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SuperRugby Waratahs V Crusaders, Rd 10 2012

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cyclopath

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
 
Richo

Richo

John Thornett (49)
I thought the Tahs played perhaps their best game of football for the season, no mean feat considering the injuries. I don't get all the doom and gloom. The Saders are a top quality team and I full expect them to be vying with the Chiefs and Stormers come the pointy end of the season. An absolute blinder from Fruean and a shocker form Tom Carter for them to win.

What I liked:

  • We kept the ball in-hand more and threw fewer panicked passes at the point of being tackled. Related to this, support player was better, which meant we generally recycled faster and kept hitting the defense on the back foot.
  • AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) hit some real form and looked bloody dangerous on multiple occasions. His defense was solid too.
  • Barnes taking it to the line. Tahs look a lot better when he straightens and takes the hit from time to time.
  • Territory game was much better in the second half.
  • Pretorious.
  • McKibbin's goal kicking.
  • Pakalani's pace.
What I didn't like:

  • Kicking into the wind in the first half. At the ground it was clear how strong the wind was and there was no chance we were going to win any territorial games, even leaving aside the skills of DC on the other side.
  • Substitutions. I still think Foley waits far too long. I get the feeling he's like Hickey in that he has a pattern determined and won't change it. I thought it was clear quite early in the second that Pretorious would be dangerous around the edges of the ruck. Also, Timani and Rocky should have come on earlier.
  • Execution of some backs play was lacking - perhaps the new combinations don't help - but when you compare it to the way every Crusader can put the ball through the hands effectively...
  • Telegraphing of intentions -- depth is a problem for the Tahs and I think this tends to negate many plays from the backs. The defense just watches, waits and smashes.
  • Pakalani's hands.
Good job, Tahs.
 
redstragic

redstragic

Alan Cameron (40)
cyclopath said:
FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Click to expand...

Didn't the last Tom Carter thread elevate itself to art with the Haiku's?

Let it live I say.
 
Bernie_Larkham

Bernie_Larkham

Herbert Moran (7)
"I don't like the in-game shuffling of positions in defence."

Finally some one said it. Woeful tactics from the NSW coaches. Having Carter defending one in from touch was a disaster. The Tahs backs played a drift defence all day and got smoked all day. There was not one occasion where a player made a decision to come in and make a hit. They lacked pace but continued to show the sideline and paid the price.

The coaches were too clever by half and the ability of the Saders to consistently win ball from the KO was astounding. Where was the leadership and communication to change things up?

The forwards competed well but the backs are just so average, particularly the midfield (and that includes when all players are fit and available).
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I agree wholeheartedly on your point about substitutions. Now that we have some real quality on our bench, we need to make the most of it.

Hanging on until your players are buggered is only a good idea when the bench is weak.

Sitaleki Timani should be on very soon after half time.

Pretorius should be playing close to half an hour if he's coming off the bench.

Elsom should be getting 25 minutes and more once he gets some match fitness back.

Our biggest difficulty should be shuffling between Dennis, Palu and Elsom. Dennis is such a key players and we don't want him coming off too early. Moving Dennis to lock for Mumm/Douglas for Elsom to come on should be given real consideration. Sitaleki Timani would be coming on for the other lock. Lopeti Timani comes on for Palu with about 20 minutes to go.

I think when Alcock is back we play without a reserve 7 and our starting and finishing 4-8 looks like this:

Start:
Mumm, Douglas
Dennis, Palu, Alcock

Finish:
Dennis, Timani
Elsom, Timani, Alcock

The other option would be to start Timani and finish with Mumm.
 
Richo

Richo

John Thornett (49)
If Rocky finds form with his fitness then he'll have to start. In fact, I'm sure that will happen sooner rather than later. Maybe after the June tests?
 
AngrySeahorse

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
redstragic said:
Fruen is a big unit, first time I saw him live was last year against the Reds, was really surprised when what I thought was a massive, fit looking 8 line up and was running through the backs warm up drills.

Thank God we'll have Ant on him this weekend.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen him in person (will be doing that when I go down to Melbourne to watch Rebs v Saders) but the commentators were saying Freuan is just as big if not bigger than SBW. I wouldn't have picked that but he sure is a big unit.
 
waratahjesus

waratahjesus

Greg Davis (50)
You can't harm your international ambitions to be a center for the Australian Wallabies Rugby Union team under Robbie Deans by introducing mire limitations to your game.

Robbie has probably been on the phone to Tom saying, "hey Rockabilly, great game on the weekend, noticed you passed a couple of times, if your hoping to come into test contention you might wanna knock this off, also missing a couple of tackles and struggling at the gain line will bring you into line with my plans for the lions tour"

Only chance Tom has of international selection is if Australia picked the best Australian coach based on coaching record. Christopher Hickey.
 
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