NSW Barbarians tour to Argentina

[RoffsChoice]

NSW will send a squad to Argentina to play the Pumas twice.

Touring squad: Peter Betham, Berrick Barnes, Mitchell Chapman, Cam Crawford, Dave Dennis, Bernard Foley, Pat McCutcheon, Rob Horne, Sekope Kepu, Matt Lucas, Brendan McKibbin, Drew Mitchell, Tatafu Polota Nau, Paddy Ryan, Jeremy Tilse, Sitaleki Timani, Jed Holloway, Luke Holmes, Ben Volavola, Will Skelton, Tala Grey, Alofa Alofa, Jack Dempsey, Auvasa Falealii, Alex Gibbon, Terrence Hepetema, David Horwitz, Tolu Latu, David Lolohea, Usaia O'Sullivan, Kerren Straker, Sam Talakai, Keliti Vangalo, Liam Winton.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

IsJack dempsey the new golden boy of NSW rugby

 

[GaffaCHinO]

No Hugh Roach? Kerren Straker instead hmm

Roach could be on his way to Perth after the Force have released Hilderband and after he played for the Force against the Lions.

 

[Braveheart81]

Tala Grey, Alofa Alofa, Jack Dempsey, Auvasa Falealii, Alex Gibbon, Terrence Hepetema, David Horwitz, Tolu Latu, David Lolohea, Usaia O'Sullivan, Kerren Straker, Sam Talakai, Keliti Vangalo, Liam Winton.

So for the new players in the squad, what positions do they play?

Tala Grey - 6/8
Alofa Alofa - wing
Jack Dempsey - 10
Auvasa Falaealii - scrum half
Alex Gibbon - wing
Terrence Hepetema - centres
David Horwitz - 10
Tolu Latu - prop
David Lolohea - prop
Usaia O'Sullivan - centres?
Kerren Straker - hooker
Sam Talakai - prop
Keleti Vangalo - lock
Liam Winton - lock

If any of these are wrong, please correct me!

Somewhat disappointed that Hugh Roach isn't on this tour. I was hoping he was a strong chance to be a Waratah next season.

 

[Zander]

Why are the Wallabies going? Surely the Ewen McKenzie would want them at home?

 

[JSRF10]

Why are the Wallabies going? Surely the Ewen McKenzie would want them at home?

I was thinking the same myself, I wouldn't be surprised to see some late withdrawals from the squad once the RC championship squad is announced. Cheika probably anticipates this given the size of the touring party for a 2 match tour.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Games played on Aug 2nd and 9th. First Wallabies game is on the 17th.

So you would think a few of the players would be with the wallabies.

 

[fatprop]

Why are Timani and Barnes going?

How do they fit into 2014 plans?

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[Braveheart81]

Why are Timani and Barnes going?

How do they fit into 2014 plans?

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I'm guessing the Waratahs have been paid something by Argentina to go on this tour and had to agree to bring their best squad.

I'll be interested to see how many players that are leaving Australian rugby end up in the Rugby Championship squad.

 

[Paul Blacket]

So for the new players in the squad, what positions do they play?

Tala Grey - 6/8
Alofa Alofa - wing
Jack Dempsey - 10
Auvasa Falaealii - scrum half
Alex Gibbon - wing
Terrence Hepetema - centres
David Horwitz - 10
Tolu Latu - prop
David Lolohea - prop
Usaia O'Sullivan - centres?
Kerren Straker - hooker
Sam Talakai - prop
Keleti Vangalo - lock
Liam Winton - lock

If any of these are wrong, please correct me!

Somewhat disappointed that Hugh Roach isn't on this tour. I was hoping he was a strong chance to be a Waratah next season.

Latu plays hooker and openside

 

[Inside Shoulder]

So for the new players in the squad, what positions do they play?

Tala Grey - 6/8
Alofa Alofa - wing
Jack Dempsey - 10
Auvasa Falaealii - scrum half
Alex Gibbon - wing
Terrence Hepetema - centres
David Horwitz - 10
Tolu Latu - prop
David Lolohea - prop
Usaia O'Sullivan - centres?
Kerren Straker - hooker
Sam Talakai - prop
Keleti Vangalo - lock
Liam Winton - lock

If any of these are wrong, please correct me!

Somewhat disappointed that Hugh Roach isn't on this tour. I was hoping he was a strong chance to be a Waratah next season.

