Halfpenny is World Class

If nothing else comes from the Lions series it is that Halfpenny has cemented his position as one of the worlds best fullbacks.

He doesn't have the flash and dazzle of a Mils Muliaina or Billy Whizz or Christian Cullen or a Kurtley Beale. He lacks the high ball skills of Israel Dagg and defensively he's far from a rock; but his all around game, goal kicking and decision making is top notch. I'd live to see him freed from the apparently repressive coaching regime and given more freedom to show his pace joining the attacking line as we've seen from him in the past.

Will Gatland change plans this weekend or will a player revolt see the Lions live up to their potential?

It's sad that we've seen so little from Halfpenny with ball in hand in the Tests. It's one of the reasons I wanted Hogg to have a fair crack on the tour - to see whether the Lions could play to a higher risk strategy rather than purely % rugby.

As it stands Halfpenny has performed solidly, and kicked superbly. He just hasn't attacked the line or shown any threat with ball in hand which is a shame, because he can do it.

Fes, the fact he can do it suggests that he is sticking to a rigid game plan. If that's the case, I wonder if Hogg would have been stuck to it too, told to stay back and cover - which would negate his best qualities. Such a shame we/Gatland has chosen this game plan.

GatlandBall ruins players reputation..............

Is this how we will see the 2013 Lions Tour in years to come

It's really REALLY weird that 99% (exactly) of praise for Halfpenny is for his kicking. Never would have said that a few years ago.

HammerofThunor wrote:It's really REALLY weird that 99% (exactly) of praise for Halfpenny is for his kicking. Never would have said that a few years ago.

Too true, he was a 'lottery kick' option back when Wales had Jones and the Blues had Blair. And he is far more than just a kicker to be kept far away from contact, like Greenwood suggested in the first test when Tuppance tried to make a break through a bunch of forwards.

As good as he is at fullback, maybe under Gats tactics he would work better as a winger with a licence to roam. Although that would carry the risk of him taking a thump, and Gats won't risk losing is pen kicker.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:It's really REALLY weird that 99% (exactly) of praise for Halfpenny is for his kicking. Never would have said that a few years ago.

Too true, he was a 'lottery kick' option back when Wales had Jones and the Blues had Blair.  And he is far more than just a kicker to be kept far away from contact, like Greenwood suggested in the first test when Tuppance tried to make a break through a bunch of forwards.

As good as he is at fullback, maybe under Gats tactics he would work better as a winger with a licence to roam. Although that would carry the risk of him taking a thump, and Gats won't risk losing is pen kicker.

I'd never really thought about it like that - he did seem a much more attacking threat ball in hand before assuming the kicking duties though.

GloriousEmpire wrote:He lacks the high ball skills of Israel Dagg and defensively he's far from a rock; but his all around game, goal kicking and decision making is top notch.

Are you talking about the same Leigh Halfpenny that plays for Wales and the Blues? Currently playing for the lions...!

maestegmafia wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:He lacks the high ball skills of Israel Dagg and defensively he's far from a rock; but his all around game, goal kicking and decision making is top notch.

Are you talking about the same Leigh Halfpenny that plays for Wales and the Blues? Currently playing for the lions...!

Does he mean the Leigh Halfpenny who hasn't missed a tackle in the 6 nations since 2011??

I do think that 1/2 P is a world class goal kicker, but a world class full back? I am not so sure. There have been better full back's sadly none of them playing for Wales.

His goal kicking is an faultable though, will he be in for man of the series i wander?

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:It's really REALLY weird that 99% (exactly) of praise for Halfpenny is for his kicking. Never would have said that a few years ago.

Too true, he was a 'lottery kick' option back when Wales had Jones and the Blues had Blair.  And he is far more than just a kicker to be kept far away from contact, like Greenwood suggested in the first test when Tuppance tried to make a break through a bunch of forwards.

As good as he is at fullback, maybe under Gats tactics he would work better as a winger with a licence to roam. Although that would carry the risk of him taking a thump, and Gats won't risk losing is pen kicker.

And my comment was referring to his other skills, not that his kicking used to be poor (just to clarify).

I think Greenwood's comments were related to a move when Halfpenny came in on a crashball. That truly is pointless, even if he wasn't the kicker

Does he mean the Halfpenny who stood side by side with Leonidas against the mighty Persian army at Thermopylae?

majesticimperialman wrote: There have been better full back's sadly none of them playing for Wales.

JPR Williams

majesticimperialman wrote: His goal kicking is an faultable though, will he be in for man of the series i wander?

What does that mean?

I genuinely do think he is one of the best full backs in the world. However Gatland ball holds him back. He doesn't come into the line enough and rarely runs the ball back at the opposition. He can do it, he does it well for Cardiff, but the Lions and Welsh tactics don't allow him to use his fantastic turn of pace and his agility with the ball in hand.

could be the best in the world but needs to attack more. Currently I think the best in the world is Izzy Dagg.

 an faultable is welsh for fuxxing great - As for better full backs, well we've had some many good ones its a difficult shout - 1/2p is class  - end of

RubyGuby wrote: an faultable is welsh for fuxxing great - As for better full backs, well we've had some many good ones its a difficult shout - 1/2p is class  - end of

I understand more Swedish than Madge most days...!

Thanks for the translation...!

Does he mean the Halfpenny that carried a few of Hannibal's elephants across the Alps?

