Waratahs 2011
- Thread starter fatprop
- Start date
- Status
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
One point made above that I think should be emphasised is the nature of the trial system. Normally the first and second trials (in this case the first only) are used to accomplish two things - to blow out the cobwebs and to try out all the left-field ideas that the coaches have had over the summer. The last trial usually is used to sharpen up the first team before the beginning of the comp proper and to retrial anything that seemed to work really well in the weeks before. Given that the Tah squad is very settled from last year, the two trial only program makes sense on paper and reduces the pre-season injury risk. So what's been announced so far exactly matches trial theory and if people want to know what's really on the head coach's mind, have a look at the final trial because barring injuries or people rested, that's who is going to run out week 1.
The key problem the Tahs have on selections is who to pick at 12 & 13. The rest is almost a done deal. But that is so murky that it could be as late as round 5 before we get some certainty, especially as I hope Horne gets eased back via the bench this campaign. At 12 you have got Carter, Halangahu, Holmes, Cross and Horne as options; at 13 you have Carter, Horne, Cross, BKH, Turner and now Kingston (did I miss anyone?). Of those, only Carter-Cross and Carter-Horne would be well understood and the question of who gets selected first up against the Rebels is coloured by the fact that they will probably be facing Vuna-Mortlock so you have to pick big strong tacklers or you'll get smashed. It looks like this week we will be trying Carter-Turner and Cross-Turner with a bit of Cross-Kingston. You can never have too much information.
Personally I think THE most important thing I want to see is increased physicality from the Tah forwards. We could still be crap in the centres and win the comp but unless the Tah forwards become feared for their physicality rather than respected for their nouse, we cannot take home the trophy.
The key problem the Tahs have on selections is who to pick at 12 & 13. The rest is almost a done deal. But that is so murky that it could be as late as round 5 before we get some certainty, especially as I hope Horne gets eased back via the bench this campaign. At 12 you have got Carter, Halangahu, Holmes, Cross and Horne as options; at 13 you have Carter, Horne, Cross, BKH, Turner and now Kingston (did I miss anyone?). Of those, only Carter-Cross and Carter-Horne would be well understood and the question of who gets selected first up against the Rebels is coloured by the fact that they will probably be facing Vuna-Mortlock so you have to pick big strong tacklers or you'll get smashed. It looks like this week we will be trying Carter-Turner and Cross-Turner with a bit of Cross-Kingston. You can never have too much information.
Personally I think THE most important thing I want to see is increased physicality from the Tah forwards. We could still be crap in the centres and win the comp but unless the Tah forwards become feared for their physicality rather than respected for their nouse, we cannot take home the trophy.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Turner would have to be heavier than Jason Little, but I don't believe Little was "demolished in contact". Before you can tackle a player you have to close the gap between himself and yourself. With some players that's not so easy.
rugbysmartarse
Alan Cameron (40)
thats right - we all want to prove ourselves and try to wrestle the press pass away from Moses
rugbysmartarse
Alan Cameron (40)
good thing it's not at Homebush - I never get coverage there.
RugbyFuture
Lord Logo
I know that Aloys had a gun year the year after mine, and Kingston was at the lead (really lanky bloke at the time). Perhaps Bruce can tell us more, but the class of 2009 had a heap of talent at aloys (even though most where a bit jocky, and assholes), A huge humber of those guys repped compared to usual for Aloys.
Yet to play first grade, picked for Tahs
* Jon Geddes
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* February 04, 2011 12:00AM
Tom Kingston
Talented youngster ... Waratahs player Tom Kingston. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
TEENAGE centre Tom Kingston has never played a game of first-grade rugby but tonight he will make his debut for the Waratahs in their trial against Fiji at the Sydney Football Stadium.
He is the bolter in the NSW squad who won a fulltime rookie contract this week after impressing the coaching staff since being called up to fill in at training before Christmas.
"Every pre-season there are always one or two young players who come through and really catch your eye through their application, their attitude and their ability level," Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said.
"And certainly this year Tom Kingston has been one of those players in our pre-season squad."
Nobody has been more surprised by his rapid rise to the Waratahs ranks than Kingston himself.
"It's such a strong side - really as a 19-year-old you don't expect to play a part," Kingston admitted.
"I was just learning from all the Wallabies and took every opportunity that came."
After representing the Australian Schoolboys in 2009, the former St Aloysius College student played for Sydney University last year but never cracked first grade and was struck down with glandular fever mid-season.
He had expected to spend this year trying to cement a top-grade spot with Uni, a goal he still hopes to achieve.
But right now Kingston is coming to grips with the fact he is training alongside the likes of stars Phil Waugh, Cliffy Palu, Berrick Barnes and Kurtley Beale.
"It's crazy, it's all really new to me," he said.
And he is showing the benefits of all that hard work he has put in with the Waratahs, adding 7kg of muscle to his frame.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Yeah - it's been a problem. The players haven't been too bad - Carter isn't as dud as folks say - it's how they work together. In fact the whole 10, 12, 13 nexus hasn't been that great in that time.
I haven't seen Tom Kingston play since he left school. I went to see Uni play Manly in a night game last year and according to my programme Kingston was playing in 3rd grade; so I missed him. That was at the end of August - he's come a long way since then hasn't he?
I haven't seen Tom Kingston play since he left school. I went to see Uni play Manly in a night game last year and according to my programme Kingston was playing in 3rd grade; so I missed him. That was at the end of August - he's come a long way since then hasn't he?
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
RugbyFuture
Lord Logo
they're closing threads all over the place these days.....we should go egypt on their ass...
- Status