TheRiddler
Dave Cowper (27)
NTA said:
Are you being supportive of our patron? Oh Nick, you've changed. What's happened? Bundy run dry this weekend?
#1 Tah said:
Highlanders v Waratahs. Invercargill.
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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Are you being supportive of our patron? Oh Nick, you've changed. What's happened? Bundy run dry this weekend?
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Agree with the #1 Tah team except for:
Mckibbin for 9 with Burgess on the bench. I'd like to see if someone can throw quickly and accurately to 10, the current two can't/won't.
Caldwell to start for this match with Mumm to 6 and Mowen to the bench. Only for this game but we need forward grunt against the Highlanders and Caldwell gives us that. Mowen to run at them for the last 20 minutes. Alcock to play 20 minutes too, with Mumm moving forward for Douglas to rest. If we are well in front, Alcock gives Waugh an early mark, if not then Dennis.
And that team does give me confidence. This is the Highlanders, not the Stormers/Bulls. If the key back players stand up then this is a five point week.
My only reservation is if TPN and Robbo are not fit then we are off to the juniors for reserves, and that's a bit scary.
Hickey is totally to blame on a number of counts:
1. He does not understand that this is a tough competition physically and you have to use your bench fully most weeks and you need to rotate players early on so that when injuries occur you are not bringing in people with no game time. McCafferey has had seven minutes, McKibbin zero despite his good junior form, Palmer less than 20 mins, Sidey less than 20 mins, Caldwell not much either and Alcock one very good game.
2. Hickey is head coach. He must have had the final say on Kepu vs Palmer. And he chose Kepu. No coach has made a dumber decision all year.
3. The gameplan for the 9's must be Hickey's design. No other coach would have the 9 running sideways every play, its ludicrous.
4. Its Hickeys gameplan to kick all the time. Even Waugh said in the post match interview that we kicked the ball away too much.
I could go on but I won't. But we still will beat the Highlanders, there's too much class in the team not to. And we can still win the comp this year, but things must change for us to do it.
Mckibbin for 9 with Burgess on the bench. I'd like to see if someone can throw quickly and accurately to 10, the current two can't/won't.
Caldwell to start for this match with Mumm to 6 and Mowen to the bench. Only for this game but we need forward grunt against the Highlanders and Caldwell gives us that. Mowen to run at them for the last 20 minutes. Alcock to play 20 minutes too, with Mumm moving forward for Douglas to rest. If we are well in front, Alcock gives Waugh an early mark, if not then Dennis.
And that team does give me confidence. This is the Highlanders, not the Stormers/Bulls. If the key back players stand up then this is a five point week.
My only reservation is if TPN and Robbo are not fit then we are off to the juniors for reserves, and that's a bit scary.
Hickey is totally to blame on a number of counts:
1. He does not understand that this is a tough competition physically and you have to use your bench fully most weeks and you need to rotate players early on so that when injuries occur you are not bringing in people with no game time. McCafferey has had seven minutes, McKibbin zero despite his good junior form, Palmer less than 20 mins, Sidey less than 20 mins, Caldwell not much either and Alcock one very good game.
2. Hickey is head coach. He must have had the final say on Kepu vs Palmer. And he chose Kepu. No coach has made a dumber decision all year.
3. The gameplan for the 9's must be Hickey's design. No other coach would have the 9 running sideways every play, its ludicrous.
4. Its Hickeys gameplan to kick all the time. Even Waugh said in the post match interview that we kicked the ball away too much.
I could go on but I won't. But we still will beat the Highlanders, there's too much class in the team not to. And we can still win the comp this year, but things must change for us to do it.
P
PhucNgo
Guest
Hawko said:
Hawko you have got to be dreamin'. The Tahs are shot birds and getting shotter. There's nothing left in the tank and they've adopted a trench warfare approach as their only means of staying in touch. Without Palu and TPN carting the ball up they really offer nothing. Look at last Saturday, there was not one forward in motion when they received the ball. FFS even Waugh was being used as a runner - and being smashed into the middle of next week. Attacking potency of the backline is zip. Horne and Beale are their only threats apart from the odd occasion when one of the wings can find the ball from a Barnes kick.
Tahs have not much going for them against the Highlanders whose big pack will contest the ball at the breakdown and reduce the game to a slogfest.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
I agree we can't win the comp playing as we are, we probably won't make the four. But we have only lost Palu for the season and we have some fine players left who need to be unleashed. Last year with three rounds to go we changed the way we were playing and won all three games in SA and just missed the finals. This year with three relatively easy matches to go we are only one point out of the four with the top three all playing each other.
We need to change the gameplan back to that we used in the first half against the Bulls and learn to use our bench and squad properly. That means the coach has to change his thinking. Its our only chance.
We need to change the gameplan back to that we used in the first half against the Bulls and learn to use our bench and squad properly. That means the coach has to change his thinking. Its our only chance.
