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Haven’t seen the like!
Team of the Week
1. Alex Hodgman (Reds)
2. Tom Horton (Force)
3. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen (Reds)
4. Ryan Smith (Reds)
5. Sam Carter (Force)
6. Liam Wright (Reds)
7. Carlo Tizzano (Force)
8. Reed Prinsep (Force)
9. Nic White (Force)
10. Ben Donaldson (Force)
11. Chase Tiatia (Force)
12. Hunter Paisami (Reds) – Player of the week
13. Sam Spink (Force)
14. Bayley Kuenzle (Force)
15. Kurtley Beale (Force)N
Easily explained. Tahs had the bye. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by SNOB
Thankfully history doesn't look at the asterisks re only three teams to pick from!
I think Coxson will probably feel (actually, I'm guessing that individual probably couldn't give a shit!) a bit hard done by given Hodgman was off at 43 minutes.
Massive wraps from me for Horton, but Faessler had a great run too, will possibly feature in the rugby.com XV later today.
As per Coxon, Medrano probably a bit hard done by given a really solid 66 minutes v Toomaga-Allen's journeyman 49.
Smith probably fair enough, though a possibly one eyed defence of Rodda could be made.
Hard to argue with the rest.
In watching live I didn't really get blown away by Paisami, but watching the replay he had a great match away from the highlight reel activities.
Team of the Week from rugby.com
1. Alex Hodgman (Queensland Reds) As per previous post
2. Tom Horton (Western Force) As per previous post
3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Queensland Reds)As per previous post
4. Ryan Smith (Queensland Reds)
5. Sam Carter (Western Force)
6. Liam Wright (Queensland Reds)
7. John Bryant (Queensland Reds) Nope.
8. Reed Prinsep (Western Force)
9. Kalani Thomas (Queensland Reds) As per Vunivalu I nearly mentioned him in my previous post. Don't think he was better than White, but certainly took his opportunity to start and state a case.
10. Ben Donaldson (Western Force)
11. Chase Tiatia (Western Force)
12. Hunter Paisami (Queensland Reds)
13. Hudson Creighton (ACT Brumbies) How you can justify any selection from that trainwreck is beyond me. Maximum tokenism.
14. Suli Vunivalu (Queensland Reds) Nearly mentioned him in my previous post, was very good and expect he'll get vote action this afternoon in the "Posties"
15. Kurtley Beale (Western Force)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Burgs
Mine is better than yours!:)
I've been surprised how long it has taken to re-adapt to Rugby given his background and the position he plays. A lobotomy must be difficult to reverse. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Burgs
Well at least the storm prevented him from joining the Darkness.
To be honest, I had written him off, but have been impressed with both him and Daugunu this year which really surprises me.Quote:
Originally Posted by shasta
Posties
Malone
Paisami 3
Carter 2
Donaldson 1
Turinui
Paisami 3
Princep 2
Smith R 1
Hoiles
Paisami 3
Donaldson 2
Harris W 1
Planet Rugby's team of the week:
It was a weekend of big wins in Super Rugby Pacific with plenty of points scored in spectacular fashion as Round Nine turned the heat up.
We selected our team of the week loaded with players from the winning teams that included memorable victories for the Reds, Blues, Hurricanes and Western Force.
15 Jock Campbell (Reds): A key element in the Reds’ flowing attack against the Highlanders in what was a memorable win. The full-back was always looking to do something when he had ball in hand making 70 metres and beating three defenders whilst expertly controlling the backfield.
14 Sevu Reece (Crusaders): It was tempting to put the slippery Blues star Mark Tele’a in the lineup but the new Crusaders leading all-time try scorer takes the spot. Reece was brilliant for the Christchurch men scoring and assisting a try. The Crusaders will need him to completely catch fire if they are to climb out of a sinking hole.
13 Iosefo Masi (Fijian Drua): Inspired in a losing cause, the centre kept up his streak of gaining loads of metres with ball in hand (99) and beating seven defenders in the process. Masi was influential in the Drua’s attack and assisted one of their tries underlining his place as one of the most consistent players in Super Rugby Pacific.
12 Hunter Paisami (Reds): A top-quality game from the Wallaby superstar who was potent in the midfield. The centre managed a try and two try assists as he almost single-handedly took the game away from the Highlanders. It was the kind of performance that shows how valuable he is for the Reds going forward and he gets in ahead of a 20-tackle effort from Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes).
11 Caleb Clarke (Blues): A busy shift from the powerhouse Blue who was not afraid to wander from his wing to find work as he notched 12 carries on the day. His try was well deserved as he barged through the front door to add five more for his side. Scott Robertson will be quietly smiling after Clarke’s outing.
