Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Raggs on March 19, 2019, 12:46:28 PM
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Lining up in the schools plate final (15.40 kickoff)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qweromUb01Q
Why not as you know him? He's lining up at 13...
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I wonder what the rationale is.
I've seen this sort of cross-over before in Tom Youngs, albeit a poor comparison IMO. I wonder where the cross-over lies? Because I see the front row as a niche, specialist area of play.
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Hooker requires specialist skills a centre wouldn't have, but there's not as many skills that a centre uses that wouldn't help a hooker. Dane Coles for instance.
There are specialist positions for set piece, but in open play its a lot more fluid.
Also, if they have another decent hooker, I'd hate to be the back trying to stop alfie in space.
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Hooker requires specialist skills a centre wouldn't have, but there's not as many skills that a centre uses that wouldn't help a hooker. Dane Coles for instance.
There are specialist positions for set piece, but in open play its a lot more fluid.
Also, if they have another decent hooker, I'd hate to be the back trying to stop alfie in space.
Point taken - thanks! I suppose that's what we are seeing more and more with the likes of Jamie George being selected over Dylan Hartley for England I suppose?
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When England have Mako and Sink playing, opposition defences are panicking. They cannot risk moving off as these are powerful carriers, but at the same time they are very capable of popping it out one or passing in behind, so defenders can't commit too early either. The more skilled a powerful forward is, the better their carrying in my view, as defenders cannot simply all jump on them.
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Now the stream has started, it has him in the 22 shirt...
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Well, looks like youtube teamsheet is wrong, he's definitely in the 13 shirt. What a first carry!
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Missed the first 3 1/2 minutes, but will definitely try and watch from now.
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I have just noticed a nifty carry by him and he seemed to be able to put a defender on their backside. He's playing for Bloxham?
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Yep, Bloxham 13.
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That rolling maul was a thing of beauty, nicely finished off by Alfie
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Playing 13, throwing in the lineouts and on the back of the maul. He's simply on another level compared to anyone else on the pitch.
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Playing 13, throwing in the lineouts and on the back of the maul. He's simply on another level compared to anyone else on the pitch.
Absolutely, being part of the Wasps academy certainly looks to be doing good for him. It was also good to see proper communication between ref and touch judge a moment ago.
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Gets MoM too :)
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good game to watch, Barbeary looks v useful, quite large specimen for one so young. Im sure when i was that age our games would last about 4hours not 70 mins.
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Fantastic coverage.
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Commentators clearly not aware that he's an England age grade player (nor that he normally plays hooker), but still, very good at their day jobs.
Good darts, good runs, good tackles, good passes, good turnovers, good offloads, good rips.
Good game.
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Just watched this, we have to hang on to him, the stand out player on the pitch - different level.
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Turns out that they actually play him at 12 (it's not a new thing), it's just they don't have a 12 shirt big enough for him :D.
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He's no doubt a great talent being recognised at various levels.
BUT, is he significantly better than Gabriel Oghre?
Gaby has represented England at various age grades and is a couple or years older than Alfie.
I'm seeing calls for Alfie to be fed into the senior squad next season, which feels premature given that he's only 18 at the moment, and that Oghre is likely next in line.
While Barbeary appears to be a powerful runner, is he a better hooker than Oghre?
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He's no doubt a great talent being recognised at various levels.
BUT, is he significantly better than Gabriel Oghre?
Gaby has represented England at various age grades and is a couple or years older than Alfie.
I'm seeing calls for Alfie to be fed into the senior squad next season, which feels premature given that he's only 18 at the moment, and that Oghre is likely next in line.
While Barbeary appears to be a powerful runner, is he a better hooker than Oghre?
Calls for Alfie to be in the senior squad are premature in my mind. He's probably not better than Oghre just yet, but from what I recall he's better than Oghre was at 19/20 (when he was in the u20s). Better darts, more powerful carrier, though Oghre has great footwork (not that Alfie's is bad).
I'd probably focus on Alfie, since Taylor, Cruse and Johnson should see us through the next few seasons. But there's no reason both couldn't play for Wasps long term.
