Waratahs 2012

[centreman]

I hear Donald is looking to leave the Chiefs maybe the Tah's could pick him up? :fishing

Donald has signed for Bath in the English Premiership for next season.
The Tahs will never win a Super Rugby title without a specialist international class five eighth,simple as that.
I thought Barnes might fit the bill when he first moved from the Reds but last season his form was average and this season his problems have been well documented. Without a 10 like Carter,Steyne,Cooper or Grant we have no hope. Our past history of producing this type of player hasn't been good with the likes of Hangers, Tim Donnelly,Shaun Berne,Lachlan McKay and Duncan McCrae being average at best. Solve that problem and the rest will fall into place.

 

[Hawko]

I hear Donald is looking to leave the Chiefs maybe the Tah's could pick him up? :fishing

Just what I said in my post. "grab another poor performing import like Anesi with the excuse there is no one else."

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Apologies if this has already been raised but word from Fox is Tahs are trying to sign Sarel Pretorius which I think would be great for the Tahs if they pull it off, not so good for the Cheetahs...

 

[qwerty51]

From what I saw on The Code after the first Blues game, Foley was already the de facto coach.

Just further on this, did anyone else watch that episode and find the same? They showed him and Chris in the box watching the game and Foley was the one always talking to the trainers and Chris never said a word. Also they showed the sheds after the game and Foley was the only one addressing the players. It wasn't about tactics or anything but mentally how well they performed in the second half. Was interesting.

 

[Hawko]

Apologies if this has already been raised but word from Fox is Tahs are trying to sign Sarel Pretorius which I think would be great for the Tahs if they pull it off, not so good for the Cheetahs...

Buying Pretorius just means McKibben will go elsewhere (probably the Brumbies) so maybe not so great. The Tahs biggest need is a marquee 10 of the highest quality who can also place kick. If Barnes doesn't recover we are totally screwed. If Barnes recovers, he, Carter and Horne can share duties at 12 & 13. I think Bernard Foley has huge potential but he isn't ready yet. He does need to be given the opportunity to step up.

 

[TheNextBigThing]

The Tahs biggest need is a marquee 10 of the highest quality who can also place kick.

I disagree. Fly-half is a position that defines the style and strategy of a team so much that I feel it should always be a long term member who can be part of the leadership group and wider club culture. An import playing for two years doesn't allow enough time for a team to shape their game long-term.

Ultimately the goal for the Waratahs should be a sustained period of excellence. A marquee 10 is analogous (IMO) with this goal.

Furthermore I think the Marquee fly-half signing is cursed (Pretorious, Michalak, Ripia)

 

[AngrySeahorse]

I didnt think about McKibben so yep probably not so good for him, I'd like Foley to get a crack at 10.

 

[waratahjesus]

Buying Pretorius just means McKibben will go elsewhere (probably the Brumbies) so maybe not so great. The Tahs biggest need is a marquee 10 of the highest quality who can also place kick. If Barnes doesn't recover we are totally screwed. If Barnes recovers, he, Carter and Horne can share duties at 12 & 13. I think Bernard Foley has huge potential but he isn't ready yet. He does need to be given the opportunity to step up.

Why would McKibben go elsewhere, he is still young isn't he, he is the only halfback at the tahs currently, it isn't automatic out the door.

 

[topo]

Why would McKibben go elsewhere, he is still young isn't he, he is the only halfback at the tahs currently, it isn't automatic out the door.

According to the Wiki he's contracted to the tahs for 2012, so he'll still be around next year. I think he's about 25 or 26, and I agree that he's an excellent prospect and will step up to Super Rugby standard.

 

[Hawko]

According to the Wiki he's contracted to the tahs for 2012, so he'll still be around next year. I think he's about 25 or 26, and I agree that he's an excellent prospect and will step up to Super Rugby standard.

He'll be the highest paid player on a per minute played basis. 74 minutes he got this year.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

He'll be the highest paid player on a per minute played basis. 74 minutes he got this year.

Andre Pretourius has gotta come close to holding the record for that. Did he ever play a minute for the Force when he signed a few years back?

