Waratahs 2015

[Muzza]

On Cam Skelton. why wouldn't have any of the other Aussie franchises picked him? if he did nt want to play in his brothers shadow he could have gone to one of the other franchises. I know he's not proven yet and his brother(will) is still young and learning . But a player of that size and skill(hopefully like his brother) don't come through the aussie system to often. Imagine Will and Cam running out in wallabies colours. It would deff put some doubt in the opposition teams regarding the size of those 2! NZ must have seen the opportunity and grabbed him because they missed out on Will. Hopefully the Aussie franchises keep an eye on him and get him back before NZ dig there fingers in and keep him there.
Thoughts?

 

[en_force_er]

On Cam Skelton. why wouldn't have any of the other Aussie franchises picked him? if he did nt want to play in his brothers shadow he could have gone to one of the other franchises. I know he's not proven yet and his brother(will) is still young and learning . But a player of that size and skill(hopefully like his brother) don't come through the aussie system to often. Imagine Will and Cam running out in wallabies colours. It would deff put some doubt in the opposition teams regarding the size of those 2! NZ must have seen the opportunity and grabbed him because they missed out on Will. Hopefully the Aussie franchises keep an eye on him and get him back before NZ dig there fingers in and keep him there.
Thoughts?

Cam looks to me like he needs plenty of conditioning. I can't see him contributing majorly to any Super Rugby program until 2016 at the earliest. That's if he does, there's only so many non-lineout jumped second rowers that will make it in our game.

It's a loss, sure, but if a player like him leaves that's okay. There's no shortage of players that could be good one day and you can't control all of their movements. You just have to pick the right ones and hope they live up to their potential.

To use another example, for every Nadolo there's 20 blokes who weren't kept in a system it was the right choice.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I'm surprised the chiefs have picked him up. He played Samoa under 20s because he wasn't at the level needed for Australian under 20s.

Some players who play Australian under 20s are just not ready to step up to super rugby. I can't imagine too many players that don't make it are.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Just to clarify, i mean not ready yet, and that I expected him to be an Australian under 20s option in 2015.

 

[Muzza]

Just to clarify, i mean not ready yet, and that I expected him to be an Australian under 20s option in 2015.

can he qualify for Australian under 20's even if he's playing in the NZ system?

 

[Train Without a Station]

Pretty sure it's only a matter of if they will consider him for selection or not

 

[en_force_er]

can he qualify for Australian under 20's even if he's playing in the NZ system?

He'd be eligible, but I'd be very surprised if they'd even consider him seeing as he'd be NZ based.

 

[Wilson]

He'd be eligible, but I'd be very surprised if they'd even consider him seeing as he'd be NZ based.

Yeah it'd make it pretty difficult for him to appear in the selection process, I'm sure the chiefs staff would rather him play for Samoa so or NZ too.

 

[en_force_er]

Yeah it'd make it pretty difficult for him to appear in the selection process, I'm sure the chiefs staff would rather him play for Samoa so or NZ too.

Yeah, it's probably worth noting he's not a guaranteed selection either. You could probably even class him as an outside chance.

He's one of those awkward units we're seeing more of in our game that don't 100% fit the 2nd row mould, but it's their best fit so they play there. Lots of opinions on that kind of player from everyone, notable examples being Timani and his brother Will.

 

[Biffo]

the Great Cheik's moves over the next few months will be fascinating. i can see possible need for the Tahs' squad to be bolstered at hooker, lock, back row, centres and wing.

Lotu is coming along well at hooker, but another will be needed: Roach?
lock stocks are a serious worry. the Tahs need one or two jumping types and a replacement for the grunt of Douglas who will be very sorely (pun) missed. any ideas?
backs-up are needed for Mr Palu and Hoiles.

away from where the game is played, the Tahs probably need to redeploy a little. i'd say they should make Horne a centre and find two new wingers or leave him on the wing and find another winger and a centre.

we can all delight in scouring the NRC games to offer the Tahs' coach the benefit of our advice.

news is almost certainly that the Great Cheik has already got well-formed ideas about whom he may invite to join the defence of the Soup championship.

