Waratahs 2021

[Derpus]

I thought Harrison was excellent. He's small but gee he's not afraid to put a tackle on a big player and also get in over the ball when there's an opportunity.

Turner certainly didn't do himself any favours on debut. It was a tough ask but he barely laid a tackle and kept falling over.

Losing Perese then Foketi certainly hurt.

Three times he fell over, that i saw. Comical.

 

[eastman]

Not having a dig at the guy because I think any outside back would have struggled under the circumstances but surely there are some better outside backs running around then Turner, Newsome and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase)? Even Maddocks can hardly be described as strike.

 

[Braveheart81]

I agree. If they were both going to be on the field it would be at 10 and 15.

At the moment that might be our best team.

9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. Maddocks
12. Foketi
13. Perese
14. Newsome
15. Harrison

 

[Drew]

Gone are the days of getting the longer studs out if it seems a bit slippery. Also highlights the gulf between SS and Super Rugby. You’d hope he’s given another opportunity to show what he’s capable of.

 

[hifflepiff]

I reckon Turner could be good, he's absolutely rapid if you give him some space.

But he needs to put on some serious mass if he ever wants to play at this level. The physicality difference between Shute and Super is huge.

 

[Dctarget]

What happened to Perese and Foketi? Bad injuries?

 

[Drew]

Perese DNP due to groin injury, Foketi failed HIA in first half

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I guess I’m more thinking of combinations to fit those 2 in the backline. Splitting them between 10/15 is a better option than 10/12 if we were to start them both. It’s not a bad problem to have having playmaking options with edmed in the mix too.
I agree harrisons willing, he hit one guy so hard you could hear it in the coverage. Just in tandem it gives the big kiwi backs to many targets for passive defence and front foot ball. I think the scoreline would’ve been better with our best recent 12/13 combo in the backs. Still happy they showed a bit of grit after last week's effort.

What has happened to Joey Walton as his injury must me pretty severe to not seen him all season...is he due back? He was a good defender so on that alone would be welcome addition back to the 23.

Whilst I don’t like to make excuses I agree in view of last minute changes and injuries with already challenged depth issues I thought tahs did alright.

 

[Drew]

Ankle injury for Walton apparently, like you say, must be bad. We are missing Ramm too, who has a good head on his shoulders. I feel there was something in yesterday’s game that gave me hope. Having been at the canes game, to concede 10 tries to a sloppy team who kept throwing bounce passes and dropping the ball, I didn’t hold too high hopes for this week. But they seemed to put in for one another with injuries and reshuffles etc.

 

[formerflanker]

I thought Harrison was excellent. He's small but gee he's not afraid to put a tackle on a big player and also get in over the ball when there's an opportunity.

Turner certainly didn't do himself any favours on debut. It was a tough ask but he barely laid a tackle and kept falling over.

Losing Perese then Foketi certainly hurt.

I liked Turner's ability to clean up loose ball, support ball runners, and unless my memory is playing tricks I thought his defence was OK.

 

[RugbyReg]

I tried doing this last week and was shot down pretty quick but I will give it a go from last years Shute Shield and not selected for super rugby for NSW - excuse spelling

1. Jed Gillespie / Charlie Abel
2. Mahe Vailanu
3. Tim Metcher
4. Jack Margin
5. Nathan De Tuoit
6. Michael Icely
7. Christian Poidevan
8. Pat Sio
9. Harrison Goddard
10 . Rodney Iona /Angus Sinclaire
11. James Turner
12. Enoka Muliufi
13. Tautatalasi Tasi
14. Tyson Davis
15. Tim Clements

The team isn't going to win a super rugby title but I reckon they could give this weeks tahs a shot

well I guess Turner's performance on the weekend puts this whole theory to bed

 

[Drew]

well I guess Turner's performance on the weekend puts this whole theory to bed

Yeah, some of those guys had a chance. Others would benefit from training in a professional environment. It’s a big ask to debut as a starter at eden park.

 

[eastman]

Yeah, some of those guys had a chance. Others would benefit from training in a professional environment. It’s a big ask to debut as a starter at eden park.

I think Paul Cully generally gets things and he's spot on in this article - basically suggesting that Shute Shield isn't the panacea and any player needs a professional pre-season or two before they are ready for Super Rugby.

Paul Cully: Is Super Rugby Trans-Tasman finished before it started? (smh.com.au)

 

[eastman]

I liked Turner's ability to clean up loose ball, support ball runners, and unless my memory is playing tricks I thought his defence was OK.

His defence was not OK.

 

[Braveheart81]

His defence was not OK.

Can't miss a tackle if you slip over before you can get in position to attempt a tackle.

 

[eastman]

Can't miss a tackle if you slip over before you can get in position to attempt a tackle.

View attachment 12324

Marky N should definitely take note.

 

[Drew]

I think Paul Cully generally gets things and he's spot on in this article - basically suggesting that Shute Shield isn't the panacea and any player needs a professional pre-season or two before they are ready for Super Rugby.

Paul Cully: Is Super Rugby Trans-Tasman finished before it started? (smh.com.au)

Actually read the article earlier today

 

[Froggy]

Just a comment on the Tahs this season. Everyone gets injuries, and injuries to key players, but to me what's more important is who replaces your injured player.
This year, we had injuries to Walton, Harrison and Dempsey, all key players, but their replacements in Foketi, Donaldson and Harris weren't much of a step back, so not a lot was lost. On the other hand, the loss of Gordon and Ramm resulted in a huge step back in Grant and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase), and that really hurt us.
Grant does the meat and potatoes stuff okay, he's quick to the breakdown, tidy and throws a good pass, but has no running game, no kicking game and is a poor defender. Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) simply doesn't have defence in his repertoire, and doesn't like contact in general.

 

[Drew]

If someone could could show Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) how to utilise his explosive vertical leap to his defensive technique he’d be destroying people. I know it’s a big if….

 

[Blackadder]

We just need someone to point things out on the field but we have whetton to do that......