Waratahs 2025

[Wilson]

I disagree, no knock against Lancaster but the Tahs don't need the extra strike weapon in the backline that Lancaster offers, they need defensive organisation and stability which Walton is much more suited to bring. The better teams will pick the seams apart around Sua'ali'i at 13, particularly in a Tahs side with so much in flux right now.

 

[Strewthcobber]

The Rebels lost 9 games last year and made the finals. Not sure they were sprinting......

 

[Braveheart81]

It's pretty clear though that you need to be in the top 2 to have a realistic chance of winning the tournament.

 

[Homer]

I think Sua'ali'i will run from fullback with Kells and Jorgo on the wings. With the ability to roam he will draw defence to him, creating options and opportunities for the others, but also have the space and freedom to hit the line like Tommy Turbo does for Manly. Im not sure Walton offers much for an offload and fast passing attack, but there aren't a lot of options.

 

[Wilson]

I don't think that's a realistic goal for the tahs this year and it would be to their detriment to act (too much) like it is. They should be aiming to lay a base for what they want to do going forward and keep themselves in contention for the finals all the way through the season, but the pressure of needing a top 2 finish won't be conducive to finding their identity as a team, not with so much change and upheaval since last year.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I don't really disagree, but one of last year's finalists had already lost 3 games by mid-April.

Would the Tahs realistically be aiming for too much more than making a QF, with SF being a stretch target?

 

[Braveheart81]

To be clear I certainly wasn't suggesting that the Tahs should be targeting a top 2 finish. That's wholly unrealistic coming off finishing last.

Would the Tahs realistically be aiming for too much more than making a QF, with SF being a stretch target?

Now that we're back to a six team finals format, I think making the finals is a reasonable goal for the Tahs.

 

[Pfitzy]

It's still January - so the standard approach is "we're going to win everything".

Please bring your realistic approaches in April.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I disagree, no knock against Lancaster but the Tahs don't need the extra strike weapon in the backline that Lancaster offers, they need defensive organisation and stability which Walton is much more suited to bring. The better teams will pick the seams apart around Sua'ali'i at 13, particularly in a Tahs side with so much in flux right now.

This is a Psy op from Wilson.

 

[TSR]

I know he got carded - but I thought Kerevi looked pretty good when he played.

Tough on Wright if he got shifted to the wing to accommodate Sua’ali’i at 15 (and I assume there is at least as much chance they’d push Sua’ali’i to wing and leave Wright at 15) but a backline of Kerevi & Ikitau in the centres and Wright, Sua’ali’i & Kellaway/Jorgensen in the back 3 has the potential to be one of the better ones we’ve put out for a fair while.

 

[TSR]

It's still January - so the standard approach is "we're going to win everything". Please bring your realistic approaches in April.

or in the first week of March.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Not really tough on Wright if he's still the best FB in the country the jersey will be his. I don't doubt this but, if by chance JS ended up better then Wright then he should get it.

Having said that I think DM is trying to find a side that will work how he wants to play and win games not necessarily what the Wallabies need. JS came to Rugby as a Centre for the Roosters but has a lot of experience as a FB for Samoa in league and the Roosters when needed. He was also a FB in his Rugby schools days...

Personally I'd have 12 Foketi, 13 Sua'ali'i with Jorgo at 15. I don't think he'll be exposed in defence all that much more than anyone else and with what he may bring in attack others can't I take the risk every time. Good players learn to build up from their issues. Many had the same convo about Wright and is he worth the errors to the performance. Yes was the answer and the errors are disappearing leaving an elite game breaker now.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

The simple fix to protect million of dollars of Waratahs talent

The Waratahs had 10 front-rowers on their books last season – and all 10 were lost to season-ending injuries. The unprecedented carnage prompted a major review.

www.smh.com.au

Everyone CALM DOWN it was the grass. But, if that was an issue I'm glad it has been seen too. Not that surprising that a really sandy based field was shit. Remember when Suncorp seemed to have a kink for taking ACLs in the mid 2000s.

A substandard training field at NSW Rugby headquarters at Daceyville was identified as one of the contributing factors to the extraordinary spate of front-row injuries at the Waratahs last season, which in itself was a major reason for NSW finishing with just two wins and the wooden spoon.

After starting the year with seven props and three hookers in their full-time squad, the Waratahs lost all 10 contracted players to season-ending injuries, and a fourth hooker as well; and most were lower-leg injuries. The Tahs were forced to call up numerous players from club rugby.

“The turf last year was terrible. It was pretty tough last year because a lot of the boys, a lot of young guys, sustained pretty big injuries, which is pretty tough on a young player,” Bell said. “I have been through my injuries as well. My body didn’t like that field, but now it is a lot better, which is good.”

The Waratahs hope the lessons of the 2024 review – and a plusher field – will help ensure all their front-rowers stay healthy this year, and particularly their first-choice Test trio of Taniela Tupou, Dave Porecki and Bell, who all have recent history of lower-limb injuries.

The Tahs’ pain may help keep their Super Rugby rivals healthier, too. The findings and recommendations from the Waratahs/RA review into the front-row carnage proved so insightful they have been shared with all Australian Super Rugby sides to implement.

The Waratahs’ training field underwent a full restoration ahead of the pre-season, which began officially in November last year, and stricter rules around access have reduced traffic levels leading up to the 2025 season.

 

[Rob42]

Could also be a substandard Allianz Stadium field, that was embarassing for a brand-new facility.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Did other sports have issues injury? I know Rugby Front Rows are different but I can't recall. They do spend most of their time on the training grounds though so it holds merit.

 

[Wilson]

It's so bloody common with new/freshly redone stadiums though - the turf at Suncorp was horrendous for its first year or two and probably took out a couple of ACLs as a result.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Hope they went out to the NSWRL training centre at Olympic Park and hired whoever did that. It's immaculate and not surprising the Wallabies had their recent camp there. 7s were there also leading into the series opening.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'm guessing there's a link between very wet Sydney winters and the low lying flood prone ground at Daceyville, and what grass they have been able to grow. For lots of reasons, hopefully we get a drier season this year.

 

[Wilson]

tahs graphic designer is now doing the website posts to:

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to Debut for NSW Waratahs in Trial Against ACT Brumbies

waratahs.rugby

90% of the article in the pull quote up the top:

Trying to get clever with the team format :

 

[HogansHeros]

I feel seasick after trying to read that