Reds v Tahs Trial

[en_force_er]

how bad is the injury? i thought he'd be a key man for the reds this year.

 

[Moses]

HSBC Waratahs announce squad for Lismore trial

HSBC Waratahs Head Coach Chris Hickey has named 13 players with Super 14 experience, including captain Daniel Halangahu, in a 28-man squad to face the Queensland Reds in the opening trial for 2010 this Saturday.



None of the squad’s Australian Test players have been named in the team, however former All Black Sosene Anesi will make his first appearance in sky blue after moving from Waikato and the Chiefs in the off-season.



The only Wallaby tourist from 2009 to be named in the squad is Dave Dennis who played two mid-week matches on the Spring Tour. Hickey was looking to bring the Sydney University forward on from the bench but elevated him to the starting XV to allow former Leinster and Northland forward Cam Jowitt another week to recover from thumb surgery.



The Tahs other foreign import, former Emerging Springbok Hendrik Roodt, has been named in the second row alongside north coast product Kane Douglas.



“We’ve been going pretty hard since November so it’s exciting to get to the point of getting players on the park and putting everything into practice in a game situation,” said Hickey.



“Trials give individuals good opportunities to push their claims which is what you want to see, and you also want to see the team collectively playing to the structures you’ve put in place.



“It’s the nature of trials that you’ll see a number of different combinations on the park and the ability to keep those structures in place no matter who is on the field goes a long way to building confidence throughout the entire squad.”



Hickey has named the same front row as he did for the respective trial in 2009 – Jeremy Tilse, Damien Fitzpatrick and Dan Palmer – with Roodt and Douglas completing the tight five.



Dennis will be joined in the backrow by newcomer Chris Alcock and 2009 Tooheys New Shute Shield Rookie of the Year, Locky McCaffrey.



Josh Holmes returns to NSW in 2010 and gets the first opportunity in the No.9 jersey, while Sydney University pair Halangahu and Tom Carter have been named in the mid-field. Former HSBC Junior Waratahs vice-captain Rory Sidey has been named at outside centre.



Nemani Nadolo makes his long-awaited first appearance for NSW on the wing after a stress fracture in his foot ended his 2009 campaign last January. He is partnered on the opposite flank by former Brumbies flyer Peter Betham who has prepared with the squad as part of the wider training group since late last year. Anesi is the fullback.



Super 14 squad members Chris Thomson and Will Caldwell have been named on the bench alongside HSBC Junior Waratahs Ofa Fainga’anuku, Brendan McKibbin, Ben Seymour, Adam D’Arcy, Paddy Ryan, Alex Rokobaro and Jacob Woodhouse. Former Western Force hooker Luke Holmes, who along with Betham has trained with the Super 14 squad throughout the pre-season, has also been named on the bench alongside experienced club players Hugh Perrett, Tom Azar and Dylan Sigg.



“Some young players and some strong club players always get opportunities in these kind of matches and we’re really happy with some of the players we have selected,” said Hickey. “Ben Seymour and Alex Rokobaro aren’t part of the professional Junior Waratahs squad, but they have trained really well and deserve their places in the squad.



“Jacob Woodhouse is straight out of the Australian Schoolboys and has great potential, while Hugh Perrett, Dylan Sigg and Tom Azar are established players at club level, and you know they will never let you down if they get the opportunity.”



Hickey said that he is expecting a tough hit out from a Queensland side determined to turn around a number of underperforming seasons in the Super 14.



“The Reds are always tough – it doesn’t matter whether it is a trial or a competition game,” said Hickey. “They have no shortage of talent throughout the squad, they’ve named two Wallaby tourists and a 20-Test centre so they’re definitely going to be primed for the encounter. We’d expect nothing less.”



The squad travels to Lismore on Friday ahead of Saturday’s trial at Oakes Oval before returning to Sydney on Sunday.



Super 14 Trial
HSBC WARATAHS V QUEENSLAND REDS
Saturday 23 January 2010 (Kick-off 7:40pm AEST)
Oakes Oval, Lismore

HSBC WARATAHS

15. Sosene Anesi (HSBC Waratahs)
14. Nemani Nadolo (Manly/HSBC Waratahs)
13. Rory Sidey (West Harbour/HSBC Waratahs)
12. Tom Carter (Sydney University/HSBC Waratahs)
11. Peter Betham (Sydney University/Wider Training Group)
10. Daniel Halangahu [c] (Sydney University/HSBC Waratahs)
9. Josh Holmes (Warringah/HSBC Waratahs)
8. Locky McCaffrey (Eastwood/HSBC Junior Waratahs)
7. Chris Alcock (Gordon/HSBC Waratahs)
6. Dave Dennis (Sydney University/HSBC Waratahs)
5. Hendrik Roodt (Gordon/HSBC Waratahs)
4. Kane Douglas (Southern Districts/HSBC Junior Waratahs)
3. Dan Palmer (Southern Districts/HSBC Waratahs)
2. Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood/HSBC Waratahs)
1. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University/HSBC Waratahs)
Reserves
16. Luke Holmes (Warringah/Wider Training Group)
17. Ofa Fainga’anuku (Gordon/HSBC Junior Waratahs)
18. Chris Thomson (Warringah/HSBC Waratahs)
19. Will Caldwell (Sydney University/HSBC Waratahs)
20. Brendan KcKibbin (Eastern Suburbs/HSBC Junior Waratahs)
21. Ben Seymour (Manly/HSBC Junior Waratahs)
22. Adam D’Arcy (Manly/HSBC Junior Waratahs)
23. Paddy Ryan (Sydney University/HSBC Junior Waratahs)
24. Dylan Sigg (Manly/Wider Training Group)
25. Hugh Perrett (Eastwood/Wider Training Group)
26. Tom Azar (Eastern Suburbs/Wider Training Group)
27. Alex Rokobaro (Sydney University/HSBC Junior Waratahs)

28. Jacob Woodhouse (Sydney University/HSBC Junior Waratahs)

 

[TheRiddler]

Be interesting to see how that back row goes with none of them having played together before (I dont think). Great to Alcock get a starting gig. And wonderful to see three Gordon players in the squad - although still too many Eastwood jerseys in there as well :fishing

 

[Scotty]

i also wonder if higgers at 8 and ezra at 6 will be a focus this year or if it's just an experiment for the trial. IIRC, higgs was at blindside mostly last year. some practice at the back of the scrum wouldn't hurt him -- aus can always use more quality 8's as backups to palu.

He has played a lot of 8 at club level.

 

[RugbyReg]

as David Wooderson would say "alright alright'alright"

I'm getting excited.

Looking forward to seeing:

- Saia Fainga'a (to see if he's come on at all)
- Jake Schatz
- Lei Tomeki
- Higgers at 8
- Kingi at 9
- Lucas at 10
- Shipperly
- Anthony Fainga'a for much of the same reason as his brother
- Turinui
- Morahan and Toua at fullback
- Slipper and Hanson in the front row.
- Shaw starting
- Blair Connor
- Tapuai and Chambers in the centres

- Anesi at fullback
- NN on the wing
- Petham - wasn't he with the Bruns?
- Holmes at 9
- Alcock
- dud Root
- That starting Tah front row.
- Luke Holmes there off the bench, from the 4s?
- Adam Darcy
- McKibbin
- Jacob Woodhouse

 

[Moses]

Great to see Will Caldwell back to fitness

 

[fatprop]

Great to see Will Caldwell back to fitness

Agreed. and Betham (yep was on a Brumbie contract after being poached from the Tahs); good player if he can get a run of fitness, always has a lot of time to do things, same with Luke Holmes

 

[TOCC]

how bad is the injury? i thought he'd be a key man for the reds this year.

havent confirmed it but he should be right by the start of the season

 

[eddo]

So,.. For the unfortunate of us stuck overseas will there be any way for us to get updates from the game?

