[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by Swiwi

Sharks have the dominant scrum, and look promising. I hope SA keeping choosing the Bullboks, cos these 2 teams should make up the core of the SA first 15...

Never a truer word. At most the Bulls should have Hougaard and maybe Spies but no doubt Meyer will have 7 of them starting and 3 more on the bench.

[Morf]

Originally Posted by PhatPiggins

Never a truer word. At most the Bulls should have Hougaard and maybe Spies but no doubt Meyer will have 7 of them starting and 3 more on the bench.

Spies? You're joking right? They guy did nothing but catch box kicks and run them back (not very well) against the Crusaders. Seemed to be completely absent during the tight. Kankowski is a much smarter player. Josh Strauss is a better player than him too.

[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by Morf

Spies? You're joking right? They guy did nothing but catch box kicks and run them back (not very well) against the Crusaders. Seemed to be completely absent during the tight. Kankowski is a much smarter player. Josh Strauss is a better player than him too.

I said maybe and although i m not a fan of his i think you selecting one game in isolation is not representative of the very good season he's had.

[Swiwi]

Originally Posted by PhatPiggins

Never a truer word. At most the Bulls should have Hougaard and maybe Spies but no doubt Meyer will have 7 of them starting and 3 more on the bench.

I'm not a huge Fan of Spies - once he made his Muhammad Ali "I am the greatest" comment, all respect was lost. I personally think he is hugely over-rated (principally by himself and it appears a succession of Springbok coaches). Read, Parisse, Harinordoquy would all be better players in my book. I can barely recall a match where he has imposed himself as the dominant force, unlike Read for example.

SA have to decide what style of rugby they play. 10-man Bulls rugby, and milking penalties won't cut it, especially as Steyn has lost his kicking radar a bit this year, and he's not much good if you take his kicking boots away. SA have some of the most physically intimidating forwards in world rugby, a forward pack with Bismark, Ezebeth & Alberts should be the match of any, and if they can sensibly choose the right backs, I would rate them a great chance to win the 4N. But picking the Bulls with a few token players from other provinces thrown in, I would even rate Argentina (with their forwards) and Australia (with their backs) to give them a good run for their money.

[thomond2006]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...947308,00.html

Pocock to join Brumbies on 3 year deal.

[Fishooks12]

Originally Posted by Swiwi

I'm not a huge Fan of Spies - once he made his Muhammad Ali "I am the greatest" comment, all respect was lost. I personally think he is hugely over-rated (principally by himself and it appears a succession of Springbok coaches). Read, Parisse, Harinordoquy would all be better players in my book. I can barely recall a match where he has imposed himself as the dominant force, unlike Read for example.

Ryan K, Heaslip and Falitaeu in my book too

Spies is the definition of overrated, a myth of a great 8 created out of the fact that he's quick over 100 meters

I wouldn't have him on the SB's squad

[Swiwi]

Originally Posted by Fishooks12

Ryan K, Heaslip and Falitaeu in my book too

Spies is the definition of overrated, a myth of a great 8 created out of the fact that he's quick over 100 meters

I wouldn't have him on the SB's squad

The myth is all his. Yes, he's fast, but he's also incredibly lazy, a real show-pony in the Sebastian Chabal mode. I actually think Josh Strauss from the Cheetahs looks a very hand loose forward, can't remember if he plays 8 though. Kankowski's hands can let him down at times.

[Swiwi]

Originally Posted by thomond2006

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...947308,00.html

Pocock to join Brumbies on 3 year deal.

The star Aussie players seem to change franchise each season...in saying that, the Force are hardly a great team, and this will be a very welcome addition to the Brumbies.

[Morf]

Originally Posted by Swiwi

The star Aussie players seem to change franchise each season...in saying that, the Force are hardly a great team, and this will be a very welcome addition to the Brumbies.

He's replacing Hooper who is going to the Waratahs I think. The Aussies have quite a few good young 7s.

[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by Morf

He's replacing Hooper who is going to the Waratahs I think. The Aussies have quite a few good young 7s.

Liam Gill at the Reds is a serious prospect. Can anyone explain why so many players want to play for NSW and how NSW are so crap ?

[Swiwi]

Originally Posted by PhatPiggins

Liam Gill at the Reds is a serious prospect. Can anyone explain why so many players want to play for NSW and how NSW are so crap ?

I think NSW is the "home" of Australian rugby, a bit like the South-West of France for les Tricolores. There is supposed to be a fair bit of politics & in-fighting in NSW, and that seems to be reflected on the field. Maybe the players get paid well there...

[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by Swiwi

I think NSW is the "home" of Australian rugby, a bit like the South-West of France for les Tricolores. There is supposed to be a fair bit of politics & in-fighting in NSW, and that seems to be reflected on the field. Maybe the players get paid well there...

Is there not a similar budget for all 5 teams, though no doubt corporate sponsorship could be an element.

[CatFromHue]

Originally Posted by PhatPiggins

Liam Gill at the Reds is a serious prospect. Can anyone explain why so many players want to play for NSW and how NSW are so crap ?

I think the Waratahs are based in Sydney which could be an attraction for some players as it's a big city and would have a lot going on. Force are in Perth, Brumbies are in Canberra, Rebels in Melbourne, and the Reds are in Brisbane. I think, and I could be wrong here, that Perth and Melbourne are AFL and RFL cities and Canberra has a reputation of being pretty quiet. The Reds would have an attraction as having a history in rugby but Brisbane doesn't have the same reputation as Sydney.

As for why the 'Tahs are so crap I think might be a relatively new thing to be honest.

[Swiwi]

Originally Posted by PhatPiggins

Is there not a similar budget for all 5 teams, though no doubt corporate sponsorship could be an element.

There is some talk that dodgy wheeling & dealing has got around the salary cap...

[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by CatFromHue

I think the Waratahs are based in Sydney which could be an attraction for some players as it's a big city and would have a lot going on. Force are in Perth, Brumbies are in Canberra, Rebels in Melbourne, and the Reds are in Brisbane. I think, and I could be wrong here, that Perth and Melbourne are AFL and RFL cities and Canberra has a reputation of being pretty quiet. The Reds would have an attraction as having a history in rugby but Brisbane doesn't have the same reputation as Sydney.

As for why the 'Tahs are so crap I think might be a relatively new thing to be honest.

Good post there Cat. Canberra is a bit souless alright but I don't think Sydney has that much on Perth and Melbourne.

Considering the Tahs usually have about 60-70% of the days starting Wallabies in their lineup and rarely make the playoffs and have never won a Super title I'd consider them pretty crap tbh.