Tom Rees

Throughout the Six Nations we've been talking about how much we need a specialist 7 but I can't help thinking that the long term injuries of Tom Rees has robbed us of the the man many thought would fill this role after Richard Hill.

Go back to the end of the 2007 RWC and I don't think there would have been many people who didn't think he'd be our 7 by RWC 2011. Many would have backed him as a probable Captain around now actually. A mixture of injuries over the last 2/3 seasons have meant he's played little for Wasps let alone England.

Such a shame though as players with his potential don't come around often especially at openside and you just have to look at what the likes of Warburton,Rennie and Dusautoir have done so far the Six Nations to see what a difference they make. I just hope he can make it back to full form and fitness with Wasps and hopefully return to the international stage as he's still only 27.

I know it'll stoke fires with people saying I'm just an English fan making excuses but if you took someone like David Wallace out the Ireland side of the last 5/6 years and it would have had a massive effect (it is at the moment!). I know we can't be certain he'd be the same sort of player as Wallace on the international stage but he certainly had the potential to be and showed it with his performances for Wasps (and briefly for England).

I'd eat my hat if he made it back.

I have to see its bad that with all our resources and clubs etc...we cant produce another 7...well Armitage aside i guess.

I would focus on the youngsters coming through now. Kvesic, Wallace etc.

IF Rees makes it back then thats an added bonus.

Injuries aside I don't think Rees ever lived up to his billing - Good player as he is from excellent welsh stock but in the internationals he has played he has hardly stood out. No wumming please, he just hasn't been able to do it at the top level even when fully fit

I thought he was pretty good with Narraway and Haskell in NZ....unfortunately that was along time ago...

We need to look forwards..not back.

it seems all our best potential 7s and 8s were/are elsewhere

Rees
Morgan
Easter
Armitage

He has had some decent games Geordie but I never felt he actually stepped up to the plate at the top level and I think this was expected of him. He's a great pro and has been unlucky with injurys so lets hope he gets back to some form and has another crack at it. Probably someone who plays his best with a big 6 and 8 to support him and let him to the stuff on the floor.

Well lets hope the following can make the step up:

8's
Fearns
Gray
Morgan

7's
Wallace
Kvesic

Interestingly...many are calling for Armitage who seems to be playing some very good rugby in France.
I dont understand how he was always overlooked by England. He is exactly what we have been looking for, for years now....

I hope you don't call Armitage back, he's a fxxxing handful, the Tuilagi of the backrow. A lot expected of Kvesic, let's see if he's given a chance - We seem to blood ours earlier (probably have to) Keep an eye on the youngster Tipuric at 7 for Wales I'd be interested in your opinion of him. He's small by stature but very much a scavenging 7 who compliments the big 6 and 8

How's Kvesic actually doing for Worcester this year? I saw him a lot for the U20s in the summer, where he was fantastic, but I haven't seen him much this season and I heard he's actually been playing at 8 a bit.

He started out as an 8 I think. He played there due to injuries at Worcester until they brough in cover from the Pirates (I think). It'll be interesting to see if he gets as much game time now they're coming back from injury (I think Horstmaan was back the other week).

All the best 7s started out as 8s McCaw, Warburton..

RubyGuby wrote:I hope you don't call Armitage back, he's a fxxxing handful, the Tuilagi of the backrow. A lot expected of Kvesic, let's see if he's given a chance - We seem to blood ours earlier (probably have to) Keep an eye on the youngster Tipuric at 7 for Wales I'd be interested in your opinion of him. He's small by stature but very much a scavenging 7 who compliments the big 6 and 8

Tipuric may not be a big guy, but hes no smaller than McCaw.

He is smaller than McCaw actually.. same height, but a good bit less bulky. McCaw weighs in at 107kg, that is 1 kilo off O'Brien..

Stats don't really mean anything to me
I've seen McCaw in person and hes pretty slim for a flanker, but what makes him good is he uses his brain

Okay, maybe they don't but there you go. McCaw is heavier than Tipuric. Tipuric definitely looks a lot slimmer than McCaw.

Well not in my opinion

That's true. Why pay any attention to measurements. Much better to rely on subjective guesses (unless you work at Alton Towers guessing weights, that guy is generally bang on)

Okay.. but your opinion doesn't stack up to the fact McCaw is a good bit bulkier than Tipuric, as he weighs a stone or so more. Whether the stats mean anything to you or not.

Ok what im trying to get at is that weight doesn't always equate to bulk.
If you have two guys and both of them are the same height and one weighs more. The guy who weighs more isn't always going to be "bulkier".

Generally the guy who weighs more would look bulkier though, if they are the same height. In my opinion, McCaw looks bigger than Tipuric does, and according to their listed weights, he is bigger. I just think Tipuric looks very slim for a forward. It doesn't seem to bother him on the field though, not from what I have seen. Not against Ireland anyway

At least we agree that being a slim flanker doesn't affect your performance.

Also remember that McCaw used to be slimmer. He's bulked up a lot in the past 4 years or so as hes gotten older and played more at 8/6. He's naturally a slim guy

JUst checked, nothing in the difference in size, but surprised - Come on Justin show us your power 15stone 10 lb of it

Well Dusautoir was once 15st 5lb (99kg) and no one said anything about him

So was Warburton.

Yeah but they were only 12 years of age at the time

Nope Warburton was that size as captain and number 8 for the U20s.

Sometimes Rory you need to get out more

When you get something wrong, you attack the poster. A good defence is a good offence eh? Bit like how Wales play.

Now now Rory, that should read a good attack is a good defence - you still not doing satire on here

Errrmm getting back to the Rees question, I think it's a little early to hope he'll be back for us, he just seems to always get injured.

I'd like to see a couple of Wallace,Kvesic and Armitage on the summer tour to SA. If any of them can go well out there then they have to have some talent!

And Tipuric looked very good off the bench for Wales. Size counts for little when you have smarts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17338508

Whatever the opposite of foresight is I think my article showed it here!

Real shame as he was such a talented player. Given the way his team mates seemed to view him,how quickly he rose to Wasps captain and how smart a player he was he could probably to a good job in coaching!

Wish him all the best with whatever he does though!