NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika (Image: Supplied)
Related coverage
There were mixed feelings for Michael Cheika and Robbie Deans with the 30 Wallabies named to take on France, England, Italy, and Wales next month.
It was the ultimate for new Waratahs coach, Cheika, with his entire pack plus one in the squad as a standup start to his first Super Rugby campaign next year: props Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, and Wallaby rookie Paddy Ryan, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, locks Kane Douglas and Sitaleki Timani, with backrowers Wycliff Palu, Dave Dennis, and the new boy on the Blue block Michael Hooper.
Add three very experienced backs in Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper, and Drew Mitchell, and the Waratahs top the Wallaby squad with 12 compared to nine Reds, five Brumbies, three Force, and two Rebels.
While Cheika has plenty to smile about, Deans has a major problem with his half-backs, and with Polota-Nau feeding the lineouts
Losing Will Genia is huge.
On a normal day, Genia is the best No 9 in the world. On a bad day, he’s the length of the straight better than his replacements Nick Phipps and Brett Sheehan, who just can’t get the basics right.
Polota-Nau’s lineout service is beyond belief.
One doubts his ball sense, which is underlined by the number of possessions he coughs up.
Despite those shortcomings, the Wallabies beat the Pumas on their home turf – no mean feat – and drew with the best side on the planet – the All Blacks – in back-to-back games.
But this Wallaby squad can do so well on the coming four-Test tour if Phipps, Sheehan, and Polota-Nau, lift their game to the required standards that should be automatic. They are internationals.
That’s Robbie Deans’ number one priority on this tour.
The rest will fall into place until the real troops arrive in time for Super Rugby 2013 and the Lions.
Then we will see the real Wallabies on duty.
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
Passionate about your union? Then sign up to The Roar's brand new daily union email, delivering Roaring articles directly to you day-in, day-out. You'll love it!
Click here to join now!
- Explore:
- Rugby Union, Waratahs
October 26th 2012 @ 8:03am
Sailosi said | October 26th 2012 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Why no Kingi? Has he done something wrong?
October 26th 2012 @ 11:40am
emuarse said | October 26th 2012 @ 11:40am | Report comment
Kingi is not even playing halfback for the Rebels – Phipps is regarded as better.
October 26th 2012 @ 3:08pm
jeznez said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
I’m woth the Sail, I reckon Kingi is the goods.
October 26th 2012 @ 3:09pm
jeznez said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
woth/with – my bad – I blame the hangover.
October 26th 2012 @ 1:42pm
Christian said | October 26th 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I’m a bit Kingi fan, when he’s on form he’s brilliant.
October 26th 2012 @ 8:18am
Ra said | October 26th 2012 @ 8:18am | Report comment
I thought “the real Wallabies” have been “on duty” in the last two games. Those guys showed real guts to come back from the bashing in SA. Give those guys a VB and call em Wallabies. That’s the attitude in the Blacks and in the Aussie Kangaroos league team – you’re in the jersey, you’re the man, you’re filling the position while XYZ is off injured. Deano said as much himself -” the man in the jersey”. We all know ourselves how many times a “newby” came into a side and performed so we he/she kept the incumbent on the bench. Remember the old saying: the strength of the team is judged by the quality of the bench, and there are some pretty good bench players just “called up for duty”. Any squad that keeps the Blacks try less and can draw a game with a 1 – 6 ranking by the bookies deserves to be “the next cab off the rank” on this tour I would expect – and the coach wasn’t too shabby either – kia kaha, goos luck Deano!
October 26th 2012 @ 8:42am
Uncle Argyle said | October 26th 2012 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Good morning David,
I get the sense you are just as happy as Michael Chieka about the potential season the Waratah’s may have in 2013. Lets not get ahead of ourselves; haven’t we herd this type of stuff before? However I agree the inclusion of superstar in the making Michael Hooper would keep any Waratah fan buoyant after a series of ‘Titanic’ seasons.
I agree that Taaf needs to improve his line out throws. To make it easier I’ve suggested on this forum the Wallabies drop the long throw altogether. To me its the chip kick of the line-out. In my opinion Taaf really did look strong in other facets of the game, although like most in Brisbane his handling was a bit off. That’s forgivable. Great to see Moore fit and Hanson on tour.
As for the half-back situation; I see Sailosi is calling for Richard Kingi who is a good player but is rumoured to go a little wayward off the pitch. Whilst I think Phipps is a work in progress his speed to the breakdown and passing is generally good. His kicking game bothers me a little and I would like to see him work in concert with his forward runners a little more, and support the inside shoulder as a runner, not just being there for the next break down. Perhaps he should watch some old Nick Farr-Jones tapes. Nic White does have a good kicking game, not a great running game but is injured as is Benny Lucas. Not seen enough of Grayson Hart but as a Junior All Black he is one to keep an eye on. Brett Sheehan is yesterday’s man, personally I would have gone with Brendan McKibbon as a back up. He can run, pass and can kick goals. A good prospect.
Lets hope everyone comes home fit!
October 26th 2012 @ 9:21am
jameswm said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Grayson Hart is good. I hope he cements the Tahs half-back spot next season.
Despite all the Tahs touring, they need to sort out their halves. I think Hart and Foley need extended runs. McKibbin and Barnes are solid but do we want to challenge or be solid?
Out wide they have AAC, Mitchell, Turner, Kingston and Betham, and I’d say Horne and Carter there for backup only.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:26am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Plus one for a hart and foley halves combo!
October 27th 2012 @ 1:47am
Rob from Brumby Country said | October 27th 2012 @ 1:47am | Report comment
Plus two.
October 26th 2012 @ 12:05pm
David Lord said | October 26th 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Jameswm, Grayson Hart is an interesting proposition. He was the half-back for New Zealand under 20s when they won the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship in 2008, keeping current AB half-back Aaron Smith on the bench. Hart can obviously play for the ABs as he was born there, but he’s also eligible for the Wallabies through his paternal grandmother, and eligible for Scotland through his maternal grandmother. Should be capped somewhere.
October 26th 2012 @ 1:05pm
Uncle Argyle said | October 26th 2012 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Lordy,
All half backs talk to much so the first cap will probably be one of his teeth.
October 26th 2012 @ 2:48pm
bluerose said | October 26th 2012 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
Steve Hansen gonna have a field day if he finds out Hart is eligible for the Wallabies.
October 26th 2012 @ 3:39pm
Jiggles said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
Is McKibbin injured still? I was impressed by season this year. He did pretty well in a rubbish environment.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:32am
Markus said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:32am | Report comment
White’s running game is actually very strong, he just didn’t get a lot of chances to show it off in the back half of the season, after CL and Toomua got injured and the Brumbies backline strategy became a lot more conservative.
It’d be between him and Kingi as to who is the quickest of the Aus scrummies, and he should be a lot more aggressive after fixing his niggling shoulder this offseason.
I am glad about the opportunity to build combos that is occurring at present, at most teams.
White and CL at the Brumbies, Hart and Foley at the Tahs, and of course Genia Cooper at the Reds.
I would still prefer to see Kingi and Beale at the Rebels as opposed to Phipps, regardless of Kingi’s potential for brain explosions.
October 26th 2012 @ 3:19pm
jeznez said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
Nicko its time!
Time to start the annual how good do the Tahs look on paper (if only the game were played there). Lordy has given us the stats 12 current Wallabies, The only blokes missing are talented youngsters in Hart, Foley and Kingston.
Woohoo!, we “should” win the title next year!!!!!
October 26th 2012 @ 3:20pm
jeznez said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
ps. my seven years growing up in japan and my two sky blue eyes are getting the best of me – go the Warrabies!!!!!!!
October 26th 2012 @ 3:39pm
Uncle Argyle said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
Mate – its like waiting for the Bulls to win Sheffield Shield. It took some time but it was worth it.
Ah, its nearly rum o’clock as we speak!
October 26th 2012 @ 3:46pm
jeznez said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
public holiday here in the ‘Pore. Just about time to grab a hair of the dog.
LETS GET READY TO RUMBO!!!!!!!!!
October 26th 2012 @ 5:34pm
BetterRedThanDead said | October 26th 2012 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
Ha ha! All that is missing is a live cross to a couple of the senior players and management intimating that they ‘Could take the title this year’.
Not that their ‘supporters’ really give a damn (the moon has more atmosphere than a Tahs home game).
October 26th 2012 @ 8:40pm
Gatesy said | October 26th 2012 @ 8:40pm | Report comment
A champion team or a team of champions?? That’s the Waratah dilemma!
October 26th 2012 @ 8:51am
Albo said | October 26th 2012 @ 8:51am | Report comment
It is a real shame that Nic White is injured at the moment. Who knows when he would have had another opportunity to hold on to a Wallabies 9 jersey for as long as this? Genia isn’t likely, I don’t think, to have such a lengthy spell again and we could really use those lengthy drive kicks of White’s under pressure.
Still Phipps is the man right now and we must get behind him. He has not performed as we may have liked but he’ll give everything that he has for the time he is on the pitch. The other plus is that the NH teams won’t be looking out for him and I predict at least one game-breaking moment from the little man this tour. Like Burgess, confidence with Phipps is key. If he gets a head of steam up he could prove very useful.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:22am
jameswm said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Sheehan’s been considerably better than Phipps these past 3 games. Says a fair bit about Phipps I think.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:50am
Albo said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:50am | Report comment
I think considerably better is a bit of a long shot considering his minimal game time and his immediate yellow card in Rosario. Still I’m under no illusion that Phipps has been playing well, I just have a feeling/hope that he’ll play better this upcoming tour.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:57am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Im not terribly disappointed with either but i think they should consider starting sheehan and having phipps on the bench. The NH forward packs are cunning and smart and give phipps hell at the breakdown, he is not experienced enough to deal with that atm.
October 26th 2012 @ 11:30am
Albo said | October 26th 2012 @ 11:30am | Report comment
I will say this for Sheehan, he would be perfect to play against the English and Welsh. He has the mongrel to upset the British rhythm and cause them to bite and perhaps lose concentration.
I would not play him against the French or Italians. They would counter-goade and it would be a repeat of Rosario.
Maybe we could play tactical 9′s and 7′s.
October 26th 2012 @ 2:52pm
bluerose said | October 26th 2012 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
the problem with mongrel is that you sometimes get on the wrong side of the law….e.g Higgins, he’s a feisty little bugger though
October 27th 2012 @ 12:36pm
Glenn Condell said | October 27th 2012 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Phipps has had a few bad hair days at the office but with the odd glimmer of something special too. As David Says if he can get his basics working better, box kicks and passing in particular, he could be useful. Keep in mind the backrow and inside back defence he was facing. He makes a few blues but he doesn’t go missing, I’ll give him that.
V Argentina it was his break and the cool head he kept before releasing the pass that put us into safe territory. There were headless chooks and harbour bridges v the Blacks but having McCaw and Read bearing down upon you will do that I guess.
What I like about this team is that they want it, and it’s obvious. Cooper since his NZ meltdown looked bored and/or lazy and it seemed to affect those around him. The halves and the midfield now don’t always gel yet but they work as a unit in defence especially, because they have the hunger. I watched it again last night and our whole three quarter line defence was outstanding, Beale and Harris too putting body on the line several times.
The really tasty outcomes of that game for me are the promise of Ben Tapuai, who looked dangerous ball in hand and defended stoutly, and the emerging enforcer qualities of Kane Douglas, whose involvements rivalled Read’s for ferocity and impact, and without the Higgers niggle.
October 26th 2012 @ 8:56am
Harry said | October 26th 2012 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Good to see that traditionalTah optimism returned already – pump it up David and Spiro can come to the party by returning to his traditional Tahs to win the Super comp call in February after they win their first game.
Tour will be hard and I was surprised to read that Pocock won’t be fir for the first game – if players aren’t 100% fit they shouldn’t be taken. This business of using the Wallabies as a conditioning/development team has to stop.
Hopefully Moore will be fit, as IMO TPN is best as an impact player late in the game, dodgy throwing and all.
Should also note some classic Dingo Lingo this morning, he’s gassing on about the All Blacks “denying access to the tryline”. Gotta love it.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:05am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:05am | Report comment
I dont think pocock should get much game time but I think his leadership and knowledge would be invaluable for hooper and gill on their first NH tour.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:08am
Harry said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:08am | Report comment
A fair point. Hooper and Gill will drive the NH sides crazy with their speed to the ball and at the breakdown, and the Oppo, and crowds, will pile on the pressure to the refs to ping them. They’ll have to be smart.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:15am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:15am | Report comment
And a fair point by you too, have the IRB released the refs for all the games yet? I hope we can avoid poite and roilland, they love to ping us at scrum time and at the breakdown.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:31am
Jagman said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:31am | Report comment
Good to see the traditional “bash the traditional Tah optimism.”
October 26th 2012 @ 2:16pm
Harry said | October 26th 2012 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
And what great traditions they are.
Us Tah bashers have had a wonderful time the last couple of years. Amongst many highpoints the best for me was the revival of the fine tradition of “boo-a-blue” … except this time it originated from the NSWRU members at the SFS!
Jokes aside, on paper the Tahs have a very good forward pack and should go very well. We’ll see eh …
October 26th 2012 @ 4:45pm
formeropenside said | October 26th 2012 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
hopefully not
October 26th 2012 @ 8:58am
Red Kev said | October 26th 2012 @ 8:58am | Report comment
A detour from the Waratahs, did you see the story that the Rebels have lured olympic shotputter Dale Stevenson to their academy squad as a developing tight head prop. The power that guy would have we may finally boast a super tight head by the next world cup.
Now if we could just get McKenzie and White to trade Slipper and Alexander so they can play on the right side of the scrum all season.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:03am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Yeah saw that RK, exciting times as a rebels supporter. I think their recruiting this year has been much better than for the first two seasons.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:14am
Harry said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:14am | Report comment
A good read isn’t it, and actually over the years Victoria has produced some very good tightheads – John Meadows, McKenzie of course, and another bloke in the 90′s who made it to the Wallabies via the Brums, can’t remember his name. So good luck to him.
Re the Rebels, I’d love to see them take a side on a development tour around Europe in November or December rather than 4 months of gym work and internal practice.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:18am
Uncle Argyle said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:18am | Report comment
David Fitter made it circa 2005 – not in the same class as Meadows or McKenzie. With respect to David he filled a spot – when you look at uncapped props like Queensland’s Matt “Bubba” Ryan and even Brothers & Queensland stalwart Jon Watkins I reckon they would have torn Fitter and new one yet played in the era preceding Fitter.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:24am
jameswm said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
I’ve always thought shot putters would make good THPs. Those shot putters aren’t strong, they’re powerful and often explosive off the mark, with good core strength.
Has the guy even played rugby before, though?
October 26th 2012 @ 9:30am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Heres the article in question:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/rebels-put-faith-in-olympian-20121024-285s8.html
It says he had played a few junior games but nothing major. The aussie bloke who played prop for ireland, Tom Court, was also an ex shot-putter. I cant remember whether he was a decent scrummager or not.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:44am
Harry said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
The Aussie guy who did pretty well in the superheavy weightlifting at the London Olympics also played a bit of rugby at prop for Queensland Uni.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:49am
Justin2 said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Juts its sounds like he is a local boy too having kicked 100 goals in local AFL. Must have some skills too. Still need scrummaging first and foremost.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:41am
Justin2 said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:41am | Report comment
I played with and against Fitter from school and in rep teams. The bloke was as strong as I have come across but completely useless in movement. A guy you just couldnt move though, like a dead weight.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:42am
Markus said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:42am | Report comment
It was noticeable as soon as Fitter started his short-lived Test career under Eddie.
The Wallabies scrummaging woes were fixed immediately, but he was getting regularly bumped off and run around in defence.
October 26th 2012 @ 1:10pm
Uncle Argyle said | October 26th 2012 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Did you not see the test in Cardiff 2005? I have no recollection of the Wallaby scrum doing well that day at all. In fact we lost the game 24-22 but were badly beaten up in the scrum. I even think they were awarded a penalty try off one of our scrums.
The props for Australia on that day were Dunning & Fitter with Baxter riding the pine.
October 26th 2012 @ 3:35pm
Justin2 said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
UA – my memory is ordinary to say the least so I will bow to yours. My reference, which I should have clarified as I was a back, was in terms of rucking drills and tackling/contact drills not scrummaging.
Fits was an immovable object, a real lump of a bloke and smart as paint too.
October 26th 2012 @ 3:44pm
Markus said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
I did, I thought the props for the Welsh game were Dunning-Baxter-Holmes though but you could be right there.
My memories are primarily of the Irish game where the scrum held up strongly but Fitter was shrugged off in the tackle about 3 or 4 times, and run straight through by an Irish player at one point.
October 27th 2012 @ 12:42pm
Glenn Condell said | October 27th 2012 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
Wasn’t Andrew Heath from Melbourne too?
October 26th 2012 @ 9:04am
Brett McKay said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:04am | Report comment
Genuine question Lordy – given Genia, White, and B.Lucas are all unavailable, and with your thoughts on Phipps, Sheehan and even McKibbon well known, which alternate Australian scrumhalf would you have in place of even just one of Phipps or Sheehan for Europe?
October 26th 2012 @ 9:43am
David Lord said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Genuine answer Brett – Josh Holmes. He has been shamefully treated by the Waratahs, the Brumbies, and the Force as a journeyman. Let’s face it, journeymen don’t win the IRB International under 19 Player-of-the-Year as Holmes did in 2006. He’s only 25, and has so much to offer if given a go.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:45am
Justin2 said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:45am | Report comment
One of the worst half backs in AUS rugby, slowest delivery I have seen playing S15. He go so bad he was playing 12 for a season or two wasnt he? Some 9…
Given a go? What do you call 3 contract with 3 different S15 clubs? He just isnt any good if he was he would have made it with one of those teams.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:55am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:55am | Report comment
If we’re not happy with sheehan/phipps may as well give some young bloke a run, prior, frisby, stirzaker etc.
personally im ok with sheehan and phipps. Someone needs to give phipps some meditation classes lol, he just needs to learn how to keep calm when the pressure is on, his passing goes to sh#t like burgess when he is in a hurry and he also does some stupid box kicks too. But unlike burgess he is providing some really quick ball from the breakdown. Sheehan is a real mongrel and he really got under the AB’s skin at scrum time towards the end of the game. Got us a pivotal scrum by holding weepu up at the back of the ab”s scrum.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:07am
jameswm said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:07am | Report comment
Josh Holmes???
I think Grayson Hart is probably better than both Phipps and Sheehan, doing well up to the GF in the Sydney club comp. but I guess you have to pick the guys who were playing Super rugby.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:30am
Jagman said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Yes and if Hart did really well it would really get up Hanson’s nose
October 26th 2012 @ 10:33am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
that would be the icing on the cake. Stuff it lets get him on board!
October 26th 2012 @ 10:39am
Red Kev said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Hart-Harris halves combination for the next dead-rubber Bledisloe please, just to piss off Hansen.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:17am
Bakkies said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Holmes couldn’t get ahead of a Portuguese player at his former Pro D2 club in France and walked out mid season. Doesn’t exactly enhance his professional reputation.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:43am
AndyS said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
He got a go with the Force last year. It was all there for the taking and I doubt the bar was set particularly high given their problems at 9. He still couldn’t get a gig and, while I agree there must be some issue, I think you’ve got to start looking to the player when so many teams have passed.
October 26th 2012 @ 11:35am
Brett McKay said | October 26th 2012 @ 11:35am | Report comment
well I can honestly say I didn’t see that name coming..
Apparently Ben Lucas is back running again from reports, so he may be a smokey should the need arise..
October 26th 2012 @ 12:05pm
Amateur Hour said | October 26th 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Did Spiro “Josh Holmes is the player of a generation” Zavos put you up to this?
October 26th 2012 @ 1:05pm
sittingbison said | October 26th 2012 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
hehe good one David. BTW he was not shamefully treated by the Force, they gave him a contract for the remainder of the 2012 season after Turner got injured. We were hoping he could display his junior form, but he was plain useless. And SLOW!! The Force didn’t even consider offering him a contract what Sheehan was going to Japan and Turner injured ie no halfbacks at all he was that bad.
October 26th 2012 @ 3:36pm
Justin2 said | October 26th 2012 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
Amazing the truth gets out by any number of posters and the good Lord is nowhere to be seen after flying at me early
October 26th 2012 @ 4:04pm
Albo said | October 26th 2012 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Ace it up Justin…
October 26th 2012 @ 4:06pm
Jiggles said | October 26th 2012 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
Comments like that are the reason why no one really takes your articles very seriously.
Holmes… Geeeeeeezzzzuuus!
October 26th 2012 @ 8:42pm
Gatesy said | October 26th 2012 @ 8:42pm | Report comment
We all seem to have forgotten Stannard – sorry, but I’m a fan!
October 27th 2012 @ 10:13am
Blue Blood said | October 27th 2012 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Stannard is back playing after his bad injury run in Japan. Going well.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:16am
Roscoe said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Re ex shot putter- if the belief is that a prop peaks in late twenties having played since he was 12 than this bloke should peak at about 35! There was a middle distance runner aged 15 a few yeasr ago wgo was going to be a super star in Vic. Don’t know what happened to him. Can any Vics/StKevs boys help?
October 26th 2012 @ 9:30am
Red Kev said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Have you ever watched 12 year olds prop? You can’t call any scrummaging work done before age 15 of any benefit (and even that is a stretch, I’d say 17 or First XV schoolboys and up is more realistic). 10 years of propping might put someone at the average peak. That doesn’t mean they are incapable of playing at international level from their 4th or 5th year.
You’re also discounting the professional edge to training that Olympians would have over your average developing player. Certainly he might not ‘get’ rugby and so never learn what he needs to, but truly world class athletes are able to learn physical skills far more quickly than the rest of us. An Olympic shot-putter is likely to fall into that category.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:33am
Jagman said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Kepu switched to prop at some late stage. Switched again to THP even later now he’s solid at test level.
October 26th 2012 @ 11:38am
JohnB said | October 26th 2012 @ 11:38am | Report comment
A lot of that (peaking late) would be because the physical and strength development takes time – this bloke will have done that (and maybe avoided injuries others would have got as a bonus). Physically in at least some respects he’s probably as good as anyone. What he has to do is show he can actually play – get on top of the scrum techniques, get around the ground, catch, pass and tackle, take a hit (and another and another). Let’s hope he can.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:43am
Justin2 said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
I wouldnt be smiling if I was Cheika, he has most of his pack not around for any preseason at all and they will need 4 weeks break. So his preparation time with them will be well down on what he wanted.
October 26th 2012 @ 9:46am
Jutsie said | October 26th 2012 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Lol thats exactly what I was thinking. Another disrupted pre-season for the tahs. At least this time they will be maintaining some semblance of fitness.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:02am
David Lord said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Ace it up Justin2, how negative can you get. Holmes has never been given continuity which makes or breaks a player’s confidence, and now you’d prefer the Tahs to have a non-Wallaby pack so Cheika can have the full bottle for pre-season training. You must be kidding.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:12am
jameswm said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:12am | Report comment
What’s the deal with Holmes Lordy? He’s had his chances, he wan’t up to being a regular starting Super-level half.
I don’t really think you can have a go at any of this for pointing this (fact) out. If he was good enough, he’d be playing.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:16am
Justin2 said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
David – not sure what Ace it up means but I assume its some type of put down or insult. Well done. I dont see negativity I see reality, try it some time because you havent on this occasion.
Holmes isnt good enough, Ive seen it with my own eyes. When he came on for the Force he was slow as a wet week. He can run a bit, granted and he is big but he just isnt good. Ive seen it as have 3 S15 clubs. Why was he playing at 12 in club footy if he is such a gun and deserving of a Gold jumper?
Re Cheika – you can write but I am not sure your comprehension is up to scratch. It has nothing to do with what I would prefer, I merely pointed out that Cheika may prefer to have all his troops for a full pre season rather than only having a few weeks in Jan with them. He is trying to turn around the biggest laughing stock in the country and as White and Larkham showed if you can have them all on deck for a period and build patterns they will benefit.
You rant is quite inaccurate…
October 26th 2012 @ 10:49am
Markus said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:49am | Report comment
Holmes was a regular starter for the Brumbies, but jumped ship back to the Tahs.
His pass is accurate but slow as a wet week, and for a 98kg scrumhalf who has spent time at 12, he was unbelievably soft.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:10am
jameswm said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Agree Justin, there are certainly negatives to them all going.
They need to manage them properly and get the right amount of running and aerobic training in there. Strength-wise it should just be a conitnuation of what they’re currently doing.
Even if they’re having a bit of a rest physically when they get back, they should be part of team meetings etc.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:02am
Selector said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:02am | Report comment
That is a concern for Australian Rugby, when a team that failed to fire in the Superrugby tournament is fielding the most players in the Wallabies by far.
If all players were available, I am hoping it would be significantly different.
Robinson (NSW)
Moore (Bru)
Alexander (Bru)
Sharpe (For)
Horwill (QLD)
Higgimbotham (QLD)
Pocock (Bru)
Palu (NSW)
Genia (QLD)
Beale (Reb)
Ioane (QLD)
McCabe (Bru)
Ash Cooper (NSW)
Tomane (Bru)
O’Conner (Reb)
Poluta Nau (NSW), Slipper (QLD), Timani (NSW), Hooper (NSW), Lucas (QLD), Lealiifano (Bru), Tapuai (QLD)
Kepu (NSW)
Hanson (QLD)
Douglas (NSW)
Gill (QLD)
McCalman (For)
Phipps (Reb)
Cooper (QLD)
Cummings (For)
QLD = 10
NSW = 8
Bru = 6
For = 3
Reb = 3
Much more reflective of the standings/quality.
October 26th 2012 @ 10:20am
Bakkies said | October 26th 2012 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Don’t forget Dan Palmer who has missed two test seasons in a row through injury