10 Ben Donaldson (Western Force): The fly-half is quickly becoming the Perth side’s most important player as he comprehensively pulled the string again, inspiring the Force to their first win over the Crusaders since 2013. Not only did he score 17 points he also made sound decisions steering his team around the park cleverly as well as keeping hold of the game and out of the desperate Crusaders’ hands.
9 TJ Perenara (Hurricanes): The legendary scrum-half continued his fine form with another lovely outing. Perenara was the heartbeat of the Hurricanes’ attack and was on hand to bag two try assists as the Wellington men stay atop the pile. The All Blacks’ efforts were enough to edge out rising Blues star Taufa Funaki.
8 Hoskins Sotutu (Blues): The number eight is having a glittering campaign and leads the competition’s try-scoring charts thanks to a commanding brace against the Brumbies. Sotutu is dynamic, entertaining and an utter game-breaker at the moment. He also bagged a try assist in a performance that will surely have him well in the conversation for a starting All Blacks spot. Hurricane Devan Flanders and Force star Reed Prinsep were also brilliant for their teams.
7 Carlo Tizzano (Western Force): The flank dug deep against the Crusaders and got through a shipload of work that was ultimately rewarded with a try late on in the clash. However, it was actually on defence where he earned his money making a ridiculous 25 tackles! He gets in ahead of Dalton Papali’i (Blues) and Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes).
6 Brad Shields (Hurricanes): The former England international has been loving his return to Super Rugby and was at it again. The captain’s armband has clearly inspired the flank who made an outrageous 19 tackles on the day with three turnovers to match. Shields is central to the Hurricanes’ cause at the moment.
5 Ryan Smith (Reds): Another Queenslander in the mix after a blockbuster outing in the second-row. Smith put his hand up all game long to carry which resulted in a try while on defence he made 15 tackles and won a turnover. The Red was also sound in the set-piece taking all his line-outs and stealing another.
4 Ben Grant (Hurricanes): A classic tight five outing for the second-row who made a whopping 16 tackles whilst commanding the line-out taking all his throws and stealing one from the Drua. His complete performance gets in ahead of powerhouse Blues veteran Patrick Tuipulotu.
3 Santiago Medrano (Western Force): Most important wins are ‘propped’ up by the big men up front and that was the case when the Argentine ran in 14 tackles around a solid set-piece effort against the Crusaders.
2 Ricky Riccitelli (Blues): The prolific hooker was on the scoresheet yet again in another high-standard outing as he formed part of a pack that demolished the Brumbies. The Aucklander also got a try assist while nailing the set-piece.
1 Tevita Mafileo (Hurricanes): Another outstanding defensive effort from the ‘Canes loosehead who managed 14 tackles while never taking a foot back in the scrums. Mafileo looks to have entered a rich vein of form.
I'm really pleased Santi got the recognition I think he deserved in this TOTW; he was all over the park and threw a couple of tidy dummy runs in too; that was his best performance of the season, and he is an absolute must in terms of resigning. Hopefully, the new national coach will support him staying in SR rather than using him to sign with a NH team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazzmania
I was wondering about that and his eligibility. With the Lions around the corner he might be interested. He'd join a small club of dual national engine room legends in Topo & Pato.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kernow
Rare air indeed!Quote:
Originally Posted by shasta
Not sure he would qualify on residency in time having been away a couple of times since joining?
You can't change allegiance (capped for Argies) on a residency basis. Unless his father's name is Bruce Medrano, there is no hope.
I'd hope that the new coach for Argentina, Felipe Contepomi, is not so prescriptive about what Santi will need to do to get in the national squad. He's understandably desperate to get back in, so much so, he followed Cheika's direction and signed with a club in the northern hemisphere. From what I remember reading on TWF, someone had been in contact and got the impression he didn't really want to leave the Force but to pursue his international ambitions that was what he needed to do. Worcester Warriors demise put him in a really awkward position - gutted for him (but delighted that he came back).Quote:
Originally Posted by Burgs
Doesn't really go into the new ruling that saw the big increase last RWC though does it?Quote:
Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr
I wonder if this (below) is why RA dropped the Australia A program for awhile?
If so, desperately need to get it back now to "secure" more players.
A Player is only entitled to play Rugby Union for the senior or next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the senior National Representative Sevens Team of one Union
With effect from January 1, 2018, Unions may not designate their Under 20s National Representative Team as their next senior National Representative Team.
Could always try the AOC stunt. Instant citizenship. I wonder how he'd go at being an au pair on his days off. :sarcastic:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Burgs
Yes I was wondering what the difference was between Medrano and Alex Hodgman for the reds who is being talked up for the wallabies despite playing tests for all blacks in 2020 and only just moving to Australia this year. The difference is that his father was born in Melbourne so is pretty much eligible already once the stand down period is up.