Rebels target Wilkinson
16 Nov 2009
England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson is reportedly top of the Melbourne Rebels’ shopping list.
The Australian franchise were recently awarded the licence for 15th Super Rugby franchise and will participate in the tournament from 2011.
Having beaten out South Africa’s Southern Kings for the additional spot, their next order of business is the recruitment of players capable of making them competitive in the southern hemisphere showpiece. In this regard Australian newspaper the Sun-Herald reported that Wilkinson is their prime target. Veteran locks Steve Borthwick and Chris Jack are also said to be high priority targets, while there are also rugby league players on their radar.
‘We need to look towards getting high-profile people that are instantly recognised in this market, some big names wherever possible,’ Gary Gray, the Victorian Rugby Union president, told the paper, although he refused to mention specific players. ‘If we can attract a handful of international big names, that would be tremendous.
‘We know players move a lot around the world these days and there may be players looking for a change towards the end of their career. Melbourne is an attractive place to live. Playing in a new stadium, in a new environment … it might be that a player in their late 20s is looking to revitalise their career. We think that’s an attractive option.
‘We’d also love to have some high-profile Wallaby names in Melbourne.’
Wilkinson has seemingly overcome his nightmare run of injuries which had kept him sidelined for extended periods between 2003 and 2008. He is excelling at French Top 14 side Toulon, justifying his hefty salary. There’s no doubt that the Rebels won’t be able to match what Wilkinson is being paid, but Gray believes the franchise will still be an attractive destination for marquee players.
‘People may say that some of the bigger names internationally are unaffordable,’ he said. ‘But I think they underestimate what Melbourne can offer in future job opportunities and business contacts. It’s not all about money, it’s about developing people’s careers.’
Gray added that an Australian coach would ‘be a bonus’, but said they would cast the net wide. He also confirmed that the franchise would also request that the Australian Rugby Union would agree to concessions that would allow them to recruit a number of foreign players.
‘To take pressure off the professional [local] pool, a number like 10 to 12 has been talked about, about a third of the squad being available from outside Australia, whether that be New Zealand, Argentina, the United Kingdom, South Africa – wherever the best and most appropriate players can be found.’
33 Comments
16 Nov 2009, 07:54 am
best 10 on the planet
16 Nov 2009, 08:14 am
Kockott’s chance to get into the Aus line-up?
16 Nov 2009, 08:21 am
They should target Earl Rose instead, it doesn’t come any better
Maybe Burton Francus too, and why not?
16 Nov 2009, 08:40 am
#3 Hondo: Please target Earl – can you believe he will be a possible starter for the Italy test
16 Nov 2009, 08:41 am
#2 puff: they don’t need kockott…that will genia kid has legend written all over him. besides, kockotts ego would not fit in an australian ccamp culture
16 Nov 2009, 08:41 am
#3 Hondo: do you ever have anything good to say about players of colour?
16 Nov 2009, 09:02 am
Dan Carter is the best 10 on the planet…
Closely followed by Jonny.
Stupid idea. He’s just signed a contract with Toulon. Thick aussies.
Earl does not deserve a test cap. Not by a long shot.
16 Nov 2009, 10:14 am
honestly what are the chances of jonny wilkinson coming to play for a new club in the super 15
16 Nov 2009, 10:25 am
Well that’s a good place to start if you making up a team
16 Nov 2009, 11:42 am
well whoever they get, i rate beating the southern kings for the 15th spot is the only victory they’ll taste for a long time…or until they face our lions, that is.
16 Nov 2009, 11:56 am
Did any of you chaps watch Wilkinson’s performance against Argentina?
Dire would be putting it kindly.
16 Nov 2009, 11:59 am
#11 Viscount Crouchback:
The whole team was dire.
16 Nov 2009, 12:10 pm
#12 Dawn:
Not true. Moody was world-class, Cueto were excellent, and Haskell and Hartley were both good.
Wilkinson is a world-class defender, but the rest of his game is mediocre and has been for a long time.
16 Nov 2009, 12:20 pm
#13 Viscount Crouchback:
So how come they nearly saw their asses.
16 Nov 2009, 12:27 pm
#14 Dawn:
Because the Jonny Wilkinson-led backline is utterly clueless.
16 Nov 2009, 12:51 pm
If they get permission this will totally destroy the concept of the S15 as a competition. Melbourne bid for the place knowing the ARU rules and immediately plan to change them. What part of the business plan was that contained in?
16 Nov 2009, 12:54 pm
Maybe Jake White will apply for the coaching job?
16 Nov 2009, 12:58 pm
#16 David: doesnt matter…experience has taught us that in any sporting league you can’t buy success…just look at Real Madrid and Chelsea…all the money and starpower in the world but still not miles ahead of the pack
16 Nov 2009, 13:25 pm
all this talk with whether Wilko or D.C. is ‘best flyhalf in the World’ is a non-starter.
G10 or BH, for eg, cant bring themselves to willingly state any NZer qualifies as the best in his position. Period.
There are others who are still living on Wilko version: 2002/03, when he was undoubtedly at his peak. Glimpses have been rare of that Wilko since but atleast he has had better luck with injuries since ’07.
And it cant be argued that he looks fit and re-energised by his move to Toulon. And happy/human instead of intense/robotic. Thank God he eventually found that inner-balance, possibly thru his Buddhist faith. His articles for the Times still shortlist him for any ‘Most Boring’ sports awards going tho….zzzz
But Best 10 in World in 2009 ?
He is still a metronomically good goalkicker and the best tackling no10 on the Planet. But THE best placekicker ? No, thats probably Morne Steyn – an unbelievable year of accuracy and steel gonads – closely followed by DC, who has honed his radar considerably since the yips in 07/08.
