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Thread: Ioane could answer need for speed

  1. #1
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    Ioane could answer need for speed

    Ioane could answer need for speed

    By Wayne Smith
    January 25, 2007


    AUSTRALIA'S desperate shortage of speed on the wings could see Western Force flyer Digby Ioane emerge as a World Cup bolter.

    But before he can grasp that opportunity he must first learn to wrap his hands around the ball.

    The Australia selectors have identified a lack of pace out wide as perhaps the most critical area in which the Wallabies trail New Zealand.

    With the possible exception of Lote Tuqiri, none of the six players used on the wing for Australia in Tests last season would match it with All Blacks Doug Howlett, Rico Gear or Joe Rokocoko in a straight speed-burning contest.

    That has thrust Ioane, arguably the fastest player in Australian rugby, right into the frame for World Cup selection - if only he can learn to hang onto the ball.

    Not since Paddy Batch in the 1970s has Australia possessed such a damaging wing blighted by such poor hands.

    "I just seem to drop the ball," conceded Ioane after the Force's captain's run for tonight's trial against Manu Samoa at Perth's Members Equity Stadium.

    "I know it sounds obvious that you've got to look at the ball in order to catch it but that's what I've got to focus on."

    Intensive catching drills under Force assistant coach John Mulvihill and defence coach Tom Fearn have gone a long way to rectifying the shortcoming but the real test will come in the thick of battle when Ioane is faced with the temptation of looking at the gap, not the ball.

    Speed of a slightly different kind will come under the microscope when blindside flanker Dean Mumm and Australia A halfback Josh Valentine are given their chance in the NSW Waratahs' trial against the Crusaders at Aussie Stadium tonight.

    NSW coach Ewen McKenzie yesterday rated Mumm, still uncapped at Super 14 level, as the fastest back five forward in the country behind Australia utility Hugh McMeniman, the 196cm, 109kg 23-year-old capable of covering 40m in 5.2sec.

    Although Mumm will cover for rested Wallaby Rocky Elsom at blindside flanker, his neat packaging of speed, height and bulk could yet see emerge as a solution to the Waratahs second-row problems.

    Valentine impressed off the bench for Australia A on the Wallabies' European tour but he will need to make the most of his starting role tonight, particularly with the speed of his service to a near full strength backline, to edge ahead of another tour standout, Brett Sheehan.

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    Champion Shaun's Avatar
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    Digby on the radar, catch that ball buddy and you are in the team.

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    Player O'Regan's Avatar
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    I have not seen much of him play, but From the 2 games I observed he was pretty good. He dropped the ball a couple of times and that was about it. He would be one of the fastest wingers in Australia, No match For Stapleton of course. But he is electric, and I like a winger with excellent accelaration has he got it?

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    Legend Contributor Thequeerone's Avatar
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    Yes to acceleration , yes to imagination he's young 20/21 always thought that Mitchells job with him was to tame him - because he has it

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    Veteran Contributor frontrow's Avatar
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    If only his hands weren`t like claws...(yabbie claws that is, not the eagle type)...

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    Player O'Regan's Avatar
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    Well he played in the First 15 at Terrace a couple of years ago.


    However the Fast Aussie wingers can't seem to catch concistently, Rathbone, fumbles it a bit, and so Does Iaone.

    Australia just have many choices wingers;

    Ben Tune
    Drew Mitchell
    Digby Iaone
    Lote Tuquri
    Caleb Brown ( A young quick winger from QLD, a potential Wallaby)
    Cam Shepard

    I would really like to see Tune called up.

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    Veteran Sagerian's Avatar
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    No Aussie winger has been able to hang onto the ball consistantly in recent years, both on the pass and at the breakdown.

    Ioane is eaily the worst offender though, shame cos he's an awesome talent.

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    Player O'Regan's Avatar
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    I would really like to see Tune have a crack at Wing again, he was one of the Reds standouts last year, shame he is completely injury prone.

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    Veteran Sagerian's Avatar
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    ...and he's not as quick these days. I'd honestly have no idea how he'd do.

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    Nah, I think Tuney's days are beyond him now unfortunately, almost the domain of a George Foreman come back. Should have called last drinks when he got injured, I guess the lure of the dollars proved too great.
    There is some pretty handy talent out there and I would add the Tahs Lachlan Turner to the ones mentioned above, he just looks like he has got something there from the little I have seen.
    Hey O'Regan, now you are a big tough fourteen year old, the next step is learning how to spell their names!
    Tuqiri, Ioane, Shepherd

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    Player Rodent's Avatar
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    No mention of Stanners as a winger?

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    Too good in the Centres I think Rodent, his Winger days are falling behind him as the legs get that shade slower.

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    Veteran Sagerian's Avatar
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    I said this before but Stanners was being interviewed and he felt like he'd be spending more time on the wing and that Gits/Cross would be the primary centre pairing. We'll have to see.

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    Yeah, I was talking more at Wallaby level Sage

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    Player Rodent's Avatar
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    If he can't get a crack on the wing for the Force I don't think there's much chance of a Wallabies call up. But I think he could take over Rathbones role on the wing. A crash runner on the wing who has great defence and ins't afraid to get into it at the breakdown.

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