 

[boyo]

Having the keys to this place does have it's benefits

What happened?

Outvoted?

 

[Braveheart81]

If you're looking at a 32 man squad next year, maybe it will be something like this:

Props: Robison, Kepu, Tilse, Ryan, Ala'alatoa
Hookers: TPN, Latu, Roach
Locks: Potgieter, Chapman, Skelton,
Backrow: Dennis, Hoiles, McCutcheon, Hooper, Palu, Gray, Holloway
Halfbacks: Phipps, McKibbin, Lucas
Inside backs: Foley, Beale, Horwitz, Lance
Outside backs: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Betham, Horne, Carraro, Kellaway, Naiyaravoro, Folau

That's already 32 people but I think we need another lock.

A few of these players aren't already contracted for next year.

 

[gowaratahs]

If you're looking at a 32 man squad next year, maybe it will be something like this:

Props: Robison, Kepu, Tilse, Ryan, Ala'alatoa
Hookers: TPN, Latu, Roach
Locks: Potgieter, Chapman, Skelton,
Backrow: Dennis, Hoiles, McCutcheon, Hooper, Palu, Gray, Holloway
Halfbacks: Phipps, McKibbin, Lucas
Inside backs: Foley, Beale, Horwitz, Lance
Outside backs: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Betham, Horne, Carraro, Kellaway, Naiyaravoro, Folau

That's already 32 people but I think we need another lock.

A few of these players aren't already contracted for next year.

12 signed, if Wikipedia is up-to-date http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2014–15_Super_Rugby_transfers

That's 20 to go, and if 32 is the target I think that list looks a little fat on back-rowers. We need to be bringing on another lock, though in the meantime I think Dave Dennis needs to take over from Douglas. So let's target a raw, young lock and leave Gray and Holloway to play it out in the NRC for the last spot in the forwards.

I can't remember a year without a 25-30% turnover, and from this year's 30+5 (plus uncontracted Hoiles and Ala-Alatoa) we've got Douglas, Alofa and Peterson heading to NH, Crawford heading to the Rebels, and you've cut Hodge and Volavola (and Tahs have signed Kellaway). So that's just one new face, and contracts for Hoiles and Ala-Alatoa - extraordinarily low turnover though subject to the progress of the NRC.

Kaveinga, Volavola, Pakalani and a few others will pressure Gray, Holloway, Horwitz and Carraro. I'd be interested to see if Hodge regains fitness in time as well.

 

[Braveheart81]

Gray was signed for two years. I have a feeling Carraro was too.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

Hodge played for Uni yesterday and will play NRC as well.

 

[Pfitzy]

Note: Cam Skelton is only in the Chiefs wider training squad which is basically "chuck him on for ITM Cup in Waikato and see if he swims or sinks". No worries there.

From the U20 WC he looked like a big kid who never had to try too hard.

 

[en_force_er]

That's already 32 people but I think we need another lock.

Every Aussie team except the Reds and maybe the Force need a starting lock cut from a similar mould come 2015.

The Rebels lose Pyle, the Tahs lose Douglas, and the Brumbies lose Power (who really started to come along lately). The Force also lose 3M, but they probably won't look to sign a lock to replace him.

Where will at least 3 good locks come from at such short notice? Fucked if I know, the only decent Aussie locks overseas are Mumm and Chisholm but both are captains of their clubs and they don't look like moving any time soon

From the U20 WC he looked like a big kid who never had to try too hard.

That's harsh, he had a huge impact on all of Samoa's games. Plenty was really good, plenty was really bad. Certainly didn't look like he was not trying.

 

[It is what it is]

Gray was signed for two years. I have a feeling Carraro was too.

Gray can play and I look forward to him being injury free and getting his chance.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Hoiles unexpected recovery and form prevent Gray from getting much opportunity this season.

 

[It is what it is]

Hoiles unexpected recovery and form prevent Gray from getting much opportunity this season.

Maybe but he's definitely a No 8