Inside out: Gibson wants position switch for Horne
DateFebruary 9, 2013
Georgina Robinson
Grand designs … Waratahs attack coach Daryl Gibson relaxing at Allianz Stadium. Photo: Brendan Esposito
MICHAEL CHEIKA is not the only figure shaking things up at the Waratahs this year.
Cheika's new attack coach, former All Blacks utility and Crusaders assistant coach Daryl Gibson, has revealed he wants to move Wallabies outside-centre Rob Horne to No.12 this season.
...............''I've only been here a couple of months but certainly some of the skill sets he's got lends nicely to that position … he's quite an abrasive, robust sort of player and will give you a lot of go-forward in the middle of the park, probably what Ben Tapuai does for the Reds and Pat McCabe for the Brumbies.''
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There were calls earlier in the week for Horne to be dropped from the Waratahs starting line-up this season to allow for Israel Folau and Adam Ashley-Cooper but Gibson, a former inside-centre, has been quietly hatching a plan to move the 23-year-old across to No.12.
''He largely reflects the style of game we want to play - a really abrasive, go-forward game,'' Gibson said. ''He'd be ideal there.''
Its a team balance issue. We have one out and out 10 - Foley - and one player who has played 10 at this level before - Barnes - but is probably more suited to 12/15. We then have Lane and Volavola in the EPS, though Volavola is probably more suited to 12/15. If either Barnes or Foley are injured (God help us if both go down concurrently) then Lane or Volavola have to go to the bench in case there is another match-day injury. Volavola did not play 10 last year at all and if Lane cannot step up now then we will have to get very creative. Mitchell? McKibben? Hooper? Lucas? Kingston? Maybe Izzy is the saviour?
The chickens are now coming home to roost. A squad of 30 players has to have two players for each position who primarily play that position with 5 in the EPS development squad to cover for specialists: hooker, prop, halfback, five-eighth and one other. We have got one specialist five-eighth, one in the EPS but he wants out, plus two in 12/15 who can play five-eighth at a pinch. We've got a gazillion outside backs, arguably the easiest positions to cover by draftees from Shute.
Meanwhile, the two best 10's from Shute, Angus and Saifoloi seem to have bubonic plague and no one wants them. Sorry if I've become a broken record, but this latest Lane issue is the last straw!
That's right guys, my plan, stay with me here, is to, get this one, play their outside centre, are you with me here, at inside centre!
I'm against it. Horne is Mr Reliable at 13 and knows how to do his job. Don't make him a second playmaker.
Well, I thought it was the last straw. But the Herald is reporting today that Barnes will be out for 2-3 weeks with a damaged posterior cruciate ligament injury. Did it in a trial game against his own team, Sydney Uni.
So now we are two weeks out from the start of the season, with two potentally injury-incurring trials to come before, and our total resources at 10 consist of Foley and Volavola. Foley played a bit of 10 last season but Volavola did not. And if either of these two are injured, who will we put at 10?
yepIt's ok, you've still got izzy
Anyone got their membership card yet? Seems like it could be tricky getting into the trial match next week without that little guy.
This is not the time for panic - yet. Have a little faith, guys.I spoke to them on the phone about that, they were confident they would be arrive next week but if not they'd organise something for members to get in with
We / The game plan has lacked a first play maker for the last couple of yearsI'm against it. Horne is Mr Reliable at 13 and knows how to do his job. Don't make him a second playmaker.
Horne at 12: we need a comment from His Ancientness Lee Grant here, LG was quite taken with young Robbie's performances at IC when he was a schoolboy.
In that case foley should distribute the membership cardsI think Foley is a better distributor of the ball then Barnes anyway, Barnes is a better overall player but Foley should go well at 5/8
After only the first trial,most teams are not reduced to 2 options at 10, the first option being a 15 with a handful of games at 10 at this level.And an understudy who played almost all, if not the entire season in SS at 15.same with most teams, injuries happen, it will be interesting whether Horitz is anointed (he is a baby) or they bring in someone from the SS
After only the first trial,most teams are not reduced to 2 options at 10, the first option being a 15 with a handful of games at 10 at this level.And an understudy who played almost all, if not the entire season in SS at 15.
It's almost like Foley knew he was going, and left a bag of crap behind for his successor.Either that or he was fucking clueless.