Waratahs 2020

[Braveheart81]

We need Dempsey fit. He's the backrower we do have that provides some more powerful running.

How quickly Will Harris and Pat Tafa improve will also be important to us. Both have the potential to really balance out our backrow in the longer term.

I can't really see any likelihood that we'll recruit a big backrower next year. There are just very few in the country and with the Wallabies we do have in our backrow it's not worth spending more money there.

We need to sort our our pecking order at prop. Presumably Robertson or HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) will revert back to THP and they will be our starters next year. A serious assessment of at least Vui and Walker needs to happen to work out if they have long term potential or whether we need to move on to other players.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto turns out to have been a really good pickup from the Reds recruitment team

 

[VassMan]

I know HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) and Robertson can both play tighthead and would scrum well there, but wouldn't it be better to have someone a little heavier who can really create some go forward ball instead of keeping the lightweight mobile pack that everyone on here complains about?

 

[Braveheart81]

I know HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) and Robertson can both play tighthead and would scrum well there, but wouldn't it be better to have someone a little heavier who can really create some go forward ball instead of keeping the lightweight mobile pack that everyone on here complains about?

I think both of them are better than Chris Talakai at this point though.

I also don't really think there is a strong starting quality THP that is available for recruitment either. Ala'alatoa and Tupou are the only ones and neither of them are available.

The biggest recruitment needs for the Tahs next year are 10 (assuming Foley does leave), a bigger bodied winger and potentially a lock (depending on what happens with Simmons and Holloway).

I tend to think Simmons and Holloway will both stay.

Some planning needs to happen around Hanigan and Wells. We can't keep Dempsey, Hanigan and Wells long term in my opinion. That is where a significant part of that backrow imbalance comes from. A problem there though is that we need Dempsey to be fit and available. It's little use moving on from one of the other guys because you want Demspey as your starting 8 but then he's rarely healthy.

 

[Strewthcobber]

You might be able to throw a bit of money at Caleb Timu and get him, thought not sure if he'd be worth it

 

[Braveheart81]

You might be able to throw a bit of money at Caleb Timu and get him, thought not sure if he'd be worth it

I thought he had already signed to go overseas. I also don't think he'd be worth it.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I thought he had already signed to go overseas. I also don't think he'd be worth it.

Not confirmed yet AFAIK and we all know what Australian rugby players signatures on a contract are worth if a better offer comes along

 

[Brumby Runner]

BH, any thoughts on Pat Sio strengthening the back row?

 

[Braveheart81]

BH, any thoughts on Pat Sio strengthening the back row?

I don't think he's good enough. I'd back Harris and Tafa to go past him sooner rather than later.

This is part of the problem with the potential recruits for the Tahs. Players who fit the mold of what the Tahs need to rebalance their pack are inferior rugby players to the lightweight guys we currently have that it wouldn't make us a better team.

 

[eastman]

I actually think that we are playing quite a high-skilled and very (potentially over) structured attack. The problem is that we don't have any penetration in the backline to take advantage of any potential mismatches or create breaks.​

Is there anyone in the market that we can potentially look to sign for next year to address this? It might be worth looking at cheapish rugby league option?​

 

[Derpus]

TQ leaving really was the difference between a bottom half of the table finish and a finals spot. No one has replaced his 15 tries.

 

[Froggy]

I agree BH, a perfect example being Roets, massive human but pretty ordinary rugby player. By the way, I wouldn't regard HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) as a particularly light-weight prop.
I don't think pure size is the issue here, it's more impact and abrasiveness. Potgieter was no bigger than Hanigan, but he sure had a lot of impact. Likewise someone like Mcaffery.

 

[Blackadder]

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto turns out to have been a really good pickup from the Reds recruitment team

Another one the Tahs didn't want.

See there are players out there to sign, but the Tahs want light and mobile and seem disinterested in anything else

 

[Jamie]

I really hope someone is working hard behind the scenes in the recruitment department

 

[Blackadder]

I really hope someone is working hard behind the scenes in the recruitment department

With so many players leaving and expected to leave hopefully.

 

[TheNude]

I agree BH, a perfect example being Roets, massive human but pretty ordinary rugby player. By the way, I wouldn't regard HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) as a particularly light-weight prop.
I don't think pure size is the issue here, it's more impact and abrasiveness. Potgieter was no bigger than Hanigan, but he sure had a lot of impact. Likewise someone like Mcaffery.

I've been thinking about the same thing since Saturday's game. For the most part we're doing OK at set pieces we just lack results around the park; we're not clearing out properly or protecting the half-back and we're certainly not bending or breaking the line.

I don't think it's an attitude thing as there seems to be a lot of effort they just aren't getting results. I'll be interested to see if we can address this with Cron going or if we go backwards.

 

[Blackadder]

Gnostic, that's a pretty decent analysis although i disagree about Beale. I think he's delivered plenty, more than many current and past Wallabies have.



I too noticed how shit the ruck work was from the Tahs with their mobile pack.



Regarding squad composition, i think a lot of it is just 'well, this is what we have to work with'. Who has been available to be recruited that would have added weight to the pack recently? Samu last year? i guess. But he's not huge.



If you look at who we've lost and when, we just haven't had the options:

• TPN leaving left us with Fitzpatrick because Latu couldn't get his head right.
• Palu leaving left us with Wells/Holloway.
• Douglas, Skelton and Jackpot all left and were replaced with Simmons, Hanigan and Enever.
• Even Dennis was a better ball carrier than Hanigan is.

Can you identify big bodies that were available for recruitment over the last two years to replace those 6 key forwards?

100%. These players were not replaced with a similar mindset.

Gibson came in, changed what worked with his pointless forward ideas and refuses to change

 

[Braveheart81]

100%. These players were not replaced with a similar mindset.

Gibson came in, changed what worked with his pointless forward ideas and refuses to change

Given the current confirmed makeup of the squad for next year, the current players who aren't signed and potential recruits, which players and positions would you be targeting both within and outside the squad.

 

[Blackadder]

Given the current confirmed makeup of the squad for next year, the current players who aren't signed and potential recruits, which players and positions would you be targeting both within and outside the squad.

No point, Gibson has his mindset. Doubt it's going to change

 

[Slim 293]

If you look at who we've lost and when, we just haven't had the options:

• TPN leaving left us with Fitzpatrick because Latu couldn't get his head right.
• Palu leaving left us with Wells/Holloway.
• Douglas, Skelton and Jackpot all left and were replaced with Simmons, Hanigan and Enever.
• Even Dennis was a better ball carrier than Hanigan is.

Staniforth?