Waratahs 2011

[Hawko]

Waugh, Palu, McCutcheon, Dennis, Mowen, Mumm.... was he even going to get a run!?

Of those only Palu and perhaps Mowen could be considered for 8. McCaffrey is reportedly the back-up for Palu based on Shute form and on that basis with Wallabies getting some rest before the World Cup you would think that he would get at least a few runs off the bench. But then Hickey uses his bench less than Deans (if that's possible) and puts players back before they have recovered from injury properly so he doesn't have to select reserves, so you may be right.

Awful outcome for McCaffrey, you would think that he might have made the Wallabies in 2012 had he had a good 2011. There will be some retirements and departures for France and Japan after 2011.

So, what do the Tah's do to back up Palu for at least the first half of the S15? Some have suggested Kepu and it might be an option. The more likely alternative would be to bring Mowen round to 8 and Mumm back to 6, then you'd be able to play some of the reserve locks alongside Douglas. Depending on form/fitness/recovery from illness, that might result in a more powerful tight five and a mobile, fast and running backrow with lots of lineout expertise.

 

[#1 Tah]

So, what do the Tah's do to back up Palu for at least the first half of the S15? Some have suggested Kepu and it might be an option. The more likely alternative would be to bring Mowen round to 8 and Mumm back to 6, then you'd be able to play some of the reserve locks alongside Douglas. Depending on form/fitness/recovery from illness, that might result in a more powerful tight five and a mobile, fast and running backrow with lots of lineout expertise.

I was under the impression Palu would be back?

 

[Langthorne]

If Palu is back, back row rotation between Palu, Mowen, Dennis, McCutcheon and Waugh, with Mumm as a potential 6 if required looks pretty handy to me...without Palu things look a little less handy. It would be nice to have McCaffrey in the mix too, but them is the breaks.

 

[topo]

Waugh, Palu, McCutcheon, Dennis, Mowen, Mumm.... was he even going to get a run!?

With the extended season next year, I think just about every player in a squad will get a run, especially forwards.

 

[fatprop]

He was on the bench a number of times this season

 

[fatprop]

I wonder if they will look to pick someone up? The big islander 8 from Manly looks to have potential

 

[DPK]

I wonder if they will look to pick someone up? The big islander 8 from Manly looks to have potential

Agreed; so does the Number 8 for Southern Districts (Vaea?).

 

[#1 Tah]

Agreed; so does the Number 8 for Southern Districts (Vaea?).

Samo.

 

[Gnostic]

Mowen appears to have added some beef to his frame and hasn't sacrificed his mobility for it.

 

[DPK]

Samo.

No, Ita Vaea is the one I meant.

 

[Lee Grant]

Agree on Ita Vaea and at 21 years old is probably a better investment. I saw him for the Brumby Runners earlier in the year and he was a standout in the game, but there's no mention of his being given a super contract by them. He played for Tongan U/20 side last year so we had better nab him. If he came to Oz recently though we should have hands off; so it all depends what the lad wants to do I suppose.

 

[#1 Tah]

Did anyone else see Mark Gachiari (wicks coach) having a blow up about the condition of Woollarah oval? (can't put link up, am on iPod). That is where I play my junior rugby, and the ground is fine. I was at the game and the players were wearing studs that were way too long.

 

[Lindommer]

I was at Woollahra Oval a fortnight ago to watch one of the Colts finals and it was appalling. Little or no grass cover on the playing surface. Maybe you're used to it N1T, but there are much better rugby grounds in Sydney.

The Beasts would do well to take a leaf out of Souths' book: Forshaw was as bad as Woollahra last year but the club pulled their finger out and put a lot of work into their ground. This year it's one of the best playing surfaces in the comp, much better than Woollahra or Uni. And there's a lot more parking at Souths' ground than Easts or Uni.

How Souths and Warringah didn't get a finals match I don't know.

 

[topo]

How Souths and Warringah didn't get a finals match I don't know.

Did they put in a tender?

On the parking note, there is plenty of parking at Uni and this was made available free of charge for yesterdays game.

 

[DPK]

We're complaining about Woollahra at the moment, aren't we topo?

 

[fatprop]

Did they put in a tender?

On the parking note, there is plenty of parking at Uni and this was made available free of charge for yesterdays game.

I gather the tender didn't include the requirement of a decent pitch.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

And there's a lot more parking at Souths' ground than Easts or Uni.

Where's the parking at Souths? Particularly if the Athletics field parking is not available?

 

[Lee Grant]

Next door there is some sneaky parking.

 

[#1 Tah]

When I saw Chizz being carried off, he was wearing long studs, not suitable for the hard ground. Clearly he planted his foot and tried to step, and the long studs wouldnt budge.

 

[Gnostic]

There is no way to sugar coat it Tah both pitches used in the finals to date have been poor. They should not have been used and the NSWRU stuffed up big by not including a clause guarenteeing the standard of the ground in the tender process. End of story.