The Wallabies Thread
- Thread starter KOB1987
- Start date
Bairdy
Peter Fenwicke (45)
If anything, Ala'alatoa has been shoehorned into LH to accomodate Alexander.
He absolutely manhandled opposition looseheads at the U20s tournament in 2013 from recollection and it is only a matter of time before he steps up to senior level. Preferably at tighthead where he has a much higher ceiling.
T
TOCC
Guest
Because THP is more critical then LHP.. If someone like Sio or Ala'alatoa have the physical frame and the technical scrummaging ability to play THP well then it would better suit the Wallabies in the long term. It's all well and good to say Talakai is a good prospect, and I agree he is, but he isn't a test class THP yet and during the RWC we saw the benefit of having 2 THP's who could scrummage well.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
Pot calling the kettle black @TOCC. Might I say that shifting Slipper back to THP would be more sensible, given his history playing there. Maybe didn't occur to you?
Probably help your point if you quoted the correct poster.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Considering Sio has established himself as the Wobs #1 LH and a quality international one at that, I don't think it's in his or the team's best interest to try and change sides now...........
Same with Slipper.........
I think it's better for us to be trying to get our available TH's up to scratch, but if we were going to switch somebody then maybe we should be looking at Toby Smith, who is third in that pecking order and now has international experience at TH.
Highlander35
Andrew Slack (58)
Laurie looks to be over a bad run with injury/suspension he had last year, and has a clear run at the starting jersey with Paulie gone.
10-12 starts should provide a very solid platform to prove his worth to Chieka before the June internationals.
10-12 starts should provide a very solid platform to prove his worth to Chieka before the June internationals.
BDA
Peter Johnson (47)
I definitely wouldn't move Sio from LHP. I'd rate him up there with the likes of Corbisiero as the world's best LHP.
Slipper as i understand has always been fairly versatile. He's played THP for the Wallabies in the past and I see no reason that he couldn't become a quality test THP over time. Of course the preference would be to leave him at LHP but that really depends which THPs are putting their name up to fill that void. As of right now Slipper is the most likely option to be our starting THP come 2018-2019 once Holmes/Kepu are completely out of the picture.
Plus I think the wallabies would benefit from having Slipper on the field for more of the game (rather than have him sitting on the bench).
Slipper as i understand has always been fairly versatile. He's played THP for the Wallabies in the past and I see no reason that he couldn't become a quality test THP over time. Of course the preference would be to leave him at LHP but that really depends which THPs are putting their name up to fill that void. As of right now Slipper is the most likely option to be our starting THP come 2018-2019 once Holmes/Kepu are completely out of the picture.
Plus I think the wallabies would benefit from having Slipper on the field for more of the game (rather than have him sitting on the bench).
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
We need more than "versatile". That's where the Wallabies' scrum has got into trouble in the past. Guys who are sort of good at a lot of things but aren't at the top of the pile for their main job.
Slipper was playing injured for a while and it's hard to get a read on where he's at, so what I'm going to say may be wrong. But Slipper doesn't go as well at THP as he does at LHP. He's played okay there, sure, but I don't know that he'd be able to push to the top as a Test THP.
Ledesma coming in has improved the side's scrummaging and I reckon he might be looking further than Slipper for the No. 3.
T
TOCC
Guest
That idiom doesn't actually apply in this situation.
Mate this has nothing to do with parochialism, I think Sio has the frame and technical scrummaging ability(up there with the best in Oz) to play THP well.
Slipper has played THP, and like I mentioned earlier in this thread Stiles switched him to LHP because his scrummaging isn't as good as Holmes. If you think that is some kind of attack on your beloved Brumbies and can't hold an honest discussion on the subject then do us both a favour and ignore me.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
Nah, don't intend to ignore you TOCC. But I think the issue of Sio shifting to TH has been played out and majority opinion is against it.
And I am sorry I mis-responded in my previous post which should have been directed towards USA Rugger.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Have always said Sio has the body shape to be a better THP than LHP. For me he just doesn't work hard enough around the park. At THP he can remain very tight.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
I give up!
T
TOCC
Guest
A few names left out but the likely ones to be selected are listed(in no particular order):
LHP:
S.Sio
J.Slipper
T.Smith
P.Cowan
A.Alaatoa
B.Robinson
P.Ryan
C. Ah Nau
THP:
G.Holmes(last season)
......
L. Weeks
S.Talakai
A.Ta'avao
B.Alexander
J.Tilse
G.Millar
depth at THP really worries me, behind Holmes the quality really drops off. LHP is well served
LHP:
S.Sio
J.Slipper
T.Smith
P.Cowan
A.Alaatoa
B.Robinson
P.Ryan
C. Ah Nau
THP:
G.Holmes(last season)
......
L. Weeks
S.Talakai
A.Ta'avao
B.Alexander
J.Tilse
G.Millar
depth at THP really worries me, behind Holmes the quality really drops off. LHP is well served
BDA
Peter Johnson (47)
Agree, we'd need him to become a specialist THP if we plan to use him there. I suppose I'm saying that of the options, he seems like to most obvious to be developed as our premier THP. After Kepu and Holmes he's played THP for the Wallabies more than any other players kicking around. Plus I know very little about the dark arts, but I gather playing THP generally requires a greater deal of nous and expertise and I'd describe Slipper as a canny veteran at this point, who could probably develop into a decent THP if we committed to that approach.
I agree though he'd really have to commit to it, and probably switch to THP at Super Rugby level. I think the preference would be to groom the next big thing (excuse the pun) such as maybe PAE if they can lure him back.
The major plus for moving Slipper to THP is that we get another world class prop (albeit maybe not a world class TH yet) on the field for 60 minutes.
I think the reality is that one of Slipper, Sio and Smith is going to be moved to TH in the next 12 months.
Highlander35
Andrew Slack (58)
Holmes can start the June internationals, if Weeks is fit and in form he can bench 2 of them, with Kepu getting one game to make sure he's up to date with the squad.
Kepu and Holmes (Starter vs Bench doesn't matter) play throughout the Rugby Championship.
Weeks and Talakai, along with Kepu during the formal window, play during the Autumn internationals.
Weeks and Talakai are just examples. Could be anybody. But Weeks is the first one that came to mind having been capped and regularly starting for a Super Side, and Talakai is the high potential prop to be capped during the EOYT tour, but lack of starts would stop him doing so earlier.
Could easily be Taavao, or Ruan Smith, or whomever the Force tighthead is atm.
Kepu and Holmes (Starter vs Bench doesn't matter) play throughout the Rugby Championship.
Weeks and Talakai, along with Kepu during the formal window, play during the Autumn internationals.
Weeks and Talakai are just examples. Could be anybody. But Weeks is the first one that came to mind having been capped and regularly starting for a Super Side, and Talakai is the high potential prop to be capped during the EOYT tour, but lack of starts would stop him doing so earlier.
Could easily be Taavao, or Ruan Smith, or whomever the Force tighthead is atm.