Waratahs 2017

[fatprop]

I would personally be very surprised to see Simone start round 1.

Not due to talent, but this just isn't usually how things seem to go at the Waratahs and Reds. You don't get players emerging from lower grades in one preseason, they've got way more depth and incumbents who have (arguably rightly) earned first crack.

If Hodge, for example, signed to the Tahs I think we would've barely cited him so far and he certainly wouldn't be a Wallaby starter. He'd probably have taken an extra year to break through - which isn't the WORST thing.

I think there are some differences between the two examples;

1/ Hodge had many established, better options ahead of him, injured or not he was fringe, Simone has less.
2/ Simone has been in and out of professional'ish squads and works as a fitness trainer for a few years so his core fitness should be at a higher level
3/ Hodge (Mr Beat has reminded me) had that core fitness before starting with the Rebels as well

It will be up to him really, he has a great opportunity

 

[Mustafa]

I think Jones could be pushing for cover if say Kellaway got injured as definitely deserves to be in the mix for possible bench spot or cover for injuries as player who definitely has continued to improve. And we all know how players like Holloway, Kellaway and Dempsey performed last year when finally got decent game time. Like to see how Jones might perform at the main dance this year.

I don't understand why Kellaway is not ahead of Hodge and Jones can't tackle he is a turnstyle in defense, he has always been like that and if you don't know how to tackle now and know your positioning defense, you will never know

 

[RugbyReg]

I don't understand why Kellaway is not ahead of Hodge

His kicking game.

 

[topgun]

His kicking game.

and shitloads of form, Hodge wrecked the joint this season with the rebs

 

[I like to watch]

Defence
Hodge makes important cover tackles when he could have stayed in position,and let someone else do it.
Kellaway seems to be consistently late to the scene,almost deliberately.

 

[fatprop]

and shitloads of form, Hodge wrecked the joint this season with the rebs

Yeah, Kellaway was good and looked at home in super rugby, but he needs to work on his effectiveness as that last line of defense.

His reading of the game allowed him to clean up kicks, but that same ability didn't help him in defense as he cleanly missed too many one on one tackles in cover

 

[A mutterer]

Yeah, Kellaway was good and looked at home in super rugby, but he needs to work on his effectiveness as that last line of defense.

His reading of the game allowed him to clean up kicks, but that same ability didn't help him in defense as he cleanly missed too many one on one tackles in cover

i'd be happy if he just has a solid year and avoids 2nd year syndrome. but then again im from the substance > flash school.

 

[John S]

http://www.rupa.com.au/rupa-news/story/nsw-waratahs-head-to-referee-school

This has to be a good move from the Tahs? Gives the players a view from the other side, and helps put back into lower levels.....

 

[gowaratahs]

NRC Semi-finals - current and future Tahs

This comes a little late as I only just watched the replays having spent the week at a conference in the Barossa. Here's my assessment of Tahs current and future - and a few other bits and pieces for completion.

Eagles v Rising

Paddy Ryan is rated top NRC open side prop by Brett McKay - though besides destroying Ala'alatoa at Viking Park I still struggle to see his worth on the open side at the set piece. Even the inexperienced Tyrel Lomax got the better of him at least on a couple of occasions leading to penalties. He was pretty effective around the park though, with his pass to Robinson leading to a try something to behold.

Tolu Latu wasn't penalised or binned, and was strong in everything around the
park. Seems to like the loose play finding himself romping like a pregnant gazelle on a few occasions, with some quality touches. Has to work on the lineout throw this summer, and faces an interesting challenge from Fitzpatrick in 2017.

Tom Robertson - champagne. Even a sharp turn of speed. Deserving of every chance he gets.

Sam Figg is training with the Force this summer, though is unsigned ATM. Absolutely tore this game apart in attack and defence. Had a Boonie at square leg late in the game, but came back and kept on going. Might be too light to dominate at the next level, though time will tell.

Rowan Perry started the year with back-to-back-to-back standout performances in the earlier games, though hasn't dominated to the same extent since. Needs a big GF to cement a spot in the supplementary squad this summer.

Jake Gordon - this kid is special. Scored a solo try off the back of the scrum from about 35 out - a try few scrumhalfs in Australia could contemplate. Set up others, defended well and keeps getting mentioned as an end-of-year tour bolter. Apparently unsigned, though everyone assumes he's stating put... please. I'd like to see him talk more, as leadership is a key attribute for a quality scrummie.

Andrew Deegan is maturing to be the Tahs 3rd option at flyhalf behind Foley and Hegarty. Controls the backline nicely, and doesn't overplay his hand - relying on the players outside him to do their thing off the back of quality ball. He needs to add a running game as an option if he wants to go further though. Unsure of his defence too.

