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A number 8 on your back

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matty_k

matty_k

Peter Johnson (47)
Staff member
Skippy said:
No mate, not talking about Waratahs season... talking about Dennis playing in a game against an opposition who had nothing to play for. I thought it was pretty clear what my point was but it seems to have confused a few.
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The Brumbies had a number of things to play for: pride, a number of players' last game, place third on the Australian conference ladder, knocking of the top two Australian teams (away) at the back end of the season and deny the their traditional rivals a place in the finals. I'm assuming that the Brumbies (once they knew the season was over for them) would have reassessed their goals for the season and would be aiming for them. They would have also set the goal of winning this game. So to say they were a team with nothing to play for is being a little ignorant.

And so to bring it back to Dennis he had a great game (as did the most of the 'Tahs) and in the 8 jersey he definitely stepped it up against a team that have struggled this year but had quite a lot to play for in this last game.
 
Lee Grant

Lee Grant

John Eales (66)
Staff member
The young blokes in the Schoolboys forum get a bit silly sometimes but some of the mincing state opinionated posts here have been just as immature.



On Dennis: I said before the Brumbies game that I hadn't seen Dennis play 8 before, or couldn't remember, and wondered how he would go. He went well and was the man of the match for me, if not officially. There has been talk that Mowen will not be wanted by the Tahs next year. If that is the case then Dennis looks like he could be take Mowen's place - subbing for Palu as much or as little as needed and playing 6 at other times.

As for doing the same for the Wallabies: it would be premature to think about that for this year though there's not a lot of blue chip no. 8s in the country.

Palu is crocked and even if he can play in 3N or the RWC, he is notoriously slow getting back to match form after injury. McCalman is the incumbent and will be the Wallaby starter but who to be the backup?

Of the candidates Vaea was in the best Super form and will be considered. There's not too many other candidates who are specialist 8s since Richard Brown's Wallaby days are probably behind him. If Dennis plays well against the Blues and does the same if they get another game after that, you never know, he could be a smokey.

I had hoped that Higginbotham would be an 8 candidate as he had the physique for it but the more he plays at 6 the more I am convinced that he should not play elsewhere.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Dennis has played well all season, better than Mowen to me, he is very accurate and seems to get through the tackle and over the advantage line. Mowen on the other hand seems to battle with defenders at the advantage line.
 
vidiot

vidiot

John Solomon (38)
Lee Grant said:
Of the candidates Vaea was in the best Super form and will be considered.
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I tried to watch the waratahs vs brumbies twice and was only partially successful each time ("Not the football again!"), so my viewing was patchy. But Vaea's ability to make ground in the face of the best defense going around was very impressive. He has been solid all season. If he keeps building he has a big future.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Of the candidates Vaea was in the best Super form and will be considered.
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It is going to be interesting to see whether Deans consolidates with the options he has already blooded or continues to blood, there ain't many games left for playing around
 
darkhorse

darkhorse

Darby Loudon (17)
I have had more fun reading the reasons for deleting the posts than reading what the deleted posts said.
 
Ash

Ash

Michael Lynagh (62)
The worrying thing for me with Vaea is he seemed to do a Houston, and put on a lot of weight over the season (or so it looked to me).

Test rugby is different from Super rugby, and I am not sure what number 8 will be suitable until we see them in test rugby. I am not exactly sold on any at the moment, we have not seen enough of most to be sure.
 
The_Brown_Hornet

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
I saw Vaea on the weekend and he did look pretty portly for a guy playing eight at that level. I'm surprised he would have gotten through pre-season carrying that much weight. All the other good eights in the comp look pretty ripped by comparison.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Palu took a while to get sorted and couldn't do the minutes required

Vaea to me is the clear rookie of the year and has done really well, but needs to get to thee gym over the summer and get a body built by "Jake"
 
tigerland12

tigerland12

John Thornett (49)
Lee Grant said:
Of the candidates Vaea was in the best Super form and will be considered. There's not too many other candidates who are specialist 8s since Richard Brown's Wallaby days are probably behind him. If Dennis plays well against the Blues and does the same if they get another game after that, you never know, he could be a smokey.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be suprised if Vaea, Dennis or even Jake Shatz get picked as bolters in the original 40 man squad, considering Palu is out for the tri-nations. Even if they don't get selected, Deans has a habit of bringing players into the camp young and giving them the experience (ie: Nick Phipps and Luke Morahan).

On another note, is he eligble for Australia?
Brumbies skipper Matt Giteau described Vaea as a player with a lot of raw strength and power.

"He likes to be physical- and I think that is a great asset to have in your side," the skipper said.

To earn that kind of praise from a player of Giteau's status shows how far Vaea has come since he was spotted by Brumbies Academy coach Darren Coleman playing for Tonga in the Under-20 World Cup two years ago.
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Slim 293

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Aaahhhh yes...

I would assume Ita Vaea can't be considered for the Wallabies because he has represented Tonga in the Junior World Championships a few years ago...

Or not?

How does this silly law work again people?
 
M

Maroon Army

Guest
S

Skippy

Guest
matty_k said:
The Brumbies had a number of things to play for: pride, a number of players' last game, place third on the Australian conference ladder, knocking of the top two Australian teams (away) at the back end of the season and deny the their traditional rivals a place in the finals. I'm assuming that the Brumbies (once they knew the season was over for them) would have reassessed their goals for the season and would be aiming for them. They would have also set the goal of winning this game. So to say they were a team with nothing to play for is being a little ignorant.

And so to bring it back to Dennis he had a great game (as did the most of the 'Tahs) and in the 8 jersey he definitely stepped it up against a team that have struggled this year but had quite a lot to play for in this last game.
Click to expand...

Yes mate... and all that was reflected in the scoreline.
 
M

Maroon Army

Guest
daz said:
Good for him. Any bloke who publicly states he wants a Wallaby jersey has my attention and best wishes. Work hard, son. Work hard and earn it.

Personally, I got my Wallaby jersey from a sports shop with little effort. Does that count? Nah, maybe not.....
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Well played, Sir.

:lmao:
 
drewprint

drewprint

John Solomon (38)
Lee Grant said:
Palu is crocked and even if he can play in 3N or the RWC, he is notoriously slow getting back to match form after injury. McCalman is the incumbent and will be the Wallaby starter but who to be the backup?

Of the candidates Vaea was in the best Super form and will be considered. There's not too many other candidates who are specialist 8s since Richard Brown's Wallaby days are probably behind him. If Dennis plays well against the Blues and does the same if they get another game after that, you never know, he could be a smokey.

I had hoped that Higginbotham would be an 8 candidate as he had the physique for it but the more he plays at 6 the more I am convinced that he should not play elsewhere.
Click to expand...

All state parochialism aside, I would have thought Samo would be a red hot contender too. Maybe not a specialist, but damn he's getting the job done, and then some.
 
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