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Dick Tooth (41)
He's trying the old deflection strategy. Lets see if it pays off.
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He's trying the old deflection strategy. Lets see if it pays off.
T
TOCC
Guest
what humors me is that this thread was started by what im presuming is a NSW forumer based on the Sydney Uni chat(regardless its a rather valid point), yet it has turned into having a dig at Anthony Fainga'a..
Yep, and us QLD fans are the overly parochial ones.... hmmm
Next you will be telling me that Phil Waugh was gracious in defeat!
Yep, and us QLD fans are the overly parochial ones.... hmmm
Next you will be telling me that Phil Waugh was gracious in defeat!
A
Alex-A
Guest
The biggest issue is Ryan Cross. Hangers and Carter will never lose a match. Ryan Cross has lost his best weapon... his explosiveness. he has never been a creative style player, he WAS a hard runner but now takes his body too high into contact, and doesnt have the pace to make a line break. I blame him for Turners lack of impact this season. How many touches has LT had this year??? we all know he can play but he has not had the oppourtunities. I would love to see Hickey promote a young guy to 13. there has never been a more appropriate time to take the risk... if you can even call it a risk!
AussieDominance
Trevor Allan (34)
Im telling you Tim Bennetts from Eastwood is the answer at 13. Runs the ball hard and the ball actually gets to the wing sometimes because he can pass the ball....
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
Really??
How many minutes has Cross played at 13 this year? How many times has he received the ball in a backline movement? It's a little tricky to give your wingers good service when the guy inside you can't run & pass at the same time.
Scarfman
Knitter of the Scarf
This always happens after a loss. What if Carter's - yes, Carter! - try had been allowed? Or at least the Tahs got the scrum put-in and got a penalty try?
We'd all be praising Waugh's tactics, we'd be saying what a big difference Waugh and Carter make to the team, etc etc.
We all know what Carter can and can't do.
We'd all be praising Waugh's tactics, we'd be saying what a big difference Waugh and Carter make to the team, etc etc.
We all know what Carter can and can't do.
Cross and Hangers aren't the worst back ups in this comp whilst Carter is standard starting 12. Not as good as some, better than others. Carter is as good as Anthony Fainga'a at 12, but not as good as Giteau and Mortlock.
Hickey tried to increase the depth of the centres by bringing in an experienced back up in Cross and a young up and comer in Bracken-Henry. Unfortunately Bracken Henry hasn't even got on the field due to being wounded, but the theory was right. With Horne's proclivity for getting wounded it made sense to add an experienced back up and a youngling.
As for Bennetts, on his play last year he wasn't up to S15 level - yet.
Hickey tried to increase the depth of the centres by bringing in an experienced back up in Cross and a young up and comer in Bracken-Henry. Unfortunately Bracken Henry hasn't even got on the field due to being wounded, but the theory was right. With Horne's proclivity for getting wounded it made sense to add an experienced back up and a youngling.
As for Bennetts, on his play last year he wasn't up to S15 level - yet.
rugbysmartarse
Alan Cameron (40)
So what's the backline this week? Burgess, hangers, turner Carter cross Kingston Beale? or will hickey try to keep KB (Kurtley Beale) at 10 and bring in anesi?
G
GC
Guest
I'd be interested to see if any non Tah or Reds supporters rate Carter anywhere near Fainga'a. Deans obviously doesn't (which probably doesn't mean much to many). Having said that, Carter isn't a terrible 12, particuraly i think with a 10 with a good cutout pass. Carter could run inside lines and doesn't have to be involved with the ball heading out to the wing. Cross isn't up to standard though. Kingston is worth a shot.
Finding a 10 with a decent tactical aweness and pass should be critical for the Tahs.
A freshly minted 10-Barnes-Horne combo would be ideal for next year. Carter would be an ok reserve.
Finding a 10 with a decent tactical aweness and pass should be critical for the Tahs.
A freshly minted 10-Barnes-Horne combo would be ideal for next year. Carter would be an ok reserve.
