Junior Waratahs squad for Fiji

[domestica]

HSBC JUNIOR WARATAHS SQUAD
2008 Development Tour of Fiji
Backs: Ben Batger (Eastwood), Kurtley Beale (Northern Suburbs), Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University), Ed Jenkins (Sydney University)/John Sinisa (West Harbour), Mitch Inman (Sydney University), Rowan Kellam (Eastwood), Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Randwick), Sam Norton-Knight (Northern Suburbs), Nathan Sievert (Sydney University), Andrew Smith (Northern Suburbs), Jeremy Su'a (Penrith), David Tautaiolefue (West Harbour).

Forwards: Will Caldwell (Sydney University), Ben Coridas (Eastwood), Kane Douglas (Southern Districts), Ofa Fainga'anuku (Gordon), Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood), Elvis Levi (Penrith), Steve Mafi (Parramatta), Rob McMicken (Eastern Suburbs), Ben Mowen (Randwick), Dan Palmer (Southern Districts), Beau Robinson (Warringah), Chris Thomson (Northern Suburbs), Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University).

Not considered due to injury - Horne, Carter, Carraro, Dennis (will he ever be fit?)

Nice to see some token Penrith players included. Although Su'a is probably there on merit. Luke Irwin unlucky to miss out? Also would have had Nathan Charles in there but either way I'm glad Al Manning is finally out of our system.

Possible strongest XV
1. Ofa Fainga'anuku
2. Damien Fitzpatrick
3. Dan Palmer
4. Will Caldwell
5. Chris Thomson/Kane Douglas (I don't rate Thomson. Al Campbell reincarnated)
6. Ben Coridas
7. Beau Robinson
8. Ben Mowen
9. Nathan Sievert
10. Kurtley Beale
11. Ratu Nasiganiyavi
12. Daniel Halangahu
13. Andrew Smith :-X
14. Ed Jenkins
15. SNK

Thoughts?

 

[RugbyReg]

Why no Jerry Y? I assume he murdered someone during the Aus A campaign and thus won't tour again? Or has he declared his allegiences OS?

 

[formeropenside]

Why no Jerry Y? I assume he murdered someone during the Aus A campaign and thus won't tour again? Or has he declared his allegiences OS?

Tilse the superprop got Jerry Y's spot I imagine.

 

[naza]

Fiji won't know what's hit them.

Irwin ? Geez, he's not up to much.

I'd take Anton Levin over Inman any day of the week.

I love that Penriff provide more talent to the squad than Manly.

I reckon a couple of selections (Sievert, Tilse) is about seeing if the guys already signed up are worth holding onto.

 

[domestica]

Why no Jerry Y? I assume he murdered someone during the Aus A campaign and thus won't tour again? Or has he declared his allegiences OS?

I think you'll find that he has been poached by the Brumbies. Nathan Charles too I believe.

Fiji won't know what's hit them.

Irwin ? Geez, he's not up to much.

I'd take Anton Levin over Inman any day of the week.

I love that Penriff provide more talent to the squad than Manly.

Irwin came good towards the end of the season. But yeah...not a lot of decent scrumhalves going around at club level that haven't already been picked up.
Agree re: LaVin. Even Tommy Azar would have been a better option than Inman.

 

[fatprop]

How has Rowan Kellam been going with Eastwood?

 

[naza]

Poached ? We can say goodbye to any dream of him becoming a respectable prop then. Ah, the Tahs are drowning in looseheads.

At least Tom Azar is the best of the Azars !

 

[RugbyReg]

Dom, is that right? Good for them. Behind Ben Alexander I guess. Pity he didn't go west.

And Charles the hooker? Phew I was worried about the Brumbies hooking depth should Moore, Edmonds and Ulugia all get in a car accident on the way to training.

 

[formeropenside]

Thats actually a few reasonable props at the Brums next year then: Shep, Henderson, Ma'afu, Alexander and now J-Y. Not to mention Ulugia the former prop now cross training as hooker.

 

[Ash]

What happened to Nic Haydon?

 

[the gambler]

Haydon was with the Brumbies last year. Assume he is still there.

Does Batger have a contract for next year? Last chance saloon if he doesnt.

Least Inman is only 19/20. Azar and Lavin are probably past the point where you could say a year or two and they might come good.

We have been saying it all year but 2nd row depth is going to be a huge problem.

Does anyone know anything about Elvis or Rob McMicken?

 

[barbarian]

Does Batger have a contract for next year? Last chance saloon if he doesnt.

Does anyone know anything about Elvis or Rob McMicken?

Not only Batger, but where is Carraro? Surely he did enough for his contract to be renewed, at least he cracked a starting spot. Or is he going offshore...

McMicken is a THP, Scots leaver C2006, Aus schools rep. Solid without being brilliant. Hardly a scrumming sensation.

