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Waratahs Hooker Problems

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Cyril Towers (30)
It looks like TPN is out for a couple of weeks with a hammy injury. So, who's the back up? Fitzy presumably will start but it will be a run on baptism of fire against the Sharks front row of Smit, Bismark du Plessis and the Beast. More interestingly, who's his back up? Freier is still a few weeks away from being ready and although Luke Holmes was training with the Tahs pre season he is not contracted and hasn't played in any of the Junior Waratahs games (? injured?). Ben Roberts has started in all of the Junior Waratahs games but he isn't contracted either. Palmer has played a bit of hooker at various stages, but can he throw a ball into a lineout?
 
Newb

Newb

Trevor Allan (34)
that's pretty dire if all recovery timetables are accurate. and frankly, i don't have any answers. whatever happens, it sounds like it will something makeshift as you mention towards the end. that, and pray that fitzy can go 80. my guess is roberts?
 
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Cyril Towers (30)
I reckon I would go with Palmer. He could also cover THP if anything happened to Baxter as both Kepu and Robinson are pretty much full time LHPs.
 
Moses

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
I don't know about the baptism of fire, starting between Benn and BaxTAH against the Sharks makeshift THP Smit who is getting smashed most games is about the best start a young hooker could hope for.
 
RugbyReg

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
agree Moses. At least Holmes has S14 experience. And he looked pretty decent in the Lismore trial I was at. He'd be fine as back up.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
No other Aus side could have their top two hookers wounded and roll out with Fitzpatrick & Holmes.

They will do fine
 
RugbyReg

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
fatprop said:
No other Aus side could have their top two hookers wounded and roll out with Fitzpatrick & Holmes.

They will do fine
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that's right. Because they are contracted to the Tahs.
 
Langthorne

Langthorne

Phil Hardcastle (33)
Fitzpatrick has some good skills. He doesn't have the physical presence of TPN, but maybe he is a bit faster round the field.
My concern is his line out throwing, his accuracy hasn't been all that great when he has been on...but I guess TPN has had his moments too.

All in all, I am excited to see what he can do.
 
Blue

Blue

Andrew Slack (58)
Langthorne said:
Fitzpatrick has some good skills. He doesn't have the physical presence of TPN, but maybe he is a bit faster round the field.
My concern is his line out throwing, his accuracy hasn't been all that great when he has been on...but I guess TPN has had his moments too.

All in all, I am excited to see what he can do.
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Surely he is no worse than TPN and throwing. He has impressed me. Tahs should not have concerns. Smit at 3 has goen backwards sicne the start of the EOYT and it looks to be getting worse.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Blue said:
Langthorne said:
Fitzpatrick has some good skills. He doesn't have the physical presence of TPN, but maybe he is a bit faster round the field.
My concern is his line out throwing, his accuracy hasn't been all that great when he has been on...but I guess TPN has had his moments too.

All in all, I am excited to see what he can do.
Click to expand...

Surely he is no worse than TPN and throwing. He has impressed me. Tahs should not have concerns. Smit at 3 has goen backwards sicne the start of the EOYT and it looks to be getting worse.
Click to expand...

Tough decision for the Sharks, do they get destroyed at scrum time playing Smit at 3 or do they play the big doctor, fare better in the scrums and lose ability around the park.
 
Moses

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
fatprop said:
No other Aus side could have their top two hookers wounded and roll out with Fitzpatrick & Holmes.

They will do fine
Click to expand...
I reckon our 3rd and 4th options at hooker are still better than Pek Cowan
 
Blue

Blue

Andrew Slack (58)
fatprop said:
Blue said:
Langthorne said:
Fitzpatrick has some good skills. He doesn't have the physical presence of TPN, but maybe he is a bit faster round the field.
My concern is his line out throwing, his accuracy hasn't been all that great when he has been on...but I guess TPN has had his moments too.

All in all, I am excited to see what he can do.
Click to expand...

Surely he is no worse than TPN and throwing. He has impressed me. Tahs should not have concerns. Smit at 3 has goen backwards sicne the start of the EOYT and it looks to be getting worse.
Click to expand...

Tough decision for the Sharks, do they get destroyed at scrum time playing Smit at 3 or do they play the big doctor, fare better in the scrums and lose ability around the park.
Click to expand...

The big doctor has been no better at scrum time. Ref. mid-week games EOYT.
 
Ash

Ash

Michael Lynagh (62)
Moses said:
I reckon our 3rd and 4th options at hooker are still better than Pek Cowan
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I don't know, Pek Cowan has been rather good for the Force at hooker, I have thought.

They are definitely better than Tyrell and Whitakker at the moment, though.
 
Moses

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Pek had an awesome game on the weekned, 3 throws not straight and 3 missed tackles, according to the -4 bounty he delivered to my ailing fantasy team
 
Lee Grant

Lee Grant

John Eales (66)
It will be good to see Fitzy get a start but we shouldn't expect from him what we will expect in 2-3 years time - as he is still just 20 years old.

His progression has been OK since he was Oz schools captain in 2007. He made the Eastwood 1st Grade side half-way through 2008 and was signed up by the Tahs Academy for 2009. He even played a 4 Super14 games from the bench in 2009 after Freier got a calf injury. Later he was Oz U/20 captain and, more importantly, the regular Eastwood 1st Grade hooker.

He will never have the physicality of a TPN or BdP, but he was a backrower with Joeys until Yr 11 and will play a similar type of game as the great Irish hooker, Keith Wood.

It will be interesting to see how successful he can bring his kind of game to the Super14 level - as a starter and as a 20 y.o.
 
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Cyril Towers (30)
Lee Grant said:
He will never have the physicality of a TPN or BdP, but he was a backrower with Joeys until Yr 11 and will play a similar type of game as the great Irish hooker, Keith Wood.

It will be interesting to see how successful he can bring his kind of game to the Super14 level - as a starter and as a 20 y.o.
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Close, but not quite correct. Fitzy was always a hooker at Joeys except for Yr 11 when Boydy thought he would try him at breakaway. Unfortunately broke his hand in a trial and ended playing 2nds that year with the occasional run off the bench as a backrower. He's a hooker, just like his infamous sheep shagging uncle Sean.
 
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