Waratahs 2021

[fatprop]

Yea, I recon Will Harris had a blinder. I think he won't just be coming off the bench, I think they will be rotating Harris, Dempsey and Swinton. So should get plenty of game time. Should Swinton, Harris and Harry Wilson remain in Aus rugby I think you will see them battling each other for both the blindside and No 8 positions for the wallabies for years to come. Gordon was outstanding as well. What you want to see from your captain.

That will mean the 7 playing 80 minutes unless Dempsey does some of that rotation @ 7

 

[Drew]

It is a conundrum. All 3 are top players. I wouldn’t move Dempsey to 7 late in the game as his game relies on impact more than intensity and he might be stuffed late in the game to suddenly be on the ball all the time. I guess you could start all three with Dempsey at 7 and either replace one with (Tizzano/Gamble) and either replace Dempsey or move him to 8. Or replace the power lock and move Dempsey to 6/8 and Harris or Swinton to lock. Not sure if either has spent much time locking but this might alleviate our lack of locking depth and utilise our back row strength.
If it was up to me though, which it isn’t, I’d start Tizzano or gamble and let Dempsey, Harris and Swinton get selected on a horses for courses strategy and on form. Competition for spots can only be a good thing.

 

[Silverado]

It is a conundrum. All 3 are top players. I wouldn’t move Dempsey to 7 late in the game as his game relies on impact more than intensity and he might be stuffed late in the game to suddenly be on the ball all the time. I guess you could start all three with Dempsey at 7 and either replace one with (Tizzano/Gamble) and either replace Dempsey or move him to 8. Or replace the power lock and move Dempsey to 6/8 and Harris or Swinton to lock. Not sure if either has spent much time locking but this might alleviate our lack of locking depth and utilise our back row strength.
If it was up to me though, which it isn’t, I’d start Tizzano or gamble and let Dempsey, Harris and Swinton get selected on a horses for courses strategy and on form. Competition for spots can only be a good thing.

I reckon Tizzano did enough at 7 to earn the spot. Dempsey at 8 and Swinton at 6 to complete back row. Harris on the bench to start with, pushing all the others to perform

 

[Drew]

Silverado, makes sense to me.

 

[Blackadder]

Super Rugby AU: NSW Waratahs under injury clouds as ACT Brumbies’ Tom Wright sidelined for six rounds (smh.com.au)

A few injury concerns for round one

 

[fatprop]

I reckon Tizzano did enough at 7 to earn the spot. Dempsey at 8 and Swinton at 6 to complete back row. Harris on the bench to start with, pushing all the others to perform

As I said earlier, that has Tizzano playing 80, a tough call

 

[Eyes and Ears]

It is a conundrum. All 3 are top players. I wouldn’t move Dempsey to 7 late in the game as his game relies on impact more than intensity and he might be stuffed late in the game to suddenly be on the ball all the time. I guess you could start all three with Dempsey at 7 and either replace one with (Tizzano/Gamble) and either replace Dempsey or move him to 8. Or replace the power lock and move Dempsey to 6/8 and Harris or Swinton to lock. Not sure if either has spent much time locking but this might alleviate our lack of locking depth and utilise our back row strength.
If it was up to me though, which it isn’t, I’d start Tizzano or gamble and let Dempsey, Harris and Swinton get selected on a horses for courses strategy and on form. Competition for spots can only be a good thing.

Swinton has played at lock. That was his schoolboy position.

 

[Silverado]

Swinton has played at lock. That was his schoolboy position.

Yes. And played lock for Uni firsts straight out of school in SS

 

[Drew]

There you go. Another asset to his game.

 

[Silverado]

As I said earlier, that has Tizzano playing 80, a tough call

Usually 2 of the back row will have to play for 80 mins in a 23 man team

 

[Drew]

Always wondered the value of carrying a specialist 7 on the bench. There’s no versatility in the bench spot and usually an elite 7 rarely gets injured, whereas a reserve 6/8 can create a locking option.

