James O'Connor

[WF1964]

Hertryk has just got back from Captain Run and apparently Richard Graham said that JOC decison will be kwown this weekend.

Perhaps he did want to speak to Jake White

I know we've speculated enough on this already but I can't help myself - thinking about the likely outcomes eg we might get a good win tomorrow night then he announces on sunday that he's leaving ->
Or we lose the match and he announces he's leaving - double downer.

Or he announces tomorrow morning that he's staying and then we whip the Brumbies - double upper.

Yeah, I shouldn't have bothered thinking about it really.

[James]

That poses an interesting question for O'Connor: Are the Reds best for his rugby? Sure, they are his best chance at seeing Super 15 silverware any time soon, but are they best for his rugby?

Can the Reds style of rugby, which I must confess I love to watch, be emulated at Test level?

Just a thought.

[palitu]

Given up on JOC.....

2012 Season's backline i'd like to see.

9 - Turner
10 - Marque who ever can hold a number 10 and play consistently good
11 - Cullet
12 - Ripia
13 - Malfi
14 - Dellit
15 - Shep

Bench - Sheenan / Sidley / Swanpoel.

Ripia at 12??? and Mafi at 13!?!? that would be the smallest centre pairing in the history of midgets!

sorry, but that is a terrible back line. whay would you wawnt a specialist 10 to play 12, then find another 10? use mafi at 12, dellit/sheps at 13 and dellit/sheps at 15, probably sheps at 15. cummo ond someone else at wing, and then your marquee at 10.

not ripia at 12... definately not mafi at 13.

[hertryk]

Went to the Captains Run today, and although we didn't get near the players..I asked the question about JOC and where is he playing next year and was advised his decision will be announced this w/e!!! Sorry all I could do..

[zimeric]

Mafi is not that small, i reckon about 90+ kgs and about 6 ft... compared to Sheps yeah hes a little smaller.

[Burgs]

Height: 182cm
Weight: 95kg

[benny]

Ripia at 12??? and Mafi at 13!?!? that would be the smallest centre pairing in the history of midgets!

sorry, but that is a terrible back line. whay would you wawnt a specialist 10 to play 12, then find another 10? use mafi at 12, dellit/sheps at 13 and dellit/sheps at 15, probably sheps at 15. cummo ond someone else at wing, and then your marquee at 10.

not ripia at 12... definately not mafi at 13.

Yeah I'll take your line up... just dont think Ripia is one to take us "the Force" forward as a number 10.

But adding to your comments, (my line up) Ripia + Mafi = 188kga & 1.82mtrs height avg (current line up) JOC + Inman = 187 kgs & 1.86 mtrs height avg.

[James]

Thing about Ripia that seems to prevent him from being a long-term 10 option is that he very, very rarely attacks the line himself. You can't play him at 12 until he proves that he has a running game. He is becoming a bit too predictable- its either a kick or a cut-out to 13. I'd rather see:

9. Justin Turner
10. Marquee 'zippy' flyhalf
11. Cummins
12. Shepherd
13. Sidey
14. Mafi
15. Dellit

And have Ripia off the bench or find a decent marquee 12.

[zimeric]

i think his name was bandied about recently... but the more i think about it the better the idea seems.. what about Pienaar? he has that elusiveness, sniping ability, great box kick, great tackler, great passer... his only downside is that occasionally goes missing in games where he really souldve been going to look for the ball and making plays... certainly a better pick than Ripia in my opinion.

[GIGS20]

Pienaar would fit better with Woody's game plan, but I'm not sure we need to be recommending it.

[Thequeerone]

Never seen Sheps at 12 - is that a good fit ?

[James]

TQ1- we won't know until we give it a try

Zim & GIGS20- I don't think Pienaar would come in as a 10. He left the Sharks because they wouldn't play him at 9. I like the guy, and the way he plays there though.

[zed]

Never seen Sheps at 12 - is that a good fit ?

Nah he's not a 12. He doesn't have the ball skills & nous to play 12. He's a big lad, but rarely seems to use his weight. You look at JOC, he constantly powers through tackles & he's 20 KGs lighter. I think he's a good player, just not one of those who is particularly versatile and not suited to 12.

[shasta]

Nah he's not a 12. He doesn't have the ball skills & nous to play 12.

Disagree there. He's got a great pass but he's always played in the back 3 so we haven't seen it that much. I've posted on here before that I can't understand why he was not tried at 10 during our frequent injury crises - when he wasn't part of them at least. I reckon he would make a fair fist of anywhere past 9.

[Rex Messup]

Sheps is past it. Injury prone, overweight and has lost his speed

Time to rape the QLD juniior system for some new talent