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Time to get the armchair selectors caps on crew!
Here's my take on the Waratahs first pick squad for '06:
1. Matt Dunning
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Alister Baxter
4. Alex Kanaar
5. Daniel Vickerman
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Phil Waugh
8. David Lyons
9. Chris Whitaker (c )
10. Mat Rogers
11. Wendell Sailor
12. Sam Norton-Knight
13. Morgan Turinui
14. Lote Tuqiri
15. Peter Hewat
16. Benn Robinson
17. Adam Freier
18. Will Caldwell
19. Stephen Hoiles
20. Brett Sheehan
21. Tim Donnelly
22. Shaun Berne
For squad list go to www.waratahs.com.au/nsw/nsw.rugby/page/13885
Norton-Knight at 12 is interesting.. Have never seen him there so can't be sure... I'd try Winston Mafi there first. Of course if Rogers doesn't work out at 10, NK would slot in there.
Apart from that I agree completely with you. Hewit IS a fullback and Sailor should lift his game now that he's with better players.
Was very dissapointed (after all the hype) with what I saw of N-K in Sydney Club on ABC TV this year but felt with a bit more time at 12 he may be of more use.
I think Link would be crazy not to give Rogers some time at 10 having seen his impact on tour but will hopefully abandon the Tuqiri experiment and just have him coming in more often from the blind.
Haven't really seen Mafi play to comment.
I think Tom Carter could be a bolter as well, having had a great year for Uni.
Nathan Grey will be the biggest loss for the Tahs in defence and there isn't much depth in the second row stocks without Harrison as most are lock/backrow combos.
Hopefully Leroy Houston will see some time from the bench when the inevitable injuries come into play.
Some major homework needs to be done by the incumbent props as the back up cattle are about a year away.
I would think the backline could also look like this:
10. Norton-Knight
11. Hewat/Rogers
12. Turinui
13. Tuqiri
14. Sailor
15. Hewat/Rogers
I'd probably put Sailor at centre before Tuqiri... Hmm.. Some tough choices to make in terms of who replaces Grey...
I think they will have the best bench of the four Aus teams which go along way to their success and should mean the highest finish of the Australian teams.
This is the year we either shed the chokers tag forever or get it back. :\
You'd expect that the team and depth will see us to another semi appearance. If it happens to be a home semi, I'd expect us back in the grand final.
Tuqiri was fairly impressive at Outside in the recent tour....particularly in the last game against Wales. Wouldn't be surprised to see him starting there next year.
True I guess, I just always see him as a wing. He'll probably see more ball at centre anyway, he wasn't used alot in the NSW attack last year.
I think it's more of a case of move the ball to him rather than him to the ball.
Last year the Tahs just didn't seem to have any intent/ability to spin it wide to use their great assets out there.
I don't think he is a long term option there (13) and they are really just tinkering with his poor little Leaguie brain. Granted he did ok in one game out of all that he played there but really he doesn't have the ability in defence to cover more than one player. At least out on the wing he knows who his man is.
I would utilise him much more in blind side moves and cutting in from the blind through the channel between 12 and 13 etc rather than actually moving him into such a crucial position, arguably amongst the hardest couple of spots on the paddock to master in my opinion. And that's from a forward!
Don't expect that to change if Rogers keeps the 10 jersey (swinging the ball wide). I've yet to see him throw long acurate passes before...
I'll be keenly paying attention during the 3 pre-season games.
I have written in other Threads, my thoughts about the League boy experiment. I stand by my comments that Tuqiri has been the only success - but I will go on to say that he is not an Outside Centre. His Defence is still very questionable (tho he looks like a tackling machine compared to Wendell). His selection at Wing is correct.
In saying all of this, the Tahs backline in attack will be a sight to behold, if they get good ball. or should that be any ball?
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Based on last year, "any ball" is acurate... I'm positive it won't be that way this season... The backline is just way too potent not to be used.
Lyons had a good write up on Rugby Heaven about being at full fitness for the first time in years.
Plenty bag him but I reckon he is the best 8 going around in Australia at the moment.
Likewise Vickerman is a huge plus in the lineout and around the loose and Elsom was ripped off by getting dumped on Spring Tour. I think he was another victim of Eddies "it's my idea and it's right" projects trying to have Smith at 8 and tooling around with the genuine 8s at blindside.
Waugh has slipped over the last six months I reckon but will be the better for the summer break.
I think Phil Waughs problems with the birth of his first child had something to do with it. I could be wrong tho, I think his baby arrived a little early. Can anyone shed more light on this or am I off track?
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa