Waratahs 2012

[Knuckles]

I've asked this question previously but can't recall an answer. What has happened to Zipper Taumopeau? I heard he was in the extended Tah's squad but haven't seen his name.

I'm led to believe Sipa had a shoulder reconstruction towards the end of the season. The Rebels released him, and he is apparently training for a contract at Tahs

 

[Lee Grant]

I think the squads have wider training groups as there was mention of Bennetts and Matwijow declining the National Academy offer and joining the Rebels WTG.

Maybe Zipper is in the Tahs WTG, though what being in a WTG means is unknown.

 

[waves]

I think the squads have wider training groups as there was mention of Bennetts and Matwijow declining the National Academy offer and joining the Rebels WTG.

Maybe Zipper is in the Tahs WTG, though what being in a WTG means is unknown.

I am lead to believe that Zipa was overlooked for a contract due to his shoulder reconstruction. The Waratahs were looking to take someone aboard who was fit and able to train form Day 1 of pre-season training, Hence the addition of Nathan Trist.

 

[spectator]

I reckon once he is fully fit, Taoumopeau will be a very valuable addition to any squad once there are some injuries to others. Quite a bit of experience already for a young bloke.

 

[Rob]

Did anyone notice the article over the weekend about a third half back for the Tahs next year - nephew of John Hart. Does anyone know anything about him.

 

[Swat]

GRAYSON HART
Born: 19 June 1988, Kaitaia NZL
Physical: 185cm, 92kg
Position: Scrumhalf
School: Mt Roskill Grammar School
Junior Club: Grammar Carlton
Club: Southern Districts
Provincial Caps: 31 [Auckland 25, North Harbour 6]
Provincial Points: 10 [Auckland 10 (2t)]
Provincial Debut: 2007 v Bay of Plenty [Auckland]
Super Rugby Caps: 7 [Blues 7]
Super Rugby Points: 0
Super Rugby Debut: 2009 v Bulls [Blues]
Test Caps: 0
Rep Honours: New Zealand U19, New Zealand U20, Auckland NPC, North Harbour NPC, Blues
Grayson Hart, the nephew of former All Blacks coach John, has played the last two years in the Shute Shield after making a name for himself in New Zealand. Hart is a former national rep at U19 and U20 level and made his NPC debut at just 19 years of age for Auckland in 2007. He went on to play Super Rugby for the Blues before heading to Sydney, and qualifies as an Australian through his paternal grandmother.

 

[Swat]

[video=youtube;dxlQc1-vZoc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxlQc1-vZoc[/video]

 

[mudskipper]

Hart looks good, nice addition for the Tahs, he has some valuable experience for a young-ish guy....

 

[Lee Grant]

Good player. Watched a bit of him in the Shute Shield for Southern Districts at the ground late in the season after seeing him on TV earlier. Didn't impress me v. Sydney Uni and my jury was out, but he had a top match v. Randwick at Forshaw. He's a good catch as a EPS player, having played S14 before.


Not quite to the point, but I think that the Brumbies with only 2 scrummies in their official stable of 35 have blundered. No doubt they have other scrumhalves they can cherry-pick, but will they be in constant training from now until the end of the Super season?

 

[TOCC]

with the new rules of the EPS and NTS, are the provinces prevented on bringing in further players outside of the NTS(ie club players) to train with the squads?

 

[fatprop]

with the new rules of the EPS and NTS, are the provinces prevented on bringing in further players outside of the NTS(ie club players) to train with the squads?

I think they can have as many as they can afford/manage, there was an interview with Scott Bowen suggesting such

 

[Swat]

Courtesy of Brett Harris and the Australian...

NEW Waratahs coach Michael Foley has created an innovative, tri-level leadership structure designed to make every player in the squad more aware of his influence on the team's performance.

Foley has named blindside flanker Rocky Elsom, second-rower Dan Vickerman, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, loosehead prop Benn Robinson, five-eighth Berrick Barnes, inside centre Tom Carter, outside centre Rob Horne and winger Drew Mitchell in the eight-man leadership group.

Supporting the formal leadership group are two other groups of senior and younger players such as number eight Wycliff Palu and outside back Tom Kingston.

The Waratahs' captain will be one of the eight players in the leadership group, but it will not be announced until after Christmas.

It is the sort of leadership structure that Australia's hugely successful hockey coach Ric Charlesworth would describe as "a leaderful team".


"The way we are looking at leadership is very simply to get every player to understand they will have an influence on the outcome," Foley said.

"In a way, leadership is influencing a group of people. The traditional model sees the captain as the central figure in that. Very often what happens is a lot of people around the captain become less aware of their influence.

"What we are looking to try and do is create an environment where each player is acutely aware of the influence they are going to have over the outcomes we are after."

Foley said the new direction was taken partly in response to the dominant leadership of former captain and openside flanker Phil Waugh, who has retired.

"We are coming out of a period of time where we had one of the best rugby captains of the last decade, but what we saw with Phil as the captain was that a lot of players probably allowed Phil to do too much in a sense that they weren't aware of the influence they were having," Foley said.

"Before we move towards looking at the role of the captain and appointing a captain we are just looking at working with every player and their contribution if you like to leading or influencing within the team.

"Underneath those eight guys there are two distinct groups. One is a group of senior players who have been around the team for a while and another group of guys who are relatively new to the team. The leadership group is looking at unity and direction. The senior players are crucial to performance standards. The younger players' job is pressure and development."

Interestingly, a player who was once regarded as Waugh's heir apparent, second-rower Dean Mumm, was omitted from the leadership group.

"Dean is someone who definitely displays good leadership qualities but we won't necessarily look at giving him a formal leadership role to allow him to focus on playing his best rugby," Foley said.

"The focus for him next year is to really establish himself as the international player we know he is. As the team moves forward in years to come there will be different roles for different people and I certainly see Dean Mumm as someone having great influence on the team."

Mumm is out of the race (Sorry dean but I'm happy about this) and Carter is in the running... wonder what the odds are for TC to get the captaincy? Also, of course Phil Waugh was one of the captains of the decade, the century if you ask me. Just look at him:

When Phil Waugh says jump, you don't say "How High?" you just fucking jump as high as you can and pray he doesn't eat your firstborn...

 

[qwerty51]

Very encouraging to see him say that Dean should focus on his own rugby because he was below his own standard this season. Tough decision to make but the right one. I'm still hoping for Vicks to get the captaincy.

 

[TOCC]

Foley has named blindside flanker Rocky Elsom, second-rower Dan Vickerman, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, loosehead prop Benn Robinson, five-eighth Berrick Barnes, inside centre Tom Carter, outside centre Rob Horne and winger Drew Mitchell in the eight-man leadership group.

When you take into consideration the injury liability each of these players represent, its no surprise they have gone with a 8 person leadership group LOL... the only exception been Tom Carter

 

[Braveheart81]

I just hope that a leadership group of 8 people involves more people taking responsibility to lead the team rather than no one really leading because everyone is meant to be a leader.

 

[mudskipper]

Good point TOCC it looks like the brumbies injury list from last year.

 

[mudskipper]

Good player. Watched a bit of him in the Shute Shield for Southern Districts at the ground late in the season after seeing him on TV earlier. Didn't impress me v. Sydney Uni and my jury was out, but he had a top match v. Randwick at Forshaw. He's a good catch as a EPS player, having played S14 before.


Not quite to the point, but I think that the Brumbies with only 2 scrummies in their official stable of 35 have blundered. No doubt they have other scrumhalves they can cherry-pick, but will they be in constant training from now until the end of the Super season?

Brumbies have gone for more forwards, I think if pressed Zac Holmes could back up as a 3rd scrum half... might not be ideal but he goes well... quick thinking, good pass, fast on his feet...I'm hoping that want be the case and Prior and White will cover the specialist position... Jake White must have a back up plan here...

 

[Slim 293]

Brumbies have gone for more forwards, I think if pressed Zac Holmes could back up as a scrum half... might not be ideal but he goes well... I'm hoping that want be the case and Prior and White will cover the specialist position... Jake White must have aback plan...

White could've possibly gone for another scrumhalf when Hoiles departed, but on the back of this season I think he might be right in stocking up on frontrowers...

It does appear that they can grab whoever they want as a backup if need be with the squad rules being a bit vague...

 

[Ruggo]

Say what you like about Tom Carter but come to think of it I think he would make a bloody decent captain.

 

[mudskipper]

His got some good young guys for the frontrow...