If thats dempsey who was in the u20s he's a flanker


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[qwerty51]

Tala Grey - 8 and 6 but mainly 8
Alofa Alofa - 13 but can also play wing
Jack Dempsey - Played 7 in the u20s but is more of a 6, think Ed Quirk
Auvasa Falaealii - 9
Alex Gibbon - Like Alofa, 13 but also a winger
Terrence Hepetema - 12 or 13
David Horwitz - 10
Tolu Latu - 2
David Lolohea - Mainly a loosehead
Usaia O'Sullivan - He's played a lot of positions moved between backs and forwards in schoolboy rugby and was a winger in league. Now playing 6 for West Harbour
Kerren Straker - 2
Sam Talakai - Mainly a tighthead
Keleti Vangalo - Lock or 8
Liam Winton - Lock or 6

 

[Badger]

Profiles of the invited Shute Shield players (from the Tahs announcement ):

Jack Dempsey
Position: Back row
Height: 190cm
Weight: 98kg
Date of Birth: 12/4/1994 in Sydney
Senior Club: Gordon
Rep Honours: Australian Schoolboys, NSW Schoolboys, Australian Under 20s

Usaia O’Sullivan
Position: Centre/wing
Height: 185cm
Weight: 95kg
Date of Birth: 21/2/1992 in Camperdown
Senior Club: West Harbour

Alofa Alofa
Position: Wing/centre
Height: 185cm
Weight: 93cm
Date of Birth: 12/03/1991 in Otahuhu
Senior Club: West Harbour

David Horwitz
Position: Flyhalf
Height: 182cm
Weight: 92kg
Date of Birth: 30/09/1994 in Sydney
Senior Club: Randwick

Sam Talakai
Position: Prop
Height: 182cm
Weight: 118kg
Date of Birth: 04/09/1991
Senior Club: Sydney University

David Lolohea
Position: Prop
Height: 193cm
Weight: 148kg
Date of Birth: 26/2/1992 in Penrith
Senior Club: West Harbour

Kerren Straker
Position: Hooker
Height: 180cm
Weight: 102kg
Date of Birth: 12/08/1991 in Morrinsville, NZ
Senior Club: Penrith

Alex Gibbon
Position: Centre/wing
Height: 180cm
Weight: 92kg
Date of Birth: 07/10/1992 in Australia
Senior Club: Southern Districts

Keliti Vaingalo
Position: Lock/No. 8
Height: 197cm
Weight: 125kg
Date of Birth: 16/01/1992 in Queenbeyan
Senior Club: Eastern Suburbs

Silatolu Latu
Position: Hooker
Height: 178cm
Weight: 110kg
Date of Birth: 23/02/1993
Senior Club: Sydney University
Rep Honours: Australian Under 20s

Auvasa Falealii
Position: Scrumhalf
Height: 180cm
Weight: 90kg
Date of Birth: 09/02/1990 in Auckland, NZ
Senior Club: Newcastle Waratahs
Rep Honours: ITM Cup Auckland

Terrence Hepetema
Position: Utility back
Height: 183cm
Weight: 96kg
Date of Birth: 3/1/92 in Middlesex, England
Senior Club: Randwick

Liam Winton
Position: Lock
Height: 194cm
Weight: 111kg
Date of Birth: 6/3/86 in Penrith
Senior Club: Sydney University

http://www.waratahs.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/157/ArticleID/9853/Default.aspx

 

[southsider]

Tala Grey - 8 and 6 but mainly 8
Alofa Alofa - 13 but can also play wing
Jack Dempsey - Played 7 in the u20s but is more of a 6, think Ed Quirk
Auvasa Falaealii - 9
Alex Gibbon - Like Alofa, 13 but also a winger
Terrence Hepetema - 12 or 13
David Horwitz - 10
Tolu Latu - 2
David Lolohea - Mainly a loosehead
Usaia O'Sullivan - He's played a lot of positions moved between backs and forwards in schoolboy rugby and was a winger in league. Now playing 6 for West Harbour
Kerren Straker - 2
Sam Talakai - Mainly a tighthead
Keleti Vangalo - Lock or 8
Liam Winton - Lock or 6

does anybody think that these players are the next best players available for nsw? I can think of a few more players from souths alone who probably should be there let alone all the other clubs in the SS

 

[Zander]

Well looking at the DOBs some are very young, they're picked on potential, not exactly the best players.

