Waratahs 2022

[Number 7]

So no Sam Caird nor Carlo Tizzano

That's a real shame. I thought he had real potential and a bit of starch about him and was the starting #7 for a fair bit of last year. Haven't seen him picked up by the Force yet so he seems to be in limbo.

Tahs have plenty of wing options?

But not enough good ones. Newsome has reached his ceiling and Nawanqanitawase can't defend consistently.

 

[fatprop]

not sure how accurate that is considering Dylan Pietsch was signed lot long ago?

Yeah, it does suggest some interesting selection dilemmas, in the centres particularity how do you fit in Foketi, Perese & Walton? and the backrow, Hooper, Swinton, Warren-Vosayaco, Harris, Sinclair, Holloway, Hanigan ......................

 

[Tah Man]

Yeah, it does suggest some interesting selection dilemmas, in the centres particularity how do you fit in Foketi, Perese & Walton? and the backrow, Hooper, Swinton, Warren-Vosayaco, Harris, Sinclair, Holloway, Hanigan ......................

Good problems to have.

FWIW I'd have

4. Holloway
5. Hanigan
6. Swinton
7. Hooper
8. RWV

12. Foketi
13. Perese

20. Harris
23. Walton

 

[Eyes and Ears]

When is Hanigan available?

 

[Dctarget]

Forgot about Rahboni, I’m excited to see how he goes. With Perese, the Tahs have some players I really wouldn’t want to tackle

 

[fatprop]

You could even have

1 Angus Bell
2 David Porecki
3 Harry Johnson-Holmes
4 Jeremy Williams
5 Ned Hanigan
6 Lachlan Swinton
7 Michael Hooper
8 Will Harris
9 Jake Gordon
10 Will Harrison
11 Izaia Perese
12 Joey Walton
13 Lalakai Foketi
14 James Ramm
15 Ben Donaldson

16 Tom Horton
17 Adrian Brown
18 Ruan Smith
19 Jed Holloway
20 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco,
21 Henry Robertson
22 Tevita Funa

 

[Number 7]

Pietsch is signed but not announced - the Tah's website hasn't been updated. Tizzano is likely to be announced soon; finalising contract. That creates a real logjam in the backrow.

Pietsch has said he want's to play on the wing and he can definitely defend so would be a good shot at starting if training form justifies it.

 

[barbarian]

Not a bad first XV, but to say our depth is paper thin probably does a disservice to paper.

 

[Jimmyjam]

You could even have

1 Angus Bell
2 David Porecki
3 Harry Johnson-Holmes
4 Jeremy Williams
5 Ned Hanigan
6 Lachlan Swinton
7 Michael Hooper
8 Will Harris
9 Jake Gordon
10 Will Harrison
11 Izaia Perese
12 Joey Walton
13 Lalakai Foketi
14 James Ramm
15 Ben Donaldson

16 Tom Horton
17 Adrian Brown
18 Ruan Smith
19 Jed Holloway
20 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco,
21 Henry Robertson
22 Tevita Funa

I have a feeling they may use RWV as a 12 with either Foketi or Walton at 13. Gives us a very big body midfield who's strong both sides of the ball. Look at the difference Kerevi made for the wallabies...

 

[Jimmyjam]

I'm thinking along these lines (assuming Hanigan is out of the picture until late season)

1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Smith
4. Holloway
5. Douglas or Williams
6. Swinton
7. Hooper
8. Harris
9. Gordon
10 Harrison
11. Perese
12. R W-V
13. Foketi
14. Pietsch or Ramm
15. Donaldson

16. Horton
17. Brown
18. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes)
19. Douglas or Williams
20. Pizzano
21. Robertson
22. Edmed / Walton
23. Pietsch/ Ramm or Funa

 

[RugbyReg]

Pietsch is signed but not announced - the Tah's website hasn't been updated. Tizzano is likely to be announced soon; finalising contract. That creates a real logjam in the backrow.

Pietsch has said he want's to play on the wing and he can definitely defend so would be a good shot at starting if training form justifies it.

The Tahs have announced it. The story is on their website

 

[fatprop]

Not a bad first XV, but to say our depth is paper thin probably does a disservice to paper.

It isn't too bad, but with a few areas of concern, 2 (not sure who is the 3rd hooker), 9, 15 & the locks

 

[Number 7]

The Tahs have announced it. The story is on their website

Yep my mistake- I meant that it wasn't annouced by Tom Decent in his article. It was a Typo.

 

[Number 7]

Here's mine:
1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Harry Johnson-Holmes
4. Hanigan
5. Douglas
6. Swinton
7. Hooper
8. Harris
9. Gordon
10 Harrison
11. Pietsch
12. Perese
13. Foketi
14. Ramm
15. Donaldson

16. Horton
17. Brown
18. Smith
19. Holloway
20. Tizzano/Vosayako
21. Robertson
22. Walton
23. Funa

I thought one of the highlights for us last year was how Foketi/Perese built a really good 12/13 combination towards the end of the season. I wouldnt want to be breaking that up.

Not sure about Tizzano on the bench. I really like him but he plays on ball like a #7 so might be better to have Vosayako as 6/8 cover.

 

[Rugby Head]

NSW Waratahs bolster front-row stocks

The NSW Waratahs have bolstered their front-row stocks with a mixture of youth and experience, locking in Ruan...

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Great to see Ruan Smith alligning with the Wildfires and Tevita Funa to Western Sydney. Good to see DC getting players to sign with the struggling teams rather than bolstering Sydney Uni/ Randwick.

 

[fatprop]

I thought one of the highlights for us last year was how Foketi/Perese built a really good 12/13 combination towards the end of the season. I wouldnt want to be breaking that up.

The challenge is that I reckon Walton is one of the young centres with the most up side in the country, he is a bloody good footballer

 

[Adam84]

Luke Nadurutalo is in the Waratahs wider training squad, will play for the Wildfires in 2022 also. Previously spent a bit of time in the Panthers NSW Cup team and NZ 7s squad.

 

[Froggy]

FP, I agree re a third hooker, pity Cotton went OS, I thought he looked all right. Plenty of locks, but either journeymen or youngsters, no real quality until Hanigan returns. 15 is certainly thin, probably Donaldson with Funa or Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) next, doesn't fill you with confidence.
The one area I don't agree is 9, at super level Gordon is very sound, Grant an adequate back-up and I believe Robertson has more upside than any of them.

 

[eastman]

It isn't too bad, but with a few areas of concern, 2 (not sure who is the 3rd hooker), 9, 15 & the locks

If Perese gets injured, I'm not sure there's a linebreak in there.

 

[7137]

FP, I agree re a third hooker, pity Cotton went OS, I thought he looked all right. Plenty of locks, but either journeymen or youngsters, no real quality until Hanigan returns. 15 is certainly thin, probably Donaldson with Funa or Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) next, doesn't fill you with confidence.
The one area I don't agree is 9, at super level Gordon is very sound, Grant an adequate back-up and I believe Robertson has more upside than any of them.

Third Hooker I hear may be Mahe Vailanu.