Over the past three seasons the Waratahs have been most successful in limiting opposition scoring and achieving a positive points spread by using Tom Carter at 12 and Rob Horne at 13.
From 2008 to 2010, four players have started at 12. Comparing them in terms of numbers of games in that position, average points scored by the Waratahs, points against and points difference we get:
Barnes: 9, 30.1, 22.0, 8.1.
Beale: 5, 21.6, 22.0, -0.4.
Carter: 24, 20.6, 15.0, 5.5.
Tahu: 3, 16.0, 16.7, -0.7.
The average points spread has been greatest with Berrick Barnes at inside centre, but the opposition was able to score points more freely than when Carter played in that position.
Over the same three years, five players have started at 13. The stats:
Carraro: 1, 18.0, 11.0, 7.0.
Carter: 8, 26.9, 23.0, 3.9.
Horne: 21, 21.9, 15.9, 6.0.
Jacobs: 7, 20.4, 17.3, 3.1.
Tahu: 4, 21.5, 17.5, 4.0.
As we might expect, when Horne is at 13 opposition scoring is most restricted.
The Waratahs have used nine different centre combinations yielding the following performance stats:
Barnes-Carter: 6, 29.8, 21.5, 8.3.
Barnes-Horne: 3, 30.7, 23.0, 7.7.
Beale-Carter: 2, 18.0, 27.5, -9.5.
Beale-Tahu: 3, 24.0, 18.3, 5.7.
Carter-Carraro: 1, 18.0, 11.0, 7.0.
Carter-Horne: 15, 21.3, 14.3, 7.0.
Carter-Jacobs: 7, 20.4, 17.3, 3.1.
Carter-Tahu: 1, 14.0, 15.0, -1.0.
Tahu-Horne: 3, 16.0, 16.7, -0.7.
Barnes with either Carter or Horne outside him has yielded the highest points spread, but hasn’t really contained opposition scoring.
By contrast, the pairing of Carter and Horne seems best able to create a defensive wall without restricting their team’s ability to score.
Containing the opposition is usually a determining factor in finals football. Putting Carter and Horne together also makes sense in view of the number of games they have played together.
Justin
Guest
Carter is a plodder though!!!
Dexter William
Roar Guru
Hey RR "big money at Rebels and starting 10" That may also be promises because Danny Cipriani was the first one they signed up.
Rockin Rod
Guest
Got to feel for Hangas, promised the world to resign with Tahs and turn back on the big money at Rebels and starting 10
Hoy
Roar Guru
Horne is definitely a 13, however when Horne was missing at the start of the year, and also at times last year, everyone was on Carter's case about being a plodder etc. I am saying that over the last few years, when they have had Carter playing 12, and not had Horne outside him, and have struggled to select the same 5/8 week in, week out, it can't be his fault alone the backline is static, yet he constantly comes up for criticism. I think Horne and Carter complement each other well. You need go forward first before you can unleash creative players like Horne off phase ball.
Justin
Guest
Why is Horne not a 13? What is is best position then?
Hoy
Roar Guru
Having a 12 like Carter is fine when you have a good creative 10, and a dynamic 13. A workhorse creates a bit of stability. It is not Carter's fault he is a cart horse. He can't be anything else, just because the 5/8 inside him is not creative, and the 13 outside him is not a true 13 he can't really be blamed for a lack of points for NSW. I am mixed up about Carter. I like good, honest, toilers like Carter, if the team is going badly because of misdirection, or he is picked out of his position, there isn't much he can do about that. Carter is a 12, not a 13. I have also seen him play club footy, and thought he was a wanker, always niggling and trying to fight.
Red Rooster
Guest
You have to give them the ball which the Tahs didn't last night
Alders
Guest
Carter. The least dynamic player in the Super 14 including the front row? He does play well sometimes I admit.
Red Rooster
Guest
Link paired carter and Horne in 08 and they played in the Final against the Crusaders - sometimes the combinations are obvious. I suspect that promises were made to Barnes and Halangahu to get them to sign. What has happened to Hangers now - no one is pumping his inclusion now on this site??