Tahs v Cheetahs

[RugbyReg]

changes a plenty:

The HSBC Waratahs have announced the side to take on the Cheetahs this Friday in Bloemfontein with a number of changes to the squad.
Kurtley Beale and Peter Playford come into the starting XV to face the Cheetahs.

Kurtley Beale and Peter Playford come into the starting XV to face the Cheetahs.

Kurtley Beale and Peter Playford come into the starting XV to face the Cheetahs. [HSBC Waratahs Training, Zwartkop High School, 27/4/09]

After missing four matches with a calf injury, Al Baxter returns to the starting XV in the only adjustment to the forward pack, however it is the backline which takes on a new look this week.

Kurtley Beale returns to the starting side at No.12 where he will form a new centre combination with Timana Tahu.

Lachie Turner shifts to fullback, with Peter Playford earning his first starting cap for 2009 on the wing.

Tom Carter and Sam Norton-Knight have both been ruled fit to play and will start from the bench. Centre Rob Horne is still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered against the Bulls and was the only member of the touring party not available for selection.

Captain Phil Waugh will play his 108th Super Rugby match, taking him past Chris Whitaker as NSW's most-capped player at this level.

Lock Dean Mumm will play his 50th match for NSW against the Cheetahs, while Benn Robinson, Will Caldwell and Luke Doherty are all poised to make their 50th Super Rugby appearances.

"The backline certainly has a new look to it and hopefully that will bring results on Friday," said Hickey. "We used the bye week to reassess and look at our options for this trip.

"What we've come up with for this first match of the tour is something a little bit different, but the players we've selected have all trained in those positions and many have played there in games as well, so we're confident everyone can perform the roles we've asked them to."

Hickey said despite suffering back-to-back losses prior to the South African leg of the tour, the squad is in good spirits.

"I think everyone's itching to get out there and rip in," said Hickey. "Since the Force game we've moved forward positively on the park, Al's [Baxter] back from injury, Phil Waugh, Rob Horne and Luke Burgess all announced their re-signings and we had a really good trip over and have adjusted to the time difference nice and early."

Hickey added that the HSBC Waratahs wouldn't be taking the Cheetahs lightly despite their position on the table.

"The Cheetahs knocked over the Sharks a couple of weeks ago when they were on top of the table and beat the defending Champions [Crusaders] last week, which is a sign of just how strong this competition is," said Hickey. "We're under no illusions that anything less 100% is required on Friday and we're preparing for that."

2009 Super 14 - Round 12
CHEETAHS V HSBC WARATAHS
Friday 1 May 2009 (Kick-off 5:05pm SAST, 1:05am Sun AEST)
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

HSBC WARATAHS
1. Benn Robinson^ (Eastwood)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta)
3. Al Baxter (Northern Suburbs)
4. Dean Mumm* (Sydney University)
5. Will Caldwell^ (Sydney University)
6. Ben Mowen (Randwick)
7. Phil Waugh# [c] (Sydney University)
8. Wycliff Palu (Manly)
9. Brett Sheehan (Warringah)
10. Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University)
11. Lote Tuqiri (West Harbour)
12. Kurtley Beale (Northern Suburbs)
13. Timana Tahu (West Harbour)
14. Peter Playford (Sydney University)
15. Lachie Turner (Eastwood)
Reserves
16. Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood)
17. Sekope Kepu (Randwick)
18. Chris Thomson (Warringah)
19. Luke Doherty^ (Manly)
20. Luke Burgess (Sydney University)
21. Sam Norton-Knight (Northern Suburbs)
22. Tom Carter (Sydney University)

* 50th NSW Cap
^ 50th Super Rugby Cap
# 108th Super Rugby Cap (NSW record; Chris Whitaker 107)

Ok a few points:

- Turner to fullback. Nice. Good to pick him there when he is reasonable form. Look forward to it.
- that must be the oddest centre combination imaginable. Shall be fun to watch however. Has the POTENTIAL to wreak havoc.
- Still an uninspiring halves combo.
- with the exception of Mowen probably, that's an awesome pack - test quality. Significant considering no Rocky, Vickers or Dunning.
- Kepu back on the bench for Palmer (or rather Palmer right out of the squad) - fair enough I guess. Kepu is ampipropserous.
- Doherty, Robinson and Caldwell all play their 50th Super Rugby game. Mumm plays his 50th for NSW (Gee that's flown!)

