Blues Prop John Afoa playing like a back

bwa ha haHis upper body had to much momentum, and his legs couldn't keep up!god gert, waar's my perd

Sorry to be the party-pooper, but even though that's impressive skills and pace, it's not important in a prop. You need props to do the ugly grind (Afoa may well do that, I don't mean to say he can't) and they should be valued by their ability to scrummage, ruck and maul. Everything else is a bonus, but only that.Dunning has shown he can drop-kick, Rodney Blake has shown he has...erm...alot of hype and a cool nick-name, but who would pick them over a Carl Hayman or Andrew Sheridan? Australia have fallen into the temptation of gloss for far too long now. Super 14 hasn't helped and doesn't look like progressing much with the new laws, but at least SA realised the value of keeping the beef goes beyond the Super 14.

It's funny the constant Australia bashing that goes along with any comment about forwards play (front row in particular). Sure it hasn't been at top standard for a few years now, but it is on the improve. People seem to over value the scrum. Sure it is important but is it more important than a good lineout? England's lineout has been atrocious (and the All Blacks none to good either) for a couple of years now, but there are no attacks over this. I don't get why such a stigma has been placed on Australian front row play from a few years of mediocre (some downright dreadful) performances.

samboblyFair comment, but the last 2 World Cups have demonstrated just how important (and under-rated) the scrum has been for Australia.In 2003 the Aussie's had the best back line in the world, but lost by being dominated by an English pack. In 2007, the Aussie backs weren't the best, but far better than England's, but never looked like having a sniff of the game.Nothing has demonstrated the importance of scrums more than the fact that the much-maligned English have been to the last 2 WC finals, winning one, on the back of a strong pack, while the much-vaunted Aussies (with massively talented backs: Giteau, Larkham, Gregan, Latham, Mortlock etc.) have under-performed.This is not Aussie-bashing but a defence of the ugly art of scrummaging.P.S. Line-outs are important, but it is easier to be competitive at line-outs than it is in the scrums. It is less technical and requires fewer players to perform.

i love itperfect example of total rugbyi think when forwards also play in the line it can be a big advantage.

To be totally honest if you have a prop who, by looks id imagine can scrum, ruck and maul well but who can also catch a ball and make some yards then he is easily picked before a prop who can just do forward work!so many times in games the ball is looked to be shipped out wide until they realise out wide consistes of a winger a hooker and a prop.....well if you have movement like this out on the pitch you may very well ship it out! Anyway, thats beside the point. Great video, shame he couldnt stay on his feet lol, delayed reaction with the tap tackle.....or that damn blade of grass that sticks up and trips people!

He is a big Unit isnt he. I think he needed a lie down. :-)

as a front rower i really love seeing this video, or any video like itsomething great about forwards running the ball, they know they dont get it alot, so they try alot damn harder than say a flyhalf who knows "oh if i get tackled i'll have it back in a phase or two"good vid, thanks

I think kerivoula makes a fair point...but damn thats good to see !!!He's no john hayes though...:P

Sorry to bring a cliche, but forwards win matches, backs decide by how much. If you're a back and your forwards are losing the battle upfront then you won't get any ball.That's how important it is for your forwards to do what they do best and dominate the tight.

rugby is a team game forwards and backs in tandem win games..forwards cannot win without someone kicking the penalties they earn, having the vision to pick the right attacking options, fielding kicks and winning the battle for territory

Hey thats anawesome video, it shows how strong props really are

Kerivoula, besdies your apology for being a party pooper, you're totally off your head man. The point of this video is to show a great bit of skill by a front rower, that is very rarely seen. It's light hearted, and basically giving the guy credit for showing some great examples of what he's capable of. Would you have preferred if he'd knocked the ball on, caused a scrum, and then RD had made a video of the SCRUM?? Come on man, save your venting about scrum issues for another time. You normally make sense but you missed the mark on this one. It's a great vid and I bet props around the world love seeing action like that, as they so rarely get a chance to show off the skills they do have. You make it sound as if you'd prefer if this type of video wasn't shown? Odd.

Sharky,the man is just making a statement about some props wanting to run with the ball before 'mastering their craft' and putting the hard work in.John Afao certainly does not fall in that category, and he might be an All Black again, before long!

I think there are some good points on both sides here. I'm sure you've all been in my position whereby the team you're watching/supporting suddenly have good momentum and quick ball and they then ship it out wide where they have extra numbers only to have a prop or lock knock it on. I can't express the anger and frustration I have for locks receiving the ball in midfield when there are centres or wing three quarters on either side!But back to the point, I must say it's great to see players like this taking the ball on, showing good footwork, vision and pace. But IF the player in question was also being dominated at scrum-time, he would simply be dropped. At the end of the day every player has a primary job. Great players are able to that job very well, and offer that little bit extra. Alot of (even international) players don't have that gift and should stick to performing in their 1ry role.

Yeah I just think the comments were kinda negative despite it being a good vid and more importantly a good bit of skill, which pretty much starts a silly discussion which eventually ends up off the point. It's not as if Afoa was running around looking to play like a backline player - it just happened naturally and has no effect on his scrumming etc. Irrelevant is the word that comes to mind. But hey, just my thoughts on the matter. Have a great weekend all :)

this is completely off the point but RD y havent u posted all of those teffific jamie noon hits fromk the 6 nations match against ireland?

Hmmm i do agree with you guys about players and their primary roles, but if you take an example of Victor Matfield (im not a Bok by the way) who i think is an awesome lock, that man shows that he has great skills all over the pitch, he can kick, he can run, and his hands are bloooody amazing!My point being if you had to pick a lock, who would you pick? a standard lock who is as good as matfield in scrummaging and lineouts etc. or Matfield himself with the added qualities?.......

I dont really think that John Afoa showed any great skill in the vid; some pretty standard footwork against an already broken/stretched defence. Holding the ball in one hand is not what i regard a skill. he did show some great pace for a prop in his second break but threw a bad pass, (again ball in one hand)and fell over himself on both occasions.Pace yes, skill? no

I saw a match earlier this year from the french league where a prop caught a kick in a similar position inside the 22, and called a mark. The commentators started talking good about him being quick minded, but that soon fell apart as he failed to restart from the free-kick properly(no contact with the foot). Really funny incident.

awsome, although castrgevani's try today was rather amusing :)

I think that is great that a prop can shift like that & actually look comfortable in the back line because you dont find it very often. I would rather have a proper that could move well with the ball & look comfortable in the back line then a big usless prop apart from scrumage. You can train a prop to be gd at scrum time & gd at ruck and maul but you cant train them to have the awareness like he has! fantastic i think!

cj van de linde and os du rahndt....boy when they get the ball its like bryan habana+jason robinson+jonah lomu

now im not english, but even i know the english lineout hasn't been underperforming recently, it's not as good as it was, but steve borthwick is amazing in the lineout, and tom croft and nick kennedy coming through for them are also veru good. p.s. ireland, please pick casey + o'connell, not donncha again, donncha is good but not as good as casey