Force -v- Tahs Trail game highlights video

[GIGS20]

I'd say Charles and Fairbrother are more than just potential starters, chucky as well.

Charles starting depends on the development of Whits, they were pretty even last year, and will probably rotate until somebody puts his hand up.

There's not a lot in the cupboard behind Fairbrother, Dunning can play both sides, so he would count, but Pekka isn't a real option to switch and the other props are still a little behind.

Chucky is a genuine option to start matches this year, after the time he spent in the sevens program, he seems to have developed the confidence in his game, and has picked up his defense as well. I'd see him playing the JT style of game, as a contrast to Sheeno. If that assessment is accurate, chucky wouldn't see the field against the Tajs until about 70 so that Sheehan can hold the line in defense and do a bit of the small forward work that he's so good at.

All in all, we'd pick up a lot, and keep a bit. I would hope that the numbers we pick up (namely sharpie, bam, ripia et al) would organize the team better and therefore help the people around them to tackle better.

[CunnamullaFulla]

According to the great man Lee Grant (he is dead set everywhere) Charles was rubbish in the set piece and his lineout throwing was worse than bad

Luckily tight head props will keep playing with broken limbs. Fairbrother will keep on going. Dunning is a great backup.

[GIGS20]

Personally, I'd line up Dunny and Fairbrother for the start of the match and switch to Pekka's mobility and workrate later in the match......that is, of course assuming that dunning's scrummaging doesn't remain as shit as it was last year!

[CunnamullaFulla]

Dunning hasn't looked that lean since he started super rugby with the Tahs under super coach Dwyer c2002
Dunning was coming back from Achilles surgery last year was he not? That is no easy rehab for a large unit.
The lad can scrum. He dominated Sydney grade rugby like no other prop in the last 20 years at least
I'd like to see him at loosehead with fairbro at TH as well. Pek off the bench. Works for me

[todd4]

Frustrating thing is you need to know who is right to go first up.

Didn't I read somewhere that Dunning is injured? Also Wykes and Hockings are suposed to be carrying minor injuries..?

Does anyone know what the story is re: injuries?.......

[GIGS20]

Not completely. Sharpie is the obvious one....been all over the news. Bam hasn't played a trial, but that might not be an injury thing, just a taper of some sort.

The locking depth was certainly tested out in the 'tahs trial, I'd reckon at lest Tom Hockings is hurt....either that or he sucks ass. Wakes picked up something in the trial didn't he?

Ripia not paying against the tahs was significant, it sounded like a niggle, but we'll have to wait and see on that front......is there anything I've forgotten?

[travelling_gerry]

Sharpie all good.....our Captain oh captain wont miss this.....

[James]

I believe it was a shoulder for Wykes. Which has been a recurrent problem for him.

[todd4]

Yes, a minor shoulder injury from the barbarian trial. I say minor because if it was a major injury we would surely have heard about it through the media.

Anyone know when this weeks team will be announced???