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Premiership Rugby / Premiership Cup
Leeds Carnegie v Sale Sharks
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<blockquote data-quote="Teh Mite" data-source="post: 349744" data-attributes="member: 12332"><p>No abuse there at all. What you're implying is when a player progresses from a minnow club to a premiership (if they're REALLY lucky, normally it's barely into ND2 or the Championship) they're already the finished article. You couldn't be further from the truth. When these kids move on from the little clubs to the big world, all they bring to the party is potential. It takes literally years to get their fitness levels, skills and brains in tune with top flight rugby - A prime example is Soane Tonga'uiha.</p><p></p><p>When he left Bedford, he was already considered a demi-god at the considerably high level of ND1. However, he was a bit porky at the time and it turned out in the big leagues he couldn't scrum for toffee and was almost hesitant to go into contact. He was dumped into the development squad and made to work hard on his skills and fitness (remember this is someone who already has international caps). 5 years or so later and he's now carved out of wood, finally doing the things he was touted to be doing in ND1. That didn't happen overnight and he certainly didn't arrive as one of the worlds best players. It took him a long time and a lot of hard work from both himself and the training team around him.</p><p></p><p>Yes, pro rugby has lost some of the charm of the amateur days. Sadly however, that's part and parcel of evolution and things haven't changed that much. We're not talking about the extents which Football's gone to.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Teh Mite, post: 349744, member: 12332"] No abuse there at all. What you're implying is when a player progresses from a minnow club to a premiership (if they're REALLY lucky, normally it's barely into ND2 or the Championship) they're already the finished article. You couldn't be further from the truth. When these kids move on from the little clubs to the big world, all they bring to the party is potential. It takes literally years to get their fitness levels, skills and brains in tune with top flight rugby - A prime example is Soane Tonga'uiha. When he left Bedford, he was already considered a demi-god at the considerably high level of ND1. However, he was a bit porky at the time and it turned out in the big leagues he couldn't scrum for toffee and was almost hesitant to go into contact. He was dumped into the development squad and made to work hard on his skills and fitness (remember this is someone who already has international caps). 5 years or so later and he's now carved out of wood, finally doing the things he was touted to be doing in ND1. That didn't happen overnight and he certainly didn't arrive as one of the worlds best players. It took him a long time and a lot of hard work from both himself and the training team around him. Yes, pro rugby has lost some of the charm of the amateur days. Sadly however, that's part and parcel of evolution and things haven't changed that much. We're not talking about the extents which Football's gone to. [/QUOTE]
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