Waratahs 2011

[Lee Grant]

WARATAHS 2011

FRONT ROW
1. Benn Robinson (2013)
1. Sekope Kepu (2011)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (2011)
2. Damien Fitzpatrick (2011) ??
3. Al Baxter (2011) ??
3. Paddy Ryan (2012) [Tahs Academy 2010]

SECOND ROW
4/5. Will Caldwell (2011) ??
4/5. Kane Douglas (2012)
4/5/6. Dean Mumm (2011)

BACKROW
7. Phil Waugh (2011)
7/6. Pat McCutcheon (2012) [Tahs Academy 2010]*
6. David Dennis (2012)
6/8. Ben Mowen (2011)
6/8. Locky McCaffrey (2012) [Tahs Academy 2010]*
8. Wycliffe Palu (2012) **

HALVES
9. Luke Burgess (2011)
9. Brendan McKibbin (2012) [Tahs Academy 2010]
9/12. Josh Holmes (2011) ??
10. Daniel Halangahu (2012)

MIDFIELD
12/10. Berrick Barnes (2011)
12/13. Tom Carter (2012)
13. Rob Horne (2011)
13/12/11/14. Ryan Cross (2011) [W.Force]
13/12. Rory Sidey (2011)

BACK 3
11/15. Drew Mitchell (2011)
14/15. Lachlan Turner (2011)
11/14/13/12. Brackin Karauria-Henry (2012) [Brumbies Academy 2010]*
15/12/10. Kurtley Beale (2011)

Expected to be signed to make 30 players
- 4/5 Greg Peterson [Tahs Academy]
- One other forward


Player Movements
The following have moved elsewhere:
Adam Freier >>> Melbourne Rebels
Nemani Nadolo >>> Burgoin
Dan Palmer >>> Brumbies
Henrik Roodt >>> RSA
Chris Thomson >>> Narbonne

Not re-signed yet:
Chris Alcock
Soseni Anesi
Ben Coridas
Cam Jowitt
Jeremy Tilse

* Academy player who got on the park in the 2010 S14.
** Includes 2nd year option
?? However probable, need a link to verify.

Looking at the above you can see there is a need for Peterson, the Oz U/20 2nd rower, to be signed to redress the shortage of locks. Another lock may have to be acquired also as Caldwell may still be seriously ill with Crohn's disease. In this case the Tahs will probably get dispensation to contract a 31st player.

[James]

Any word on the chances of Dan Vickerman coming back?

[GIGS20]

IMHO the tight 5 is pretty shallow all round. Behind the first choice for each position there isn't a whole lot. and with Baxter looking like the first choice Tighthead there's problems there. I reckon they need to find a versatile prop and probably another Hooker (I haven't been that impressed by what I've seen of Fitzpatrick, but if you've got TPN fit I guess you don't need a lot on the bench)

It's funny really, for so long the 'Tahs have built themselves around a big tight five and had trouble getting out of the ten man rugby thing.....I don't see that working for them next year.........but I don't know much about the Tahs who aren't Wallabies so I could be way off!

[zimeric]

i wouldn't put Cross at 11 or 14 hes just not fast enough nor has the kicking game.. certainly 12 or 13 bench warmer though if he lifts his game to 2009 levels he might displace Tom Carter

[Lee Grant]

James
Nobody is thinking about Vickerman. He's in Oz for a couple of months then going back to the UK. He was at the Randwick v Sydney Uni game yesterday and was going to play a few games for Sydney Uni, but has some injuries and probably won't be right to play before he goes back.

The odds of his playing for any S15 team anywhere in 2011 are sky high.


GIGS20
Unless the Tahs have a lot of injuries, especially in the 2nd row, I expect the Tahs tight five will be as good as any other Oz team.

Fitzpatrick will be OK. He's just turned 21 and hasn't started in a Super14 game yet. He wasn't Oz Schools and Oz U/20 captain for nothing. I think Oz will be spoilt for choice for hookers in a few years time with Moore and TPN still around and the likes of Fitzpatrick, Charles and Whittaker pushing Faingaa for the 3rd string spot. If that is not enough: Siliva will be putting his hand up somewhere and the Oz Schools 2009 hooker and likely the same in 2010, Hugh Roach, will be starting in pro rugby somewhere. It's all good.

Regardless of results next year I want to see the Tahs play more enjoyable rugby, as the last few years under McKenzie and Hickey have been dire. By enjoyable I mean for the fans and the players. The Tahs finished the regular season with some expansive winning games and I hope that we see more of that next year.

The only problem with that is that I said the same thing last year - we finished in the RSA winning 3 out 3 in 2009 and playing some good footie, but they were the same old boring Tahs at the start of 2010.

zimeric
Cross won't be starting on the wing, but the Tahs wanted somebody who could cover 12,13 and wing. If everybody is healthy and in form the wingers will be Mitchell and Turner with Horne at 13 and Beale at 15. Cross will cover everybody from the bench, because if Beale is hurt one of the wingers will go there. With Horne's injury CV Cross is likely to get a bit of time.

If Cross moves up to the starting team or lack of form somewhere the Oz 7s player BKH will take his place on the bench.

Another reason why the Tahs chose Cross is that it gives them an alternative to Carter who will otherwise be the starting 12 if Barnes gets to start at flyhalf ahead of Halangahu.

Much of what has been said about Cross may be said about BKH. With 3 contracted scrumhalves and the above backline scenario, the Tahs should have a fair bit of flexibility; but talk is cheap.

[travelling_gerry]

I wonder who the Coach will be?