Who's your tip for 2016 Sonny?
Ok I am tipping Knox to go the 3repeat
however I think Waverley are a much better chance in 2016, to upset the Knox juggernaut
and a lot will hinge on the 1st encounter at Knox on 21 May
if Waverley can upset a Knox at home, that might be care of a Knox NZ tour, and Knox facing a full strength Joeys .... inevitable injuries?
anyway here is my thinking as to why it should be close, between Knox and Waverley in 2016:
1. Front Row ....I think Waverley will have a better front row than they had in 2015 ... Finn Wright will have matured ... less ill discipline, and Waverley simply has greater depth with the likes of Paea, Hassan and L Smith in the mix
that is however acknowledging that Knox has the incumbent CAS prop in Grindal
2.in the halves ... while I think the best CAS halves are actually in Aloys & Brook ... again I think Waverley pips Knox in this area... or at least has their measure .... while Knox's Tom Woodcock is good ... I think Waverley has some good options ... with Tyzac Jordan and Donaldson, or a Bell/Jordan combo good options
3. elsewhere in the piggies ... Knox has great players in Basson and Margin ... however again I think it is going to be a closer contest in 2016 ... with the likes of Cornish, O'Sullivan, Murphy and Szabo all very good ... and Knox will lose a lot with Swinton/Chapman a big hole to fill
4. the pretty boys ... Knox has 2 great returning backs in Bosch and Armstrong ... however the loss of speedsters Stenning & Williams is again a big hole for Knox to fill ... so I think the likes of Mohi, Fuller and Yoannidis will be better off, for last years experience
5. Tall timber ... normally Knox's strong suit ... however Waverley has good players in Drew-Morris and P Clifton ... so hoping for a more competitive line-out
so while I still think Knox go in as narrow favorites ... I think it is going to be a far closer contest in 2016 ... and as long as Waverley (backs) don't cough up as much ball as they did in 2015, then I think it will be well worth a trip to Knox on 21 May