Over the past three or four decades, rugby union has been blessed with some wonderful talents at number 15: Matt Burke, Marty Roebuck, Gavin Hastings, Christian Cullen and Roger Gould.
The key attribute for the players mentioned above was their ability to be both safe and flamboyant.
There have been many others who have been world-class fullbacks and who have dominated provincial or club rugby and have had brilliant moments of international rugby, but don’t have a legacy or are not a lock in the roll.
Think Mark Latham or Tom Banks. Both were/are exceptional talents for Super Rugby, but didn’t necessarily convert that talent into dominance on the world stage with the exception of minnows.
Latham was a brilliant fullback for the Wallabies when Burke retired, but he didn’t dominate in all aspects of fullback the same as Matthew Burke.
I’m looking at the current fullbacks and Banks has had his chance.
At the same time, I’m seeing this bloke called Jock Campbell for the Reds. He has been switched between fullback, wing and the bench, but always delivers.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
He is great under the high ball, he is safe on the edge and has a reasonable boot.
Instead, the Wallabies are looking to convert Jordan Petaia to fullback so they can fit him in.
In terms of most solid fullback performances across all five provinces, Campbell wins hands down.
He has scored plenty, saved tries and taken high balls when others couldn’t under pressure.
Put him in the cauldron against England. Let’s go back to Burke, who dropped a ball over the sideline in his first Test, but went on to be one of the greats.
I’m thinking ten Tests for Campbell would be enough. Fullback is not held down by anyone in the Wallabies’ set-up and they need a safe set of hands.
He is someone who can catch the high ball under pressure and go into contact with the opposition nailing him and still get the ball back.
He needs to not be afraid of contact or a quick kick to touch, let alone running the ball when space is provided.
Banks is a brilliant fullback and player. He’d be awesome at international level, but it has not come to pass.
In fact, against superior opposition he struggles under the high ball and doesn’t make enough impact in attack.
Let’s give a well balanced full back a go.
I love Quade Cooper as well, but he was to flamboyant for years. Last year, he showed a maturity. Let’s hope he can do it again. At fullback, that maturity has to be mid 20s. That’s Jock Campbell.
Let’s give him the first Test against England. Sure, it might tell the series if it fails, but think what it could do if it went the other way.
Campbell is the only fully rounded fullback in Australia. Pick him and back him.
If he fails in the first, give him the second. The bench will have plenty of options.
JOHNRUGBY
Roar Rookie
?? Are we watching the same player...one of the safest hands in the game
JOHNRUGBY
Roar Rookie
I LOVE jock campbell, pick him in the squad AT LEAST
Olly
Roar Rookie
He is to short and not fast enough. Move him to 10.
scubasteve
Guest
Andrew Kellaway. A better version of Jock.
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
Banks has too many confidence issues that won't go away at international. Has anyone mentioned Kellaway for the job?
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
Marky Mark is "that" athlete but his rugby brain not mature enough for international yet. I hope so soon though. I wonder how far Maddocks would have gone under the right coach.
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
Agree with everything Noodles except Hodge is no Carl Lewis. He does have a knack for popping up at the right place at the right time is his greatest attribute. And that boot.
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
Geoff are you a Queenslander by chance? Just because we haven’t won as many as we’d like under DR, doesn’t mean it his fault. Given the difference at super level between NZ and us I think he has done as much as any coach could have done. If we had better coaching at super level he would have a lot more to work with and hit the ground running. This narrow minded approach by part time fans who try to pinpoint everything on one aspect is embarrassing to our sport. The conspiracy theory would be the icing on the cake if there wasn’t evidence (do you have any?). Talk about bias lol.
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
Not sure about that Strat. I think often the public can at times feel there is bias but those in power have access to info that we don't necessarily have. Maybe there is not enough bias as Banks might have the best spreadsheet but clearly is not test match material. What's worse is his lack of confidence rubs of on younger players and that's a stat that will never make the spreadsheet. From what I've seen of JC he makes up for with brain what he might lack in brawn.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: :laughing: :laughing:
Antony Henrie
Guest
Jock is better than Hodge. Even Banks is better than Hodge.JP too injury prone for 15.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Fact… I don’t know any of them and there for they won’t give me a job. RA is only for those who know each other and can scratch each other backs. If they were to hire me I would have to fire them all and that is against their best interests of remaining in a position of power.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day Waxhead. I note your comment about Jock not being put under pressure. He’s been under the same pressure as the rest of the team. No one knows how you’ll go until that first Test. As for 4/5, the only option I think the selectors could put before him is Hodge. Agree to disagree.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Good idea. Still playing, skills don’t get rusty and easier on the body. Why aren’t we on the RA payroll? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Toulouse Lautrec
Roar Rookie
Banks is equal to Jock in every attribute but quite a deal faster, so half breaks can be converted to points. Matt Burke was a smart footballer, Andrew Walker a freak athlete.
Toulouse Lautrec
Roar Rookie
Agreed, he's not a natural athlete like Petaia or Mark N so I feel he has reached his potential. Should have a good career as a SR player, maybe as cover for the Wallabies if required considering how low the custodian stocks are right now. But not a regular international
Mike
Guest
lmao he's not even the best full back on the reds. He's ok at best. Pedestrian. He wouldn't even make a nz team. It's just aus fullback stocks are so low. he's not even young so this is his ceiling sorry
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Busted I've no fascination with Petaia. All I said is he's got equal potential to Campbell at FB. I'd sit him with Campbell at 4/5 in the aussie FB pecking order I agree with you JP is very injury prone and that's 1 area he has to fix to reach his potential. imo
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Maybe a year in Japan will do JP some good. The less physical game over there might allow his body a bit of time to heal. The reds and RA should sign him for 3 years and allow him to go for 1 year right after the World Cup.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day TF. Two years ago I was on here promoting the idea of JP as a fullback, even early last year. But it’s too late to develop him for the 2023 WC now. Yes in deed he has potential but the problem is the potential has not been realised and that’s a real shame. I believe test selections should be made on form not potential. I do hope that one day JP’s body matures so that he can fulfil the promise that is obvious to all. Have a good evening.