Halfback Nick Phipps continues a grand family tradition

[travelling_gerry]

Halfback Nick Phipps continues a grand family tradition

• Bret Harris
• From: The Australian
• October 15, 2010 12:00AM

THE surprise selection of halfback Nick Phipps in the Wallabies squad marks a new chapter in the story of one of Australia's most illustrious rugby families.

Phipps's great-grandfather, Jim Phipps, and his three brothers - Peter, John and Robert - played for Sydney club Gordon in the 1950s.
Jim played outside centre for the Wallabies in 11 Tests and toured New Zealand and South Africa, while Peter, an inside centre, toured New Zealand in 1955, but did not play a Test.
Peter was picked to play the second Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin, but withdrew because of injury and was replaced by Jim.
The Phipps brothers' uncle, W J Phipps, played for the NSW Waratahs in 1928.
"My great-grandfather, Jim Phipps, played for the Wallabies, and a great uncle also," Phipps said in Delhi where he was a member of Australia's silver medal-winning Games sevens rugby team.


"I never knew until a couple of years ago. I got a few emails from them. They just wished me all the best. Keep a calm head and learn a lot."
Phipps, who was one of four members of the Australian sevens team along with Pat McCutcheon, Luke Morahan and Lachie Turner to make the squad, was the bolter.
The Sydney University halfback is yet to play Super rugby, although he is contracted to the Melbourne Rebels.
Even the Rebels thought their other halfback, Richard Kingi, would make the squad before Phipps.
"I didn't believe it," Phipps said. "I was surprised when our (sevens) manager Luca Liussi told me. He woke us up at eight this morning.
"I didn't put myself in contention at all. I have no idea what's going on. On the back of the sevens, it's a good finish.
"I still haven't spoken to (coach) Robbie Deans. I'm looking forward to that. Luke Burgess and Berrick Barnes have told me he is a nice bloke and knows his footy. I'll pick his brains."
Phipps, 21, will be the Wallabies' third halfback behind Will Genia and Burgess and will most likely sit on the bench in the midweek games against Leicester and Munster.
"Nick has played some very good club rugby," Deans said. "One thing you get out of the sevens program is they are in the shape of their lives.
"One other advantage Nick has is that he has played alongside a lot of these blokes.
"Clearly, he is a development opportunity. Whoever we opted for was likely to be that."
Phipps is one of six of Sydney University's premiership-winning squad along with Barnes, Burgess, Ben McCalman, McCutcheon and Dean Mumm.
"One of the things that stands out about him is his fitness," Barnes said of Phipps.
"His fitness tests are outstanding. Off the chart.
"Also, he has a solid pass. He hits the target pretty often. He mightn't have the running game of Luke and Willie just yet, but he will adapt."
Phipps was one of seven uncapped players, including winger Rod Davies, backrower Scott Higginbotham, second-rower Van Humphries, McCalman, McCutcheon and winger Morahan.
Humphries, 34, will become the oldest player on debut for Australia if he plays in any of the five Tests against the All Blacks, Wales, England, Italy and France.
Second-rower Mark Chisholm made a remarkable recovery from a knee injury to gain selection and is a "possibility" for the Test against the All Blacks in Hong Kong on October 30, while captain and blindside flanker Rocky Elsom is confident of overcoming a hamstring injury in time for the tour opener.


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225938906323

[travelling_gerry]

Its interesting to note that the year before started there were 5 players in the Wallaby spring tour of 2005 with 4 of those starters.

Rebels 2010 = 1 rookie.

[James]

We had a lot of rookies when we started up. We had a couple of current Wallabies (I only count Cannon, Sharpie, Henjak and the fraction of a test Mackay played- I don't think Ioane or Shepherd were capped on that tour) but only a few former Wallabies- Staniforth and Welborn.

