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

[shazbooger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (candybum @ May 26 2009, 10:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

But the thing is.. a lot of southern hemisphere players who go to play up north, suddenly stand out and is the mantis. Even mediocre players we thought.[/b]

Toulon being the shinning example of course. Your sentence stopped making sense after "play up north".
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ May 26 2009, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Trevor Halstead ..... revolutionizing[/b]

Now thats funny. Jim Williams made a huge difference to Munster. Halstead did a job, but harldy revolutionised anything.

To be honest some of the best Imports up here have been Argentinians. The Boks, Aussies and New Zealanders have usually flattered to deceive. Not that they are shite players, but a lot of them are keeping one eye on their international chances, and another on their bank balance. The Argentinians usually settle down as they dont have an eye on a return to their home competition.

Thats why Elsom was so good. He could have done a Collins, but he didnt.

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ May 26 2009, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

And I also remember a certain ex-Shark, Trevor Halstead, revolutionizing your Munster mid-field into the force it is today[/b]

Because he was so solid not because he set the world on fire. He just suited the Munster way!

Edit: Pretty much everyone plays better at Munster anyway. Except Nick Williams.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jer1cho @ May 26 2009, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ May 26 2009, 04:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I remember him being a star player at the world cup for Aussie...
Or I remember the commentators calling him a star player...
Either way, it's not as if his ability has just suddenly appeared at Leinster...[/b]

Seconded. I always rated him. But as a loose forward as a whole, i can't compare him to Spies or Kanko. But yeah, i have always rated the guy.
[/b][/quote]

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

 

[Incredible Schalk]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ May 26 2009, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Yet the *amazing* players when their down south *coughDanCartercough* come north and look utter shite...


Go figure!

[/b]

Whit? :huh: Carter was great in the few matches he played for Perpignan.Main reason they beat Leicester.

 

[O'Rothlain]

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

Rocky Elsom is good but his success has been somewhat misleading due to the fact he was playing in a vastly inferior competition this season.[/b]

WTF? Seriously? Playing in both the Magners League and the Heineken Cup inferior to what?
The point is, as Ricky Flutey has pointed out in recent interviews, it's the new challenge of moving away from what you know that can flip a switch and help lift your game.
Rocky was always good, but this new challenge is what Lifted him to above what he was doing in the Super 14.

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ May 26 2009, 06:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ May 26 2009, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ May 26 2009, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What about a certain Joe van Niekerk? :bulb:[/b]

Bit of a Mummys boy, isn't he?
[/b][/quote]

Say that to his face B)

Yea, thought so...
[/b][/quote]

I wouldn't be able to; His mum would never give him permission to speak to me!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Incredible Schalk @ May 26 2009, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ May 26 2009, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yet the *amazing* players when their down south *coughDanCartercough* come north and look utter shite...


Go figure!

[/b]

Whit? :huh: Carter was great in the few matches he played for Perpignan.Main reason they beat Leicester.
[/b][/quote]

Oh... I thought he had a distinctly average performance in that match. In fact, Harry Ellis behaving as a complete shitehawk was the only notable Carter moment in the whole game.

 

[MunsterMan]

Trevor Halstead was a revelation, but didn't revolutionize anything. He took what we had to the next level and was as important to our 2006 side as Rocky was to Leinster this year. Just because he was able to get over the gain line every time we gave him the ball and either offload or present the ball. A ferocious defender too, truly an inside centre to be feared.

But he surely was rated in SA too, he did win a few caps and I remember seeing a vid of him on youtube carving the Crusaders open all night and setting up a lovely try for Brent Russell. Speaking of Brent Russell, he is someone who has done sweet FA up here as well.

 

[jimmybean27]

While he may be very influential for Leinster and indeed is perhaps the most influential loose forward in europe, i still think that NZ Richie Macaw and SA Pier Spies are both more influential, Macaw is a leader and Spies is one of the reasons the Bulls have been so dangerous this year.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ May 26 2009, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Trevor Halstead was a revelation, but didn't revolutionize anything. He took what we had to the next level and was as important to our 2006 side as Rocky was to Leinster this year. Just because he was able to get over the gain line every time we gave him the ball and either offload or present the ball. A ferocious defender too, truly an inside centre to be feared.

But he surely was rated in SA too, he did win a few caps and I remember seeing a vid of him on youtube carving the Crusaders open all night and setting up a lovely try for Brent Russell. Speaking of Brent Russell, he is someone who has done sweet FA up here as well.[/b]

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.

 

[shazbooger]

Ahhh I couldnt care less. We'll never get away from the "mine is bigger than yours" arguement.

He's been awesome for us and that'll do me.

 

[Jer1cho]

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

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...

 

[Woldog]

I don't know half the European players you are talking about, so I can't comment on who's better, in my opinion Rocky Elsom is just a fiery player who shows a lot of ticka and gets the job done.

 

[feicarsinn]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Woldog @ May 27 2009, 07:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I don't know half the European players you are talking about, so I can't comment on who's better, in my opinion Rocky Elsom is just a fiery player who shows a lot of ticka and gets the job done.[/b]

probably because a european player hasn't been mentioned in the last two pages

 

[Woldog]

Refine that to I don't know half the players you're talking about then

 

[Nickdnz]

Tipoki and Mafi were both SH players who shine in NH...just throwing that out there >.>

 

[Flux]

What baffles me with Mafi is that he was an average player for Taranaki, could only make the Hurricanes' wider training squad and now he's excelling in the NH. How does that work?

 

[candybum]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Flux @ May 27 2009, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

What baffles me with Mafi is that he was an average player for Taranaki, could only make the Hurricanes' wider training squad and now he's excelling in the NH. How does that work?[/b]

That's the point i was trying to make :bravo:

 

[Nickdnz]

Hmm, by my understanding of influential player, means they have the most impact on the game and their performence be it positive or negative effects the outcome the most. If that is the case then I would have to give it to one of the backs over the flankers. A back, if they are really on their game will generally produce more influential solo efforts then a forward player. When Giteau is at his best I would say he can impact a game the more then almost anyone. I would say the same of Nonu, Habana, O'Driscol and Carter. I'm not saying forwards are less important, however a forwards solo influence is less likly to win the game...i think a forward packs needs to operate better as a team where as backs often do redicioulus things that pay off.

Anyway that's my two cents.

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (candybum @ May 27 2009, 09:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Flux @ May 27 2009, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What baffles me with Mafi is that he was an average player for Taranaki, could only make the Hurricanes' wider training squad and now he's excelling in the NH. How does that work?[/b]

That's the point i was trying to make :bravo:
[/b][/quote]

Tipoki again was more along the lines of the solidness of Haltstead (plus some massive hits).

Mafi has just developed at munster. He wasn't that great when he fist arrived. Sub appearances. A guy with a good eye for a break with **** defence. Now his defence has been sorted out (for the most part) and he still makes the breaks.

Problem is, and you only really see how bad he is for this from the stand, he holds onto the ball to long when there a man outside him with space.

 

[cyRil]

As my mate and I say... Rocky is something Else-om.
Aaaaawwww, cracks me up every time!