Waratahs 2014

[RoffsChoice]

From all I have seen, Betham has hit his upper limit and, although consistent, isn't going up. Crawford is at the same level, a little less consistent, but isn't at his limit yet. He's a great creator and finisher and really quick, if not as quick as Betham. But if quick and good at taking little gaps is what you wanted, then losing Mitchell is a big hole in the hull.

 

[Brumby Runner]

All the talk out of the Tahs is that Beale is hoping to play 10. He will be the backup 10 and 15 unless he can force himself ahead of Foley at some point.

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Sounds a bit like JOC (James O'Connor) wanting to play 10 for the Wallabies doesn't it? Is it another case of the precocious but spoilt talent wanting, no expecting, to get everything his own way? I wouldn't expect Cheika to fall into that trap.

 

[Braveheart81]

Sounds a bit like JOC (James O'Connor) wanting to play 10 for the Wallabies doesn't it? Is it another case of the precocious but spoilt talent wanting, no expecting, to get everything his own way? I wouldn't expect Cheika to fall into that trap.

Beale was a 10 throughout his junior days and took the Tahs to a Super Rugby final playing 10 in 2008.

I would say he is nothing like JOC (James O'Connor) at 10.

There is no reason why he couldn't fulfill Cheika's game plan every bit as well as Foley.

I guess we'll see what happens, but at this stage I doubt there will be a huge reshuffle of the Tahs backline to try and find starting spots for Folau, Foley and Beale in the opening matches.

 

[Lee Grant]

I doubt there will be a huge reshuffle of the Tahs backline to try and find starting spots for Folau, Foley and Beale in the opening matches.

Yeah—Í think they will all be starting, and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) also.

And Betham was already back at training last Thursday and I think he will start.

Crawford still hasn't done anything at training but run in a straight line, with Jed Holloway; so we'll have to see how he is when they come back in January.

The intriguing matter to me, if everybody is healthy, is the situation of Rob Horne. If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is to play 13, Horne was decent last season at 12 when they paired in the midfield, as I remember, but 12 could be KB (Kurtley Beale)'s position. And remember that Horne was re-signed for just one year, which could have been a message.

As for Beale wanting to play 10: there is nothing untoward in that, but as I have said before: Foley executed Cheika's attack plan well last year and proved he had the moves on the Cheika-board.

In my opinion it will take a significant deterioration in form from Foley in the trials, or blinders by Beale, for Foley to be ousted.

As always, an injury or two can make such nice prognostications look foolish.

And don't be surprised in Round 1, if Cheika starts somebody from left field because he trialled well. It's the kind of thing he does.
.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

@Lee Grant,

Is there any hint on the final 2 EPS positions or who is in the Wider Training Squad, from what you have seen at the Tahs training sessions?

Everything seems to have gone silent on H. Roche going to one of the other Franchises.
I would be surprised if he wasn't offered the last front row slot in the Tahs EPS.

 

[Lee Grant]

Cheika said that he had only one EPS spot open and one contract spot and that most likely one would be a prop and the other a hooker; but don't bother asking him who exactly is in the EPS at the moment—he's keeping everybody on their toes.

Roach has been training with the Tahs. There are no other uncontracted hookers at training except Ryan Dalziel; so it's likely that Roach will be third hooker. Lala Lam is also throwing at lineout practice.

As to the other prop: Sam Talakai seems to be the most likely, but Johnson Falefa is at training and so is Tim Metcher.

JF has the biggest arse I've ever seen on a rugby player and he moves as you expect he would.

There's a lot of invited players including Stephen Hoiles, and I will probably do a blog on them next week; so watch this space.

The invited players do not purport to be next cabs off the rank. They include two subbies players; so let's not go into an analysis of who should be training as shadow players - maybe they have real jobs.

Johnson Falefa

 

[p.Tah]

JF has the biggest arse I've ever seen on a rugby player and he moves as you expect

Relative of Yours Hugh?

 

[boyo]

You know what they say about a big arse?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

You know what they say about a big arse?

Well, Bruce Ross says this: "The most simple way to identify a very powerful athlete is to look for the combination of low skin folds and big arse".

@Lee Grant has observed the latter characteristic. His photographs of Johnson "The Hill" Falefa tend to suggest that the other component of a very powerful athlete is absent.

 

[p.Tah]

Look at Falefa's hamstrings! They would weigh more than a small child.

 

[p.Tah]

You know what they say about a big arse?

Big pants?

 

[Bruce Ross]

Well, Bruce Ross says this: "The most simple way to identify a very powerful athlete is to look for the combination of low skin folds and big arse".

@Lee Grant has observed the latter characteristic. His photographs of Johnson "The Hill" Falefa tend to suggest that the other component of a very powerful athlete is absent.

I think the phrase "skin folds" would have a different connotation with this lad.
.

 

[Ruggo]

Look at Falefa's hamstrings! They would weigh more than a small child.

I dare say said child would be on his breakfast menu.

 

[Froggy]

I actually quite like the earlier suggestion of playing Beale at 13. When he's fit he has the speed, and I think the whole back line functions better with Foley at 10. Also would have Crawford on the wing in front of Betham, although don't dislike either player.

Lots of possibilities, however injuries usually step in to dictate where everyone finishes up.

 

[Hawko]

Nothing? But Betham would be ahead of him after making Wallabies. Betham is more dangerous but more error prone and I think with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the other wing he'd be better than Crawford. Betham running off Folau or Beale offloads = magic.

Betham only made the Wallabies because Crawford was crocked. McKenzie alluded to it (didn't directly say it but implied it) at the time. Crawford is by far the more complete player, especially defensively, and can cover full back in a game if injury strikes. And if you think Betham is better running off good offloads, rewatch the tries Crawford scored last year. He was averaging more than one a game at one stage.

 

[Hawko]

Cheika said that he had only one EPS spot open and one contract spot; but don't bother asking him who exactly is in the EPS at the moment—he's keeping everybody on their toes.

Roach has been training with the Tahs. There are no other uncontracted hookers at training except Ryan Dalziel; so it's likely that Roach will be third hooker. Lala Lam is also throwing at lineout practice.

As to the other prop: Sam Talakai seems to be the most likely but Johnson Falefa is at training and so is Tim Metcher, who is a LHP and is probably needed more than a THP.

Has Cheika got a plan to convert Lam to a 2 or is this just a case of him helping out? I would have thought Lam might be a bit lightweight for scrummaging, though to me he seems to play above his weight around the park.

 

[Lee Grant]

Hawko - who knows? Probably Cheika doesn't.

 

[tranquility]

Hawko - who knows? Probably Cheika doesn't.

I seem to remember you talking about hooking experiments down at the Tahs Lee. Perhaps the cat is out of the bag?

 

[Lee Grant]

It's probably just Cheika throwing mud at a wall and seeing what sticks.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

I thought Johnson falefa was a done deal?? At least that's what his twitter makes out......