A quick shoutout for Kyle Godwin who played one of his best two games for the competition, though is signed with the Brumbies. Like Horwitz though, seems to think kicking is the only option when facing a tackle on the end of a clean break.

I've seen the Horwitz opinions going around, and I see one camp considering that he hasn't developed from star schoolboy to Catchpole winner to anything else of significance. The other camp says give him time, apparently he leads the NRC for linebreaks (that's frogshit Maloney) though I don't think anyone knows how he fits in. Deegan is a better flyhalf, he was the worst 12 I remember in the Super Rugby - just awful, and he's at the very best only competitive in the NRC in the 13 jumper. He's unsigned, and I hope the Tahs upgrade Simone before they even think about Horwitz.

In contrast to Perry, Reece Robinson seemed a passenger early though has been one of the competition's best since the halfway mark. This is the sort of finishing we saw from Kellaway last year.

Andrew Kellaway really ought to go back to the wing. Another child prodigy not living up to expectation and I think that's because he's failing to properly grasp the art of fullback. Not trustworthy under the highball, and nothing special in defence (especially noting the Rising's first try). He's a finisher, let him do his job rather than get another job wrong.

Sam Needs didn't get enough time to warrant a comment, and I didn't notice Ryan McCauley out there.

Next replay up, Rays v Spirit (what went wrong??)

 

[gowaratahs]

NRC Semi-finals - current and future Tahs

Part 2 - Rays v Spirit

Ezra Luxton remains a possibility of snaring a development contract from under the noses of Matt Gibbon and Rory O'Connor especially as the Tahs lack specialist loose head props. Pinged a couple of times for not supporting his own body weight when pilfering, though both could've gone either way when considering Tessman won a penalty in similar circumstances at a crucial moment early in the second half.

Fitzpatrick finished a sensational team try involving great lead up work from Jones and Simone, and was typically industrious though perhaps not as dominant throughout.

Angus Ta'Avao was stretchered off early with what appeared to be a lower leg injury. The Rays lost their 3 and 8 early, which didn't help their ability to go forward.

Connor Vest found himself unable to get the ball to ground when tackled twice in the first 5 minutes, though is continually mentioned in dispatches and could easily take a development or supplementary locking position as he's outshone Toleafoa and most other available candidates all season.

From the kickoff Jack Dempsey's charge into and beyond the defensive line personified his dominant season as much as his yellow card was indicative of his regular visits to the naughty chair. This guy is another Dean Mumm, but developing earlier - and should stay at blindside in order not to regress the way Mumm did prior to the Exeter exit.

Matt Lucas doesn't do much wrong. He knows what he wants and directs his forwards and inside backs accordingly, and will put his body on the line throughout. Wasn't disgraced in the SF, just didn't get enough quality ball from the forwards to allow Sinclair and Simone to set the backs alight.

Irea Simone oozes class whether on the right or wrong side of the scoresheet however I saw another two examples of his difficulty in passing left to right - firstly the inside ball to send Fitzpatrick over was the hard way to the tryline with unmarked runners in the outside, and secondly his involvement in the backline move in which Jones busted free to put Wolfe away looked awkward too. However he offers so much more than Horwitz without yet having pulled on the Tahs jumper, better composure is just the beginning. Simone walks into the disco and owns the floor, while Horwitz keeps running to the toilet to check his hair. I hope Gibson agrees.

Con Foley seemed to be the decoy runner all day, with runs from Sinclair and passes from Simone either going behind him to an outside back or inside to another runner. Didn't get to show it in the SF, though has the ingredients of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in him. To be fair to Tapuai and Meakes, the title of best NRC centre pairing was probably handed over to the Spirit today though.

Harry Jones has matured as the season has gone on, and is finishing nicely. His strength to beat up to 5 tacklers to score early shows an ability that earned him an upgrade to EPS in 2017. His try assist in the last 10min was also special, maybe not enough in between though.

 

[RugbyReg]

This squad looks pretty up to date doesn't it?

http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad.aspx

No TNP or Palu, so it's updated.

Jake Gordon nice and prominent.

 

[John S]

Interesting they have Holloway down as a lock. I'm sure I've seen him play most at No. 8. I could be wrong though.

Or is it they think he will go better as lock this year????

 

[Braveheart81]

Interesting they have Holloway down as a lock. I'm sure I've seen him play most at No. 8. I could be wrong though.

Or is it they think he will go better as lock this year????

All his rugby for the Tahs this year was at number 8. He'll play there again I suspect.

The profile is actually from this year and last year he played a bunch of NRC/Shute Shield at lock if I remember correctly.

 

[John S]

All his rugby for the Tahs this year was at number 8. He'll play there again I suspect.

