Waratahs 2020

[Jimmy_Crouch]

What about large former Waratah/Wallaby that isn't Will Skelton? Either Sitaleki or Lopeti Tamani.

 

[hifflepiff]

Tuitakau Kioa from Sydney's looked pretty good at NRC level.

Don't know how he'd do with the step up to Super, but is probably the best unsigned lock going.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Wells to Rebels

 

[cyclopath]

The pack's decent, I'm actually more underwhelmed by the wingers than any other position. As we saw when we had Taqele and Folau, you can basically make the finals on the strength of your outside backs alone. Unless Tepai delivers, I'm not sure where our strike power is coming in the backline. Kurtley maybe.

I thought Clark went pretty well. Good speed, and came on defensively too (some big hits at times). I think he has some upside.
And I am talking Super level, before someone loses their shit and thinks it's anything more than that! For the same reason Simmons is good to have at Super level - does his core job pretty well.

 

[eastman]

I'm not quite as impressed by Clark as you seem to be - I've yet to see him break a tackle at Super Rugby. He runs hard and is quick but doesn't have much evasiveness

 

[Slim 293]

Wells to Rebels

Tattsy Taylor, if he is a real person, is not going to be happy.........

 

[Braveheart81]

I think Clark is good as the second fullback winger. The problem is that he and Newsome play a similar role. We definitely need a big tackle busting winger as well (to replace Naiyaravoro from 2018 and Rona from 2019).

 

[fatprop]

Penny's interview

 

[Up the Guts]

I think Clark is good as the second fullback winger. The problem is that he and Newsome play a similar role. We definitely need a big tackle busting winger as well (to replace Naiyaravoro from 2018 and Rona from 2019).

That's what I think, both can finish a try but neither can create one.

 

[cyclopath]

I'm not quite as impressed by Clark as you seem to be - I've yet to see him break a tackle at Super Rugby. He runs hard and is quick but doesn't have much evasiveness

I'd be surprised if he has never broken a tackle in Super Rugby. In any event, he has real speed. That is not something we see enough of. As I said, I think there is upside with his raw talents. Just a gut feel.

 

[Braveheart81]

For reference, from the Fox Sports Super Rugby stats for 2019:

Cam Clark had 53 runs for 592 run metres, 7 line breaks and 18 tackle busts.
Alex Newsome 89 runs for 783 metres, 10 line breaks and 17 tackle busts.
Curtis Rona 77 runs for 799 metres, 12 line breaks and 19 tackle busts.

Clark played a lot less minutes than Newsome. The only stat he fares badly at in comparison was tries scored where he had 2 vs Newsome's 5 and Rona's 6.

 

[molman]

What about large former Waratah/Wallaby that isn't Will Skelton? Either Sitaleki or Lopeti Tamani.

I quite like the young Skelton - Jeral. I would mind signing him up post his involvement in 7's. He used to be a winger I believe in the XV, not sure exactly where he'd slot in, but I reckon hes an exciting prospect for the future.

Wells to Rebels

That's a shame. I didn't mind Wells, but it was hard to tell where he was at being off with the 7's for patches. I wonder if the Rebels are locking all these contracts down now whilst the Tahs have had no driver at the wheel.

 

[molman]

For reference, from the Fox Sports Super Rugby stats for 2019:

Cam Clark had 53 runs for 592 run metres, 7 line breaks and 18 tackle busts.
Alex Newsome 89 runs for 783 metres, 10 line breaks and 17 tackle busts.
Curtis Rona 77 runs for 799 metres, 12 line breaks and 19 tackle busts.

Clark played a lot less minutes than Newsome. The only stat he fares badly at in comparison was tries scored where he had 2 vs Newsome's 5 and Rona's 6.

Of all those moving on, besides Tolu who I wouldn't mind keeping now, I think it's Rona I'm most disappointed about. I feel like we were just starting to see his best. Kepu, Foley, Phipps etc.. we'd seen some of their best, but Rona I wouldn't have minded to see around another year.

 

[Braveheart81]

Of all those moving on, besides Tolu who I wouldn't mind keeping now, I think it's Rona I'm most disappointed about. I feel like we were just starting to see his best. Kepu, Foley, Phipps etc.. we'd seen some of their best, but Rona I wouldn't have minded to see around another year.

For sure. We were never going to be able to compete salary wise though.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Wells to Rebels

I was wondering why he was absent from the team posted

 

[Blackadder]

Of all those moving on, besides Tolu who I wouldn't mind keeping now, I think it's Rona I'm most disappointed about. I feel like we were just starting to see his best. Kepu, Foley, Phipps etc.. we'd seen some of their best, but Rona I wouldn't have minded to see around another year.

I think Rona was starting to find his place in the backline and under a new coach I think he would have become a lot better and would have been the strike winger the Tahs need

 

[molman]

I think Rona was starting to find his place in the backline and under a new coach I think he would have become a lot better and would have been the strike winger the Tahs need

That was my thoughts also.

 

['Tattsy'TaylorFan1]

I found this line in the article interesting



Seemed like they were seriously looking at Simon Cron potentially moving into the HC role. I know Morgan Turinui has been a little critical of Cron having been ready for such a step up.

Don't be fooled by that rubbish statement from Andrew Hore. When Gibson quit Hore said that Simon Cron wasn't ready and he would have gone into the pool of applicants if he was available. Now he's changed saying they would have "gone down that path". Seriously???

 

[fatprop]

I quite like the young Skelton - Jeral. I would mind signing him up post his involvement in 7's. He used to be a winger I believe in the XV, not sure exactly where he'd slot in, but I reckon hes an exciting prospect for the future.



That's a shame. I didn't mind Wells, but it was hard to tell where he was at being off with the 7's for patches. I wonder if the Rebels are locking all these contracts down now whilst the Tahs have had no driver at the wheel.

Wells is a good unit, but he was unlikely to start with everyone fit, Dempsey, Haniga, Hooper, will likely start and with Swinton, Tafa & Will Harris coming through - I can see why he may look for other opportunities.

But with Isi starting at the Rebels, I wonder where he will fit there as well

 

[molman]

Don't be fooled by that rubbish statement from Andrew Hore. When Gibson quit Hore said that Simon Cron wasn't ready and he would have gone into the pool of applicants if he was available. Now he's changed saying they would have "gone down that path". Seriously???

I thought I had heard similar. Hence why I found his statement odd. To be fair as much as I like Simon Cron (did brilliantly with the Norths boys) and he sounded a keen observer of the game whenever I heard him talk, I do think he will be better for some more experience. Hard to argue Penny doesn't come with more depth on the CV front.