Live scoring like on the internationals ? Twitter if it comes down to that..

Does Lismore have the internet?

Ideas

 

[RugbyReg]

Eddo, I will be endeavouring to live comment the game. So check out the main page of the blog.

Fingers crossed it all works

 

[red army]

i hear rumours will chambers is out of the waratahs trial...

not sure what type of injury it is but could be a couple of weeks

does this mean turinui plays a full game?

 

[Geronimo]

Eddo, I will be endeavouring to live comment the game. So check out the main page of the blog.

Fingers crossed it all works

Well done Noddy!!

 

[tranquility]

should be a belter. the two teams look pretty even. i find it interesting that shipperley us running with the 'ones' ahead of connor, davies, toua and chambers. but that could just be an experience thing like weeks running with the 'twos'.

anyone got the lowdown on Luafutu and Dayna not getting a gig? injured or on the outer?

 

[Lee Grant]

That will be a good hit out for some of the Tahs players and may be the only shot at a trial they will get. I expect the 2nd trial will have the best players but for the Wallabies starting. Fellows like Waugh, Freier, Mowen, Baxter and Horne, if they are fit, will come into the mix with perhaps some EOYT Wallabies like Kepu who had a light tour.

The Tahs team for 3rd trial should not be too far away from the side for Rd.1.

You wouldn't pick many of the Tahs 28 to start in the 1st Super 14 match in Brisbane, except Caldwell who has to prove his fitness - probably Anesi, and perhaps Halangahu if Barnes is happy to play 12. It's a big game for Hangers.

But this 1st game is important to get into the Junior Waratahs side for their 6 match programme which includes one against an Argentine side. It's in these 6 games (plus the Lismore match) where these Academy guys can put their hand up for promotion next year: either amateur Junior Waratahs (JWs) to pro JWs, or pro JWs to rookie Tahs contracts.

Needless to say but: other eyes will be watching these JW matches too.

It will be the same for the Reds hopefuls, I'm sure.

You have to feel for the lesser known fellows from both teams; a lot of them young. Many will try too hard, but hopefully they will get enough time to show their wares.

I am particularly interested in:

Dud Roodt - a dud or otherwise?

Will Caldwell - is he fit?

Jake Woodhouse, the Matt Burke type full back for Oz Schools recently.


Don't judge the Tahs front row too harshly Noddy. Tilse is playing.

 

[barbarian]

Surprised Betham is in the starting XV as he rarely cracked Uni first grade in 09. Was a very talented schoolboy but hasn't really hit the heights after leaving Joeys. And hope they aren't rushing Woodhouse into the senior level too early- he hasn't even played a game under the full rules yet for Christ's sake.

 

[Lee Grant]

It's an old song we sing barbarian but the current belief is: if they're good enough they're old enough.

Watch this kid though: he could be a good'un - a real good'un.

 

[Lindommer]

Surprised Betham is in the starting XV as he rarely cracked Uni first grade in 09. Was a very talented schoolboy but hasn't really hit the heights after leaving Joeys.

Peter's had a shocking run of injuries since leaving Joeys. They've been so consistent one could ask if his body's up to playing professional rugby.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

- although still too many Eastwood jerseys in there as well :fishing

Don't see how that is possible, greatest nursery in the country, best club in the country, best feeder system in the country - Can't ever have too many Eastwood players

 

[eddo]

Eddo, I will be endeavouring to live comment the game. So check out the main page of the blog.

Fingers crossed it all works

Fantastic, thanks Nods.

Who was it that slept through half of one of the tour games and missed starting up the instant chat? We need to have a G&GR Fail award for that one.

 

[fatprop]

- although still too many Eastwood jerseys in there as well :fishing

Don't see how that is possible, greatest nursery in the country, best club in the country, best feeder system in the country - Can't ever have too many Eastwood players

Eastwood is Australia's prop factory