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NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
December 28, 2010, 6:53 am
Mitch Inman's introduction to Super rugby was hardly the most auspicious start to a career - one minute off the bench in last season's opener against the Brumbies.
But he went on to make a huge impact on the competition and played in every game of the year, one of only four Force players to do so.
The others were his captain Nathan Sharpe and flankers Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman.
The hard running 105kg centre gives the credit for his success to his older brother and former New South Wales Waratahs outside centre Luke.
Like his brother, the Force's Inman also played for the Australian Sevens side.
He played his early rugby for the Australian Schoolboys and under-19 sides in the No. 12 jumper but was moved out one position by his Sydney University club coaches.
Now he wants to cement that No. 13 spot at the Force, where he started eight times last season, and has his eyes set firmly on a Wallaby jumper.
"Outside centre is certainly my favoured position. It's a core focus of mine, to excel in that position," he said.
"I'm grateful that I have an older brother that played No. 13 for the Waratahs. He gave me a great insight into the position."
Outside centre is the hardest position to defend in rugby.
"You have to be able to read the opposition. There's a lot of traffic that comes your way when a team goes wide," Inman said.
He was surprised by his elevation to the match day squad.
"It all happened in a flash but it was a great experience," he said.
"There's a lot of youth in our side, Richard Graham is a great coach and is going really well. It's a very professional environment."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-super-season/
I believe Mitch is the real deal and will be pushing for RWC Squad selection for sure.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Likewise Burgs - certainly gave Cross a run for his money last year
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
against AAC??
not a chance. The way AAC was running he was having a blinder, and if it keeps going he'll be a shoe in.
Inman will be a little green against AAC.
Hopefully next world cup!
Anybody remember Mortlock
Dead set he's good
Controversy corner
Mortlock will be lucky to stay uninjured in 2011. I wouldn't expect to see him back. Even if he is fit I doubt Deans will want him back. KB and AAC are playing too well and his style of play probably doesn't match our new style. I'd expect Ioane to get precedence there.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
I wouldn't write Mortlock off just yet, he's good enough to do a Lazarus.
Re Inman, McCalman is the most recent to show that being a bit green isn't the end of the selection world. And I was saying Squad, which is a 30 man affair.
AAC is not a "great" player, he's just playing better than our other options at the moment and is a multi positional player, or super sub. Inman showed me enough last year that with good service he will be a better Centre than AAC over time, no doubt for me.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
I don't think good enough is the issue with anyone in Aussie rugby Burgs, I think it's more his age, there'd probably be an even split between those who think he's too old and slow and those who think he's just too fragile.
I think he'll struggle to play more than half the super games this season and, if he makes the squad, will have too many niggles to be considered a reliable option.
Inman may very well make the squad, with an eye to the future, but there's always the possibility he'll suffer the second season blues. He doesn't strike me as the type of player who'll do that, he's a pretty genuine sort of a player, who doesn't have a lot of flashy tricks, just straight, hard running and pretty reliable defense.
C'mon the![]()
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By "good" I hoping to cover being able to overcome too old, slow and fragile, probably should have spelt it out sorry.
My opinion is he will overcome those factors.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
I agree that his 'good-ness' can overcome his age, but when I look at his tackling technique, I can see how he gets injured so often, more often than not he has his head in front of the hips and that's why he is continually unconscious, you can't be better than your own body (actually that might be exactly his problem) For my money, he'll be considered but not make a significant impact due to injury.
C'mon the![]()
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I guess time will tell, 16 x SR, Samoa and 4 x 3N untill the big show.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
because there are so few internationals before the WC I think it is going to be very difficult for any newbie to break into the Wallaby squad, let alone starting 15 this year.
The 5(?) internationals will be used to fine tune the squad we already have and I think the only additions to the squad will be those internationals that have been out injured.. eg. Horwill, Digby etc., not enough time to get new combinations to gel..
AAC is a great player. He is really tough to bring down and is very good at punching holes within the opposition 22. He tackles well too. I think he is better than Jaque Fourie and Conrad Smith.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Would like to see Inman push on this season and really give the selcetors something to think about come RWC time. He's a big lad with potential.