Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
WARATAHS
The Tahs will be strong at prop. They have 5; so don't need one in their SRT Group.
LHP – Robinson and Kepu
THP – Baxter and Ryan
Utility prop – Tilse and at a pinch, Kepu.
All are known quantities except Paddy Ryan, who replaces Palmer in the Tahs stable. He ran on a lot for Sydney Uni in the 1st half of the 2010 season and started in the grand final. I'd like to see the ex-Oz Schools LHP on the park in the S15 as part of his development, even though he would be the 5th ranked prop.
Tilse finished the S14 well this year and was in form scrummaging for Uni, mainly at THP. In racing parlance he could be a big improver after a spell if he starts with the same form he had at the end of his last campaign.
Hooker - The Tahs will have a better hooking unit than most though they won't have the experience of the 2 Brumbies hookers. TPN will be backed up by Damien Fitzpatrick, who has had a stellar junior career. He's been brought along nicely but he's 21 now and not in Kansas any more.
Hopefully TPN won't be injured, but Fitzy should be given some starting games regardless as part of his development. We know he is a skilful player but we will be looking for some senior physicality now. Ulugia from the SRT Group will be 3rd string.
2nd row - The Tahs are just OK now with Caldwell having to withdraw and Vickerman not arriving until too late. Unless Douglas has 2nd year syndrome he should be locking with Mumm. At the minute I don't rate O'Connor, and my jury is out on Jowitt until I see him play more.
In the SRT Group the Tahs have Timani, who has not been able to make his mark for 2 Super stables, and the extremely promising Peterson who is only 19 y.o and still building his core strength.
Openside flanker will be a strength for the Tahs in 2011 because Waugh has two good backups now: McCutcheon, a recent Wallaby tourist and ex-7s skipper, and Alcock who had that storming game against the Cheetahs in 2010. He's in the SRT Group.
Blindside flanker should be strong enough with Mowen there and McCutcheon or Dennis subbing sometimes, but the best option would be if two of the other locks can shine and Mumm can play 6, especially against physical forwards.
No.8 will be well-served provided the one and only Palu can get back to form quickly after his spell, (not what he's known for), and can stay healthy. The landscape changes if these matters aren't realised, because Mowen, who plays a lighter game, will have to shift there, with McCaffrey picking up some game crumbs, maybe.
The Tahs should be strong at scrumhalf with McKibbin now a contracted Super player and surely playing ahead of Holmes. Hopefully Burgess will be told to work on nothing else but quickening his decision making, and if in doubt passing the ball somewhere immediately. But I think I said that this time last year.
It could be another problem season at flyhalf and inside centre, which have to be discussed together. 10. Halangahu and 12 Barnes teamed well against low performing sides in 2010 but it was only in the last two pool games when Barnes was switched to flyhalf and, love him or hate him, Carter was back at 12, that the Tahs backline sung.
Maybe that was a coincidence, but regardless: 10. Barnes and 12 Carter could be Hickey's starting point for 2011 – and too bad that Barnes has shown his best value as a 12 at the Wallaby level recently. Cross played some good games at inside centre for the Force in 2010, IIRR, and could be an alternate 12 but I can't remember the ball singing.
Outside centre is the most likely problem position for the Tahs. Horne will be first pick if he is fit enough to start the season. Cross was a canny acquisition to cover for him, but he's not someone to write home about as an outside back these days. Turner has played 13 for Eastwood and even if Horne is healthy, could get some Super experience there if a game is going well.
The back three should be the Tahs' strongest unit. Mitchell and Beale are in the form of their lives and Turner showed his class in the Sydney Bledisloe. Getting the ball to these 3 should be a part of every Tahs' game plan. Even the 2nd back three of Anesi, BKH and Paklani looks decent.
I don't know what position BKH will end up at. I can't remember seeing him play anywhere but wing, but he reminds me a lot of Alatini and other good stepping 12's I have seen in the past. He could go OK there. Paklani looks zippy, like Alfi Mafi in good form, and he could surprise us. And the affable Sosene Anesi was in prime form in some of the Mooloo ITM games I saw.
