R
Red Rooster
Guest
Chris (Hickey and Webb) both rate him.
Yeah what about Foley though? - Head Coach in waiting if the rumours are true
Chris (Hickey and Webb) both rate him.
Yeah what about Foley though? - Head Coach in waiting if the rumours are true
HSBC Waratahs complete 2011 Super Rugby roster
The HSBC Waratahs have put the finishing touches on their 2011 Super Rugby squad with the addition of two New Zealand-based Pacific Islanders.
Samoan-born former All Black Sosene Anesi will return to NSW following his debut season with the HSBC Waratahs in 2010, while Auckland wing Atieli ‘Afa’ Pakalani has the opportunity to make his Super Rugby debut in 2011.
A one-Test international who also won a gold medal in Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Anesi made his NSW debut last season after 41 appearances for the Chiefs including the 2009 Super 14 Final. He went on to start at fullback in the first six matches of the season before the emergence of Kurtley Beale in the custodian role.
He went on to play off the bench in the following six matches before suffering an injury at his old stamping ground in Hamilton, forcing him to miss the final match of the regular season and the semi-final.
One of the most popular members of the squad ‘Sos’ said he is looking forward to coming back to Sydney for one more year and pushing for a place in the match day squad.
“Personally and for the team I think there’s a bit of unfinished business from 2010 and I’m grateful for the opportunity to come back and make amends for that,” said Anesi. “It was disappointing to miss those last couple of games because as a unit the backs had come so far in a short space of time.
“Last year I was new to the team, Berrick [Barnes] and Drew [Mitchell] were new to the team as well and KB (Kurtley Beale) [Kurtley Beale] was getting used to a new position so we spent a lot of time developing our combinations and our style.
“By the time we were really hitting our straps the season was almost over but in 2011 we’ll be starting from a much better place.”
Afa Pakalani joins the team on a two-year deal after two seasons with Auckland in the NPC. Known as the ‘Tongan Hitman’, Pakalani was selected for his provincial debut last year without having played a senior club match.
Pakalani went on to win Auckland’s Most Promising NPC Player of the Year Award in 2009 and has accumulated 17 caps for the perennial title contenders in his first two years at provincial level.
A product of Tamaki College, Pakalani captained Tonga at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championships including the pool game against Australia where he was up against fellow NSW squad members Kane Douglas and Kurtley Beale.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” said Pakalani, who is also the cousin of HSBC Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu. “It’s going to be a big challenge to push for a place in the back three because it’s full of Test players at NSW but I’m hoping to learn a lot and if I get a chance then I’m going to take it.
“The Waratahs have shown a lot of faith in me and I want to repay them.”
HSBC Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey said he is looking forward to the addition of both players who will strengthen the NSW backline.
“It’s good to get the squad finalised and we’re really happy with how it has come together,” said Hickey. “I know Sos loved it in Sydney and he was great for the group, but he has more to show us than what he did in 2010.
“He’s been in great form for Waikato in the NPC and has that ability to fill in anywhere in the back three.
“Afa’s a developing player who has a lot of natural talent, great footwork, he’s good in the air and he’s strong defensively as well. There’s clearly quite a few quality players who are in front of him at the moment but he’s been playing against the best players in New Zealand for two years now and we know he’ll be up to the challenge.”
The HSBC Waratahs return to training on Monday 1 November, however players who have been involved in the Wallabies Spring Tour training squad or the NPC in New Zealand will return in the weeks that follow.
SOSENE ANESI
Position: Fullback/Wing
Physical: 187cm, 95kg
Born: 03.07.81, Apia SAM
Club: Eastern Suburbs
Provincial Caps: 100 [Waikato 88, Chiefs 41, HSBC Waratahs 12]
Provincial Points: 225 [Waikato 165 (33t), Chiefs 60 (12t)]
Provincial Debut: 2003 v Bay of Plenty [Waikato]
Super Rugby Caps: 53 [Chiefs 41, HSBC Waratahs 12]
Super Rugby Points: 60 [Chiefs 60 (12t)]
Super Rugby Debut: 2005 v NSW Waratahs [Chiefs]
Test Caps: 1 [New Zealand]
Test Points: 0
Test Debut: 2005 v Fiji [New Zealand]
ATIELI ‘AFA’ PAKALANI
Position: Wing
Physical: 183cm, 84kg
Born: 02.08.89, Ha’ateiho TON
Club: TBC
Provincial Caps: 17 [Auckland 17]
Provincial Points: 15 [Auckland 15 (3t)]
Provincial Debut: 2009 v Hawke’s Bay
Super Rugby Caps: 0
Test Caps: 0
So Anesi is the "Marquee" player again :nta: he was rubbish this year.
...
There is no way known that Sosene Anesi, Daniel Braid, Andre Pretorius or David Hill held any 'marquee' value for fans, and I imagine they would not have been paid as such.
All they are is a good player from overseas who is happy to take what is offered to them.
...
'... maybe Cipriani is the closest (in pay packet as well) and he may not even turn up.
We've just had Adam D'Arcy leave for Europe, would much rather see him playing for the Tahs than a known non-quantity like Anesi.
Well we won't know about the whole D'Arcy thing till it plays out. We may see him come back from Europe Super rugby starting quality.
Alternatively, he could come to nothing or even get capped for Ireland, only time will tell.