Comments on: Not the champions of the world http://clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/ Fearlessly dispensing political, legal and economic analysis (and some whimsy) since 2002 Tue, 22 May 2012 22:38:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Patrick http://clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32862 Patrick Tue, 16 May 2006 20:02:03 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32862 Yes, I'd forgotten, but Robinson will certainly be in the squad and has a good shot at the run-on team, and Tatafu-Polota will certainly make the extended squad - I would actually pick him in the final squad if he went well enough in their mid-weeks! Elsom will certainly make the initial squad, and Hoiles as well, but with Smith and Croft also certain for the squad Palu looks like he might lose out to John Roe who has played more football this year and doubles as a second-row. In all this, Lyons looks like he will be written off, mainly thanks to his own team-mate Hoiles! Unless Connolly really wants running power in the pack... ...geez it's a mugs' game anticipating someone else's picks, but that never seems to stop me. Yes, I’d forgotten, but Robinson will certainly be in the squad and has a good shot at the run-on team, and Tatafu-Polota will certainly make the extended squad – I would actually pick him in the final squad if he went well enough in their mid-weeks!

Elsom will certainly make the initial squad, and Hoiles as well, but with Smith and Croft also certain for the squad Palu looks like he might lose out to John Roe who has played more football this year and doubles as a second-row. In all this, Lyons looks like he will be written off, mainly thanks to his own team-mate Hoiles! Unless Connolly really wants running power in the pack…

…geez it’s a mugs’ game anticipating someone else’s picks, but that never seems to stop me.

]]> By: cs http://clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32845 cs Tue, 16 May 2006 08:31:00 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32845 Bah! I expect Benn Robinson to get some encouragement, although not in the starting team as yet. I'm not sure that Al Baxter is out of the picture (although I hope Matt Dunning is). Vickerman of course is a cert, and Kanaar is in the discussions. Along with Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom is very much in the running, especially if Knuckles goes with his mooted double-up on tall timber on the flanks (with George Smith at no.8 ). And if Stephen Hoiles can put a couple in a row like last week's effort ... stand by for a new sensation. This leaves Lyons, who can't be written off. In short, for mine, I reckon all the Tahs starting forwards are in the running, either in the 15, the 22, or at least the extended squad - and I wouldn't be surprised if Tatafu Polota-Nau's name also comes up in the wider context, and perhaps even Wycliff Palu, who has his fans. Bah! I expect Benn Robinson to get some encouragement, although not in the starting team as yet. I’m not sure that Al Baxter is out of the picture (although I hope Matt Dunning is).

Vickerman of course is a cert, and Kanaar is in the discussions. Along with Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom is very much in the running, especially if Knuckles goes with his mooted double-up on tall timber on the flanks (with George Smith at no.8 ). And if Stephen Hoiles can put a couple in a row like last week’s effort … stand by for a new sensation. This leaves Lyons, who can’t be written off.

In short, for mine, I reckon all the Tahs starting forwards are in the running, either in the 15, the 22, or at least the extended squad – and I wouldn’t be surprised if Tatafu Polota-Nau’s name also comes up in the wider context, and perhaps even Wycliff Palu, who has his fans.

]]> By: Patrick http://clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32837 Patrick Tue, 16 May 2006 04:16:23 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32837 Actually, I don't see why it should be so bad. NSW have the best pack, but actually few wallabies. Perhaps only Freir in the front row, and perhaps not even he in the single-digit guernseys, and possibly none in the back row, although I do think Phil Waugh will be there. We have a number of quality back-rowers, and Qld's front-row has been as solid as any in South Africa, whilst our second row seems to be solid - Sharpe, Kanaar, Vickerman and Roe have all come in for praise over the year. Actually, I don’t see why it should be so bad. NSW have the best pack, but actually few wallabies. Perhaps only Freir in the front row, and perhaps not even he in the single-digit guernseys, and possibly none in the back row, although I do think Phil Waugh will be there.

We have a number of quality back-rowers, and Qld’s front-row has been as solid as any in South Africa, whilst our second row seems to be solid – Sharpe, Kanaar, Vickerman and Roe have all come in for praise over the year.

]]> By: Slaggy Miller http://clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32824 Slaggy Miller Mon, 15 May 2006 13:25:02 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32824 "I wonder if we train up too far, and peak too early" The problem is they forgot it was the Super 14s this year, with two more matches, and peaked after playing a Super 12 schedule. What a let down. And you're right about the task facing Knuckles. The scrum will be nightmare. Wouldn't have happened in my day. “I wonder if we train up too far, and peak too early”

The problem is they forgot it was the Super 14s this year, with two more matches, and peaked after playing a Super 12 schedule.

What a let down.

And you’re right about the task facing Knuckles. The scrum will be nightmare. Wouldn’t have happened in my day.

]]> By: Aidan http://clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32807 Aidan Mon, 15 May 2006 01:28:54 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32807 Don't lament too quickly Chris. The Hurricanes have redefined the terms 'flakey' and 'quixotic'. They are no certainties to win at home. I reckon the Waratahs are a pretty good bet to be the team to lose to the Crusaders in the final. Don’t lament too quickly Chris. The Hurricanes have redefined the terms ‘flakey’ and ‘quixotic’. They are no certainties to win at home. I reckon the Waratahs are a pretty good bet to be the team to lose to the Crusaders in the final.

]]> By: Patrick http://clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32716 Patrick Sat, 13 May 2006 23:06:11 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32716 As I said earlier <i>But the 'tahs had damn better win - can the Brumbies loan them Larkham for the final</i> Imagine the QLD frontrow, the ta's pack complemented by Smith and Sharpe, and the Brumbies backline complemented by Latham and Tuquiri. Imagine even just Larkham playing last night. I don't think things look so bad for the tests at all. But I do think it is time to get a new coach at NSW. McKenzie has done a great job, and the pack especially attests to this, but I think you need some fresh air. As I said earlier But the ‘tahs had damn better win – can the Brumbies loan them Larkham for the final

Imagine the QLD frontrow, the ta’s pack complemented by Smith and Sharpe, and the Brumbies backline complemented by Latham and Tuquiri.

Imagine even just Larkham playing last night.

I don’t think things look so bad for the tests at all. But I do think it is time to get a new coach at NSW. McKenzie has done a great job, and the pack especially attests to this, but I think you need some fresh air.

]]> By: Amanda http://clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32713 Amanda Sat, 13 May 2006 20:52:07 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2006/05/14/not-the-champions-of-the-world/#comment-32713 Buck up, this just means the triumphant comeback will be the more sweeter. Buck up, this just means the triumphant comeback will be the more sweeter.

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