Waratahs 2013

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

you have dennis, lopeti, sitaleki who was great there for the wallabies and potentially mcutchen

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Folau is a superb athlete and was one of the best league wingers going around.
He’s gotten absurdly fit in the past two years, dropped some bulk, increased his speed and dramatically improved his kicking and his hands.
He’s a great option for fullback or wing. I don’t get the complaining out of some. this is a great move at a low cost as well.
9. Mckibbin/Hart

10.Foley
11. Drewster the Rooste
12.Barnes
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Turner/Betham
15 Folau



Back bench of

Mckibbin/Hart

Turner/Betham

Horne

 

[Bruce Ross]

I'll be very surprised if Tom Carter does not figure prominently in Michael Cheika's plans given the coach's predilection for toughness and an uncompromising approach.

 

[Torn Hammy]

^^ big brother has been used at 6 and McCutchen has as well, and Holloway looks like an option

Introducing a 19 year old to S15 in a position he's never played is. shall we say, Dingo-esque.

 

[fatprop]

I would be amazed to see Folau playing anywhere but the wing for a while, and then from the bench.

I would think he would struggle in positioning at 15

 

[Lindommer]

If Fitz is out for the season, it would make the acquisition of Holmes astute and we could bring in a backrower.

Saw Fitz last Friday morning, unfortunately he had a pair of crutches with him. Didn't get to talk with him. He didn't move too well.

 

[scaraby]

Not a problem, St Catastrophe of the Injuries will take care of that.

We're still developing in the pool of professional sport in rugby in Australia. Rugby in Europe has the inestimable advantage of apeing soccer (with a few detrimental points, I'll get to them one day) and their large rotating squads. Resting players has been traditionally anathema to Australian (and New Zealand and Saffer) coaches, but we should take a leaf out of the European sport managers' play books. Added to their demands we do a shitload more travelling than they can even imagine, and we STILL demand the best 15 on the paddock for every match. The smart coach who decides to manage his squad for the duration of a Super campaign will be the bloke who succeeds; this'll be the way in future. Possibly Cheika's stint at Paris St Germain'll stand him in good stead, as it did for Link.

great call..there will undoubtably be a rotation scheme in place so when the Tahs play the final at SFS we will be fresh as daisies..the problem will be which game do we rest our stars...no easy games any more.

 

[BPC]

Look on the bright side. Although we are short on depth in the forwards, signing Israel to the 30th squad spot means that Cheika can't use it to sign his old mate Rocky for a short stint.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

or BOD

 

[Hawko]

So, Folau is going to be tried at fullback first. That could be either a masterstroke or a disaster and we won't know till we try. Lets look on the bright side - sort of in the Bob Dwyer selection of Phil Kearns category. Even Phil thought he would only get one test yet it turned out to be a great call. It does give some idea of the shape that the backline might take under Cheika. If he wants Folau at 15 then maybe he is thinking of this:

9. McKibben/Hart/Lucas
10. Foley/Barnes/Lane
11. Mitchell/Betham/Hodge
12. Barnes/Carter/Horne
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Horne/Kingston
14. Turner/Kingston/Hodge
15. Folau/Crawford/Volavola

Just speculating mind you but it might mean that our back three will be runners first and that we will generally operate with two ball players at 10/12. If Folau has learnt from AFL then we should have three players at the back who can kick long, which is something that has been missing from the Tahs game. We kicked a lot in the last two seasons, but usually they were popguns.
Attacking from kick return looks like a real option from all three at the back, so other teams may think twice before kicking to us. Last year the opposition knew that if they kicked it to us they'd have it back only 20 metres further upfield within two phases. Defensively Barnes/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) looks very solid but the real question is "How to get them interpassing so our wingers get released?"

This will depend on Chieka/Gaffney/Gibson insisting that Barnes plays a running/passing game and does not kick as first option, which so frustrated supporters for the last two years.

We've still got too many wingers!

 

[spectator]

Now that Folau has inked a deal with the Tah's I hope he applies himself fully and makes a good fist of it.