 

[fatprop]

He'll be the highest paid player on a per minute played basis. 74 minutes he got this year.

Cam Jowitt?

 

[Lee Grant]

There were two items of promise from the semi final:

- the cameo of Bernard Foley which others seeing him play XVs for the 1st time have talked about as someone new, but whom Bruce was spruiking yonks ago.

- the starting game of THP Paddy Ryan. It was a bit unfair to expect much of his scrummaging when he had to come off the bench to play LHP opposite Werner Kruger when Fat Cat was injured against the Bulls, but starting at THP against the Blues he did himself proud. He caused a bit of cheek with ball in hand also.

Obviously he has to get a bit more expertise on the LH side of the scrum to add a bit of value, but Paddy is a keeper.

 

[Jnor]

He'll be the highest paid player on a per minute played basis. 74 minutes he got this year.

Rocky?

 

[Bruce Ross]

There were two items of promise from the semi final:

- the cameo of Bernard Foley which others seeing him play XVs for the 1st time have talked about as someone new, but whom Bruce was spruiking yonks ago.

- the starting game of THP Paddy Ryan. It was a bit unfair to expect much of his scrummaging when he had to come off the bench to play LHP opposite Werner Kruger when Fat Cat was injured against the Bulls, but starting at THP against the Blues he did himself proud. He caused a bit of cheek with ball in hand also.

Obviously he has to get a bit more expertise on the LH side of the scrum to add a bit of value, but Paddy is a keeper.

If he's to really achieve his potential in proper rugby Bernard needs to give up the decaffeinated variety, Sevens, forthwith.

I was quite impressed with Paddy's scrummaging. I think a lot of us keep forgetting how young he is. I saw a notable improvement in his crouch and as a consequence, less tendency to shift his feet back after the engage.

 

[fatprop]

If he's to really achieve his potential in proper rugby Bernard needs to give up the decaffeinated variety, Sevens, forthwith.

I was quite impressed with Paddy's scrummaging. I think a lot of us keep forgetting how young he is. I saw a notable improvement in his crouch and as a consequence, less tendency to shift his feet back after the engage.

Yeah, I think I may pop out to Milner on Saturday (Syd Uni vs Eastwood), Foley looked good in his cameo, but it will be his game management that will decide his outcome. Not his distribution from front foot ball.

Tim Bennetts from Eastwood has been playing well so far this season as well

 

[SuperGrover]

back to the mooted signing of Pretorius.

As he played for the Emerging South Africa team in Romania in 2008, does that constitute an A cap and therefore a marquee signing? or is he an emerging player that could be Aus qualified in 3 years?

 

[rugbysmartarse]

IIRC Dud Roodt was an emerging bok, and that didn't count as a cap, however the reports are all saying Sarel would be a 2 year "marquee" signing, possible because he is mooted for a bok squad spot this year. That's my only beef with it really, if we can secure him long term then I am all for picking him up. If we arse about with a foreign player who, lets face it, still needs game development, we are denying this development to a local player who would be a longer term prospect.

 

[Lee Grant]

Can't disagree with that smartarse, but I can see why the Tahs are interested in him.

Beale ended up being the main X-factor merchant of the Tahs and he will be sorely missed. Pretorius will replace some of that attacking flair which has gone to Melbourne. As for his defence: it is something that the Tahs will have to deal with. He could play defensively at fullback though he'd probably have to attend the scrums on defence.

It's not as though there are a lot of scrummies putting their hand up in Sydney and ready to go to vie with McKibbin though I'd like to get hold of Stirzacker for the stable. Bredenhann showed some promise against the Kiwis in the U/20 tournament and in the 3rd/4th game against France, but he won't be playing much Grade rugby in the Sydney Uni Ones this year. There are a couple of wannabees but nobody ready to run on.

I'd live with Pretorius getting a spot for a year or two.

If he's to really achieve his potential in proper rugby Bernard needs to give up the decaffeinated variety, Sevens, forthwith.

Gold that.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

You cant argue with the increased opportunites sevens is giving players though. I think the more alternative pathways to get a crack at 15's is a good thing for our code in Australia.