New Wallaby winger Joseph Tomane would have been happy just to play one senior game this season for the Brumbies.
Tomane was one of five uncapped players named in the starting team to face Scotland in Newcastle on Tuesday.
It represented a meteoric rise for 22-year-old Tomane, who returned to union after a four-year stint in rugby league with Melbourne and Gold Coast.
Wallaby representation wasn’t even remotely on his radar at the start of the year.
“Definitely not this quickly. It’s an amazing journey,” Tomane said of his Test selection.
“Pretty much just to get one game in with the Brumbies, and then hopefully have a good pre-season and get a crack into making the Brumbies team next year.”
While he has made a swift transition back to union, Tomane doesn’t regard his time in league as wasted.
“I enjoyed my time in league. I had the best four years there,” Tomane said.
“I guess I just see it as a different career change – I wouldn’t say (they were) lost years.
“I had an awesome time and I had a little bit of success. I played with some great players as well.
“I was coached under one of the best coaches (Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy) in the NRL, so I think the opportunity I had in league was awesome.”
Tomane was born in New Zealand, but isn’t concerned his Australian selection will create a conflict for relatives on the other side of the Tasman.
“I’m sure they will get over it. I’m practically Australian – I’ve been here since I was two years old, so they can’t really claim me,” Tomane said.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans sees plenty to like in Tomane.
“He’s heady, he makes good decisions, he’s accurate, he’s good with the ball in the air and he’s obviously got some individual capability as well in terms of his own talent, his ability with his feet, his power,” Deans said of Tomane.
“They are all things we think will be good value for us.”
ThelmaWrites
Guest
I agree. A person will sometimes adjust his manner of speech wittingly or unwittingly depending on his audience, biological clock, or the circumstances he's in. I've learned over the years that smart talk is not a measure of knowledge, talent, or skill.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Deans is making perfect sense there; in the first part of the quote he lists the generic abilities any winger needs but which do not mark out a particular individual talent i.e. being a good decision-maker, good under the high ball; in the second part he gives the particular individual qualities which make him a striking individual talent and above someone who just does the wing's basics correctly i.e. having good feet meaning stepping and swerving, the power to break through tough defenses. All quite clear and easy to understand for those who wish to do so-maybe Deans is giving the fans who read what he says to much credit.
Carnivean
Guest
A lot of the issue is how the transcripts of his statements read. On the Rugby Club he was fine, without many of the things that you hear from him in press conferences. I suspect that he adopts a different speech pattern for the media moments. During those it kind of sounds like he is reading from a list half the time, and that may well come from his preparation.
Justin2
Guest
Gents I agree with you both re his communication skills. As a serious question would you like to have a coach he speaks to you in this manner, would he hold your attention, can he really get his points across if he speaks like this? It would drive me nuts and I imagine there would be a few who take the pi..ss after a few weeks listening to that type of dribble.
AussieKiwi
Guest
I was just thinking the same before I read your post. Can we please send Robbie on a remedial course in plain English??? I would pay for it myself! He seems so scared of saying the wrong thing that he ends up speaking chunks of jargon. Looking forward to seeing Tomane play too.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Dear Robbie, Love ya as a coach, well most of the the time, but what does this mean? Wallabies coach Robbie Deans sees plenty to like in Tomane. “He’s heady, he makes good decisions, he’s accurate, he’s good with the ball in the air and he’s obviously got some individual capability as well in terms of his own talent, his ability with his feet, his power,” Deans said of Tomane. Anyway, there is a lesson here. Make sure that every good kid plays junior rugby as they come through the system and then, if they have a sojourn through league, no problems. But, avoid those that have taken the short cut in the junior days and then seek a career in rugby. Just doesn't work, and even more so these days. No team can afford to have wingers who can't kick (Wendell and lote) for example. These days rhee need to be winger fullbacks. Matt Rogers was much better but more injury prone, Sadly.