Semi Final 1: Blues vs Waratahs

[daz]

There's one issue with it being the KB (Kurtley Beale) show: he'll likely be at 10. It has only been the KB (Kurtley Beale) show this year when he's been at fullback. I actually think the loss of Hangers may be worse than TPN, because it meant that KB (Kurtley Beale) moved to 10 from 15.

Good point Ash. I would agree with you, but I have a gut feeling that KB (Kurtley Beale) could play any position on the park and still put on a show. When he wants to make things happen, they generally do....

 

[Nusadan]

Good point Ash. I would agree with you, but I have a gut feeling that KB (Kurtley Beale) could play any position on the park and still put on a show. When he wants to make things happen, they generally do....

KB (Kurtley Beale) could do a Quade and move back when in defence and do kick returns and do a lot of damage...

 

[ACT Crusader]

I don't think KB (Kurtley Beale) has shown to be able to put on the same show when at 1st receiver this year. He is damaging in broken play and/or with space. 1st 5's don't get alot of opportunity to "make the play" in those situations. When he wants to take on the line at 1st receiver he will get smashed more often than not. That comes with the territory of being a running 10. If he just resorts to a passing/playmaker game then that nullifies his strengths.

I'd call up some club dirt tracker for the game, hell put Pierre Hola out there....

 

[Groucho]

Agreed, but I have a feeling you won't be saying that in 2 or 3 years time. For a Semi Final he is not ideal, however we must remember that he is a freak and so anything can happen. Luckily enough for the Tahs, the Blues have equally, if not worse injuries to key players.

Tahs missing 15 (from PR)

1.A.Baxter (injured)
2.T.Polota-Nau (injured).....Fitzpatrick (injured)
3.S.Kepu (injured)
4.C.Jowitt (injured)
5.D.Vickerman (unavailable)
6.B.Mowen (injured)
7.P.McCutcheon (injured)
8.W.Palu (injured)
9.B.McKibbin (injured?)
10.D.Halangahu (injured)
11.T.Kingston (away at U20's)
12.B.Barnes (injured)
13.R.Horne (injured)
14.B.Karauria-Henry (injured?)
15.D.Mitchell (injured)

As the poster premo said on PR, probably a good bet against the team taking the field.

 

[Hawko]

Apparently Burgo may have picked up an injury at training. Surely that would be the final straw...

This I think is the only position where we had enough depth so that one more injury did not mean we had to go to Shute. We've got McKibben and Holmes to back up. Mind you he's already backing up about four other positions..... Can Vickerman play halfback? We could petition Sanzar to allow him to play there.

I reckon we've now got a better team crocked or unavailable than we will put on the park Friday.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Nothing to lose then, I guess. Go out there and try to harrass and pressure and generally mug the Blues. Oh and get the ball into KB (Kurtley Beale)'s hands. It might be just enough. If the Tahs win this, it will be one of the great stories of the modern era in Australian rugby. Best of luck to them.

 

[Groucho]

Nothing to lose then, I guess. Go out there and try to harrass and pressure and generally mug the Blues. Oh and get the ball into KB (Kurtley Beale)'s hands. It might be just enough. If the Tahs win this, it will be one of the great stories of the modern era in Australian rugby. Best of luck to them.

Exactly. The Tahs need to do a Highlanders circa 2010 and annihilate the Blues in the tight, but with dynamism (not statically as the Tahs are wont to do). Counterruck everything. Roll the C****.

The Blues can be total pussies in the tight and they also leak tries. Don't let their backs see quick ball.

 

[Richo]

I don't think KB (Kurtley Beale) has shown to be able to put on the same show when at 1st receiver this year. He is damaging in broken play and/or with space. 1st 5's don't get alot of opportunity to "make the play" in those situations. When he wants to take on the line at 1st receiver he will get smashed more often than not. That comes with the territory of being a running 10. If he just resorts to a passing/playmaker game then that nullifies his strengths.

I'd call up some club dirt tracker for the game, hell put Pierre Hola out there....

Beale was excellent at 10 after Halangahu got injured last weekend. Played about 20 minutes there and looked at least as dangerous as he had at 15.

 

[Ruggo]

This game could go eitherway but I can't help feel Eden Park is a huge advantage for the Blues. By all accounts it is a tough place to play. It is important the Tahs do not go into their shell as they have looked naturally coherant in the last couple of weeks. I wouldn't be game enough to put money on this one.

 

[qwerty51]

I've got a feeling this could be KB (Kurtley Beale)'s finest hour. It will potentially be his last game for the Tahs and he's been building to this game, finally announcing himself as a high-class 10.

