Rocky Elsom: "the most influential player in the game today."

[feicarsinn]

Well thats a kick in the groin, expected, but hey a kick in the groin always hurts

 

[Flux]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ May 28 2009, 12:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

But if you take Mafi and to a degree Flutey they've come to Europe and developed as players here and I have no doubt that if Mafi or Flutey went back to Super 14.5 they'd have more of an influence there than they did before. I think Rush and Tipoki have something along the lines of a stableing influence more than anything else.

Brock James I think is the best example of a player with a Rocky like effect on his team.[/b]

Brock James was a class player when he first played in the SH, and if it weren't for some sort of rules preventing him from doing so, he would have played for the Hurricanes. He then went back to Aus, they treated him like crap and he moved on.

 

[QLD]

If Elsom doesn't go to Queensland I will cry.

 

[munross]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dale @ May 29 2009, 09:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

If Elsom doesn't go to Queensland I will cry.[/b]

 

[candybum]

Did Brock James play for Taranaki ages ago with another australian player?

 

[KZNSharksFan]

This is probably just a case of the right man being in the right team at exactly the right time. Elsom was a very good player, I rated him as one of the best in the Aussie side in last years Tri Nations, but he was never, ever on the same level as Richie McCaw or Dan Carter, who should go down as rugby greats!

This whole issue of being the most "influential" player clouds the water a bit. Sure he may have been the most influential player in the NH but its a bit hard to gauge just how good he is at the moment if he isn't playing internationals where we will be able to see if there's any great change from last sesaon.

 

[Flux]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (candybum @ May 29 2009, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Did Brock James play for Taranaki ages ago with another australian player?[/b]

Yeah, him and James Hilgendorf played. Both were great for us, but Brock James almost single handedly got Taranaki into the semi-finals (we ended up 5th). Both Taranaki and the Hurricanes were keen to keep/have him, but then the ARU stepped in, he wasn't allowed to sign for the Hurricanes and he wasn't allowed to come back and play for Taranaki.

Was pretty pathetic, given the way he was treated when he returned to Australia. Looks like he's turned into an even classier player, which leaves a lot of what could have beens...

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Flux @ May 30 2009, 01:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (candybum @ May 29 2009, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Did Brock James play for Taranaki ages ago with another australian player?[/b]

Yeah, him and James Hilgendorf played. Both were great for us, but Brock James almost single handedly got Taranaki into the semi-finals (we ended up 5th). Both Taranaki and the Hurricanes were keen to keep/have him, but then the ARU stepped in, he wasn't allowed to sign for the Hurricanes and he wasn't allowed to come back and play for Taranaki.

Was pretty pathetic, given the way he was treated when he returned to Australia. Looks like he's turned into an even classier player, which leaves a lot of what could have beens...
[/b][/quote]

Why wouldn't they let sign for an Aussie team???

 

[Flux]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ May 30 2009, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Why wouldn't they let sign for an Aussie team???[/b]

They did, but he never saw as much game time with them as he would have for the Hurricanes. Then he moved up North.

It just seems to me that Australia didn't appreciate him, but they were happy to stuff it up for those who did.

 

[Charles]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Flux @ May 30 2009, 02:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ May 30 2009, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why wouldn't they let sign for an Aussie team???[/b]

They did, but he never saw as much game time with them as he would have for the Hurricanes. Then he moved up North.

It just seems to me that Australia didn't appreciate him, but they were happy to stuff it up for those who did.
[/b][/quote]

He has been excellent no later than yesterday with Clermont beating Toulouse in the semi finals of the T14. An very, very good player.

 

[jawmalawm24]

If I were Leinster I'd keep him because he is a awesome player and he was carving up in the Super14 when he played and also at international level.

 

[CJ09]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Flux @ May 30 2009, 02:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ May 30 2009, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why wouldn't they let sign for an Aussie team???[/b]

They did, but he never saw as much game time with them as he would have for the Hurricanes. Then he moved up North.

It just seems to me that Australia didn't appreciate him, but they were happy to stuff it up for those who did.
[/b][/quote]

Yeh - I always wished he had gotten more game time in Aus. Very underrated

 

[cyRil]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ May 27 2009, 01:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Tiatia - ****[/b]

You are f***ing dead.

