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Tuqiri at centre may kick-start Waratahs
Rupert Guinness | March 24, 2008
Tuqiri at centre may kick-start Waratahs - rugbyheaven.com.au
LOTE TUQIRI may be switched to outside-centre for Friday's clash against the Cheetahs in Sydney in a bid to inject much-needed penetration and direction into the Waratahs back line.
The move will be considered even if Ben Jacobs, who played at No.13 in Friday's 34-7 loss to the Crusaders but left the field in the second half with an injured left knee, is available for selection.
NSW coach Ewen McKenzie will wait until he gets a clear picture of Jacobs' condition today before assessing his selection options. Although Timana Tahu has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, those options have improved. Daniel Halangahu (ankle) and Sam Norton-Knight (thigh) have overcome their injuries, and both can play on the wing or at fullback or five-eighth.
If Tuqiri is shifted to No.13 - where he played for the Wallabies in last year's World Cup - his spot on the wing could also be covered by fullback Lachlan Turner or utility Alfi Mafi.
Such a back-line reconfiguration would please Waratahs attack coach Todd Louden, who has spoken passionately about the value of positioning Tuqiri at first or second receiver. Besides his ability to break the line and offer solid defence, Tuqiri - who has embraced the idea of leading the back line - would be better able to help five-eighth Kurtley Beale and inside-centre Tom Carter.
"Lote going to the centres is definitely an option," McKenzie said. "We have the likes Norton-Knight and Halangahu coming back into the selection mix. We can actually think about a few of these things.
"If you have Timana out and Jacobs, then you have two guys out covering [No.] 13. We are not going to make wholesale changes just for the sake of doing it. There has to be a purpose behind it.
"He [Tuqiri] is obviously a difficult guy to handle. He breaks the line and breaks a lot of tackles when he plays. He adds something in that respect. But he does that no matter where he plays."
Meanwhile, McKenzie dismissed fears about his team's fitness levels, after Crusaders centre Casey Laulala said the home side had targeted the Waratah's stamina as a weakness in Christchurch.
NSW made 120 of their 190 tackles in the second half of Friday's match. It's an astonishing count considering the Super 14 average for an entire match is 127. "There is no team in the competition that is not going to get fatigued by that," McKenzie said. "I don't have any issues with our fitness. We have run over the top of teams all season."
The NSW coach also defended his team's kicking game and defensive approach despite pre-game talk of the Waratahs playing expansive rugby on a dry track. McKenzie argued that the team's tactics yielded a 7-6 lead after 50 minutes.
"We had three kicks we definitely would have liked to have been different kinds of kicks," he said.
Apart from Beale kicking out on the full from the restart after the Crusaders scored their second penalty, he said NSW "had a penalty shot that didn't get into touch and a chip kick in there somewhere. A couple were scant. But on the whole the strategy we had got us in front."
Posted via space
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
Man, they are rolling out the excuses today.
Where's tahman when you need him![]()
Just happy to be here
Where's tahman when you need him
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Posted via space
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
I can see Sam NK in at 10 as he seems to be able to think but Tuqiri either can't or won't. He just doesn't seem capable of playing an intelligent game (or of passing the ball)
That's the major reason he didn't see much ball in the World Cup, the inside backs knew that to give the ball to Lote would see it stay there, they either cut him out, or ran themselves!
Can't wait to see Ryan Cross vs Lote Tuquiri in a couple of weeks!
Here Chookie Chookie Chookie!
C'mon the![]()
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One of these would be more fun, GIGS
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Posted via space
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
If he's a true reTahd he'll start making excuses next week and then claim some unwritten rule which states he doesn't have to shave his head if Lote plays out of position, or some other crap like that!
C'mon the![]()
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Ryan Cross flogged Tuqiri in league and will do the same when the "tarts" come to town...
An inexperienced poser in a poofy plastic suit on the wing for the 'Tahs?
SURELY NOT!
C'mon the![]()
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Tuqiri and his gold opps (yellow ) boots. I think Gigs 20 hit it on the nail the boy as white line fever. He is one of the most selfish players around at the moment. The sooner he leaves our beloved game the better. Give me Cross anytime i hope the ARU gives him his chance this season he is playing like a champion.
Unless Lote rediscovers some serious form he should not be a walk up start for a Wallaby gig. I hope Deans bites the bullet, with reputations mean diddly squat and picks on form. I can see the smarts in keeping some of the older crew on board for guidance and Leadership ie Waugh/ Mortlock/ Vickerman etc who by the way are playing very average footy at the moment. Lote brings zip to the table and he hasnt deserved a spot at the said table for at least 2 years.
the punters friend..... stick with me and you will be wearing
all their problems stem from having no direction at either 10 or 12 to capitalise on the forwards dominance their 12 makes good yards but is not an effective ball player beale has got no idea when to kick or when to run tuqiri just there for the dollars and it shows they also need less people blowing hot air up arses and start playing with some heart dare i say take a look at how the mighty force are going bout it they will beat the cheetahs and everyone over east will start talking finals and their shortfalls will be ignored for another week (sic)
Hey, you guys are so one eyed, why don't you apply for a job on the RugbyWA disciplinary tribunal?
Lote is a talented player and he proves it week after week. Saying repeatedly that he isn't doesn't make it so, especially when it's the same half dozen zealots who keep saying it.
By the way, on a totally unrelated subject, I'm currently reading a book entitled "How To Win Friends And Influence People"....
A little bit of this will fix the Force. Sorry to have to break it to you.
The Force a re a great team but the Tahs are just that little bit better. Lote will be fine, he does the hard yards and tries his best all the time. It will be tough without at top class 10 and a quality kicker but the Tahs will still beat the Force.
Sorry guys!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsT_rUDhpYE[/YOUTUBE]
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu