Comments on: Robbie Deans, bring Vickerman back home

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:20:52 +0000

Agree – certainly one of my favourite spots.

By: Parisien

Parisien — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:40:47 +0000

Fantastic spot, incredible beaches, especially when the fish are biting. Sorry, back to the rugby.

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:26:02 +0000

Albany in SW Western Australia

By: Parisien

Parisien — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:38:46 +0000

While being a big fan of Vickerman, I agree with Harry, I just don’t see it really happening, and think the others have to step up, or the ARU needs to find another one somewhere.
By the way, off the subject, but what is that bit of coastline in the background of your photo?

By: Cameron of Melbourne

Cameron of Melbourne — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:06:30 +0000

I reckon I’ve read at least 3,4 articles in the last few months about how Dan Vickerman should be brough back to Australia. If we are to win the world cup we are going to need a good lineout and locks actually doing ruck/maul work. Currnent locks are average at best

By: fox

fox — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:02:44 +0000

Yes. Bring him back!

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:35:04 +0000

cheers

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:33:56 +0000

Thanks for the correction on RWC Brett – that gives us another year to get Big Dan back! I was surprised that Robbie Deans let Foley go ….. Jim Williams was a winger cum backrower and in comparison knows little about the set piece. So I believe that you are right.

By: chochie

chochie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:32:16 +0000

yeah. Dan Vickerman is needed in the team.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:54:09 +0000

Rickety, good points, all very hard to disagree with. But as I said to KPM the other day on this topic, it doesn’t matter who we have in the lineout, we still have to hit the target. Somehow, Stephen Moore has gone from being one of the very best throwers in the game this time last year, to a 50-50 prospect now. Polata-Nau might not be that accurate. Can it all be pinned on Michael Foley no longer being involved with the Wallabies??

By the way, RWC is Sep 2011, not 2010…

By: kingplaymaker

kingplaymaker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:17:06 +0000

Agreed, just look at the difference Wycliff Palu in form has made to the Australian pack these last two matches, and think how much better still it would be with Vickerman.

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:11:15 +0000

Thanks KPM – I just hope that Robbie Deans takes time out whilst in the UK to have a coffee/beer/glass of red with Big Dan and talk him into have one last hurrah. IMHO – we have a serious chance of winning the next RWC if he is onboard.

By: kingplaymaker

kingplaymaker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:36:24 +0000

Rickety you’ve said it. The amount of possession his presence alone in the lineout would guarantee would be worth it.

The ARU have tons of money now they don’t have to pay Tuqiri and Tahu any more.

He should be allowed to come straight back in to the tri-nations in 2010 though, as Elsom was, so he can have a good amount of time to get back up to speed and to help the Wallabies get winning again.

Plus, with the emerging Palu, he would give the Wallabies pack the physical presence to square up to South Africa.

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:40:25 +0000

Winning our set piece is criticial – we have no show if we can’t win our ball. The effect on team confidence is enormous – good set piece gives confidence to attack – bad set piece ………

RWC’s are won by teams that master the basics.

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:34:21 +0000

It’s easy to have 20/20 vision in hindsight and that old axiom – “you never really know what you have lost until it is gone”. Big Dan has left a huge gap that is yet to be filled. I am not a fan of Chisholm or Mumm, they just have not stepped up to international class, they don’t have the steel. I understand that Caldwell has been ill – what a shame – as he is the sort of hard nut we need. Not to mention Al Kanaar who could have filled the breach but retired with a chronic knee complaint.

By: Cameron of Melbourne

Cameron of Melbourne — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:20:17 +0000

I absolutely agree. The current locks in our squad don’t give me any confidence. Not only they are bad in the lineout they don’t seem to do much tight work either. Yes we have some promising young players in super 14 squads but they won’t be ready by 2011. That’s why I reckon ARU and Robbie should try and bring Vickerman back for world cup. I remember Vickerman said in an article he’d love to come back and play for Wallabies agian, before he left. So there’s still a chance he might come back. I really hope he does, otherwise I cant see our lineout being dominant like it used to be.

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:05:11 +0000

Rickety yes I’d love to see Vickerman back in Australian rugby, particuarly as I have a horrible feeling he will be really missed this Saturday at lineout time. Vickerman seemed to be the one lineout exponent in the world that could hold up against Matfield. I really do believe if he was fit and firing thena the Wallabies could, now that Elsom’s back, be really challenging for top spot and at RWC 11.
But he’s made his decision and while we all guess that Jon played hardball with him and a part in driving him away, whats done is done, however much we wallaby supporters would like it to be otherwise. I’m not sure what his current status is … I checked out the Northampton rugby website and he doesn’t seem to be playing at the moment, despite being on their books. Does anyone know what the situation is? If he’s hit the books (started the academic year) then realistically he won’t back till 2011, if ever.
In Spiro’s match thread there was similar pinings for McMenimem – but it is not the same. The fact is that while always having great potential he never actually delivered consistently for either Queensland or Australia … this year for the Reds he was finally relatively injury free and able to play week in, week out. The hard fact is he was part of a real poor Reds pack and didn’t excel. Plus he’s never really done anything at test level, while playing in some of our worst losses. He actively sought out the easy yen, good luck to him and I hope he sets himself up for life at the Yokohama yazoos or whoever’s signed hm.
The solution? On the current tour Horwill, Chisolm and Mumm need to really dig deep and play smart at the lineout and tight around the park in the next 3 weeks. They went OK at the weekend (good around the park and tight, lineouts still poor) and I hope they aim up again this weekend. All 3, particuarly the starting 2, will be tested and I’m sure they’ll be giving their best. They need Elsom’s help and accurate throwing from the hookers.
Looking beyond this tour, next year’s S14 should see some bright prospects back from injury and hopefully they will develop to challenge for a spot in the test team – Kimlin, Timani, Wykes, Hockings, Caldwell are all young and promising and all have the potential to play test rugby in 4 and 5 in 2010.