 

[mackka]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jer1cho @ May 27 2009, 04:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Incredible Schalk @ May 26 2009, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's better than Kankowski, the guys done nothing at international level yet.[/b]

Only because he has to compete with Spies for a starting place. It's not his fault. Elsom has also done jack **** for Australia's national team, and it's also not his fault. Both players are different.

- Kankowski is faster
- Elsom is stronger
- Kankowski is better at line breaks
- Elsom is better as a battering ram
- Tackling is debatable
- Elsom is better at ball stealing

-It just depends what kind of player you would rather have in your team. For me, it's an easy choice, and my opinion.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Incredible Schalk @ May 27 2009, 01:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Indeed but i never understood why Halstead never got more than a couple of caps. He seemed to have to play out of his skin for a good few seasons for Streauli to pick him ahead of garbage like Jorrie Muller and Robbie Fleck.[/b]

What? Robbie Fleck was one of the best centers we have ever had. Jorrie Muller was **** though...
[/b][/quote]

Kankowski v Elsom? Seriously? Both Kankowski and Spies are overrated show ponies. Flat-track bullies. Spies in a ruck is like a fish out of water. He just flaps about on the ground with his mouth gaping open then eventually lies still. He's good at what he does but what he does is a winger's job, not a number 8's. He was anonymous in the S14 final until he plucked an intercept try with a few minutes to go. When he plays for the Boks against packs that can actually match them up front, which both the AB's and Wallabies will be able to this year, Spies will go missing. You read it here first.

As for Elsom, he was great in last year's 3N and his form for Leinster's been a step up. If he can carry that sort of form into the international arena this year then he'll probably deserve that tag. Has anybody seen BOD's comments about Elsom being the best player he's ever been on the field with?

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mackka @ Jun 5 2009, 03:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Kankowski v Elsom? Seriously? Both Kankowski and Spies are overrated show ponies. Flat-track bullies.[/b]

I LOVE the direction this thread is going.

 

[mackka]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 6 2009, 12:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mackka @ Jun 5 2009, 03:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kankowski v Elsom? Seriously? Both Kankowski and Spies are overrated show ponies. Flat-track bullies.[/b]

I LOVE the direction this thread is going.
[/b][/quote]

Where are the rest of these clowns? Spies is rubbish. Waugh and Smith tonight showed what loose forward play is all about.

 

[Jer1cho]

Everyone has their own opinions. I just dont give enough of a **** to care about this rant anymore.

 

[KZNSharksFan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mackka @ Jun 6 2009, 02:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Kankowski v Elsom? Seriously? Both Kankowski and Spies are overrated show ponies. Flat-track bullies. Spies in a ruck is like a fish out of water. He just flaps about on the ground with his mouth gaping open then eventually lies still. He's good at what he does but what he does is a winger's job, not a number 8's. He was anonymous in the S14 final until he plucked an intercept try with a few minutes to go. When he plays for the Boks against packs that can actually match them up front, which both the AB's and Wallabies will be able to this year, Spies will go missing. You read it here first.[/b]

Overrated? They're solid in defence, they make linebreaks, they create opportunities, they score tries! No 8's are not meant to hit rucks and be specialist fetchers (though Kankowski does this well sometimes) thats what numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 traditionally do. Any well educated rugby fan knows that in any decent loose forward trio, there is a good ball runner. Australia has/had one in Palu, SA has Spies and Kankowski and NZ has Sooialo or Lauaki(sometimes).

Spies doesnnt "disappear"! He got a man of the match award in 2006/7(cant remember) in Rustenberg playing as a No.6. The Springboks later stated that much of the credit for the win should go to Spies for his immense efforts in the rucks and mauls against the AB's.

Anyway, this is stupid, Elsom and Spies are different players in different positions

 

[Bullitt]

For a second there I thought I read "the Wallabies will be able to match someone up front"... Bwahahahaha...

 

[mackka]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Jun 7 2009, 09:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

For a second there I thought I read "the Wallabies will be able to match someone up front"... Bwahahahaha...[/b]