Will Chambers

[James Buchanan]

Did antone else notice the impact Will Chambers had on the rucks. I was surprised as usually league converts tend to stay away from rucks because they haven't been taught how to ruck properly.

Chambers however got a couple of turnovers and looked like he had been playing Union for a while.

Great offloads too

To quote myself from another thread:

What impresses me is the little things about his game. Watch how many kick chases he does and how much pressure he puts on the ball reciever. He tackles ferociously and has effected some individual turnovers off his own bat, like he did over at the sideline today. He's not afraid to get stuck in at the breakdown and he handles contact like he's been playing Rugby for years (which is probably his schoolboy memories).

Simply put, he works hard. I'd say both on improving his game and during the game. That is why I've been so impressed with him over the past few weeks. He's pulled off some great runs and offloads as well, but its the other stuff in his game which is so impressive. For what its worth, I say put him in the extended squad and let him learn the game at that level. He'll be a substantially better investment that Tahu ever could have been - and he was in the squad last year.

 

[Biffo]

I think digby is a better and more dangerous blindside wing than 13.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Chambers & Horne are all interesting 13 options. Each is a good defenders, beats a man, runs good lines with Horne and Chambers more likely to set up an outside, but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has a better chase, leg drive and aerial skills.

Nice position to be in really.

that said, neither Chambers & Horne are ready to start a tri-nations match

Completely. Having predicted the demise of Mortlock accuratgely, I have for almost two years been pointing out that we were very weak at 13. No more. We have AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) good to go and Horne and Chambers developing very nicely indeed.

Now, who's going to step up at 4,5 and 15?

 

[Lindommer]

Been rabbiting on about those exact points, B. Two blokes who'd solve a lot of selection problems if they'd report fit for duty are Horwill and Shepherd (neither of whom are Tahs I should point out). For mine they're both crucial members of next year's RWC squad.

 

[Lee Grant]

JB - Good spotting.

There's nothing worse than an outside back, in particular, not earning his pay; though players in other positions have the syndrome also.

Not chasing kicks is sheer laziness. Winger Sivivatu, by his own admission in 2008, said he didn't chase so many as the season went on because the ping pong tired him out, and he wasn't sharp enough to do the other stuff when it came along. It was an extraordinary admission and I think there's a lot of that in any team: too many backs who are in a position to chase, leave it to others too much.

I'd love to see Jason Little in his pomp playing nowadays. He could have put in for double time and his mate Timmy Horan deserved overtime too. But if you read the stats of such workaholics in 2010, you may as well read tea leaves. The coaches have the detailed stats though through their video guys and the national coach would have access to them also. Sometimes we are puzzled by the selection of this guy and that for the Wallabies but it's because the selectors have the involvement stats that we don't.

Sometimes non-involvement is not so much laziness but a lack of awareness and poor judgement in when to make an impact. David Lyons and Cliffy Palu had that problem in the 8 position early in their careers before they finally got it.

On the other hand a forward can't got charging into every ruck and tackle else he won't last until oranges.

But I digress. Chambers is shaping up nicely and looking like the rugby pro he is. Oz rugby needs busy bodies fizzing around everywhere with intelligence. If Chambers keeps it up I wouldn't be surprised if he made the Oz squad.

 

[Cutter]

Not chasing kicks is sheer laziness. Winger Sivivatu, by his own admission in 2008, said he didn't chase so many as the season went on because the ping pong tired him out, and he wasn't sharp enough to do the other stuff when it came along. It was an extraordinary admission and I think there's a lot of that in any team: too many backs who are in a position to chase, leave it to others too much.

An interesting admission by Sivivatu and based on cost/benefit analysis. ie if I don't chase I'll be more dangerous in attack which outweighs the benefits of chasing. Good players know when to inject themselves into a game. There arent many, like McCaw and George Smith, who can make crucial involvements for 80 minutes.

I'm not saying I agree, just noting Sivi's perception.

 

[Ash]

I don't know that Lyons ever learned to pace himself properly.

He'd have his one big run per game and generally be missing/unsighted at all other times and waste needless engery at the wrong time. Needed a coach to get him ultra fit and away from a lazy attitude with an awfully hard preseason.

 

[Reddy!]

This thread leads me to think...Gasnier who?

 

[Moses]

Did antone else notice the impact Will Chambers had on the rucks. I was surprised as usually league converts tend to stay away from rucks because they haven't been taught how to ruck properly.

I noticed Hynes got involved at the Ruck as well, and at time I thought in doing so he was neglecting his full back duties. There were about three rucks in a row where he helped secure the ball when I thought why does the flanker have 15 on his back?

 

[Lee Grant]

I noticed Hynes got involved at the Ruck as well, and at time I thought in doing so he was neglecting his full back duties. There were about three rucks in a row where he helped secure the ball when I thought why does the flanker have 15 on his back?

The tradition of Latham prevails. He often found himself at the bottom of rucks. It happens.

What I don't like is somebody hoisting the ball and both he and his mate chasing it. Then the other fullback gets the pill and kicks the crap of out of it to where one of them should have been. It's not quite as bad as two going into a tackle, but it's not a good thing.

 

[Scotty]

But I digress. Chambers is shaping up nicely and looking like the rugby pro he is. Oz rugby needs busy bodies fizzing around everywhere with intelligence. If Chambers keeps it up I wouldn't be surprised if he made the Oz squad.

If he keeps up his current form, I'd be surprised if he didn't make the squad.

 

[fatprop]

I was also impressed by his enthusiasm on Saturday as well, a cultural thing I guess, he played in a successful Storm outfit and on Saturday he was constantly geeing up team-mates

 

[tranquility]

He was known as one of the biggest shit talkers in the NRL, loves throwing chat at the opposition.