 

[Braveheart81]

does anybody think that these players are the next best players available for nsw? I can think of a few more players from souths alone who probably should be there let alone all the other clubs in the SS

No. I think they've taken a fair few players who have either been involved with the Tahs through training at various points during the season or were part of the NSW Academy side.

I wouldn't read a huge amount into it. I'll be highly surprised if the new Tahs players in 2014 are limited to players from this list.

With five places in his 2014 Super Rugby squad on the line, Cheika says the tour represents a massive opportunity for some of the state's best club players to put their hand up for a professional contract.

"But it doesn't mean that players not on the tour won't be considered,'' he said. "Some players have been left behind to ensure that there is a balance for the Shute Shield games taking place.''

 

[southsider]

Well looking at the DOBs some are very young, they're picked on potential, not exactly the best players.

sorry I probably didn't word it right, true they are probably picked on potential rather than being the "best" but I still think there are other guys of similar ae who should be involved too

 

[southsider]

No. I think they've taken a fair few players who have either been involved with the Tahs through training at various points during the season or were part of the NSW Academy side.

I wouldn't read a huge amount into it. I'll be highly surprised if the new Tahs players in 2014 are limited to players from this list.

yes that's very true, although why wouldn't you take these players that are likely to appear in the 2014 roster? Don't think its a very good excuse they've put forward about the balance as the players that they are taking anyway are all good and their teams will be affected by their absence anyway so you may aswell take the more deserving ones??

 

[Lee Grant]

Cheika said, amongst other things

Although the tour clashes with rounds 16 and 17 of the Shute Shield competition (which take place on August 3 and 10), Cheika praised the support he had received from his club coaches. “The club coaches have all been in to meet me and have been really positive about putting their players forward to participate in a tour against such a quality opposition, even though the Shute Shield is going on, which is a really good sign of the co-operation between the Waratahs and our clubs.​

​

“The players have been selected from watching Shute Shield matches and quizzing club coaches about their own players and opposition players they have across.”​

​

With five places in his 2014 squad on the line, Cheika says the tour represents a massive opportunity for some of the state’s best club players to put their hand up for a professional contract next season but added, “It doesn’t mean that players not on the tour won’t be considered. Some players have been left behind to ensure that there is a balance for the Shute Shield games taking place.​

​

I think this is a great idea and I hope the Tahs can do it every year.

I see that prop David Lolohea has been included and is weighing in at 148 kg. This may look like a typo but he was a member of the 2010 Hills Sports High School pack that weighed 923kgs, or 30kgs more more than the 2010 Tahs' pack did. David weighed 135 kgs then, just a slip of a lad compared to one of the locks, 142 kgs Will Skelton.

Anybody know how David is going for West Harbour? He had trouble getting around the park for a whole game for CHS when I saw him last. Mind you, I said much the same about Will, and he's going OK now.

And Jack Dempsey has been picked. He was still at school last year and played on the blindside flank, but he doesn't have the build to play there as a senior player. He played 7 for Oz Under 20 in the JWC and Cheika must have thought highly of his efforts in the position.

Good luck to Jack: he is a big engine player, brave, and a good linker, but I thought that Boyd Killingworth, who is all those things and a tougher opponent than the younger lad at the minute, might have got the trip.

It's good to see that 18 year-old David Horwitz is included. He has had a dream run on the pathway and is going to end up in somebody's EPS very soon if only to hold onto him.

Like others have indicated: it's a bit strange to see the likes of Barnes included but there is probably a good reason for it and it is probably to do with an obligation to provide stiff competition – as others have mentioned.
.

 

[I like to watch]

.....
And Jack Dempsey has been picked. He was still at school last year and played on the blindside flank, but he doesn't have the build to play there as a senior player. He played 7 for Oz Under 20 in the JWC and Cheika must have thought highly of his efforts in the position.

Good luck to Jack: he is a big engine player, brave, and a good linker, but I thought that Boyd Killingworth, who is all those things and tougher opponent than the younger lad at the minute, might have got the trip.

It's good to see that 18 year-old David Horwitz is included. He has had a dream run on the pathway and is going to end up in somebody's EPS very soon if only to hold onto him.

I just don't get these selections.
Horwitz has had the dream run,but looks likely to make the next step.So I don't begrudge him a trip.
But how does Dempsey leapfrog Killingworth?

On what basis can they suggest he shows more promise?
It certainly not based on form.