14 jerseys.

"I'll play anywhere if I get the call-up, it's just a matter of getting game time," Ioane said.

"I wouldn't care, I'd even play halfback or the forwards."

Ioane praised fitness advisers Geoff Clark and Dirk Spits for their work in helping repeat former Test fullback Chris Latham's inspiring 2008 efforts to return from the same operation in little more than four months.

"He was my motivation," he said.

While he knows controlled contact work will give further indication of his tour hopes, Ioane is itching for a chance to re-establish his dangerous partnership with halfback Will Genia.

Reds revelation Genia has impressed in his Test baptism after first making a name for himself this year by dusting off George Gregan's old goal line flick pass in the Super 14.

"Genia is the man with the Gregan flick pass, you run your line and the ball is always there right in front of you," Ioane said.

"It's his bread and butter."

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=867362

Great news, and good to see he's still got passion to wear the Wallaby jersey.

Hopefully his shoulder holds up.

 

[Scarfman]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE DURING OUR TECHNICAL PROBLEM.

Our Chief Technical Officer is momentarily out of earshot. As soon as we find him service will be resumed. A full inquiry will be undertaken. Names will be named.