/very optimistic view

 

[Ash]

Pretty sure than BKH is fine, isn't he? He came back a few weeks ago in club rugby - could've sworn I saw (a porky) BKH off the bench for Southern. Not sure what has happened to him since. Pretty sure McKibbin is good too - think he was subbed for Holmes as Holmes covered more positions off the bench?

edit: must've missed it or I've forgotten, but is Baxter injured as well? He went off injured but I'd thought he'd be fine. Huge shame if he missed the last few games he could've played for the Tahs through injury.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Exactly. The Tahs need to do a Highlanders circa 2010 and annihilate the Blues in the tight, but with dynamism (not statically as the Tahs are wont to do). Counterruck everything. Roll the C****.

The Blues can be total pussies in the tight and they also leak tries. Don't let their backs see quick ball.

In an odd way, I'm looking forward to it. It will be interesting to see if the Tahs can raise themselves to play with the kind of passion required to overcome the many things going against them. I'm pretty sure Waugh will demand it of the blokes around him.

 

[Slim 293]

Apparently Burgess has played his last game for the Tahs after breaking his hand...

 

[DPK]

Had a brainwave; what about Dave Harvey? He's in good club form.

 

[qwerty51]

Apparently Burgess has played his last game for the Tahs after breaking his hand...

...

 

[Slim 293]

Burgess breaks hand and Tahs' hearts

Jamie Pandaram
June 22, 2011


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...tahs-hearts-20110621-1gdky.html#ixzz1PvLEZ9F8

HALFBACK Luke Burgess has likely played his final game for the Waratahs after breaking his hand at training yesterday, further disrupting an already chaotic build-up with several other injuries already depleting the NSW side for Friday's elimination final in Auckland.

Burgess's injury makes it 12 regular Waratahs squad members who won't be playing at Eden Park, forcing officials to choose club players Bernard Foley and Elvis Taione for their Super Rugby debuts in NSW's biggest game of the season so far.

While Burgess flew to Auckland with his teammates yesterday, the Herald understands that scans revealed a broken bone after he hurt his hand during a training session at Paddington's Victoria Barracks in the morning.

Josh Holmes or Brendan McKibbin will replace Burgess, who has signed a three-year deal with Toulouse and will join the French club after October's World Cup.

Australian Sevens captain Foley is the shock call-up as cover for playmaker Kurtley Beale. Foley could be asked to guide the team into the semi-finals, while security guard Taione could make his elite level debut from the bench.

The Waratahs' injury list has been a curse for most of the season, but losing influential players such as Burgess, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Al Baxter and Daniel Halangahu for the encounter against the Blues could prove an insurmountable hurdle.

Already without international stars Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Wycliff Palu, Sekope Kepu, Rob Horne, and regular team members Ben Mowen, Pat McCutcheon and Damien Fitzpatrick, the latest blow to their stocks leaves NSW facing an uphill battle on Friday night.

''I suppose the encouraging thing is when we've had to make those changes, the players who have come in have stepped up to the mark and done a really good job,'' coach Chris Hickey said.

''I don't think it will be any other case this weekend.''

Hickey didn't confirm Foley as the back-up five-eighth but the Sevens specialist trained in that position yesterday before the team flew out.

''We've got options, Ben Batger has played 10, Josh Holmes has played 10 and 12 at club rugby, we're going to take Bernard Foley with us, it's something we're going to look at once we get over there,'' Hickey said.

John Ulugia will start at hooker, and Taione, plucked from the Manly Marlins side, will be his back-up.

''We monitored club rugby pretty closely at the end of last year and the start of this year, and we knew we needed to go to club rugby, there were a couple of candidates we looked at, and we felt that Elvis ticked most of the boxes,'' Hickey said.

The Blues have announced their intention to play an attacking game, with coach Pat Lam saying: ''It's win or lose now but nothing changes with preparation - it's just the Waratahs and what we need to do.

''They come here on the back of some very good form, particularly last weekend.''


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...tahs-hearts-20110621-1gdky.html#ixzz1PvL1O0zQ

 

[Groucho]

it's just the Waratahs

Sickening arrogance.

 

[Cutter]

Sickening arrogance.

I'm pretty sure he meant that their focus would be on "just the Waratahs" and what they need to do. In fact that is pretty clear. Fire up if you want though.

 

[Groucho]

I'm pretty sure he meant that their focus would be on "just the Waratahs" and what they need to do. In fact that is pretty clear. Fire up if you want though.

:lmao:

 

[cyclopath]

It's just Groucho fishing).:lmao: