Rebels 2018

[KevinO]

Meakes is better then English. Has a much better footwork and passing game and what he lacks in Englishes size he makes up for in pure heart. English looked good against the reds. Plus the reds that were dead tired in their first Super rugby match and with 14 men.

Meakes will get his chance and keep the jumper.

Isn't Hodge a better option at 13 and meakes 12?

It's not force tinted glasses. The wallabies coaching staff would agree

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Footwork? No English is ahead
Passing, I agree Meakes has a better passing game

Wallabies coaching staff agreeing? Do you really think that's a good argument with the season they had? I'd rather trust the Rebels coaching staff selection of English than what the Wallabies staff think.

 

[neilc]

As an unbiased observer I have always thought English was pretty handy, as is Meakes - be happy that you have the depth to have 2 players of that ability vying for the position. That was the best game I have seen Genia have for a long time. He should bring out the best in Jack D for you as well.

 

[Highlander35]

Something that nobody has mentioned either that may have stopped Shigs ranting: he hadn't played a preseason game due to being in team rehab, so may have simply been being eased back in from the bench.

 

[daz]

English quite rightly got his exposure to the Wallabies training camp a few years ago, and then fell right of the cliff. He has addressed his mental health and taking rugby for granted around that period.

And don't forget, there was very limited opportunity for Tom to play in the centers in the last 2-3 years, given Mitch and various others had a stranglehold on selection week in and week out. Little motivation to push when the outcome was basically decided; that was as much a Tony McGahan legacy than anything.

Tommy's form was pretty good at the end of last season, but he has clearly thrived under Dave W AND on having the 13 position open up with Mitch leaving. Based on his performance last Friday, the position is his to lose.

Agree with neilc above, in that having Meakes and English fighting for the jersey is great for the team.

 

[Rebels3]

I actually think English is a better winger than he is a 13. If he was to ever get the chance at the next level it'd be out wide. But ultimately both him and Meakes are good Super rugby players, neither are what i'd describe as international quality. Meakes straightens the line very nicely and has a nice short passing game, his best ability is to be able to fix his opposition defender in the line. Personally i'd rather Meakes at 12 than Hodge, Hodge to 13 as he is a very good defender, hits some of/ if not the best lines in Australia also wins the contact area more often than not, his passing however i don't think is of the level required for a 12. English has a knack for a try and has some late footwork which helps him avoid heavy collisions perfect for someone outwide, however there is Sefa, Koroibete, DHP and Maddocks.

 

[daz]

I actually think English is a better winger than he is a 13.

Up until last Friday, I would have probably agreed with you. But by gee he was good at 13 against the Reds. That is as much a nod to Genia and Dave W as much as English, to be fair.

Not wanting to kick young Stirzy, but what a difference an experienced scrummy makes in releasing the backs.

 

[swingpass]

.......that may have stopped Shigs ranting......

nothing will stop Shiggins ranting

 

[lou75]

I thought Genia was superb and he tied it all together forwards and backs - if he stays in form - this is our year

 

[Highlander35]

Genia is definitely the difference between being a talented side and being a side that translates that talent into performance. He's still got a few things that great me: I think he strives for perfect attacking alignment over getting the ball out fast enough at times, but his awareness, execution and intelligence was definitely the highest I've seen in a Rebels 9 jersey.

With a few more lads hopefully trickling in from personal circumstance and team rehab, alongside the growing team cohesion, we can hopefully build towards a really strong performance in the Hurricanes game about a month from now.

 

[Tex]

Maybe we can all chip in and get Shiggins a membership for 2018? Better to have the loose canons pissing from inside the tent etc etc.

 

[KevinO]

Daz, you always had a big soft spot for Mitch so you couldn't see it.

I always thought English was better in the center than wing, he just has a knack for crossing the advantage line and if we can get our wingers running the right lines he could finish with a lot of try assists. At the same time when Koroibete comes back I would not mind seeing Sefa moving into the centers for the final 20 mins so we can bring Maddocks on off the bench.

Highlander I just want to take it one week at a time, Canes game is a bit far away. But bloody hell it's nice not to face a Kiwi till Rd 6 compared to 4 of the first 5 rounds last year.

 

[Tomikin]

Meakes is better then English. Has a much better footwork and passing game and what he lacks in Englishes size he makes up for in pure heart. English looked good against the reds. Plus the reds that were dead tired in their first Super rugby match and with 14 men.

Meakes will get his chance and keep the jumper.

Isn't Hodge a better option at 13 and meakes 12?

It's not force tinted glasses. The wallabies coaching staff would agree

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

I tend too think that should be 12 Meakes 13 Hodge.. Preseason Meakes was injuried the Rebels saw something in English.. Made him 13 and VC..

Sent from my HTC 2PS6200 using Tapatalk

 

[Tomikin]

Something that nobody has mentioned either that may have stopped Shigs ranting: he hadn't played a preseason game due to being in team rehab, so may have simply been being eased back in from the bench.

I said it

Sent from my HTC 2PS6200 using Tapatalk

 

[Braveheart81]

I reckon the one area English needs to improve is his ball retention in contact. It's not bad but it's not amazing either.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

If Hodge stays at 12 I think Sione would be next in line for 13, after English.

 

[Highlander35]

People here are writing off Meakes as a 13 too quickly IMO. Obviously over here he's played 12 almost exclusively: but his rise to prominence at Gloucester came as an outside center: If I could be bothered, I'd look through my posts and find the ones before he signed for the Force recommending him and Sam Johnson as post Inman/Ellison options at 13.

At the moment I'm a fan of putting Sefa in the 13 with Maddocks, DHP and Marika being the back three, but I might be unique in that.

 

[KevinO]

At the moment I'm a fan of putting Sefa in the 13 with Maddocks, DHP and Marika being the back three, but I might be unique in that.

9. Genia
10. JD
11. Koroibete
12. Hodge
13. Sefa
14. Maddocks
15. DHP

Mate I would not mind seeing that, maybe trialled in the second half of a game first before using it as a starting line up. The opposition would be trying to slow down play if that backline was on the field.

 

[Tomikin]

9. Genia
10. JD
11. Koroibete
12. Hodge
13. Sefa
14. Maddocks
15. DHP

Mate I would not mind seeing that, maybe trialled in the second half of a game first before using it as a starting line up. The opposition would be trying to slow down play if that backline was on the field.

Two kickers at the back

Sent from my HTC 2PS6200 using Tapatalk

 

[amirite]

Meekes is a good footy player, but he was fucking average on Friday night. He's coming back from injury and only played 20ish, so not much to go on. Lets hope he gets back to his best.

PS. Anyone that claims Meekes is a good passer is an idiot. The bloke is Pat McCabe 2.0. Probably runs better lines, but has less fluffybunny.

 

[Tex]

Leave Sefa on the wing imo. Too often we fall into the trap of pulling an effective winger and plopping him into 13 on the basis of bullish running and tackling. The Kiwis are having that debate with Reiko Ioane - you've got a gun winger, why not leave him there to thrive?

Mortlock made a great transition, but the most effective players at 13 in the last decade or so were specialists who played smart rather than fast/strong. Think Conrad Smith and BoD.