Waratahs 2011
- Thread starter fatprop
- Start date
- Status
TheRiddler
Dave Cowper (27)
:violin:
Yet more BS from my mate Chris. Probably one area the Tahs did have the wood slightly on Saturday was in the forwards, hence Waugh's obsession with one off running and keeping it in tight. If Hickey thinks the weight advantage is an important factor, why didnt they test out the the featherweight winger and fullback? And instead of trying to smash the ruck all the time and win immediate ball from the first guy in (often resulting in a penalty), if he realised the back row were at a weight disadvantage, why not employ tactics that allowed a ruck to develop, bring in supporting players and counter rucking? Or, now here's a thing, if you think you are going to get smashed because they have bigger forwards than you, wouldnt you try and spin the ball out wide to take that contest out of the game?
:crybaby
TheRiddler
Dave Cowper (27)
fatprop said:
FP, thought we had that on a number of occasions but instead of it going out wide, it went one off for a few phases until we a) knocked it on b) lost in the ruck or c) got in each others way and totally stuffed up the continuity. Plenty of times it could have been spun wide or, as mentioned elsewhere gone two or three out for a separate attacking pod. Not just blaming the forwards or Waugh's instructions because quite often when it did go to Berrick, he just put in another aimless kick and handed over possession anyway.
And as for Chris saying we need new second row and back row players to fill out the squad we already have Dud, Alcock, Jowitt, Caldwell and Coridas that were hardly used this year (admittedly due to injury in a number of cases). Does that mean that Hickey is going to dispense with a number of these? If he wants big, heavy forwards then may Dud has a future with the Tahs but from what I've seen of him playing at Gordon so far this season, he's nothing special.
TheRiddler said:
Until you can suck in defenders and bend the line near the ruck you can't spin the ball against the side using a drift defence as well as the stormers do. When ever we did spin it, our backs were out numbered
To me we lack ball carriers, when have plenty of the the Syd Uni high workrate clones, but need some explosive back up who are able to bend the line near the ruck. Palu will be here for one more season, we need succession planning.
TheRiddler
Dave Cowper (27)
Noddy said:
Has he been released from his Tahs contract? Cant recall seeing the official announcement.
TheRiddler
Dave Cowper (27)
Surely as a contracted player he is/was bound to the NSWRU/Waratahs until a certain date with permission to play for a Shute Shield team (in his case Manly). Legally, he would therefore need dispensation from that contract to play for another team not associated with NSW, i.e. a club team in Fiji or France?
Question is, what is the expiry date on his contract and why have the Tahs given up on him/not renewed it?
Question is, what is the expiry date on his contract and why have the Tahs given up on him/not renewed it?
Langthorne
Phil Hardcastle (33)
thinking about player recruitment, where are the Tahs weak or in need of reinforcement?
I'm not convinced that the Waratahs need to bulk up or bring in bigger blokes. If they are planning on employing the same tactics around the ruck as they did against the Stormers they will need to be bigger, but then the other teams will find ways around them.
I would aim to have the fittest and best drilled forwards in the competition - and then employ tactics that take advantage of these traits. For drawing the big Stormers defenders in, how about having two pods in motion as forward options rather than just one? Then vary the tactic by bringing in a winger at an angle, or passing behind to the backs for either a crash ball back in or letting it go wide. Once the defence is a bit stressed, go with pop balls and pick and drives.
With skill, fitness and mobility (and good use of the bench) they could run anyone ragged.
On to recruitment:
with full fitness the starting 15 is pretty strong, but with injuries and rotation the gaps open up.
First priority must be cover for Rob Horne (ideally someone who can play in other positions too)
Robinson, Baxter, Tilse, Ryan, Kepu is a sufficient number of props
TPN and Fitzpatrick plus one more hooker required
Douglas (he'll keep growing for the next 3-4 years, so will be a real monster) and Mumm (stick with lock I think) are good starters, plus Dennis for me, especially as he can play 6 too. If Caldwell is up to it I'd like to see him in the squad too. Jowitt and Roodt can pack their bags as far as I'm concerned. So at least one more needed here.
Mowen, Waugh, Palu to start, with McCutcheon and Alcock in the mix too. Who are the players being groomed to replace Waugh and Palu? If we don't have them yet, we'd better get them soon, and give them game time.
Burgess is starting to hit some form. Does Will Genia have a twin brother? I think we need a better second option (or maybe a better first option)
Can Sidey play wing or fullback? If not, we need cover for Beale, Mitchell and Turner. Anesi can go back to NZ to help the underperforming Kiwi teams.
Who is out there? Aussies only please.
I'm not convinced that the Waratahs need to bulk up or bring in bigger blokes. If they are planning on employing the same tactics around the ruck as they did against the Stormers they will need to be bigger, but then the other teams will find ways around them.
I would aim to have the fittest and best drilled forwards in the competition - and then employ tactics that take advantage of these traits. For drawing the big Stormers defenders in, how about having two pods in motion as forward options rather than just one? Then vary the tactic by bringing in a winger at an angle, or passing behind to the backs for either a crash ball back in or letting it go wide. Once the defence is a bit stressed, go with pop balls and pick and drives.
With skill, fitness and mobility (and good use of the bench) they could run anyone ragged.
On to recruitment:
with full fitness the starting 15 is pretty strong, but with injuries and rotation the gaps open up.
First priority must be cover for Rob Horne (ideally someone who can play in other positions too)
Robinson, Baxter, Tilse, Ryan, Kepu is a sufficient number of props
TPN and Fitzpatrick plus one more hooker required
Douglas (he'll keep growing for the next 3-4 years, so will be a real monster) and Mumm (stick with lock I think) are good starters, plus Dennis for me, especially as he can play 6 too. If Caldwell is up to it I'd like to see him in the squad too. Jowitt and Roodt can pack their bags as far as I'm concerned. So at least one more needed here.
Mowen, Waugh, Palu to start, with McCutcheon and Alcock in the mix too. Who are the players being groomed to replace Waugh and Palu? If we don't have them yet, we'd better get them soon, and give them game time.
Burgess is starting to hit some form. Does Will Genia have a twin brother? I think we need a better second option (or maybe a better first option)
Can Sidey play wing or fullback? If not, we need cover for Beale, Mitchell and Turner. Anesi can go back to NZ to help the underperforming Kiwi teams.
Who is out there? Aussies only please.
S
simonr
Guest
Agree with Langthorne, cover needed at 12/13 and cover(slash new starter) for 9. I also think that if Alcock is going to be the answer to a departing Waugh, he needs more game time next year. We seem to have a lot of 6s in the squad (dennis, mowen, McCutcheon, Mumm) but no real 7. another monster 8 would be good too, but they would likely get itchy feet playing behind Palu (like Hoiles did).
AussieDominance
Trevor Allan (34)
Noddy said:
You also have to sign Cooper first!
- Status