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Rugby Union
Premiership Rugby / Premiership Cup
Andy Farrell to Retire at the End of the season
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<blockquote data-quote="gingergenius" data-source="post: 256108"><p><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vambo @ Apr 7 2009, 02:59 PM) <a href="http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=389456" target="_blank"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div></p><p></p><p>Exactly. This is the same reason I'm not sure about SBW, because his skill set is basically crash-ball and offloads, which is limited when you think of an average RU centre.</p><p></p><p>A lot of Union people have snobbed and will always snob about League, and they're the first to criticise when a RL star comes to Union and doesn't make a huge impression. It's really not fair to expect every league convert to become major international stars even after a few years in RU, because we all know countless union players with stacks of talent who haven't made it at international level as well.</p><p></p><p>Fact is, Jason Robinson, Danny Williams, Lesely Vainikolo, Shontayne Hape, Mark Gasnier, Henry Paul, Ryan Cross, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor are just a few converts I can think of who have so far looked like being a relative success. Why? Positions might help out. All these guys played predominantly wing, centre or fullback in League. And that's where they played in Union. They're used to standing in a backline. All they had to learn to make the transition was rucking and kicking.</p><p></p><p>All these guys, plus a number of others, have featured regularly for their clubs since making the switch and some have even gone on to make it at international level. The ones like Farrell and Karl Pryce who failed were largely because of injuries. Apart from them, there are a few, like Chev Walker and arguably Timana Tahu who've flopped but then there are some 20/20 cricketers who can't cut it in Tests and vice versa, it's to be expected with different codes.</p><p></p><p>It also helps if the RL players have played Union before in life... look at Rocky Elsom one of 2 forwards I can think of who've made a successful transition. The other is Brad Thorn, who is the exception that proves the rule.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="gingergenius, post: 256108"] <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vambo @ Apr 7 2009, 02:59 PM) [url='index.php?act=findpost&pid=389456']<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div> Exactly. This is the same reason I'm not sure about SBW, because his skill set is basically crash-ball and offloads, which is limited when you think of an average RU centre. A lot of Union people have snobbed and will always snob about League, and they're the first to criticise when a RL star comes to Union and doesn't make a huge impression. It's really not fair to expect every league convert to become major international stars even after a few years in RU, because we all know countless union players with stacks of talent who haven't made it at international level as well. Fact is, Jason Robinson, Danny Williams, Lesely Vainikolo, Shontayne Hape, Mark Gasnier, Henry Paul, Ryan Cross, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor are just a few converts I can think of who have so far looked like being a relative success. Why? Positions might help out. All these guys played predominantly wing, centre or fullback in League. And that's where they played in Union. They're used to standing in a backline. All they had to learn to make the transition was rucking and kicking. All these guys, plus a number of others, have featured regularly for their clubs since making the switch and some have even gone on to make it at international level. The ones like Farrell and Karl Pryce who failed were largely because of injuries. Apart from them, there are a few, like Chev Walker and arguably Timana Tahu who've flopped but then there are some 20/20 cricketers who can't cut it in Tests and vice versa, it's to be expected with different codes. It also helps if the RL players have played Union before in life... look at Rocky Elsom one of 2 forwards I can think of who've made a successful transition. The other is Brad Thorn, who is the exception that proves the rule. [/QUOTE]
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Premiership Rugby / Premiership Cup
Andy Farrell to Retire at the End of the season
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