Waratahs 2021

[Blackadder]

I subscribe to the Ben Darwin theory of cohesion and for me bringing in blokes like Wykes and Sam Caird who have no connection to any of the players already there is just madness and incredibly reckless in my opinion. I would pay overs to keep Staniforth and McCauley, as much because they've been at the place for the last three years (keep some continuity).

Right now the Tahs are sending a message to their own loyal homegrown players like Newsome, J Gordon and Johnson-Holmes that they'd rather prioritise bringing in an unknown kiwi lock than hang onto one of their mates (Staniforth and McCauley etc.) that they've played a lot of rugby with.

No need to spend money on Maddocks, Donaldson can play fullback. Hugh Sinclair is the best player in the Shute Shield right now and can fill Dempsey's shoes and Will Harris needs an opportunity. Swinton, H Sinclair, W Harris backrow.

Pay overs for Beanpole and Staniforth??? Funniest thing I have heard in ages


They have been here for ages and sucked

 

[7137]

Right now the Tahs are sending a message to their own loyal homegrown players like Newsome, J Gordon and Johnson-Holmes that they'd rather prioritise bringing in an unknown kiwi lock than hang onto one of their mates.

Actually, I think it sends the message that if your not up to it we’re not going to keep paying your rent for you to be unable to fill the role you are employed to do just cause you’re mates with the rest of the guys. No good all being mates if you keep losing.

This isn’t stamp collecting club. It’s a professional enterprise.

P.S. If Hugh Sinclair is the best player in SS, then the days of SS serving as the entry to Super Rugb are long gone. The quality is abysmal if he is the yardstick. He’s been not good enough for Super Rugby for many years.

P.P.S. You overvalue cohesion. If it topped all else than we might as well just field whichever Super Rugby side comes out top each year as the Wallabies.

 

['Tattsy'TaylorFan1]

P.P.S. You overvalue cohesion. If it topped all else than we might as well just field whichever Super Rugby side comes out top each year as the Wallabies.

Great example of cohesion was the Northern Suburbs v Sydney Uni game on the weekend. In particular, the Norths 9-10-12-13 combination has been together for a long time. In terms of playing talent Sydney Uni has it all over Norths but Norths won.

 

[Silverado]

I can't support the Tahs anymore. The squad management has been terrible.

I would've liked this squad of 32 for 2021 (keeping in mind their low salary cap thing):
Johnson-Holmes, C Talakai, T Robertson, A Bell, T Faulkner, T Tauakaipulu or D Breen
R Abel, T Horton, J Cotton
T Staniforth, R McCauley, C Vest, M Douglas, J Williams
Swinton, C Tizzano, H Sinclair, W Harris, C Gamble
J Gordon, M Short, J Grant or H Goddard
W Harrison, B Donaldson, T Edmed
T Moeroa, J Walton, Foketi, Newsome
Nawaqanitawase, J Ramm, T Reilly

Should've spent the money on keeping T Robertson, Staniforth and McCauley rather than Porecki, Wykes, Caird, Dempsey and Maddocks because tight-five (particularly locks) is more important. Prioritise keeping your locks not spending money on loose forwards and outside backs. It's easier to find a loose forward or an outside back in the Shute Shield than it is to find a lock.

You've been sucking up to the Reds fans claiming support them over us well before the financial fueled exodus. See ya

 

[Silverado]

I can't support the Tahs anymore. The squad management has been terrible.

I would've liked this squad of 32 for 2021 (keeping in mind their low salary cap thing):
Johnson-Holmes, C Talakai, T Robertson, A Bell, T Faulkner, T Tauakaipulu or D Breen
R Abel, T Horton, J Cotton
T Staniforth, R McCauley, C Vest, M Douglas, J Williams
Swinton, C Tizzano, H Sinclair, W Harris, C Gamble
J Gordon, M Short, J Grant or H Goddard
W Harrison, B Donaldson, T Edmed
T Moeroa, J Walton, Foketi, Newsome
Nawaqanitawase, J Ramm, T Reilly

Should've spent the money on keeping T Robertson, Staniforth and McCauley rather than Porecki, Wykes, Caird, Dempsey and Maddocks because tight-five (particularly locks) is more important. Prioritise keeping your locks not spending money on loose forwards and outside backs. It's easier to find a loose forward or an outside back in the Shute Shield than it is to find a lock.

