Absent Friend
Peter Burge (5)
The Tahs 2015 "team poster" shows 33 players. downloadable from web site
Waratahs 2015
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gowaratahs
Sydney Middleton (9)
http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad.aspx
Do you mean this "poster" or is there a team shot already? There's only 31 here, but no sign of Lousi nor Kellaway.
I agree we had 37 either contracted, or EPS, or as injury replacement in 2014. The six missing from the website are Douglas, Alofa, Crawford, Hodge, Lucas, Peterson - and with Lousi and Kellaway coming in - yup - that leaves just a couple of spots if we're assuming a 35-man squad.
3rd halfback is important (agree with Faleali'i as 3rd pick) which would make a 19/15 mix of forwards and backs - the split was 20/17 last year so that last spot could go either way (as 4 backs didn't even get a run last year). Elsom at 6 would allow Lousi to be brought in slowly as long as Dennis played lock. With Hoiles, Gray, Holloway and Chapman in the squad, there's plenty opportunity to give the test players a lighter run through to RWC.
Serious about Elsom though - anyone know much about his plans?
Do you mean this "poster" or is there a team shot already? There's only 31 here, but no sign of Lousi nor Kellaway.
I agree we had 37 either contracted, or EPS, or as injury replacement in 2014. The six missing from the website are Douglas, Alofa, Crawford, Hodge, Lucas, Peterson - and with Lousi and Kellaway coming in - yup - that leaves just a couple of spots if we're assuming a 35-man squad.
3rd halfback is important (agree with Faleali'i as 3rd pick) which would make a 19/15 mix of forwards and backs - the split was 20/17 last year so that last spot could go either way (as 4 backs didn't even get a run last year). Elsom at 6 would allow Lousi to be brought in slowly as long as Dennis played lock. With Hoiles, Gray, Holloway and Chapman in the squad, there's plenty opportunity to give the test players a lighter run through to RWC.
Serious about Elsom though - anyone know much about his plans?
There's a poster in the Kids Zone section of the website that has 33 players (the 31 in the team squad section plus Kellaway and Lousi).
I think Faleali'i will make 34 players and if I was them I'd sign another back and it would be Jim Stewart in the 35th spot.
I'd say Elsom is a thousand to one shot to be back at the Tahs. We have a ton of backrowers and if there was any thought of it happening I'm sure we'd have heard rumours.
If they can bring a 36th in as a foreign development player, maybe Kuate will get a contract (or maybe already has one).
I think Faleali'i will make 34 players and if I was them I'd sign another back and it would be Jim Stewart in the 35th spot.
I'd say Elsom is a thousand to one shot to be back at the Tahs. We have a ton of backrowers and if there was any thought of it happening I'm sure we'd have heard rumours.
If they can bring a 36th in as a foreign development player, maybe Kuate will get a contract (or maybe already has one).
Absent Friend
Peter Burge (5)
Download the 2015 team poster
Get ready for the 2015 Super Rugby season by downloading our brand new team poster, featuring some well-known stars as well as a few new faces!
Get ready for the 2015 Super Rugby season by downloading our brand new team poster, featuring some well-known stars as well as a few new faces!
T
TOCC
Guest
I think lock could be an area of weakness for the Tahs in 2015, they are really going to be reliant on Dennis in the line-outs.. We witnessed it a few times in 2014 where the Tahs struggles at the line out, it could be worse in 2015 with Douglas gone and Skelton getting more game time..
Who are the line out options?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Who are the line out options?
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T
TOCC
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Chapman's a great lineout option, but that is his specialist skill.. The remainder of his skill-set doesn't really demand a starting position.
If Palu isn't playing then i guess Tala Gray could offer a better option at number 8.. But again not your preferred starter.
If Palu isn't playing then i guess Tala Gray could offer a better option at number 8.. But again not your preferred starter.
Gillys_ghost
Dave Cowper (27)
One thing the tahs proved last year is that a strong set piece isnt needed to win a super rugby title. Theoretically this team would be good
1. Robinson 2. Polota-Nau 3. Kepu 4. Potgeiter 5. Skelton
6. Elsom/ Hoiles 7. Hooper 8. Palu 9. Phipps 10. Foley
11. Naiyavoro/ Betham 12. Beale 13. Ashley-Cooper 14. Horne 15. Folau
16. Latu 17. Ryan 18. Tilse 19. Holloway/ Lousi 20. Dennis/Gray 21. Mckibbon 22. Lance 23. Kellaway
Its tough i think, dennis is needed for the line-out so he will be in the starting line-up for sure especially since hes still captain but an in-form elsom or hoiles of last season are better at pretty much everything else i think
1. Robinson 2. Polota-Nau 3. Kepu 4. Potgeiter 5. Skelton
6. Elsom/ Hoiles 7. Hooper 8. Palu 9. Phipps 10. Foley
11. Naiyavoro/ Betham 12. Beale 13. Ashley-Cooper 14. Horne 15. Folau
16. Latu 17. Ryan 18. Tilse 19. Holloway/ Lousi 20. Dennis/Gray 21. Mckibbon 22. Lance 23. Kellaway
Its tough i think, dennis is needed for the line-out so he will be in the starting line-up for sure especially since hes still captain but an in-form elsom or hoiles of last season are better at pretty much everything else i think
gowaratahs
Sydney Middleton (9)
Correct, he's certainly not. Just a bit of far-flung conjecture based on sparse facts and coincidence, and a desire to see him dominate as he did at his peak.
As observed we're already bristling with loose forwards, and sticking their heads between bums to make up the numbers in the lock - though 2 points remain at the back of my mind:
(1) it would appear TGC's fanaticism for fit players had a positive effect on player injuries in 2014, though I wonder if we can maintain that low attrition rate in 2015; and
(2) this is a RWC year, and it is conceivable that the national coach will want to preserve the players he expects to need at year's end (esp. Palu, and possibly others).
Despite the depth of loosies (incl. those posing as locks), I'm expecting to see more rotation than the stability we had last year. I'm still interested in what Elsom's up to, if anyone knows...
agreed, but as a bench option he can supply some quality minutes and rugby is now as much about the bench as it is about the starters. especially with Skelton unlikely to be playing more than 50 minutes that other 30 will need to be filled
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
can he even jog these days?
I reckon we could see Chapman and Skelton starting at lock at the beginning of the season and Chapman and Potgieter there with Skelton on the bench as the season progresses. That is on the basis of Potgieter only arriving right before the season kicks off.
The major things that will affect that is how Dave Dennis goes returning from injury and whether he is a viable option at lock and how Sam Lousi goes.
I tend to think Chapman will be an important part of our forward pack this year due to his lineout strength.
The major things that will affect that is how Dave Dennis goes returning from injury and whether he is a viable option at lock and how Sam Lousi goes.
I tend to think Chapman will be an important part of our forward pack this year due to his lineout strength.
G
Gold Nugget
Guest
I think that Hugh Roach is a better option at hooker than Latu . He is more versatile player all round , about time Cheika picks him on the bench & give him game time
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