Waratahs 2024

[Goosestep]

A couple of years ago Edmed was ranked 3rd or fourth then Harrison got injured. Harrison has a better running, passing and kicking game but looks like will be cut in favour of Edmed and Bowen. We have a great back 5 but they never get the ball at the right time because the inside halves don't read the game well enough and want to make hero plays.

Also, NSW have seemingly gone all in on Barrett as the future prop but he is way too small currently and they missed out on quality players like Massimo Delutiis and Tevita Alatini who are far superior scrummagers. (see the clip of Massimo easily benching 202.5 kgs at reds training!!)

I’ve been ranting about this issue for years ! .. barrett another joeys product who is naturally a backrower gets put into the sjc front rower to offer up more of a speed advantage at the breakdown. Classic joeys move, been doing it for decades …. Because at schoolboy level you cant push more than a 1m, so scrums become irrelevant… and so all big boys who be should be being nurtured at scrummaging are ignored for future representation and become lost to the abyss of the Shute shield (if lucky) … which is terrible for Australian rugby …and poor results start to surface in the professional level years later … like what you’re mentioned above …

 

[Dctarget]

I expect Barrett to have a long, successful professional career and we will look back on these posts and laugh.

 

[Raytah]

I expect Barrett to have a long, successful professional career and we will look back on these posts and laugh.

I expect so too. Was outstanding amongst his Aus peers, including as a scrummager. But the point that he's been blooded 2/3 years before he is ready (as are many other super rugby forwards) stands.

 

[fatprop]

Wagga is part of the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union territory.

ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Canberra is a NSW country town

 

[fatprop]

I expect Barrett to have a long, successful professional career and we will look back on these posts and laugh.

He won't be the last backrower that moves through the rows as he grows wider instead of taller

 

[wamberal99]

He won't be the last backrower that moves through the rows as he grows wider instead of taller

Richard Harry is a good example. You did too, I believe

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He won't be the last backrower that moves through the rows as he grows wider instead of taller

Should happen more tbh. Especially with the Hooker position.

Barrett’s build will just need time. It’s not like a lot of the Polynesian boys that come through physically developed earlier. Eat, train, play & repeat. Might be 2026 when we see what he can really be.

 

[Adam84]

Canberra is a NSW country town

Canberra was only given a border to appease those from Melbourne upset that the capital was in NSW

 

[Goosestep]

Should happen more tbh. Especially with the Hooker position.

Barrett’s build will just need time. It’s not like a lot of the Polynesian boys that come through physically developed earlier. Eat, train, play & repeat. Might be 2026 when we see what he can really be.

Can’t Blame it on Polynesians…

South Africa and England never manage to have an undersized prop problem ….

It’s cause they embrace props as a specialised position early on . Not something that can be swapped around with last minute.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Can’t Blame it on Polynesians…

South Africa and England never manage to have an undersized prop problem ….

It’s cause they embrace props as a specialised position early on . Not something that can be swapped around with last minute.

Not blaming. Just saying they are physically at a higher/bigger stage at a younger age. Marley Pearce is more physically ready for Super Rugby right now even though I think Barrett has a higher ceiling.

When did he shift to Prop out of curiosity?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Was it Marley Pearce's first year out of U20s when he debuted at SRP (Super Rugby Pacific). I think it was, so something similar to Jack Barrett. Even Pearce looked a lot smaller than his direct opposites when he packed the scrum, and he was also playing prop while he had played mostly, maybe exclusively, at Hooker for the age groups. I think Jack will make an excellent LHP in time, like Angus Bell, but I also remember he was given a bit of a hiding by Tevita Alatini in the scrums last year.

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]

I expect Barrett to have a long, successful professional career and we will look back on these posts and laugh.

Yep. It was only a few years ago that Angus Bell was yellow carded on debut for scrum infringements.

 

[Marce]

Can’t Blame it on Polynesians…

South Africa and England never manage to have an undersized prop problem ….

It’s cause they embrace props as a specialised position early on . Not something that can be swapped around with last minute.

The Polynesians living in Australia grow up watching NRL so they want to run with the ball in hand. I can imagine more SBW's/Taniela Tupou style offloading every time they can and running like wingers than traditional props like Jason Leonard

 

[Cuz]

I expect so too. Was outstanding amongst his Aus peers, including as a scrummager. But the point that he's been blooded 2/3 years before he is ready (as are many other super rugby forwards) stands.

Why are we picking someone at the Super rugby level that doesn't play 1st grade at his club. Short term fix, but it would seem that anyone playing 1st grade Shute shield should be able to scrummage better than him.

 

[dusk]

Why are we picking someone at the Super rugby level that doesn't play 1st grade at his club. Short term fix, but it would seem that anyone playing 1st grade Shute shield should be able to scrummage better than him.

Because it's a smarter option to blood a young prop who looks to have endless potential over picking someone who realistically isn't going to excel any further than 1st Grade Shute Shield. It's such a simple concept that you can't grasp. He literally played the first 20 minutes to cover someone who got injured on match day.

 

[RebelYell]

Because it's a smarter option to blood a young prop who looks to have endless potential over picking someone who realistically isn't going to excel any further than 1st Grade Shute Shield. It's such a simple concept that you can't grasp. He literally played the first 20 minutes to cover someone who got injured on match day.

You can't pick front rowers for Super Rugby who aren't even playing Shute Shield. It's dangerous and terrible decision making

 

[Marce]

We are the Wests Tigers of the competition:

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Frustrating part is the BP loses. Tahs are two games from 6th...

This season is panning out just like every other year after it felt different to begin but I think it was just the fact the Crusaders have dipped. Brumbies will finish around 3rd and go out in heartbreaking fashion. Slight spark from one other Aus side (Reds/Rebels) this year and the other will slip into finals because it's harder to miss the finals than make it, but it'll be 2 NZ sides in the final.

Rinse & Repeat the conversation around the comp, viewers, crowds and no. of teams.

 

[Adam84]

We are the Wests Tigers of the competition:

View attachment 18583

Closer to the Rabbitohs… even train near each other

 

[Marce]

Closer to the Rabbitohs… even train near each other

Rabbitohs this season but they were 3rd in 2018, 2019 and 2021 meanwhile Tigers sucked all the seasons in recent times