 

[fatprop]

Sheehan?


:angryfire:

 

[Blue]

Interesting they keep Carter on the bench in case it goes pear shaped? Expect the Cheetah forward to run at Beal's inside all night.

Could be good, but could backfire horribly.

Cheetahs have been very effective at the breakdown of late. Will be interesting to see if the Tahs can be more effective there than Richie and Co/

 

[Ash]

Surprised Carraro hasn't been given a shot, I'd rate him as a better attacker than Playford.

Let's see how the Beale crashballs go this game...

 

[mark_s]

I reckon Beale will play 10 and hangers 12.

 

[Scotty]

that must be the oddest centre combination imaginable. Shall be fun to watch however. Has the POTENTIAL to wreak havoc.

For both teams.

I expect that Tahu may come into 12 in attack on occasion for the crash ball.

 

[RugbyReg]

that must be the oddest centre combination imaginable. Shall be fun to watch however. Has the POTENTIAL to wreak havoc.

For both teams.

I expect that Tahu may come into 12 in attack on occasion for the crash ball.

that's a fair call as Beale is pretty handy roaming wide and working with his wings and fullback.

 

[fatprop]

that must be the oddest centre combination imaginable. Shall be fun to watch however. Has the POTENTIAL to wreak havoc.

For both teams.

I expect that Tahu may come into 12 in attack on occasion for the crash ball.

that's a fair call as Beale is pretty handy roaming wide and working with his wings and fullback.

The funny thing is that is what Tahu did for his whole NRL career. The crash baller will be Lote from blind and the Hangers dummy(TM)

 

[Lee Grant]

Ash

That may be the point: that the Carter crashballing won't be attempted. I see the wingers and Turner running off Beale a lot. I wonder how deep they will have him playing.

Am not surprised that Carter and SNK have been benched. Whatever their merits and demerits, some variation had to be tried. Sometimes the consequence of a brave initiative can prove to be worse that the old problem, but in business, rugby teams and all of life, if you want different results you can't keep doing the same old thing.

Beale at 12 will make him a target for the Cheetahs midfield but his direct opponent, Meyer Bosman, has missed more tackles than anybody else in the S14 and our lads will be targetting him.

It was frustrating to see Carter crashballing game after game under both Link and Hickey, often on the inside ball. It may not of been his fault: such actions may have been prescribed, or the game situation may have required it more than I thought, but I mentioned last year that I thought he was a firewall to the ball going wider and I want to see the different thing tried.

As for SNK - sometimes he has looked like a lost soul and a stint from the bench could be just what he needs. Likewise the move offshore may benefit him as it has to so many others who have lost their way.


Noddy

ampipropserous? :lmao: :lmao: Kepu is still a LHP in my book unless I see him giving the Tahs scrum a bit of regular right shoulder against class opponents when it is needed, and dealing sternly with cheating LHPs.

I've changed my mind on Mowen during the season. Earlier this year I said that he played a light game, but his move to 6 has revealed a harder side to him, and his lineout work at 2 on either throw has been a revelation. He is head and shoulders above the other Tahs in the number of lineouts he has won and 3rd in the whole of the S14.

I believe that Beau Robinson is not on tour. Mowen played 7 for Randwick a few times last year, though without much distinction in my book; but he is probably Waughs back up.

 

[Scarfman]

I think Noddy meant ambipropserous. Which I'm happy to run with as official G&GR jargon.

I think this backline is bizarre. not sure what else to say. You can imagine what I think of benching the only back who has a clue.

 

[Harfish]

I like this team, it means my $50 bet on the Cheetahs to make the semis isn't entirely lost... :lmao:

 

[Ash]

Ash

That may be the point: that the Carter crashballing won't be attempted. I see the wingers and Turner running off Beale a lot. I wonder how deep they will have him playing.