 

[Lindommer]

I'll be very surprised if Tom Carter does not figure prominently in Michael Cheika's plans given the coach's predilection for toughness and an uncompromising approach.

Now, if we could only get Tom to pass the pill.....

 

[It is what it is]

or BOD

Not for 2013, but watch this space for post Lions tour.

 

[humanbeast]

Folau wont play fullback, even after his afl stint he still cant kick.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Folau wont play fullback, even after his afl stint he still cant kick.

Given the last 18 months or so of mindless kicking a fullback who can't kick may be just the thing we need!


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[Dave Beat]

I'd like to see
9. Hart.
10. Lane.
11. Mitchell
12. Barnes
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) / Falau
14. Turner
15. Volavola / Foley / Barnes / AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Some may think McKibben is hard done by, Hart had a strong season last year.
Lane showed some good spark and vision in the limited game time he had last year, this is something we missed.
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is first choice but I do think Falau will become a good 13.
A wealth of variations at fullback, depends on game plan, and back three combinations.

 

[Intruder]

Introducing a 19 year old to S15 in a position he's never played is. shall we say, Dingo-esque.

Unfortunately I don't see Holloway, Volavola or Lucas getting much of a run next season. Which then leads me to the Tahs bench considering all starters are available. What are your preferences ?

Cat, TPN, Kepu, Douglas, Timani, Dennis, Hooper, Palu, McKibbon, Foley, Horne, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Mitchell, Turner, Barnes

Reserves:
16. Ulugia
17. Ryan
18. Atkins / Peterson or both scratched
19. McCutcheon / Timani
20. Hart
21. Carter / Betham / Kingston / Crawford
22. Folau
23. Tilse

 

[en_force_er]

Unfortunately I don't see Holloway, Volavola or Lucas getting much of a run next season. Which then leads me to the Tahs bench considering all starters are available. What are your preferences ?

Cat, TPN, Kepu, Douglas, Timani, Dennis, Hooper, Palu, McKibbon, Foley, Horne, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Mitchell, Turner, Barnes

Reserves:
16. Ulugia
17. Ryan
18. Atkins / Peterson or both scratched
19. McCutcheon / Timani
20. Hart
21. Carter / Betham / Kingston / Crawford
22. Folau
23. Tilse

International rugby ins't doing what French Rugby does and numbering the 2nd prop 23, I don't think we will.

Also, I think we still have 22 man squads this year.

I'd like to see
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is first choice but I do think Folau will become a good 13..

I think to disagree mate. People always think that leaguies will be good 13s but they almost never are, particularly when they were on the end of the supply chain even when they were in league. Folau was skillful by league winger standards but nobody was touting him as anything other than a winger.

His major skills are:
The ability to beat the man 1 on 1 due to good speed and footwork (for his size).
The ability to compete and win the high ball coming from behind him whilst going forward (which is why the skill didn't translate to AFL).
The ability to kick acquired from AFL (nobody in footy had a problem with Folau's kicking, he just never got the ball).

None of these are outside centre skills who require much more defensive nous and decision making (which will take a while to come, think years). Whereas they are all important skills in the outside backs.

I'd be optimistically (very optimistically) looking for Folau to be half Savea and half CJ. He is big and a good ball runner like Savea (though not as good) and a good kick pressurer like CJ (could maybe be as good eventually).

 

[p.Tah]

Very large contingent of media at the Tahs training today. There would usually be no media there at this time of year.

There will also be media at the trial matches when Izzy first runs out. That doesn't usually happen either. Even if it’s for 6 months, this will be good.

 

[ChargerWA]

I think the use of Folau at 15 is a great move. His kicking game should be solid and we know he is good under the high ball.

Cheika should have him spending an hour each day putting up bombs and then running through an obstacle course to catch the high ball. That will be the biggest change from League, with the oppo being 10M back and behind the line Israel would have never previously had to make his way through heavy traffic to reach the marking contest.