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80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
EWF under instruction from Deans to get cover for Sharpie.Pocock Browny and Hogo as they will be rested throughout the seaon esp towards the end... ... they say they are not but they will.... SA teams will be targeting Pocock to smash him before the RWC
McCalman needs to play 8. I think if we play him at 4 too often he may well pack up and leave, and I dont want that.
In terms of being behind Palu and Elsom, Im not so convinced. McCalman only has one super rugby season under his belt and 2? internationals. If he can develop again this year, which I expect, he might well challenge for these two positions.
I wasn't always a Wycliff Palu fan and I am pretty sure the words big fat waste of space were spoken on many occasions.... but when Palu is on form (and he was before his injury) he makes a big difference. Also Elsom is captain- which is something I doubt will change.
No, I don't think McCalman is looking at starting spot next year unless injury strikes. Good luck to him if he does though. I don't think he'd pack up and leave either. Robbie Deans has stressed that he wants versatility. McCalman at 4 further develops him as a jumper and a player with a high workrate in the loose and a high intensity in the tight.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Fair enough.
McCalman wont be playing lock at the top level (I wouldnt have thought) as he just isnt tall enough. He might have a shot as a Brad Thorn style player but I would just be nervous about our lineout if he did.
But he is a great mobile back row player, and has one of the best work rates of any player in the country. Palu is not an average player, and regularly gets votes for player of the year from his compatriots. But McCalman will push him.
McCalmans best shot at the Wallabies is at 8, and he will want to play there to stake his claim.
Plus from the Force's point of view, we really need to develop another leader in the lineout, while Sharpey is still here, because as soon as he goes, we will have a massive hole that needs plugging.
Your right farva, McCalman won't ever play lock at test level, his best bet for Wallaby selection is through the backrow, versatility isn't always a good thing, look at someone like Dean Mumm, he was in awesome form 18months ago, but to much switching him between flanker and lock has left with lacking skills in both positions..
Robbie Deans won't go into a test match in 2011 without a specialist lock on the bench, especially since we have Horwill and Vickerman returning, in reality McCalman should be aiming for the bench, he won't start ahead of Palu or Elsom, however depending on how the bench is split and the suitability of any other opensiders, McCalman is the best candidate.
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Id like to see him put pressure on Elsom and Palu for their spot.
He is good enough to challenge them, and it will keep these two on the top of their game too, if they know that if they dont perform, McCalman will take their spot.
And yes, on the bench, having Vickerman / Horwill and McCalman there would be bloody useful.
I don't think for a second he'd ever play a test at lock. I'm saying a handful of games there wouldn't hurt because being a jumper is a perk. I don't think you can compare Dean Mumm with Ben McCalman. First of all, I don't think you could describe his test form 18 months ago as awesome. Secondly, McCalman was in good form as an 8 this year but how many times in the previous year had he played 8 before that? A couple of games for the Force (although more at 4 and at 6), he played at lock for Sydney Uni in 2009 so go figure. I can't really remember how many times the Tahs played Mumm at 6 but I can't imagine it was too many with Will Caldwell out and Cam Jowitt and Hendrik Roodt either injured or not good enough for a start in the first place. Since Elsom has been back he has played most of the year in tests at 4. I don't think you can blame switching for his poor form.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.