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:I genuinely do think he is one of the best full backs in the world. However Gatland ball holds him back. He doesn't come into the line enough and rarely runs the ball back at the opposition. He can do it, he does it well for Cardiff, but the Lions and Welsh tactics don't allow him to use his fantastic turn of pace and his agility with the ball in hand.

could be the best in the world but needs to attack more. Currently I think the best in the world is Izzy Dagg.

It's the tactics Radge - kick in your own half, run it in the opposition half. The welsh players have talked about it before (for Wales). That's why he never runs it back ('it back' being a kick to him in his own half). Madness.

SecretFly wrote:Does he mean the Halfpenny that carried a few of Hannibal's elephants across the Alps?

No that was George North.

Absolutely, but how many of the rest of the current lions crop are? Adam Jones - definitely, North - probably.......list starts to run a little short for me thereafter on current showings. Emphasis on current showing, there are a lot more in the bracket but not on performance.

Thunor, i knew what you meant, just adding to it that his kicking abilities weren't really utilised a few years back, and he was just treated as the long range specialist.

The stats about his defensive skills at fullback are questionable, for Falou's try he didn't miss the tackle, but chose the wrong man, as George had Genia so ideally a fullback would have seen that and cut down Falou's space. Also 'missed tackles' are only tackles attempted that failed, not tackles that could/should have been attempted. I am not accusing Leigh of that, but have seen players stats in the past with 100% tackle completion when they have not attempted to tackle people went if they had it would have slowed the player, allowing for another player to make a completed tackle (Johnathan Thomas has been guilty of this in the past).

But all said and done Halfpenny is a good fullback, and hasn't ever let his side down (Lions, Wales or Blues) when he has played there, it is just a shame the game plan at the moment does not seem to play to his strengths with ball in hand, as IMO he is a natural attacker.

Griff wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Does he mean the Halfpenny that carried a few of Hannibal's elephants across the Alps?

No that was George North.

George has a long way to go before his exploits match those of Maximus Halfpenny, Commander of the armies of the North (no relation), General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius.

doctornickolas wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:He lacks the high ball skills of Israel Dagg and defensively he's far from a rock; but his all around game, goal kicking and decision making is top notch.

Are you talking about the same Leigh Halfpenny that plays for Wales and the Blues? Currently playing for the lions...!

Does he mean the Leigh Halfpenny who hasn't missed a tackle in the 6 nations since 2011??

Pretty sure I saw him bumped off a tackle in the final 10 minutes off last weeks game, and in the first test he missed a one on one tackle against Folau as he scored his second try.

GLove39 wrote:

doctornickolas wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:He lacks the high ball skills of Israel Dagg and defensively he's far from a rock; but his all around game, goal kicking and decision making is top notch.

Are you talking about the same Leigh Halfpenny that plays for Wales and the Blues? Currently playing for the lions...!

Does he mean the Leigh Halfpenny who hasn't missed a tackle in the 6 nations since 2011??

Pretty sure I saw him bumped off a tackle in the final 10 minutes off last weeks game, and in the first test he missed a one on one tackle against Folau as he scored his second try.

He didn't say since the 6 Nations, he said in the 6 Nations since 2011  

I would say that halfpenny is good but not the best. If he played for any other top country except italy and possibly wales would he kick other then the long range.

I fear he may end up like paterson and people will look at his kicking and he will be undropable. Who here would have him in their over dagg.

Who would have him kick over farrel or styne or carter.

He is young so still in with a shout. I still dont see why sexton or farrel can't kick during the game.

Risca Rev wrote:

GLove39 wrote:

doctornickolas wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:He lacks the high ball skills of Israel Dagg and defensively he's far from a rock; but his all around game, goal kicking and decision making is top notch.

Are you talking about the same Leigh Halfpenny that plays for Wales and the Blues? Currently playing for the lions...!

Does he mean the Leigh Halfpenny who hasn't missed a tackle in the 6 nations since 2011??

Pretty sure I saw him bumped off a tackle in the final 10 minutes off last weeks game, and in the first test he missed a one on one tackle against Folau as he scored his second try.

He didn't say since the 6 Nations, he said in the 6 Nations since 2011  

 It's been a long day...

For me 1/2p is the no.1 fullback at the moment. Dagg has fallen off this year though his very recent test form was solid and the Boks and Ozzies are still looking for one. he's the best in Europe so gets the label for me.

His defence is second to none and his goal kicking presently as good as it gets bar the last one.

For me he falls into the sound, reliable and safe category rather than the spectacular as he doesnt play to his full potential as an attacking fullback- even though he has shown he has the skills.

He needs to be more expressive in his style- the very best had that- the JPR's, Cullens, Blanco's, and todays Beales and Dagg when he's on his game. All very expressive, looking to attack from anywhere- Halfpennny doesnt have that yet.

And whoevers on his back about not attacking needs to get off it, the templated northern hemisphere positional approach stifling his progress. He doesnt need to be told what to do. He's been around long enough and should be dictating play rather than following. He's frustrating in that respect.

The best fullback in the world is Ben Smith, and he can't even get a crack playing in that position internationally

World class kicker, international class 15 only for me. Would like to see him in a side where the fullback is used more as an attacking player as opposed to a deep lying last defender. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy enough he is the Lions 15 and appreciate the security he brings but want to see him more involved in open attacking play before I will change my opinion to world class.

Always rated him on the wing. Solid in defence, pretty illusive running and the ability to always be in the right place to cross the try line, which against top level international defences is absolutely priceless.

Quality player. The best performances I've seen from Halfpenny have been on the wing.