Waratahs 2012

[Hawko]

The Tahs are slowly becoming the best advertisement for rugby league, afl, soccer, hockey, baseball..........

They are killing the code. And if they seriously expect us to believe that the crowd was 15,000 last saturday then they are even more deluded than I thought!

They have serious attack issues. Clearly, their first preference is to kick................unacceptable for the advocates of 'running rugby'. But hey this is what happens when you contract blokes based on what school they went to.

How appropriate that this was posted by someone known as "Knuckles". The first Knuckles, as QLD coach, didn't give a toss about attractive rugby, was an exponent of ten man forwards-based rugby and now has the temerity to post in a Tahs thread about how unattractive and kick-focussed the current Waratah team is.

Please return to those threads inhabited by your red-necked cousins, this thread is designed for fact-based discussion.

 

[fatprop]

Given the options, I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was a good recruit. He can play many positions.

He was recruited to play fullback. It is only the excellent form and quick advancement of Bernard Foley that has forced his way into the side and meant that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has moved to the wing.

I'd argue that at Wallaby level, wing is AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s best position.

I think it was more losing Mitchell and Turner

 

[Braveheart81]

True.

Though we did start the season with BKH and Kingston on the wings and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback. Foley was on the bench.

After one game it became clear that we were a better overall side by playing Foley instead of BKH which meant that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) had to play on the wing.

If Mitchell and Turner were both available I am sure AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would still be fullback and Foley would be on the bench (or outside the 22).

 

[fatprop]

or even if Pakilani was available

 

[Braveheart81]

It's a sad state of affairs when Tahs fans are hoping for the return of Pakalani.

What's next? Hoping for Anesi to be re-signed?

 

[qwerty51]

please don't compare Pakalani to Anesi, Paka had some very good moments, electric pace and some nice hits. Anesi was a joke. If Pakalani is available he should get a wing spot, I think he's better than Kingston as a winger and I'd like to see Kingston running in the centres late in a game.

 

[Bowside]

Don't understand why you lads don't rate kingston, I think he has been your best back so far this year and the only one who has looked half dangerous. I think he's on par with shipperly but is not getting the same opportunities to show it.


I agree with Knuckles that the tahs are worst advertisement for rugby in the country. It doesn't at all make me happy to say that, even as a queenslander - at this point it is just sad.

 

[qwerty51]

I do rate Kingston, he has a very promising future but I think he's a centre and it's where he's played all his previous rugby. Right now I don't think he can crack the centres but I'd like to see him get game time in the backend of games there. His biggest attribute is his footwork, I don't think he has the top end pace for a winger. In the centres if he can size up a 1on1 opportunity I reckon he can beat whoever with his footwork, not as likely on the wing.

 

[Bowside]

If I was picking a tahs backline assuming Shmoo and Turner are out, it would be:

9. Pretorious
10. Barnes
11. Paka
12. Horne/Carter/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
13. Horne/Carter/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Kingston
15. Foley

The centres would be picked on form - ability to throw a long pass would be one of my top criteria for a 12. You have 2 play makers, as well as speed, service and kicking from the back. Would have paka and pretorius attacking the short side often with their pace off the mark - then flinging it to barnes on the next phase so he has a bit more time with the ball.

 

[Bowside]

I do rate Kingston, he has a very promising future but I think he's a centre and it's where he's played all his previous rugby. Right now I don't think he can crack the centres but I'd like to see him get game time in the backend of games there. His biggest attribute is his footwork, I don't think he has the top end pace for a winger. In the centres if he can size up a 1on1 opportunity I reckon he can beat whoever with his footwork, not as likely on the wing.

Fair enough, I think it also depends on how big he get as to whether or not he stays on the wing. I use to think the same about digby - he had played out-centre all his life and I thought his feet would be wasted on the wing. But I've certainly been proven wrong on that one, and I think part of him flourishing on the wing is due to him getting better service from his halves in recent years.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Give us federally funded facilities and federally funded staff and we'll be up there in 3 years too!

How many times do I have to give the lie to this nonsense? Not one dollar of federal funds - or state or local government funds for that matter - has been spent on sporting facilities or sporting staff at the University of Sydney ever. I repeat - not one dollar ever.

I defy you to prove otherwise, Ole Two Blue. Put up or shut up.

