Rocky rates Hynes as dangerman
Wed, 14 May 2008 18:38
Waratahs flank Rocky Elsom has singled out Reds wing Peter Hynes as the dangerman in the Canberra-based team, as the two teams prepare to go head-to-head in a fierce Super 14 derby at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
Elsom was full of praise for Hynes when asked who he thought was their main attacking weapon.
"Hynes is a big reason why Queensland [the Reds] are doing well and why all the other players around him are performing as they are," Elsom told The Australian.
"He's great in attack, always looking for work and he's finishing really well.
"And while he's fairly wiry and lean, he's a little bit of granite in defence. He likes to hurt people in tackles and I respect that.
"I know he's always been overlooked in the past but his performances this year have been outstanding and I can understand why the Reds are looking at him as a possible fullback next year. He'd be a good replacement for Latho [Chris Latham]," added the powerful flank.
Admittedly, Elsom was provided with an early glimpse of Hynes' ability, first playing against him for their respective schools in the Brisbane GPS competition, Elsom for Nudgee College, Hynes for Brisbane State High School.
"No shadow of a lie, we made 10 line-breaks in that match and Hynes mowed us down every time," Elsom said.
"He was blindingly fast back then and while he might not be quite as quick now, he is still very dangerous." added Elsom.
While Elsom nominated Hynes as the Reds' player the Waratahs were most wary of, he singled lock Van Humphries as the one the 'Tahs most intended to target.
"If he's [Humphries] their line-out caller, then he's the one who's going to be the main focus of our attention," explained the Wallaby loose forward.
"You can't play a field position game without an effective line-out. Our line-out is a strength. We see it as that. But whether theirs is up to it, we're about to find out," added Elsom.
Phil Mooney's Reds side are in a rebuilding phase as they consider life without some of their big name players.
But Elsom was having none of it - saying teams use it as an excuse.
"It's rubbish when teams talk about rebuilding," he said.
"Guys hide behind that. Although I will say that Phil Mooney has made a couple of tough calls this season and that's a good sign to his personality and character," concluded Elsom.
Meanwhile, Elsom is being linked to a move to Irish club Leinster at the end of the season.
Elsom is a big fan of their coach Michael Cheika, who is regarded as one of the best coaches in Europe.
A former Randwich loose forward, Cheika was linked with the vacant Waratahs job next season, but re-signed with Leinster after the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) delayed naming their coach for the 2009 season.