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Lining up in the schools plate final (15.40 kickoff)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qweromUb01Q
Why not as you know him? He's lining up at 13...
Are the games being streamed today either on the RFU website or Youtube?
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At the end of yesterday's match the commentator said that the same viewing platforms would be used. I watched on the link which was to YouTube.
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Calls for Alfie to be in the senior squad are premature in my mind. He's probably not better than Oghre just yet, but from what I recall he's better than Oghre was at 19/20 (when he was in the u20s). Better darts, more powerful carrier, though Oghre has great footwork (not that Alfie's is bad).
I'd probably focus on Alfie, since Taylor, Cruse and Johnson should see us through the next few seasons. But there's no reason both couldn't play for Wasps long term.
Interesting.
I've not seen him play, so can't really comment. However, I'd read some reports from about 6-9 months ago that said his lineout throwing was questionable.
Is your comment about "better darts" based just on yesterday's game, or have you seen him play other times?
It could easily be that he's constantly improving and has focused on that area of his game - if so, that's definitely a good sign.
What seems to be one of his best strengths, from reports that I've read, is his power running.
However, I expect that to be dulled somewhat when he comes up against senior pro's and tighter defences in the premiership.
If he's therefore focusing on other areas of his game, and improving his weaknesses, rather than relying on his physical advantages at age grade, then that's a really good sign.
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Calls for Alfie to be in the senior squad are premature in my mind. He's probably not better than Oghre just yet, but from what I recall he's better than Oghre was at 19/20 (when he was in the u20s). Better darts, more powerful carrier, though Oghre has great footwork (not that Alfie's is bad).
I'd probably focus on Alfie, since Taylor, Cruse and Johnson should see us through the next few seasons. But there's no reason both couldn't play for Wasps long term.
Interesting.
I've not seen him play, so can't really comment. However, I'd read some reports from about 6-9 months ago that said his lineout throwing was questionable.
Is your comment about "better darts" based just on yesterday's game, or have you seen him play other times?
It could easily be that he's constantly improving and has focused on that area of his game - if so, that's definitely a good sign.
What seems to be one of his best strengths, from reports that I've read, is his power running.
However, I expect that to be dulled somewhat when he comes up against senior pro's and tighter defences in the premiership.
If he's therefore focusing on other areas of his game, and improving his weaknesses, rather than relying on his physical advantages at age grade, then that's a really good sign.
It's less that his darts are perfect (they seem pretty good), and more that Gaby's in the u20s looked squiffy.
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I was very pleased with Alfie's performance. I wasn't too sure of his throwing, the Bloxham lineout did seem a bit wonky but whether that is the product of Alfie or not, I am not sure.
wasps made a good point regarding Alfie's build. It will be interesting to see Alfie up against better defences and/or bigger players as he did look like Bloxham's "big kid" on the team and was able to bully his way through tackles.
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He's done similar things against other international age grade sides, including the boks. So it's not just a bunch of school kids. He also looked capable of doing it at u20s level against Scotland, albeit he only got 10 minutes.
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He's done similar things against other international age grade sides, including the boks. So it's not just a bunch of school kids. He also looked capable of doing it at u20s level against Scotland, albeit he only got 10 minutes.
Also remember he was picked for the U18s last week but upgraded to the U20s - must have been an injury or something. Yesterday he was playing for his school U18s. If he keeps it up some prospect.
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Not sure if this has been posted, but if you haven't seen it this is a pretty decent highlights reel for a youngster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZb1tV7qkew
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Quite impressive. Somebody took a bit of time to put that together. Maybe he's got an Agent!!!
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One similar to that appeared for Obano just before he left us for Bath.
Feeling pessimistic today.
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One similar to that appeared for Obano just before he left us for Bath.
Feeling pessimistic today.
Obano suffered from serious injury issues, and we took him on in similar circumstances from wherever it was he came from (can't remember now). He was already swapping clubs at that point, Barbaery isn't the same in my mind.