You lost me at McCauley..

 

[Blackadder]

You lost me at McCauley..

He lost me since "I can't"

 

[dru]

It used to be props that had to be lined up early, right now it’s second rowers. Financial woes here are concerning and repercussions are understandable - but surely everyone would be more comfortable right now if tight 5 recruitment was further advanced?

 

[eastman]

I subscribe to the Ben Darwin theory of cohesion and for me bringing in blokes like Wykes and Sam Caird who have no connection to any of the players already there is just madness and incredibly reckless in my opinion. I would pay overs to keep Staniforth and McCauley, as much because they've been at the place .

Seems like you don’t really even understand this (statistically pretty flimsy) theory. How can they contribute to any form of cohesiveness when they’ve hardly been on the field as part of the team. That cohesiveness is about keeping together core combinations of your starting team- not fringe squad members

 

[Rebels3]

I believe the cohesion theory has some merit but equally we have been hoodwinked in rugby circles that it’s more than meets the eye. If it wasn’t Ben Darwin and his links to rugby, it would have half the fan fare associated with it. For me the Tahs current roster has a potential of around 7/10, they have been playing at a 5/10 level. Cohesion could see them play at the 7/10 level, but no matter how cohesive they can be they will never reach anything more than that 7/10 level. Personally would rather a squad with greater potential and then build the cohesiveness within that environment.

A great case study of this would be if each squad remained throughout the duration of a 4/5yr span, would the Crusaders still be the best team in 4/5yrs or would other teams building cohesion mean they end up their equals? That way we could find out if teams are winning because they are cohesive (cohesion) or are teams cohesive because they win (talent).

Looks like the Tahs are keeping the players that matter and chopping the players that aren’t going to propel the squad into anything more than mid table plodders.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Made the same comment on the Force thread. As disappointing it is to loose a player like McDonald, Goddard is a gun and hopefully comes in.

He has a very good box kick,

Just watched him play Easts, actually thought Grant out played him.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

I know it is probably a pipe dream with the current coin but I did note in my internet trawling that Hugh Pyle and Dave Dennis are out of contract...Solid stop gaps while the youth develops?

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]

I know it is probably a pipe dream with the current coin but I did note in my internet trawling that Hugh Pyle and Dave Dennis are out of contract.Solid stop gaps while the youth develops?

I assumed Dave Dennis retired years ago.

 

[footy1>31]

I know it is probably a pipe dream with the current coin but I did note in my internet trawling that Hugh Pyle and Dave Dennis are out of contract.Solid stop gaps while the youth develops?

All for bringing DD back for a year/2, especially with Hoops away! Genuinely has a role on the bench, can play the Hoilesy role

 

[Wilson]

Dennis looks pretty keen to come home and help out too:

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/lat...-return-to-australia-to-help-union-in-crisis/

Always good to bring someone in from a winning environment too, Dennis has just done it all with Exeter.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Itoje available in 2022

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Dennis looks pretty keen to come home and help out too:

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/lat...-return-to-australia-to-help-union-in-crisis/

Always good to bring someone in from a winning environment too, Dennis has just done it all with Exeter.

At this point journeymen like Dave Dennis about all we can afford plus a nz mitre 10 bench lock...oh dear

 

[7137]

I know it is probably a pipe dream with the current coin but I did note in my internet trawling that Hugh Pyle and Dave Dennis are out of contract.Solid stop gaps while the youth develops?

Hugh Pyle in an interview earlier in the year said the thought of playing Super Rugby was not appealing at all. All the travel, plus the uncertainty. If we can lock in a TT comp that will help on both fronts with making a return to AU more appealing for lots of players with kids etc, not looking to be flying all over the place.

 

[TSR]

Plus if he is out of contract and no one else is offering he’ll possibly find the travel far more appealing.

 

[Derpus]

At this point journeymen like Dave Dennis about all we can afford plus a nz mitre 10 bench lock.oh dear

Dennis is not a journeyman. How dare you.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Dennis is not a journeyman. How dare you.

He is 34 so now qualifies returning to oz as a journeyman - sorry right of passage