Chiefs V Waratahs, Hamilton

[#1 Tah]

No one has started this so I may as well.

I am heading over the ditch to watch this one (as well as being at the same hotel and same flights as the Waratahs), so I am hoping for a good old fashioned thrashing.

Tahs with a bonus point.

Horne on bench.

Fat Cat starting

 

[Pfitzy]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

Chiefs forwards to target the soft Tahs pack and win in a canter once they release their faster outside backs. Tahs' season ends without the bonus point in a win over the Hurricanes that sees them miss out on the finals by one spot.

 

[Langthorne]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

Wow, there are a couple of contrasting predictions.

I think the Waratahs need to play a big forwards game. The Chiefs tend to dislike that kind of thing, plus the Chiefs defence is not all that great. They do have excellent backs, so starving them of ball (ie no aimless kicks for them to run back) is a must. Naturally the Waratahs will have to defend fantastically, and play very tidily indeed.

Can the Waratahs forwards turn it around? - I really hope so.

Horne would be a nice addition to the backline - is there any hope of that?

 

[fatprop]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

Barnes in line for chief playmaker role as Waratahs tinker with backs
RUPERT GUINNESS
May 4, 2010


CHRISTCHURCH: The Waratahs are considering switching Berrick Barnes from inside-centre to five-eighth for Saturday night's must-win game against the Chiefs in Hamilton in a bid to secure a Super 14 semi-final berth.

Barnes played in the Waratahs No. 10 jersey in rounds one and two against the Reds and Stormers with Kurtley Beale playing at inside-centre. From round three, however, team management has preferred Barnes at inside-centre and Daniel Halangahu at five-eighth, while Beale has slotted in at fullback.

But in a possible signal of their intentions for Saturday's match at the Waikato Stadium, Barnes yesterday ran at five-eighth in a reshuffled halves and centres configuration during the Waratahs' training session in Christchurch.

That included Luke Burgess at halfback and Tom Carter at inside-centre, while Rob Horne has been pencilled in at outside-centre. Horne is back from a gluteal strain, but sat out training yesterday to ensure he is fully recovered from a running session he completed on Sunday.

Kane Douglas (cut knee) and winger Drew Mitchell (lower back) also missed training yesterday, although both are expected to play on the weekend.

The possible selection overhaul among the backs could see Josh Holmes and Halangahu return to the bench to make way for Burgess and Barnes.

In addition, prop Benn Robinson will return from a fractured arm while Australian Sevens captain Pat McCutcheon, who replaced blindside breakaway Dave Dennis in the second half against the Highlanders, could also be picked at No.6 on the strength of yesterday's training run.

Still, a major back line reshuffle would be the most significant development this late in the season. Such a selection surprise could unsettle the Chiefs, who are yet to win a home game this season but came close against the Hurricanes last Saturday.

The Chiefs' attempts to do their homework on the Waratahs could be made difficult by the absence of video footage of Burgess, Barnes, Carter and Horne playing together - or, more importantly, of Barnes playing outside Burgess and inside Carter in the same combination.

There would also be a significant tactical impact from playing Barnes at No.10. The Waratahs could call on his running game more, and by playing Carter off him at No.12, the tourists could better fill the void of ball-running power created by Wycliff Palu's knee injury. Playing Horne outside Carter could boost the Waratahs attack out wide, where most of their tries have been scored.

The Waratahs selectors are yet to name their side for Saturday, despite a 90-minute meeting on Sunday. They will meet again tonight after another, more intense training session that will include contact work. It will give them time to consider their options and reassess the fitness of a number of players, including Horne and Robinson.

Horne, who joined the Waratahs with Robinson on Saturday night, said yesterday he felt good after running six laps at medium pace at the team's Christchurch base on Sunday. ''I wouldn't be here if I didn't feel pretty confident [of playing],'' he said.

Loose-head prop Robinson, meanwhile, took part in two training sessions yesterday - an afternoon team run and a scrum session in the morning.

''We did 10 or so set-ups with full tension and full grip on,'' Robinson said. ''I passed that with flying colours. We did the scrum machine and three-on-three scrummaging as well to see my grip under pressure. It's good to come back ready to go and to help the guys 100 per cent.''

 

[Langthorne]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

I was just about to post that article - I think it is very promising.

Halagahu would probably have been the conservative choice at 10, but I think that Barnes at his best is much better than Halangahu at his best....and we just have to hope he is at his best. Carter is best at 12 and Horne is a welcome change at 13.

I still think the forwards will be key, although I am less concerned about a big mismatch in the backs (apart from Burgess/Holmes giving generally slow and inaccurate service compared to other 9s in the comp)

 

[Hawko]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

Wow, there are a couple of contrasting predictions.

I think the Waratahs need to play a big forwards game. The Chiefs tend to dislike that kind of thing, plus the Chiefs defence is not all that great. They do have excellent backs, so starving them of ball (ie no aimless kicks for them to run back) is a must. Naturally the Waratahs will have to defend fantastically, and play very tidily indeed.

Can the Waratahs forwards turn it around? - I really hope so.

Horne would be a nice addition to the backline - is there any hope of that?

Absolutely dismayed that coaching staff are fluffing around with backline changes this week. The only change I would make is to put Caldwell on a plane to stiffen up the forwards. After last Friday, the week has to be all about the forwards redeeming themselves and learning again how to monster another pack. Dennis had a poor game last week but six others did too. Only TPN can hold his head up and even he was down by his high standards.

According to Guiness, Horne ran six laps at medium pace and is therefore ready to play on the weekend. Forty reps X 40m flat out would impress me but six laps at half pace and then sitting out training the next day certainly does not! Although if Carter plays 12, Horne won't touch the ball anyway.