The Rebels on the other hand have a lot of former internationals- Freier, Michael Lipman, Cipriani, Kevin O'Neill, Rod Blake, Gareth Delve, Sam Cordingley, Yoda Somerville, Julian Huxley, Stirling Mortlock, Nic Henderson (Does 1 cap of 3 minutes count?), Mark Gerrard and Al Campbell (I can't remember if he's been capped). That is a lot of experience. Although of those guys the only ones I really think will be worthwhile investments will be O'Neill, Huxley and Gerrard ohh and maybe Blake if he doesn't get lazy. The other guys will either be a) Perpetually injured- Cordingley, Mortlock, Freier, Somerville b) Not that spectacular in the first place- Campbell, Henderson, Delve, Lipman or c) Be far more trouble than they are worth- Cipriani.

The Rebels will be more competitive than the Force were (plus we had some bad injury luck). I think the big difference will be what the Rebels do 2 or 3 years down the track. Who are their development players? The more crotchety old guys you carry around (Mortlock) the less room there is for those development players although admittedly, between the introduction of the Force and the Rebels, young talent is thin on the ground. The last thing the Rebels want to become is a retirement village.

[shasta]

The Rebels will be more competitive than the Force were (plus we had some bad injury luck). I think the big difference will be what the Rebels do 2 or 3 years down the track. Who are their development players?

Good point. One of the first things RugbyWA and John Mitchell said when announcing the franchise was a mission statement to grow Wallabies. On that count they have been very successful. The team has been competitive most of the time too. Hopefully the goal of finals success is not too far off.

[James]

That would definitely be good.

This is why the ARU need to reduce Melbourne's quota of overseas players on a year by year basis. Next year let them have 8 and give all the other four teams an extra slot. The year after 6 and then the year after 4 etc etc. The most important thing is that all 5 Australian teams stay competitive which means until our junior talent stocks can meet the demands of the 5 teams, all of them need concessions for marquee players. Then once supply meets demand we can look at reducing it further.

[travelling_gerry]

Snap Quiz - Name the 7 2005 Wallaby Spring tourists that started the inaugural year

[Sheikh]

Snap Quiz - Name the 7 2005 Wallaby Spring tourists that started the inaugural year

Didn't James mention them above?

We had a lot of rookies when we started up. We had a couple of current Wallabies (I only count Cannon, Sharpie, Henjak and the fraction of a test Mackay played- I don't think Ioane or Shepherd were capped on that tour) but only a few former Wallabies- Staniforth and Welborn.

[travelling_gerry]

Nope.

An not necessarily capped. Went on the Spring Tour.

[James]

I missed David Fitter.

[travelling_gerry]

Close. But no cigar yet!

[James]

Ahh Fava, I thought I had mentioned him already.

The reality of those guys is that the only ones with any reasonable number of caps at the time were Sharpie and Cannon with everyone else being a new Wallaby that year.

[WaterBoy]

Brown? as well

[travelling_gerry]

Ahh Fava, I thought I had mentioned him already.

[TOCC]

That would definitely be good.

This is why the ARU need to reduce Melbourne's quota of overseas players on a year by year basis. Next year let them have 8 and give all the other four teams an extra slot. The year after 6 and then the year after 4 etc etc. The most important thing is that all 5 Australian teams stay competitive which means until our junior talent stocks can meet the demands of the 5 teams, all of them need concessions for marquee players. Then once supply meets demand we can look at reducing it further.

Part of the initial agreement is that the overseas player quota is reduced year by year, i dont necessarily think that the other teams need a extra spot though, im a bit hungover at the moment so the brain isnt operating properly, but i cant think of any foreign marquee players signed to QLD, NSW, ACT or WA in 2011, still a bit of time to pick up a player or two though i suppose.

I think the Force is the only team with a development player in 2011 as well

[James]

Now that you mention it I can't think of any either. I think its a handy thing to have in case of emergencies for injured players. The danger of 5 Super teams is that only 30 of the 150 players they contain will make the Wallabies. Meaning that it will be tricky to keep players in some key positions as they will probably want to go overseas to make more cash if they don't make the Wallabies. In those situations a guy like Michael Lipman or Daniel Braid who play in a fairly specialist position are handy.

Makes succession planning a much more delicate art.