The Tahs will be strong at prop. They have 5; so don't need one in their SRT Group.
LHP – Robinson and Kepu
THP – Baxter and Ryan
Utility prop – Tilse and at a pinch, Kepu.
All are known quantities except Paddy Ryan, who replaces Palmer in the Tahs stable. He ran on a lot for Sydney Uni in the 1st half of the 2010 season and started in the grand final. I'd like to see the ex-Oz Schools LHP on the park in the S15 as part of his development, even though he would be the 5th ranked prop.
Tilse finished the S14 well this year and was in form scrummaging for Uni, mainly at THP. In racing parlance he could be a big improver after a spell if he starts with the same form he had at the end of his last campaign.
Hooker - The Tahs will have a better hooking unit than most though they won't have the experience of the 2 Brumbies hookers. TPN will be backed up by Damien Fitzpatrick, who has had a stellar junior career. He's been brought along nicely but he's 21 now and not in Kansas any more.
Hopefully TPN won't be injured, but Fitzy should be given some starting games regardless as part of his development. We know he is a skilful player but we will be looking for some senior physicality now. Ulugia from the SRT Group will be 3rd string.
2nd row - The Tahs are just OK now with Caldwell having to withdraw and Vickerman not arriving until too late. Unless Douglas has 2nd year syndrome he should be locking with Mumm. At the minute I don't rate O'Connor, and my jury is out on Jowitt until I see him play more.
In the SRT Group the Tahs have Timani, who has not been able to make his mark for 2 Super stables, and the extremely promising Peterson who is only 19 y.o and still building his core strength.
Openside flanker will be a strength for the Tahs in 2011 because Waugh has two good backups now: McCutcheon, a recent Wallaby tourist and ex-7s skipper, and Alcock who had that storming game against the Cheetahs in 2010. He's in the SRT Group.
Blindside flanker should be strong enough with Mowen there and McCutcheon or Dennis subbing sometimes, but the best option would be if two of the other locks can shine and Mumm can play 6, especially against physical forwards.
No.8 will be well-served provided the one and only Palu can get back to form quickly after his spell, (not what he's known for), and can stay healthy. The landscape changes if these matters aren't realised, because Mowen, who plays a lighter game, will have to shift there, with McCaffrey picking up some game crumbs, maybe.
The Tahs should be strong at scrumhalf with McKibbin now a contracted Super player and surely playing ahead of Holmes. Hopefully Burgess will be told to work on nothing else but quickening his decision making, and if in doubt passing the ball somewhere immediately. But I think I said that this time last year.
It could be another problem season at flyhalf and inside centre, which have to be discussed together. 10. Halangahu and 12 Barnes teamed well against low performing sides in 2010 but it was only in the last two pool games when Barnes was switched to flyhalf and, love him or hate him, Carter was back at 12, that the Tahs backline sung.
Maybe that was a coincidence, but regardless: 10. Barnes and 12 Carter could be Hickey's starting point for 2011 – and too bad that Barnes has shown his best value as a 12 at the Wallaby level recently. Cross played some good games at inside centre for the Force in 2010, IIRR, and could be an alternate 12 but I can't remember the ball singing.
Outside centre is the most likely problem position for the Tahs. Horne will be first pick if he is fit enough to start the season. Cross was a canny acquisition to cover for him, but he's not someone to write home about as an outside back these days. Turner has played 13 for Eastwood and even if Horne is healthy, could get some Super experience there if a game is going well.
The back three should be the Tahs' strongest unit. Mitchell and Beale are in the form of their lives and Turner showed his class in the Sydney Bledisloe. Getting the ball to these 3 should be a part of every Tahs' game plan. Even the 2nd back three of Anesi, BKH and Paklani looks decent.
I don't know what position BKH will end up at. I can't remember seeing him play anywhere but wing, but he reminds me a lot of Alatini and other good stepping 12's I have seen in the past. He could go OK there. Paklani looks zippy, like Alfi Mafi in good form, and he could surprise us. And the affable Sosene Anesi was in prime form in some of the Mooloo ITM games I saw.