 

[the gambler]

Just seen the daily telegraph article. Doesnt look like a very big kid but will be interesting to see how he shapes up. David Tautaiolefue seems to have an interesting story. Only played a couple of school games before playing 1st grade straight away. I know its tough for clubs like Wests and Penrith but it would be great if we could hear more of these type of stories.

Says at the top that Carraro is unavailable for the tour due to injury. Pretty sure he is safe with his spot. Batger may be calling on the Eastwood connection to get him back into the selection frame.

 

[Lee Grant]

I have to sort these players out in position to focus my thoughts:

15 Ben Batger
U Sam Norton-Knight
W Ratu Nasiganiyavi
W Ed Jenkins /John Sinisa
W Andrew Smith
13 Rowan Kellam
12 David Tautaiolefue
12 Mitch Inman
10/12 Daniel Halangahu
10 Kurtley Beale
9 Jeremy Su'a
9 Nathan Sievert
8 Ben Mowen
7 Beau Robinson
6 Ben Coridas
4/5 Will Caldwell
4/5 Chris Thomson
4/5 Kane Douglas
4/5 Steve Mafi
3 Dan Palmer
2 Damien Fitzpatrick
2 Elvis Levi
1 Jeremy Tilse
1 Rob McMicken
1 Ofa Fainga'anuku

The names of players known to have S14 contracts or professional JW contracts for 2009 are bolded (I assume that I missed the announcement of Caldwell re-signing.) Douglas, Mafi and Coridas are with the JWs and Nasiganiyavi?s contract level is unknown.

The team is a bit lopsided which doesn?t really matter since they are playing only two matches. Palmer is the only specialist THP ? that is, when he is not playing hooker for his club. There are only 3 specialist backrowers though Fitzpatrick will be seconded to play there if needs be.

Some comments on some players:

? Ed Jenkins and John Sinisa are bracketed. Jenkins would be my pick if he?s healthy. He scored a few tries for the Perth team in the ARC last year and when I watched him at Uni Oval in that night game against the Rats he looked very quick. Sinisa is a good player too but is older and an ex-leaguie journeyman, so is a bit suss in my eyes.

? Winger Andrew Smith has been a JW professional this year. He has played for the Oz 7?s team, which is no great recommendation, and played well for the Rays in the ARC last year, but that may be his top level.

? Rowan Kellam is obviously not in the Brumbies stable any more. He has played well for Eastwood but he was a gun schools centre and I expected him to kick on more than he has.

? David Tautaiolefue has been mentioned a few times by yours truly since he had an outstanding tournament for NSW II?s schools last year and got in the Oz A schools team. He was kept out of the main team by the likes of Horne, Tapuai and Rabbit O?Connor ? three considerable young players. He has done well this year as an 18 year old to hold his place in the Pirates 1st grade team. Selection for this NSW tour is his first distinction in senior rugby; so let?s hope that he?s good enough to get a few more.

? Mitch Inman didn?t make the top level in schools rugby but like elder brother Luke is uncompromising and as hard as nails. Accordingly he may end up a better senior player than some of the guys he was overlooked for at school. As I indicated in the club thread: the move offshore by Uni midfielder Lachlan Mitchell has helped Inman step forward and playing well in the GF in front of Hickey did him not harm either.

? Nathan Sievert, the Uni 2nd Grade scrummie, is probably as good as any other Sydney no. 9 who is available. Either he or Jeremy Su?a will get the 3rd scrummie position with the Tahs, mostly likely a professional JW contract.

? Ben Mowen was selected and thus must still be part of the Tahs plans as his 1 year contract expires soon. This is despite struggling to make the Randwick 1st Grade team at the money end of the season. .

? Kane Douglas and Steve Mafi, two of the locks chosen, could be anything for the Tahs but they are inexperienced and will have JW contracts next year, not S14 contracts. It?s odds on that Dean Mumm is being considered to partner Caldwell in the 2nd row unless they come up will some overseas player. Chris Thomson is not S14 quality in my eyes and I?d rather have 6/lock Fardy as a reserve.

? Dan Palmer is the only THP chosen because there?s nobody else available from Sydney club rugby since they let Weeks go north. They?ve taken a 3 year punt on the young fella and I hope it pays off and he?s not another Tilse ? speaking of whom, what is he doing in this squad? Hopefully not pretending he can play on the TH side.

? Hooker Damien Fitzpatrick was badly injured nearly two months ago when he made the mistake of tackling Big Nasi in the days when he was running into people at full speed; so it?s good to see last year?s Oz Schools captain healthy again.

? Hooker Elvis Levi is a bit of surprise but at least they haven?t recycled Al Manning again. Levi is another Aussie Kiwi, by way of Canberra. In June I saw Penrith play Parramatta in a double header at St. Marys, of all places. He came off the bench and I have the note ?GR? in my programme which means ?good runner? to me. Since then he?s held down the 1st grade spot. He?s 22 years old ? anybody else remember his play?

? McMicken and Ofa are decent club LHPs with Mac being pretty young to hold down the Beasts LHP position. The Tahs are a bit spoiled for choice these days but injuries happen and one of these guys may make the professional JW group. I only wish there were some decent THPs to consider.


Those who weren?t picked:

? 12 Tom Azar ? one of those players who are under rated for no good reason, but David T is probably a better long term bet.

? 10 Dave Paurini still cuts himself shaving but may have got a tour if they played more games.

? 9 Luke Irwin from Easts had a good year, whereas Sievert and Sua were seen so seldom on TV that one can?t make a valid comparison. Steve Massey from Wests looked handy too.

? 8 Tim Davidson was the form 8 in Sydney club rugby this year. Curious ? maybe he is going elsewhere. 8/6 Ben McCalman made the Oz U/20 team and may have been considered also, as an up and comer.

? 7 Tim McGann from Easts was unlucky and Will Hunt (a great name for a 7) had a couple of good games for Norths that I saw.

? 6 Scott Fardy was the club player of the year (in a tie) and is no longer with the Force. I expected him to be warehoused by the Tahs and picked to tour. He can play lock also and the Tahs may need to try out as many 2nd row options as they can before the S14 starts.

? 2 Nahan Charles wasn?t mentioned so it must be true as others have said that he going elsewhere.

? 1 Jerry Yanuyanutawa has obviously been warehoused by some outfit because he is too good to be ignored.

 

[barbarian]

? 7 Will Hunt (a great name for a 7) had a couple of good games for Norths that I saw.

Has retired due to perennial injury. A former Tahs Academy player IIRC, but had such a spindly frame (in the mould of MMM) that he never strung a full season together.

 

[Lee Grant]

Pity, he was only 24/25 and was more a club 6 than a 7 I suppose; but you're right: 95kgs over 195cms is a bit spindly isn't it?


PS - have just read in the paper that David Tautaiolefue played in just 3 matches for his school last year - his first games of rugby. He played more rugby in trials to get into the NSW IIs - but what an achievement for someone who had never played the game before last year - and from there he made Oz A Schools as I said.

That's pretty good talent identification.

The ground announcer had a problem with his name at the Oz Schools Championships in Canberra last year because he went through each team as they ran onto the paddock. The one day Tautaiolefue scored about 3 tries and the announcer gave up for the last one and said something like: "That's another try to David."

It got a laugh.

 

[naza]

McMicken is a THP, Scots leaver C2006, Aus schools rep. Solid without being brilliant. Hardly a scrumming sensation.

Agreed. He's not really a standout. His best attribute is that he can play loosehead and tighthead.

Tautaiolefue is quite handy - a nuggety inside centre who hits hard and bounces off tackles. A bit of a Semi Taupeaufe type. Haven't seen much in the way of creative flyhalf skills from him though.

I'm surprised Ed Gower didn't get any love. He'd fit into the rugged Waratahs style of play but I guess they're more concerned with digging up lock forwards.

If Jack Isaacs couldn't get picked up in S14, then its no surprise Azar hasn't either. He's pretty limited.

 

[the gambler]

I know its against the rules to criticise the ARC but shouldnt it have done a better job in showing up players who could have been picked for a tour such as this?

Who were the promising players picked up from it? Whats happened to players such as Ross Duncan and that league Jared guy. Too be honest I cant remember any of you guys mentioning any other non super 14 players standing out. Is that because the class/conditioning gap between amateur club players and professional Super players was too great. Did these amateur players need a couple of years of semi pro work to catch up? Interested to hear your thoughts.

 

[domestica]

and that league Jared guy

Back in league playing for the Sea Eagles Under 20's team. Will crack first grade next year.

 

[formeropenside]

I know its against the rules to criticise the ARC but shouldnt it have done a better job in showing up players who could have been picked for a tour such as this?

Who were the promising players picked up from it? Whats happened to players such as Ross Duncan and that league Jared guy. Too be honest I cant remember any of you guys mentioning any other non super 14 players standing out. Is that because the class/conditioning gap between amateur club players and professional Super players was too great. Did these amateur players need a couple of years of semi pro work to catch up? Interested to hear your thoughts.

Ben Alexander, Dayna Edwards. Probably helped Mowen get a shot at NSW and Siale move to Qld. Big Ratu had a run around for the Spirit I think but was largely unsighted, but perhaps it helped develop him for next season at Randwick, where he made a big impression despite not looking the best in Bris or Perth club rugby.

I am surprised a few of the hookers - Josh Mann-Rea, who had a good set piece, and Jade Ingham, in the mould of Freier but better, were not picked up by the Force or Brumbies, both being rather short of hookers. Even Al Manning looked good.

And yes, I think the standard would have improved over time if the ARC had continued on for some time.