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Rodda is a key signature in my book. The guy is immense, and his presence certainly looked to be felt when he rumbled on in the Saders game, there were times when he was telling the forwards to settle things down, his steal in the least quarter etc. His rugby IQ is invaluable.
Fingers and toes crossed for this one!
Gareth Chilcott after his last game for Bath in 1993
“I thought I would have a quiet pint… and about 17 noisy ones.”
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Interesting description of Swain in The West "a 200cm beanpole". I guess I shouldn't be surprised but it shows how little they know.
Taken from Burgs Post on 2024 Locks:
Izack Rodda
Age 27
Height 202cm
Weight 123kg
Sam Carter
Age 33
Height 201cm
Weight 116kg
Tom Franklin
Age 33
Height 200cm
Weight 110kg
Darcy Swain
Age 26
Height 200cm
Weight 108kg
Lopeti Faifua
Age 22
Height 198cm
Weight 115kg
Felix Kalapu
Age 24
Height 196cm (TBC)
Weight 111kg
Jeremy Williams
Age 23
Height 195cm
Weight 111kg
Gareth Chilcott after his last game for Bath in 1993
“I thought I would have a quiet pint… and about 17 noisy ones.”
Not saying your figures are wrong, but All.rugby give Williams' height as 197cm. And as we all know, every cm counts!
I'd be looking at Williams as primarily 6/8 and backup Lock. Keep Rodda and Carter, together with Kalapu and Faifua.
Gareth Chilcott after his last game for Bath in 1993
“I thought I would have a quiet pint… and about 17 noisy ones.”
Brumbies, Wallaby and Wiki profiles all confirm 200 Edit- sorry I read Swain there. Williams 195 off Force webpage, 197 on Wiki. As Kernow says, I'll back the team page
The "Sharpe Model" of Lock is 200cm, 115kg, so in that sense could beef up a little.
At 27 years in July he is entering into his "mature years" (probably a 2029 International retirement) and by all accounts out of Canberra (pre-announcement) has definitely matured as a leader in their Squad.
As with Beale, I think Perth can prove to be a bit of a second/last chance destination for these type of players that may have had a chequered early career. If heading to UK/France they remain under the microscope 24/7, where the sunny West is generally out of the focus for Union with most, apart from freaks like us, not recognising these guys in the street. As exciting as being a 18-24 year old thrust into the pressure cooker would be, Perth gives them a chance to "adult" like mere mortals, particularly if with young family. Apart for a few leaders in the Squad, there are far less public imposts on their time outside of focusing on training and playing.
I think this will be a good move for Swain and has the potential to be a fantastic move for the Force scrum.
Last edited by Burgs; 06-05-24 at 17:10.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
That was my thought too SNOB. IIRC the 6 week ban against the AB's looked more clumsy than deliberate. The 2 weeks for "headbutting" the England lock was sheer frustration after the Pom tried to pull his hair out by the roots to stop Swain disrupting their maul. I'd have given him 4 weeks for the pussiest Liverpool Kiss in the history of Rugby
Last edited by shasta; 06-05-24 at 17:15.