Depth, or lack thereof

[Gooch]

I was going to ask about Whitehead Paarl, I've heard good things about him, wondering if he'll get much game time in the top team this season?

Also just noticed the Bulls team has been named. Derick Kuun listed as number 22. Is this a typo or are they struggling that much for reserve backs?

 

[Brumbies Guy]

I was going to ask about Whitehead Paarl, I've heard good things about him, wondering if he'll get much game time in the top team this season?

Also just noticed the Bulls team has been named. Derick Kuun listed as number 22. Is this a typo or are they struggling that much for reserve backs?

I haven't seen it but usually SA lists their bench reversed to AUS/NZ. Just like their flankers numbers. So Kuun should be reserve hooker which would make sense.

 

[PaarlBok]

I was going to ask about Whitehead Paarl, I've heard good things about him, wondering if he'll get much game time in the top team this season?

Also just noticed the Bulls team has been named. Derick Kuun listed as number 22. Is this a typo or are they struggling that much for reserve backs?

The Sharks wanted Whitehead when we wanted Kyle Cooper when Liebenberg was injured. Fall flat because he dont want to play there. The Stormers have to great unis in Maties and Ikeys playing Varsity Cup and now have their best players after the competition ended. Whitehead, the Greek , Brache and Groom played a huge role in the Ikeys winning their first Varsity Cup. Pretty sure we'll lose some midfielders for the CC , simply cant accomodate them all. Know Griquas and WP have an agreement and already talented midfielders like Lawson and Stokkies Hankom plying their trade in Biltongland.

Derick Kuhn sure aint a back, hooker or flanker.

Their Vodacom team for saturday
Clayton Blommetjies, Sampie Mastriet, Stefan Watermeyer, Francois Venter, Hayden Groepes, Marnitz Boshoff, Ruan Snyman, CJ Stander, Marnus Schoeman, Okkie Kruger, Juandre Kruger (c), Mthunzi Mabeta, Stephanus Pretorius, Zane Botha, Morné Mallett. Replacements: Henri Bantjes, Corné Fourie, Cornell Hess, Jono Ross, Dustin Jinka, Wesley Dunlop, Bradley Moolman.

Realy rate Bradley Moolman, great midfielder talent for them.

 

[Tahfan]

I wonder if we'll see more coaches recruited with experience in Europe once the reality of the extended Super season hits home? Doing so would make sense, especially with with southern hemisphere coaches who already have experience with the different pace the game is played down here.

Are they planning on extending the super rugby season further? cos an extra 3 regular season games and what a total of 4 extra games for the winners (and only then if they come from 3 - 6 pos) hardly counts as an extended season...

Now if they made it a true home and away season....

 

[Tahfan]

Tahs - lack of quality depth in the backs and at hooker. Really costly. Lack of quality backup for TPN, Palu, Horne and Barnes forcing too many changes in the way the team plays. Depth not great at all. Also have issues in leadership when Waugh isn't playing.

Agreed re Waugh & Palu but not many sides have great back up at Hooker. Good to see the Tahs seem to have realised Fitzpatrick is not up to the job and brought in Ulugia. He looks raw but talented and certainly the scrum holds up a bit better with him there.

The backs are a different story. Will be interesting to see what happens next year with no Beale and no Burgess and Hickey saying they will not go for any overseas players. Think we can get used to a couple of "re-building" seasons @ Moore Park.

Reds - almost like the Highlanders. Link slots players into the backline with apparent ease and the young guys are very versatile. Sure the loss of Slipper hurt the scrums but they drag themselves through it. Cooper goes down and they are in shit but that's their only really big risk area. Prop backup still dodgy but they get through it.

Agreed Link has done a superb job. But would be interesting to see how they would handle the loss of key players like Cooper, Genia & Horwill (read Palu, Waugh and Barnes for impact on Tahs). Depth is one thing but if you lose your most key players, you are screwed plain and simple. Think Morahan has been a super find and the way he is getting the best out of Robinson and Samo is amazing. They are looking the goods so far. Canes game tonight sure to be a big test though.

Overall the introduction of the rebels this year has highlighted the talent pool issue in Australia starkly. how the Tahs would love to have Adam Frier on their roster this year and be able to give TPN a much needed rest! Long term it could well be good. But for the next few years prepare to see the resources stretched.

