Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Disappointing to see that people are concentrating on best 15's for the Tahs, I would have thought that this year's injury experiences would have concentrated people's thoughts on squads rather than best 15. IMO no one except for outside backs whose tackle load is lower should play more than 250 minutes in any four week period. The part fatigue plays in injury causation is under-recognised.
Foley had said the squad needed another prop, backrower and outside back. Elsom is the backrower, hopefully Dunning can recover from his injury and be the back-up prop and we need another classy outside back.
I think the squad is looking like Robinson, Kepu, Dunning, Ryan, Tilse, TPN, Fitzpatrick, Ulugia, Timani, Vickerman, Douglas, Mumm, Alcock, McCutcheon, Elsom, Palu, Dennis, Pretorius, McKibbin, Barnes, Halangahu, Carter, Horne, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Turner, Mitchell, Pakalani, BKH, Kingston, ANO. The rookie contracts I hope will be Sio, Peterson, Jenkins, Foley and either Woodhouse or Lopeti Timani. So where are the weaknesses?
Overall, despite the weaknesses, the squad is very strong. At last we've got a decent draw, good backs coach and 2012 might be our year. Still, our squads were very strong in 2005 and 2008 and we ran into two great Crusaders teams those years. Who knows what the other teams will be like but you'd think the Crusaders, Blues with Nonu, Reds, Stormers and Sharks will be very tough. But optimism is definitely not unrealistic!
Foley had said the squad needed another prop, backrower and outside back. Elsom is the backrower, hopefully Dunning can recover from his injury and be the back-up prop and we need another classy outside back.
I think the squad is looking like Robinson, Kepu, Dunning, Ryan, Tilse, TPN, Fitzpatrick, Ulugia, Timani, Vickerman, Douglas, Mumm, Alcock, McCutcheon, Elsom, Palu, Dennis, Pretorius, McKibbin, Barnes, Halangahu, Carter, Horne, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Turner, Mitchell, Pakalani, BKH, Kingston, ANO. The rookie contracts I hope will be Sio, Peterson, Jenkins, Foley and either Woodhouse or Lopeti Timani. So where are the weaknesses?
- If Ulugia can back up LHP then perhaps Tilse is not really needed. His form has been poor in Shute, particularly at scrum time, though he seems to grow an extra leg when he plays for the Tahs.
- Fitzpatrick needs to spend time in the gym before next year so he can scrummage better and show more grunt around the park.
- Timani is not back till March and by then will have played 12 months of continuous rugby. He will be mentally and possibly physically fatigued and will need a lighter workload up till June.
- Mumm will have to move between lock and backrow with only five backrowers on the list.
- Alcock is going well in Shute but I remain totally unconvinced about McCutcheon. We are weak at 7 and I hope Jenkins gets a rookie contract to bolster this area (he only had two games for the Force and so is still elligible.)
- Pretorius needs to improve his tackling if he is to be a success. I think the Tah culture will help here, the internal pressure to perform will hopefully change his now-awful tackle stats.
- I think Gaffney could be the making of the Carter/Horne duo. Carter with some skills development would be awesome.
- I'd like to see Mitchell get first shot at 15, with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the wing playing like he did against the Darkness. Schmoo was flaky there early on in his career but now seems to have matured and could be the star we need to replace Kurtley. He is more in the Rogers mould with great running penetration and a good long boot though occasionally wayward.
- This year will be make or break for BKH. He has to step up or disappear.
Overall, despite the weaknesses, the squad is very strong. At last we've got a decent draw, good backs coach and 2012 might be our year. Still, our squads were very strong in 2005 and 2008 and we ran into two great Crusaders teams those years. Who knows what the other teams will be like but you'd think the Crusaders, Blues with Nonu, Reds, Stormers and Sharks will be very tough. But optimism is definitely not unrealistic!
Saffy are all tied up as well. Hodgson was re-signed by the Force recently, and Beau Robinson was also re-signed by the Reds, as if I recall correctly. Process of elimination hints at Pocock.