 

[Waylon]

How many times do I have to give the lie to this nonsense? Not one dollar of federal funds - or state or local government funds for that matter - has been spent on sporting facilities or sporting staff at the University of Sydney ever. I repeat - not one dollar ever.

I defy you to prove otherwise, Ole Two Blue. Put up or shut up.

That's hard to believe Bruce

Universities live off government handouts

Without federal money, most of them would close down

 

[Jnor]

Universities live off international and post-grad students. That's where the sweet, sweet money that seems to be all they (as institutions) care about is. But, as LG would say, I digress.

 

[Gnostic]

At my Uni our sports facilities which I have to say are far better than Sydney, though I may be slightly biased in that assessment, were funded by the Student Union largely, some local sporting clubs and specific grants. Having also lurked the jalls of Sydney I dont see any reason to suspect anything different.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Compare this to top grade AFL. The ability of virtually every team member to make long kicks under pressure on the run and place them one after another within a metre of target is, comparatively, exceptional. Same with catching under pressure.

It's absolutely no co-incidence that Henry/AB's recruited Mick Byrne directly from the AFL as their kicking and catching coach. They saw that modern top level AFL was the epicentre of kicking from hand and pressure catching skill. That's where they went, and it's totally typical of their deep professionalism and hunger for hundreds of detailed improvements across AB players. This far more in-depth professionalism around the right specialist coaching is but one of the reasons we beat them so rarely and that the Bled never sits under an Australian sun. We hired a part-time SA-based place kicking coach that worked mostly via video link with an 8-9 hr time zone difference.

God forbid that we should seek to emulate afl in the handling department: 15 m fumbling knock ons.....I feel sick thinking about it


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[kiap]

At my Uni our sports facilities which I have to say are far better than Sydney, though I may be slightly biased in that assessment, were funded by the Student Union largely, some local sporting clubs and specific grants. Having also lurked the jalls of Sydney I dont see any reason to suspect anything different.

The recent government bill has now reinstated a compulsory revenue stream for uni services including sports.

Perhaps not federal funding per se, but the goverment has instituted the levy and delivered the lolly.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-11/compulsory-student-services-fees-are-back/3497708

Compulsory student services fees are back

Updated October 12, 2011 01:08:33

Universities will be able to charge a compulsory student services fee of up to $250 from the start of next year.

The legislation, which passed both houses of Federal Parliament on Tuesday, effectively reverses the Howard government's decision to scrap compulsory student union fees.

National Union of Students president Jesse Marshall says the revenue will revive student campus services and create a better university experience.

"It's vital that students are able to access health, counselling, sport and a range of other different services," he said.
...

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The recent government bill has now reinstated a compulsory revenue stream for uni services including sports.

Perhaps not federal funding per se, but the goverment has instituted the levy and delivered the lolly.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-11/compulsory-student-services-fees-are-back/3497708

Buildcorp will be relieved


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[Cutter]

If I was picking a tahs backline assuming Shmoo and Turner are out, it would be:

9. Pretorious
10. Barnes
11. Paka
12. Horne/Carter/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
13. Horne/Carter/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Kingston
15. Foley

The centres would be picked on form - ability to throw a long pass would be one of my top criteria for a 12. You have 2 play makers, as well as speed, service and kicking from the back. Would have paka and pretorius attacking the short side often with their pace off the mark - then flinging it to barnes on the next phase so he has a bit more time with the ball.

9. Pretorious
10. Barnes
11. Paka
12. Horne
13. Kingston
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
15. Foley

I think this gives us the best attacking backline. The only potential block to this is Barnes. If Barnes is 10 I think you need an attacking 12 and 13. Notwithstanding TC's ability to organise, defend and carry in traffic, I'd like to have a look at this backline.

I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a better winger than Kingston but I'd not be against swapping them. If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) ran holes coming from the blind wing (in the same way Digby does), he'd be very effective. His greatest skill is his hole running.

 

[suckerforred]

If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) ran holes coming from the blind wing (in the same way Digby does), he'd be very effective. His greatest skill is his hole running.

I think this is actually the best playing scenario for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

 

[barbarian]

Interesting to see on the Tahs team sheet that Sarel Pretorius is attached to Gordon. Not the club I would have picked.