 

[ForceFan]

Always wondered the value of carrying a specialist 7 on the bench. There’s no versatility in the bench spot and usually an elite 7 rarely gets injured, whereas a reserve 6/8 can create a locking option.

Surely it depends upon the game plan and the flexibility of the player.

Matt Hodgson started as a Utility Back with the WF.
Moved into the Back Row by bulking up and eventually became capable of covering all Back Row positions.

Nathan Sharpe reckons Hodgo was a secret weapon in the lineout, because of his long arms, as the opposition didn't expect Hodgo to be a reliable receiver.
Hodgo was often a target in the lineout when playing for the Wallabies for the same reason.

 

[Drew]

I’m just saying 7s are generally freaks who rarely get injured. It just seems a bit of a waste to me to use a bench spot for a specialist 7. I understand a player in the Pete Samu or Liam Wright mould as back up as they offer utility. But Tizzano barely played last season behind Hooper and Hodgson, you’d want him playing his best position all game.

 

[Jimmyjam]

Surely it depends upon the game plan and the flexibility of the player.

Matt Hodgson started as a Utility Back with the WF.
Moved into the Back Row by bulking up and eventually became capable of covering all Back Row positions.

Nathan Sharpe reckons Hodgo was a secret weapon in the lineout, because of his long arms, as the opposition didn't expect Hodgo to be a reliable receiver.
Hodgo was often a target in the lineout when playing for the Wallabies for the same reason.

Not sure where you get your info, but Matt Hodgson has never played a professional rugby game in the backs ever... Juniors, Shute shield, Waratahs and Force were all in the back row. Played 7s also as a forward.

 

[ForceFan]

Not sure where you get your info, but Matt Hodgson has never played a professional rugby game in the backs ever. Juniors, Shute shield, Waratahs and Force were all in the back row. Played 7s also as a forward.

Let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story.
The bits about his Back Row flexibility and lineout skills are correct.

 

[7137]

Let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story.
The bits about his Back Row flexibility and lineout skills are correct.

Will Miller played a lot of 6 at the Tahs too. Doesn’t mean he “played” 6, or was versatile.

 

[Braveheart81]

Always wondered the value of carrying a specialist 7 on the bench. There’s no versatility in the bench spot and usually an elite 7 rarely gets injured, whereas a reserve 6/8 can create a locking option.

I think a lot of it comes down to how you plan to finish a game with your bench if there are no injuries.

The dual 7 late in games is pretty common so that is the primary reason to carry a specialist 7 on the bench. With a 5:3 bench you are very unlikely to be planning to take your 7 off.

For the Tahs, with more experience in the other backrow positions they may decide they don't want to plan for Tizzano to be an 80 minute player from week one although it may be essential.

If you do carry a 7 on your bench you obviously need to be comfortable that one of them covers the other backrow positions and you're not going to be in trouble if you have to keep both on the field for an extended period of time.

I'd be guessing that whoever starts at 7 for the Tahs will be playing 80 minutes most weeks.

 

[Drew]

Agreed. The likes of Pete Samu or Liam Wright as loose forward replacement is better suited for the bench as they offer versatility. Will be interesting to see what the selectors go with.

 

[Braveheart81]

Once Swinton is available I'd be thinking the Tahs best 4 backrowers are Swinton, Tizzano, Dempsey and Harris and Harris is probably the bench player most games.

In round 1 I'd be looking at Dempsey, Tizzano and Harris with either Gamble or Sinclair on the bench.

 

[Drew]

Will Miller played a lot of 6 at the Tahs too. Doesn’t mean he “played” 6, or was versatile.

Yes, he did. He was a quality player, I think that was equal parts Hanigan having concussion issues and trying to get a quality competitor on the field (unfortunately Hoopiller or Mooper doesn’t have the same ring as Pooper). Gibsons tactics in those days seemed to have Hooper playing wider, which made Miller the on baller. If he’d hung around he’d probably be starting somewhere.