The profile is actually from this year and last year he played a bunch of NRC/Shute Shield at lock if I remember correctly.

Fair enough, I'm not going mad

I just remember watching him in Shute Shield and with the Tahs at No. 8. Must have been NRC he played lock.

 

[Hawko]

There was a rumour a few pages back that someone had got a career-ending injury. Is there any more news on this?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Neck injury apparently.

 

[MACCA]

Neck injury apparently.

Suspect it is Jim Stewart however have not heard or seen anything official. Hope he is OK and there is help for him to deal with the situation if it is as bad as speculation suggests.

 

[Braveheart81]

With the Tahs finally updating the player profiles on the website, we have 26 players listed with some obvious ones missing.

Prop - Robertson, Ryan, Ta'avao, Sandell, Kepu (photo missing), Needs (EPS)
Hooker - Latu, Roach, Fitzpatrick (photo missing)
Lock - Skelton, Toleafoa, Mumm, Hanigan, Power (photo missing)
Backrow - Dempsey, Holloway, Hooper, Wilkin, Wells (photo missing)
Halfback - Gordon, Lucas, Phipps
Flyhalf - Foley, Hegarty, Deegan (Supp)
Centres - Horwitz, Horne, Stewart, Simone (EPS, photo missing)
Wing/Fullback - Folau, Jones (EPS), Kellaway, Robinson, Clark (photo missing)

Can anyone think of any other players that are missing?

Other players who may have some form of contract: Perry, McCauley

 

[gowaratahs]

This squad looks pretty up to date doesn't it?

http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad.aspx

No TNP or Palu, so it's updated.

Jake Gordon nice and prominent.

I prefer to use the wiki page:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lis...ears_ahead_of_biggest_games_of_the_season-206

This cites full contracts only at this stage for the Tahs, noting 27 awarded to date with possibly one to be subtracted if MichaelK's suggestion turns out to be accurate. That leaves three (or four) to be awarded - Hanigan mentioned in a rugby.com.au piece that he's staying, foxsports commentary suggests Jake Gordon is locked in, I'd like to see Irea Simone upgraded from EPS to a full contract, and if it's Jim Stewart who's not returning then Con Foley is tailor-made to fill those shoes.

The following additional squad members have been announced as far as I've heard:

EPS - Sam Needs, (Irea Simone), Harry Jones
Supp - Andrew Deegan (four more to be named)
Dev - (two to be named)

This will round out a squad of 40. Here's a few notes to consider:

1. We have five tighthead props with no loosehead signed. Best of the NRC LHPs that appear to be available include Rory O'Connor (until his hand injury), Ezra Luxton (who took his spot), and Matt Gibbon.

2. Well might we lament the lack of locking options in the main squad, though NRC players putting their hands up are few and far between. Current squad members Toleafoa was absolutely underwhelming all season, and McCauley didn't get enough time to prove himself. Connor Vest was prominent enough to suggest he may get a training spot with the latter rather than the former - though he's unlikely to move rucks the way they had hoped Toleafoa could/should.

3. Rowan Perry will likely stay on as Hooper's understudy as there's no other option than doing the South African thing if the captain gets injured. With Palu gone and no sign of Naiyaravoro transitioning we may see Viiga as the backup eighthman in front of Sam Ward - though wouldn't new Force recruit Isa Naisarani have been a good catch!

4. With potentially three scumhalfs and four inside backs already named, I'd suggest a versatile utility and an outside back will round out the squad. Perhaps Horwitz can take Simone's EPS position, and Latunipulu can be a backup 13.

I'm suggesting the remaining seven additional contracts (if Simone is promoted) could go to:

Rory O'Connor (with Gibbon and Luxton as options)
Ryan McCauley and Connor Vest (with Toleafoa as an option)
Rowan Perry and Tyrone Viiga (with Ward as an option)
Dave Horwitz and Apo Latunipulu

I had mentioned Figg and Cusack from the sevens program in earlier posts though the former is training with the Force, and the latter has signed with the Brumbies. Players eligible through foreign player marquee rules might include loose forward Sopoaga and lock Tufui (both of the Rams) who acquitted themselves very well through the season.

 

[Braveheart81]

http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs...s-announce-2017-pre-season-trial-matches.aspx

Their first trial will be held at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium in a blockbuster local derby against the Brumbies on Saturday 4th February

Their second trial will form part of their campaign at next year’s inaugural Brisbane Global Tens on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th February

The Tahs then return home for their third and final trial at Brookvale Oval on Sydney’s northern beaches on Thursday 16th February against 2016 Super Rugby semi-finalists, the Highlanders before their Super Rugby season officially kicks off on Saturday 25th February against the Western Force at home at Allianz Stadium.