Slash
Bill Watson (15)
Not me Scarfy. Waugh is an old man who has held on for far too long. The first thing Deans did when he got the gig was tell Waugh and the ARU that the ARU wont top up his contract. The Tahs should have the balls then to put him out to pasture and offer the $350K they pay Waugh to Pocock who was 18 or 19 at the time. Now they are stuck with him, he was instrumental in Link getting the flick, and he is way too powerful in terms of selections and game plans etc. Because of this, he will retire when he is ready, not when it is best for the team. It will all be on his terms now. And the major concern is that there is NO succession plan for when he does leave. Link had Beau Robinson lined up to take over and Waugh stonewalled that one. They had Alcock but Waugh was threatened and set him back. They are using McCutcheon on Waugh's approval only coz he's a Uni player. Pocock is locked in over the west so I suggest they work on getting Colby Fainga'a or even Michael Hooper back to his home state. They both cant start at Brumbies and would be good value to invest some time in their dvelopment. Another user made mention of the rush by the Tahs to sign school leavers on 1 year deals and not have the patience to stick with them for 4 or 5 years. I couldnt agree more. They have let players like Warea-Hargraves, Steve Mafi, Dan Palmer etc slip through the cracks in recent times. And it goes back further than that as we all know. It will continue to hurt them for as long as Waugh is there.
In the end, Phil Waugh runs that province, Hickey and Co just front the media pre match!
JimboJoe1006
Chris McKivat (8)
Individually, Cross and Halangahu are star club rugby players, and sub-par 'Super' rugby players. Although, do a decent enough job as third-string players (Barnes, Beale at 10. Horne, B-Henry at 13). I feel Carter is of at least an average 'Super' rugby standard 12.
I would not wish to ever see that combination used, as it lacks any exciting talent or decent experience. Over the past year or two, NSW has really fallen behind in it's development. In regards to outside-centre, I would put both Kingston and Bennetts ahead of Cross at the moment. In addition, perhaps it is time NSW develop their first decent 10 in the professional era?
I would not wish to ever see that combination used, as it lacks any exciting talent or decent experience. Over the past year or two, NSW has really fallen behind in it's development. In regards to outside-centre, I would put both Kingston and Bennetts ahead of Cross at the moment. In addition, perhaps it is time NSW develop their first decent 10 in the professional era?
A
Alex-A
Guest
I think we are trying to say the same thing. It sounded clearer in my head!
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Out of interest, who have been the 'decent 10s' in the professional era? .i.e, better than Beale for example.
JimboJoe1006
Chris McKivat (8)
Fair point. Just at the moment, ACT has Giteau, QLD has Cooper and Barnes, a few weeks ago QLD/WA's development of JOC (James O'Connor) had many suggesting him as first-choice 10 for Australia. Add to this, Larkham and Flatley. Even Kafer and Horan can be suggested as far greater than "decent" 'playmakers' - than NSW-mold of inside centres - Grey; Turinui or Carter.
Beale's development is very interesting, yet long discussion. To cut it short, despite achieving reasonable individual and team success at 10 in his first year out of school, Waratah's development of Beale is highly debatable. Until mid-last year, there was alot of discussion on a similar forum suggesting, to the effect of, Beale is a terrible no.10. Recently, his good performances at 10, are no doubt due to the confidence and skills he has gained over the past 12 months playing fullback. Let us not forget that it was Australia, not NSW, who moved Beale out wide first.
From a purely development perspective, and to stay on topic, how much more successful would Beale's development thus far have been, if at all, had he played for another Australia team, or perhaps, hypothetically, should he have grown up in NZ?
Gooch
Fred Wood (13)
I'm not a big fan of Carter, but I'd say he is doing alot more for the Tahs than Cross. Cross, IMHO, should not be near a Super 15 team, Hickey must have been on some mushy's when he agreed to sign him. I don't think he has the skill set (as Dingo would say) to be a top level 13 these days. His hands aren't good (better than the start of the season), his expolsiveness, or speed even, isn't on show and his decision making is terrible. I would like to think the new coach of the Tahs would look to improve their 5/8 (or back up 5/8, depending on BB) and outside centre could have a positive input to their attack. Kingston seems a likely lad, and Carter with a fit Horne could be a good centre combo if it ever happens.
Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
The Waratahs have him listed at 190cm and 90kg which looks about right to me. He is only 19 but if he were doing his S & C at his club, Uni, instead of with the 'Tahs, he would probably be playing at least 5kg heavier given his height and frame.
Jnor
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Those stats surprise me a little, I would have guessed ~180cm and 85 wringing wet. Still, if they're true and he's actually a centre rather than a wing, get him in at 13 for Cross ASAP.
I can only think it'd be hard enough to start playing Super rugby at 19, let alone out of position but I'm not a back and I've never played rugby at that level, so what would I know?
I can only think it'd be hard enough to start playing Super rugby at 19, let alone out of position but I'm not a back and I've never played rugby at that level, so what would I know?
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