I have a bad feeling about this week.

 

[Spook]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

Bit of a worry that 9, 10, 12 have been changing a lot - and not through injury.

 

[Lindommer]

Absolutely dismayed that coaching staff are fluffing around with backline changes this week. The only change I would make is to put Caldwell on a plane to stiffen up the forwards.

According to Guinness, Horne ran six laps at medium pace and is therefore ready to play on the weekend....Although if Carter plays 12, Horne won't touch the ball anyway. I have a bad feeling about this week.

Ditto. Ducker Caldwell has added some grunt to the pigs every time he's gone on this year. It'd be safe to presume he'd have some difficulty seeing out 80 mins of a Super game considering his recent illness but I'd have him first man on the bench. But Carter? WTF! The Tahs should be shooting for a bonus point here and they pick Superglue Tom at 12! He's the perfect player to close out a close match when in front but he's simply not creative enough to help the Tahs score four tries. We can only hope Barnes puts up a few of his specials for the outside backs to latch on to or throws cutout passes to Horne all day.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Although if Carter plays 12, Horne won't touch the ball anyway.

But Carter? WTF! The Tahs should be shooting for a bonus point here and they pick Superglue Tom at 12! He's the perfect player to close out a close match when in front but he's simply not creative enough to help the Tahs score four tries. We can only hope Barnes puts up a few of his specials for the outside backs to latch on to or throws cutout passes to Horne all day.

And would either of you like to tell us exactly how many times the ball was passed from 12 to 13 last week?

Or comment on how often the ball has gone through the hands to the wingers this season? And the jersey number of the player overwhelmingly responsible for the ball not getting wide other than off the boot?

 

[Biffo]

Although if Carter plays 12, Horne won't touch the ball anyway.

But Carter? WTF! The Tahs should be shooting for a bonus point here and they pick Superglue Tom at 12! He's the perfect player to close out a close match when in front but he's simply not creative enough to help the Tahs score four tries. We can only hope Barnes puts up a few of his specials for the outside backs to latch on to or throws cutout passes to Horne all day.

And would either of you like to tell us exactly how many times the ball was passed from 12 to 13 last week?

Or comment on how often the ball has gone through the hands to the wingers this season? And the jersey number of the player overwhelmingly responsible for the ball not getting wide other than off the boot?

I shall try.

0
very, very few (<5)
12

 

[Groucho]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

Barnes at 10 merely means the ball gets kicked one pass sooner. The Tahs could have Beelzebub at 12 for all the difference it would make. This is a profoundly defensive alignment, sensible perhaps if they had won last week and were defending a table position, but even then not.

 

[Ash]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

Someone needs to tell Barnes that when he thinks he should kick, to pass or run. And then if he still thinks he should kick, then to pass or run. And if he still thinks he should kick, then he should pass or run.

 

[the gambler]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

When Barnes has had Horne outside him he has largely passed it to him. When he has had Carter outside he has kicked. I dont blame him

 

[fatprop]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

When Barnes has had Horne outside him he has largely passed it to him. When he has had Carter outside he has kicked. I dont blame him

:lmao: damn accurate analysis, I like Barnes trying to get Carter to run different lines and the dazed oblivious look on Carter's face as he gets there an hour too late

 

[Biffo]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

When Barnes has had Horne outside him he has largely passed it to him. When he has had Carter outside he has kicked. I dont blame him

:lmao: damn accurate analysis, I like Barnes trying to get Carter to run different lines and the dazed oblivious look on Carter's face as he gets there an hour too late

I am not a Carter basher. I must say that I admire his application.

I did get a big laugh, however, from someone's comment to the effect that "now we have video of Tom Carter being outrun by an assistant referee"

 

[the gambler]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

When Barnes has had Horne outside him he has largely passed it to him. When he has had Carter outside he has kicked. I dont blame him

:lmao: damn accurate analysis, I like Barnes trying to get Carter to run different lines and the dazed oblivious look on Carter's face as he gets there an hour too late

Bif is it you that makes those avatar thingys? Although I have them turned off in my settings I would love to have that clip where Barnes blows up at Carter for not running into the gap he had opened up early in the season.

 

[Biffo]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

When Barnes has had Horne outside him he has largely passed it to him. When he has had Carter outside he has kicked. I dont blame him

:lmao: damn accurate analysis, I like Barnes trying to get Carter to run different lines and the dazed oblivious look on Carter's face as he gets there an hour too late

Bif is it you that makes those avatar thingys? Although I have them turned off in my settings I would love to have that clip where Barnes blows up at Carter for not running into the gap he had opened up early in the season.

Sorry, not me. I wish it was. I'd like to have an avatar of someone biffing someone but I'm a computer idjit.

I'd like to see the clip you mention.

 

[Pfitzy]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

The Tahs could have Beelzebub at 12 for all the difference it would make.

Hell of a tackler though.

 

[Biffo]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

The Tahs could have Beelzebub at 12 for all the difference it would make.

Hell of a tackler though.

Drags 'em down

 

[Bruce Ross]

Re: Cheifs V Waratahs, Hamilton

When Barnes has had Horne outside him he has largely passed it to him. When he has had Carter outside he has kicked. I dont blame him

:lmao: damn accurate analysis, I like Barnes trying to get Carter to run different lines and the dazed oblivious look on Carter's face as he gets there an hour too late

"When Barnes has had Horne outside him he has largely passed it to him." Has he? One of us has a very defective memory.

"Barnes trying to get Carter to run different lines and the dazed oblivious look on Carter's face as he gets there an hour too late" And we all know how many times that happened. Just once all season. And I challenge you to demonstrate otherwise.