NSW Waratahs team named on Tuesday to play the Highlanders in the Super 14 rugby match in Invercargill:
Kurtley Beale,
Lachie Turner,
Tom Carter,
Berrick Barnes,
Drew Mitchell,
Daniel Halangahu,
Josh Holmes,
Ben Mowen,
Phil Waugh (capt),
Dave Dennis,
Kane Douglas,
Dean Mumm,
Al Baxter,
Tatafu Polota-Nau,
Dan Palmer.
Reserves:
Damien Fitzpatrick,
Jeremy Tilse,
Chris Thomson,
Patrick McCutcheon,
Luke Burgess,
Rory Sidey,
Sosene Anesi.
Kurtley Beale,
Lachie Turner,
Tom Carter,
Berrick Barnes,
Drew Mitchell,
Daniel Halangahu,
Josh Holmes,
Ben Mowen,
Phil Waugh (capt),
Dave Dennis,
Kane Douglas,
Dean Mumm,
Al Baxter,
Tatafu Polota-Nau,
Dan Palmer.
Reserves:
Damien Fitzpatrick,
Jeremy Tilse,
Chris Thomson,
Patrick McCutcheon,
Luke Burgess,
Rory Sidey,
Sosene Anesi.
#1 Tah
Chilla Wilson (44)
TPN in
Alcock is 23rd man.
we should make it. Hickey is building up his play on a long term, notice the play was better this year then last. combine that with the fact that we are retaining most/all of our key players for next year, things point to a brighter future, like a premiership under Hickey. IT IS POSSIBLE
Alcock is 23rd man.
we should make it. Hickey is building up his play on a long term, notice the play was better this year then last. combine that with the fact that we are retaining most/all of our key players for next year, things point to a brighter future, like a premiership under Hickey. IT IS POSSIBLE
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
#1 Tah said:
Any decent analysis of this year would have him fired at the end of the season despite what his contract says. I suspect this comment is a wind-up?
If Topo is right Alcock should make a great reserve hooker. :lmao:
Seriously... can someone with inside knowledge list who of those that are not selected are injured, what the injuries are and how long before they are back.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Thanks Topo.
On Caldwell I need to review the tape. I thought our last 15 minutes (when he was on) was relatively better than the middle 40, especially scrum time. Didn't see what got him canned.
I guess McCaffrey and Alcock must be playing badly in Shute and McCutcheon going well? What do those who have seen them think. I know McCutcheon's sevens form was excellent.
From the Tah website McKibbin apparently had a blinder against Randwick in Shute. Anyone there have a comment?
On Caldwell I need to review the tape. I thought our last 15 minutes (when he was on) was relatively better than the middle 40, especially scrum time. Didn't see what got him canned.
I guess McCaffrey and Alcock must be playing badly in Shute and McCutcheon going well? What do those who have seen them think. I know McCutcheon's sevens form was excellent.
From the Tah website McKibbin apparently had a blinder against Randwick in Shute. Anyone there have a comment?
Langthorne
Phil Hardcastle (33)
I think you have it covered Hawko:
-fringe players have not been given enough game time
-the workload of the starting 15 has not been well managed
-off season recruitment was sadly misdirected
-a few injuries and the situation now looks very shaky
as a result the team looks to be going back into its shell, although Barnes and Beale have been gradually improving by the week.
Realistically, all the Tahs need to definitely make the 4 is to win every game, with bonus points determining the exact place they end up in.
Of course it will be to little avail if they don't have the game to beat the other teams (apart from the Reds) in the 4.
-fringe players have not been given enough game time
-the workload of the starting 15 has not been well managed
-off season recruitment was sadly misdirected
-a few injuries and the situation now looks very shaky
as a result the team looks to be going back into its shell, although Barnes and Beale have been gradually improving by the week.
Realistically, all the Tahs need to definitely make the 4 is to win every game, with bonus points determining the exact place they end up in.
Of course it will be to little avail if they don't have the game to beat the other teams (apart from the Reds) in the 4.
P
PhucNgo
Guest
#1 Tah said:
Stop drinking the water. :frans
Langthorne said:
The only real mistake was Sidey, who just hasn't stepped up, but I would assume that the Tahs managment expected to have Tahu to cover 13 as well.
So Andrew Smith leaves for opportunities and Tahu suddenly runs away; and we are down two 13s and buy one who hasn't stepped up to cover for a super talented crock.
Carter does what he does, but he ain't the dynamic 13 cover we need.
P
PhucNgo
Guest
fatprop said:
And meanwhile in the West, Mitch Inman is ripping it up! :angryfire:
And before you think it Mr Hickey, don't go there. If the Tahs are in any way linked with overtures to one M Gasnier it will be proof positive that they are absolutely clueless when it comes to talent identification. Should they actually procure the services of said, I for one will be queuing for Rebels tickets.
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