 

[Groucho]

Are they planning on extending the super rugby season further? cos an extra 3 regular season games and what a total of 4 extra games for the winners (and only then if they come from 3 - 6 pos) hardly counts as an extended season...

Now if they made it a true home and away season....

3 or 4 extra games certainly does count as an extended season. We're at the limit now of what players can endure without significantly increasing the injury risk. Any more and we'll have to run seriously weakened end-of-season tours like some NH nations do.

 

[Hawko]

Agreed re Waugh & Palu but not many sides have great back up at Hooker. Good to see the Tahs seem to have realised Fitzpatrick is not up to the job and brought in Ulugia. He looks raw but talented and certainly the scrum holds up a bit better with him there.

The backs are a different story. Will be interesting to see what happens next year with no Beale and no Burgess and Hickey saying they will not go for any overseas players. Think we can get used to a couple of "re-building" seasons @ Moore Park.

Agreed Link has done a superb job. But would be interesting to see how they would handle the loss of key players like Cooper, Genia & Horwill (read Palu, Waugh and Barnes for impact on Tahs). Depth is one thing but if you lose your most key players, you are screwed plain and simple. Think Morahan has been a super find and the way he is getting the best out of Robinson and Samo is amazing. They are looking the goods so far. Canes game tonight sure to be a big test though.

Overall the introduction of the rebels this year has highlighted the talent pool issue in Australia starkly. how the Tahs would love to have Adam Frier on their roster this year and be able to give TPN a much needed rest! Long term it could well be good. But for the next few years prepare to see the resources stretched.

Fitzpatrick hasn't been dumped, he's out with a (knee?) injury sustained in the captains run two weeks ago. He will be a class player, is only very young still. Needs to do some more gym work but is definitely not a discard.

Made the same comment re key player injuries in the lead up to the Reds game, only to get a torrent of abuse from you know where. How quickly people forget the back end of last season when the Reds could hardly fill a team because of injury.

Adam Freier hasn't played a game this year. I think he's gone forever. One of my favourite players, totally whole-hearted but isn't going to help anyone's depth anymore.

 

[Tahfan]

3 or 4 extra games certainly does count as an extended season. We're at the limit now of what players can endure without significantly increasing the injury risk. Any more and we'll have to run seriously weakened end-of-season tours like some NH nations do.

couldn't disagree more. If 3 or 4 were all they could endure why are so many heading to Europe where they will play 10 more again every season minimum and in some cases double (Nacewa as an example will play 32 games this season if Leinster make both finals and I think Howlett is heading to around the same for Munster)? and on the end of season tour squads, who cares? Those games are meaningless, I'd much rather experimental squads where players get a run and we breed depth at a national level.

 

[Tahfan]

Fitzpatrick hasn't been dumped, he's out with a (knee?) injury sustained in the captains run two weeks ago. He will be a class player, is only very young still. Needs to do some more gym work but is definitely not a discard.

Ooops my bad then if he is injured. Been much more impressed with Ulugia though since he has come in. Looks much more settled and ready for this level. Think they might have brought Fitzpatrick through too soon, time will tell the experience will help him if he develops but if he is only getting panned every week for not being up to it then he should be given more time to develop before being brought back. He is too young at 21 to be playing Super Rugby in the front row.

Adam Freier hasn't played a game this year. I think he's gone forever. One of my favourite players, totally whole-hearted but isn't going to help anyone's depth anymore.

Fair point. Hope he does make a comeback but agree not looking great at the moment.

 

[Scotty]

Some truth in your post Reddy but unfortunately Barnes, Palu and TPN are extremely injury prone, regardless of game plan.

I put the Reds apparent depth down to good recruitment and very good coaching. Two things the Tahs are particularly bad at.

On an aside, what do you think will happen to the Reds of Cooper goes down? Who will take over and how will they alter play? Not sure even Link has an answer to that.

Did you just call me Reddy? Crikey.

As the the answer - half of the Reds game plans have been very non Cooper esq. As we all know unless the fowards step up, the backs can't do anything, so if Cooper goes down, the Reds can still win, but probably in less style, by smaller margins, although if Harris does the kicking, then he will likely convert more.

Harris goes into flyhalf or stays at 12 and Lucas goes to flyhalf to make it two playmakers.

I think the bigger linchpin of the Reds is actually Genia.