Lee - I was attempting to be facetious, as I am a little doubtful that the Tahs can change their style of play this late into the season.

Though, I will concede it does work better getting Beale a little bit wider and having the chance to find some bigger runners in Tuqiri, Tahu and Playford a bit further out. No more inside balls to crashballers hitting a wall of defence. Please?

 

[Lee Grant]

Amen

 

[PaarlBok]

This game the Cheetahs need to play wide, They look pretty handy now with Nokwe and Daniller hitting form and the usually Smith, Scholtz/Kabamba & Brussouw trio getting there quick.

 

[Jatz]

Kurtley Beale returns to the starting side at No.12 where he will form a new centre combination with Timana Tahu.

Absolutely amazed at that! Scary stuff. I would rather the two SAS guys protecting them played at 12 & 13. It's going to be turnover city.

 

[PhucNgo]

I'm not sure what the Angry Dwarf brings to proceedings, but the Hangers, Beale, Tahu combo performed pretty well against the Brumbies in a trial match way back. What they were able to do was play the ball extremely close to the line, with Beale acting as an NZ 2nd 5. Case in point was a try scored off a well placed Beale grubber made right on the ad line about 15-20 out, which was made only after all Brumbies backs had been committed to defending the line i.e they were not sure what KB (Kurtley Beale) was up to.

The downside of course will be in defence. Hangers is a dogged defender, but Beale and Tahu have been up and down. If the Cheetahs attack drifts wide, then I think Beale and Tahu will cope, but either way Phil Waugh's gonna have his work cut out.

 

[Scarfman]

I think SNK to 10 was the only plan that could save the Tahs.

But you knew that.

 

[cyclopath]

I'm not sure what the Angry Dwarf brings to proceedings, but the Hangers, Beale, Tahu combo performed pretty well against the Brumbies in a trial match way back. What they were able to do was play the ball extremely close to the line, with Beale acting as an NZ 2nd 5. Case in point was a try scored off a well placed Beale grubber made right on the ad line about 15-20 out, which was made only after all Brumbies backs had been committed to defending the line i.e they were not sure what KB (Kurtley Beale) was up to.

The downside of course will be in defence. Hangers is a dogged defender, but Beale and Tahu have been up and down. If the Cheetahs attack drifts wide, then I think Beale and Tahu will cope, but either way Phil Waugh's gonna have his work cut out.

Injury stoppages when he inevitably gets concussed. Oh, and anger!

 

[PaarlBok]

The Cheetahs zoom in on Beale ;D

Superrugby

Cheetahs expect Beale to struggle at centre
Former Waratahs flyhalf Kurtley Beale may struggle to come to terms with the demands of playing inside centre.

He can therefore expect the Cheetahs to put pressure on him in Friday?s Super14 game, says Meyer Bosman.

Bosman knows what he is talking about as he played flyhalf earlier in the Cheetahs? campaign.

?At flyhalf you are expected to play an organisational role. You also kick more, while at centre you have to tackle and clean,? said Bosman.

?I wouldn?t say the one position is more difficult than the other, but you have to adapt a lot when you make a switch.?

Bosman believes the Waratahs have an excellent defensive system, which can help Beale slot in.

?Beale?s channel is maybe one that we can look at attacking, especially because he is new there. He may be a little unsure of himself,? said the vice-captain.

Beale has apparently been picked in the position to give the backline more attacking thrust.

His return is one of three changes to the backline that lost to the Western Force. He replaces Tom Carter, who is struggling with a groin injury and will be a substitute.

Apart from inside centre, the Waratahs have also picked a different right wing and fullback.

Peter Playford replaces Lachlan Turner as right wing. Turner, the team?s top try-scorer, moves to fullback in place of Sam Norton-Knight.

There is only one change among the forwards. Al Baxter is back as tighthead prop..

The Cheetahs will give Corne Uys until Thursday to recover from an infection in his left knee.

 

[Scarfman]

The Cheetahs are incompetent. Their skills and decision-making make Tom Carter look like Mark Ella. We should win this one anyway.