But Wilko kicking the ball out of hand ? Mixed, at best, dire vs Argies and not dominating the current ‘kick-tennis’ we’re seeing every Test match this year.
But worst of all, Wilko has caught the debilitating Crab-step which means that he is trying to be a better running-10 (and being the Senior Player/Capt of the backs) but is mentally not there with the result that it has almost become like a tic, ie crabs with ball outside before passing to 12/13 giving them far less space and time on the ball than if he’d just spun it immed. Or gets caught and turned-over.
Theres no question who is the best 10 at the moment. For ‘most’ boxes ticked – placekicking; tactical kicking, running; decision-making; tackling – that would have to be Carter on current form. Incredible since he’s returned from a ruptured-archilles (G10, earlier this year, said “the inside-word from this bloke I know is that DC will never play again”). And Morne Steyn next, IMO, with Wilko peering over his shoulder. Hernandez is the choice of some but I personally believe he’s a considerably better 15 and too selfish at 10.
16 Nov 2009, 13:33 pm
#19 WakaNathan: I will give you a couple….Hayman and Jack…..class….thats it.
Get them home.
16 Nov 2009, 13:55 pm
#3 Hondo: ur backward racist drivel doesnt impress or escape any1
16 Nov 2009, 14:04 pm
#19 WakaNathan: Interesting points.
I’m a big fan of both Carter and Wilko but must say that with all Carters class and brilliance he still hasnt stepped it up on the biggest stage yet. Thats where Wilko has a distinct advantage over him and with the World Cup just around the corner, a fit Wilko will make it an interesting tournament.
Thanks goodness we have a match winner in Morne for the tournament whose BMT can match Wilkos
16 Nov 2009, 14:26 pm
#19 WakaNathan: I agree we all seem to think he is the same player he was in 02/03 fact is he not. Still a great goalkicker and placekicker but his all round game is nowhere near what it was pre 03 WC. The problem is playing in our current England team he is carrying so much on his shoulders as so many people expect him to turn this rabble of a team around.
Carter is the best around at the moment, I heard Jonothan Davies say the other day the mark of a good flyhalf is they always look like they have time, if you watch cater against wales even under pressure he looked like he had a spare 5 seconds to do what he wanted.
I think it would be a great idea if Wilkinson played in one of the super 14 teams actually i red he has always wanted to. I think any England back would benefit from playing a season down under its a pity the money factor will always come into it though.
There have been a lot of England players that have had a season in there younger years and have said it had a huge impact on there career, Martin Johnson, Simon Shaw, Peter Winterbottom, Julian White, Tom Palmer, kevin yates even Clive Woodward had a season in Aus.
16 Nov 2009, 14:28 pm
the aussies have a massive ego kockott would fit right in
16 Nov 2009, 14:48 pm
#22 Bok fan:
which would relegate many Legends of Rugby to the also-rans status on the strict RWC-only policy. Which renders it ****.
All credit to Wilko for winning the 2003 RWC. But youre in desperate waters if you still think he’s the same player in 2009. Put it this way, I havent seen DC play as poorly for the ABs as Wilko did vs Argies on Saturday, ever.
Carters only RWC as a 10 (’07) was blighted by injury; unavail for 2 matches then subbed-off at HT in the QterF vs France with the same leg injury.
It would be fascinating to see Wilko in the S14/15. My guess is he would continue to kick well and tackle well, but that his running game and lack of instinctiveness would expose him in the higher skill-based and quicker SH game. His backs are hardly scoring freely for Toulon either.
16 Nov 2009, 15:01 pm
WakaNathan – I reckon a player like Brent Russel would be on their list. The Ozzies always liked him and would have turned him into a Castegneide type of player years ago whereas SA doesn’t have the expertise to do so.
Infact i see alot of SA players going over to Melbourne, mostly players being over looked by the Bok coach or young U19/20 players looking for a different life style and the chance to play for the wallabies!!
16 Nov 2009, 15:10 pm
#25 WakaNathan: Yip Im probably being a bit unfair on Carter as he was injured at the last WC.
With regards to Wilko you forget what an impact he also on the 07 WC as well. Once he was in the England side, it was a completely different team. I missed the Eng/Arg game on the w end but saw Wilko against Aus last week and thought they were going to win after half time. He will only improve the more test rugby he plays and if injury free, he’ll have a big impact at the next WC.
16 Nov 2009, 15:11 pm
#26 race of tan:
Now Brent Russell was 1 player who was really dicked around by SARU. He was some talent, he would not have been discarded so quickly by other teams because he had unique skills not found in many. By no means the complete player but better than what was on show played out of position on too many occasions.
The Aussie teams are already FULL of Kiwis, Polynesians and Dafas. The Melbourne team is there to expand the Wallabies player pool, nothing else.
16 Nov 2009, 15:12 pm
#28 WakaNathan:
Dafas ? – ‘Safas’ !
16 Nov 2009, 15:20 pm
#27 Bok fan:
Yep, Im sure Wilko will keep his teams IN matches. But he’s also going to stop them winning others if he doesnt knock that Crab-step on the head that he’s got going now.
Wilko at 33 in 2011 will being held together by nuts’n'botls and a bit of chewing-gum. Dont put your house on it.
17 Nov 2009, 01:21 am
#11 Viscount Crouchback: and his performance the week before against better opposition? world class. Let’s see how he does this weekend crouchie.
17 Nov 2009, 09:27 am
#11 Viscount Crouchback:
He kicked badly, but when he ran… beautiful to watch.
And he tackled like a lose forward
17 Nov 2009, 19:20 pm
#27 Bok fan: tend to agree. Wilko does seem to have been made for the Big Matches, RWC etc Outside of that it has been injury after injury in recent yrs but… Toulon seems to have broken that spell. DC then MS and a fit JW fairly equal but for different aspects of their game in my eyes.
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