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Whether he's 145kg or 130kg, Rebels hulk Pone Fa'amausili is causing massive problems for defenders

Pone Fa'amausili. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Hulking prop Pone Fa’amausili thanks his rugby league roots for the barnstorming runs which are making him a cult figure at the Melbourne Rebels.

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The 23-year-old was on the highlights reel of the Rebels’ Super Rugby AU draw with Queensland last round, with some of his barrelling runs skittling the Reds.

Fa’amausili laughed off speculation by commentators that he weighed in at 145kg, saying it was more like 130kg.

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Rugby Australia Director of Rugby Scott Johnson joins the Ruckus crew to check in on the state of the game. The team will also break down the big matches from the weekend, cover off the headline, plus the player and play of the round.

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    Rugby Australia Director of Rugby Scott Johnson joins the Ruckus crew to check in on the state of the game. The team will also break down the big matches from the weekend, cover off the headline, plus the player and play of the round.

    Standing 196cm, either way, he’s a man mountain.

    Melbourne born and bred, Fa’amausili spent time in the youth rugby league teams at the Storm, Dragons and Panthers but admitted he wasn’t ready mentally to make the step up to the NRL.

    He tagged along with a friend to trials for the Rebels’ under-20 side, putting down back-rower or lock as his preferred position.

    Selectors took once look at his size and wrote down prop and before long Fa’amausili was playing for the Australian under-20s side.

    He made his Super debut a year later in 2018 and hasn’t looked back.

    Fa’amausili said he tried to bring some rugby league to his game, with the big hit-ups.

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    “I’ve always had running like that in me,” he told AAP.

    “Coming from a rugby league background that wind-up from the kick-off in league is pretty normal and I miss doing those league hit-ups.”

    Fa’amausili says he looks up to another Melbourne giant in Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

    “We see each other around AAMI, he’s a genuine guy, he’s definitely someone I take advice from and look up to, and I love watching him play with his big carries.”

    With a Samoan background, Fa’amausili has no plans to return to league, setting a goal of playing for the Wallabies.

    He said a change in mindset towards training and diet this season had helped him earn more game time and a place in the Rebels starting side.

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    “I’ve had a dream since I joined the Rebels to play for the Wallabies,” he said.

    “I pulled on that jersey as a junior with the under-20s and I’d love to do that with the Wallabies – it would be a massive achievement for me and my family.”

    – Melissa Woods

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    J
    JW 50 minutes ago
    'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

    Sorta “rent a comment” kinda guy really.

    Haha yep another great way to say it.


    Look I actually agree with the guy, he might have heard something said and seeing as he loves to make a spotlight, and be in it, he decided/mistakenly came up with this headline grabber?


    Despite what I already said was the actual idea for the topic he mistook, I think, at this particular moment, there are plenty of situations people should be sticking. I’m OK with the Dmac situation if its just until Stevenson and Etene start sharing the Fullback job. I’m OK with Barrett being left at 15 and Perofeta being given the job to displace Plummer (easy task for him imo) as the first five (with the ABs in mind). But pretty much all the others, like your suggestions, they are far off optimal understanding of their core positions so should be trying to specialize for a couple of years. Think Ioane and Proctor, one or the other, not trying to get both on. Barrett or ALB/Higgins/Lam, Sititi and Sotutu at 8, Finau/Haig/all the 6’s injured or gone etc.


    From Razors perspective, of a coach on the limit of what can be achieved, he wants to a balance of core and niche. Having players able to cover situations when your down a man, through card or because he’s lying on the ground, you want your players to be adaptable. Does this mean he’d like them to learn that adaptable by playing other positions fully, like for a whole game in another position, or just as in terms of their skills sets. Because if you apply what I suggested Razor was referring to as “four” positions, wingers can be very useful in other roles like a carrying 12, or a pilferring 7, let alone benefit from a tight relationship and understand of what a 13 is trying to do for them.


    This concept applies to pretty much every single position. Take your(my) Lock example, theyre now lifters, they can (size and shape allowing) ruck and maul like the front row, run like a back and offload like a basketballer. Many recent young locks of of this rangy razzle dazle variety.


    Personally I really like and think that adding versatility is inevitable with the amount of training and really early highperformance skill/athleticism work they get through. Max Hicks looked interesting as a 2m beanpole playing openside in France, PSDT showing the frame is certainly viable (as apposed to the typical 6 playing lock), opensides really need a running/carry side to their play these days and could easily play in midfield. Halfbacks are starting to play standing up straight rather than low to the ground, how cool would it have been if the Hurricanes had decided to retain Preston by switching Roigard to 10 for this season? Like Leroy Carter they’re already good wingers with the right pace. I do really see the back three players staying were they are for the most part though, unless theyre special players like Dmac.

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