What to do about a problem like Rocky?
Roar Guru By Bay35Pablo, 27 Mar 2010 Bay35Pablo is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Brumbies, Rocky Elsom, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
I snorted in mirth when I read the article by Peter Witts in The Australian: “Is Rocky Elsom really making a difference to Brumbies?”
Being used to the rough and tumble of rugby “discussion” on the Roar, I was imagining the responses from my fellow Roarers to such an article.
I have posted the reply below to the Australia, but I decided to make use of the great facility that is the Roar, and provide a chance for Roarers to respond to Mr Witts’ question that concludes his article: “What do you reckon?”
Why? Because I can. Ain’t the Internet grand? The Norse God Loki is at work somewhere.
So fellow Roarers, my response was as follows:
“I reckon Peter Witts has been on the bottom of too many rucks. I reckon Elsom was never the be all and the end all of the Tahs forward pack. He was a major part, but not everything like Witts reckons.
“I reckon it wasn’t “too much to expect a free-ranging ball runner like Elsom … to immediately establish himself at a new team the way he did with Tahs over a number of seasons”, given he did just that with Leinster.
“I reckon the only good point Witts raises is Elsom is probably getting focused on now (even more), because he is seen as a threat.
“But I also reckon the Super 14 is a tougher competition than the Magners League and Heineken Cup, like many said at the time.
“I reckon if you put this on the Roar, Mr Witts’ would get a lot more responses along these lines.
“What do you reckon?”
I invite you to read Peter Witts’ article, then tell the Roar what you think. Because it’s too good a topic to be “trapped” on The Australian web site alone.
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- Explore:
- Brumbies, Rocky Elsom, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
March 27th 2010 @ 7:08am
matt said | March 27th 2010 @ 7:08am | Report comment
Rocky is a very effective no 6, and I don´t see any better sitting on the Brumbies bench, but to paraphrase Monty Python, he´s not the messiah.
Perhaps the Brumbies slighlty ´off´ play has not helped, but you can´t help wondering how much more effective he would be in a team like the Chiefs or the Blues where more unstructured opportunities seem to be present.
March 27th 2010 @ 9:04am
madsul said | March 27th 2010 @ 9:04am | Report comment
Just imagine him at the Reds! If only he had held his nerve.
March 27th 2010 @ 11:32am
BennO said | March 27th 2010 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Exactly, but I’m stoked Higginbotham is establishing himself instead.
March 27th 2010 @ 9:46am
JK said | March 27th 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Rocky has been quiet, not just this year, but I reckon for the Wallabies last year as well. He has always seemed hot and cold to me, probably only because when he is at his most most explosive he is devasting, otherwise he just has great games.
Don’t know about singlehandedly propping up the Tahs attack, and in all honesty I was disappointed when he went to the Brumbies, but Mowen’s form helped me get over that tough period in my life.
March 27th 2010 @ 10:43am
Bay35Pablo said | March 27th 2010 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Agreed Mowen is ciming along in leaps and bounds. Good young player. One of a number the Tahs have unearthed over the last season and a bit.
March 27th 2010 @ 10:09am
Balthazaar said | March 27th 2010 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Elsom is still THE Australian blindside breakaway.
To Madsul, I reckon he’s pretty happy at the Brumbies. What a great organisation and teammates to play alongside with. Not that their coach comes close to our Link.
Besides, I don’t think the Reds would be doing any better than they currently are even with the inclusion of the lost Rocky, and departed Barnes.
In fact, Queensland would not be as good as they have been so far with either Barnes at 10, and Cooper having a lesser playmaking role at 12, or Barnes at 12, and the Reds missing out on what has so far been the great running lines, and acceleration, from the previously unheralded Faingaa twin.
Now, could we just get the third Faingaa from the Brumbies, and politely ask their parents to get busy, what a team.
March 27th 2010 @ 11:33am
BennO said | March 27th 2010 @ 11:33am | Report comment
LOL!
What a team indeed!
March 27th 2010 @ 1:05pm
Cattledog said | March 27th 2010 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Pablo, a link to the Australian article would have been appropriate. Most couldn’t be bothered searching round for it.
March 27th 2010 @ 1:23pm
IronAwe said | March 27th 2010 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
It may have been edited after your comment, but there is a link at the start of the article.
March 27th 2010 @ 1:23pm
mudskipper said | March 27th 2010 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Rocky hasn’t played in Australia for a while and needs to adjust to s14 play once again… He’s best-let run free and not be tired down by the coach. I think Friend is doing this, Out of the next 6 matches after the bye the Brumbies have plenty of time at HQ to build interplay understanding… For me Hoiles has been outstanding this season…
March 27th 2010 @ 1:39pm
Vented Relief said | March 27th 2010 @ 1:39pm | Report comment
I think Rocky needs to add a bit more upper body strength if he can. While his pace is fantastic, if he doesn’t have too much room to move then he seems to get rag dolled occasionally and get tackled into positions that make it very easy for opposition pilfering. Does anyone else think this has been evident? Would adding some more bulk onto him hinder his style?
I guess in saying this I’m comparing him to Higginbotham who does not seem to have a problem gaining the advantage line and positioning the ball back in the tackle for next-phase ball.
March 27th 2010 @ 4:41pm
Brett McKay said | March 27th 2010 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
Pablo, I’m not sure if you saw it, but I also posted a response to Peter Witts:
“Peter, on the contrary, Elsom has provided exactly what the Brumbies have been looking for in a 6 since the retirement of Owen Finnegan. Elsom has been playing just how he has always done, but is now into the groove of the season; don’t forget, he didn’t start training with the Brumbies until January. After using several lock/flankers at 6, and as good as Mitchell Chapman was last season [for the Brumbies], Elsom is, and has been, that much better again. No doubt that without Smith, his presence will be noticed more now..”
And I think he was pretty bloody good last night too…
March 28th 2010 @ 10:53am
Tragic said | March 28th 2010 @ 10:53am | Report comment
does Elsom also need captaincy practice? Hoiles is a stalwart and a fine leader, but i’ve always felt that leadership at the test arena should be reflected in the game’s lower tier. obviously you can’t just waltz into a team and assume the captaincy, but it would be good for him to have more mileage under his belt as a chief come rwc time. Awkward situation, but i think he’s a bit green as a test captain. I guess though if he is a captain then he’ll eventually captain. Hmmm
March 29th 2010 @ 11:36am
ballboy said | March 29th 2010 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Tragic – Yes, I think Elsom does need captaincy practice. Absolutely. But it shouldn’t be the Brumbies role to train him. Firstly, Hoiles was the captain before Rocky arrived and is inspirational in a team riddled with past captains. Secondly, I never thought Rocky should be the wallabies skipper anyway. He’s a wonderful player but he’s a nomad. A wanderer and I think you want to know where your skipper is in a game. Eales, Farr-Jones, Gregan, even Slack. You knew where they were. I wonder if Deans is regretting giving the VC role to Barnes last year.