Our series on the chances of the Australian Super Rugby for 2013 continues, with perennial under-achievers the NSW Waratahs.
In
O Atkins, M Hooper, L Timani (EPS), G Hart (EPS), P Betham, M Hodge, C Crawford
Out
Dean Mumm, Dan Vickerman, Rocky Elsom, Chris Alcock, Sarel Pretorius, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Daniel Halangahu, Tevita Metuisela, Nathan Trist, Lotu Taukeiaho, Atieli Pakalani
Season chances
The Waratahs have finally had the cleanout they needed, including players and staff alike. Some serious dead wood have been detached from the structure and how they rebuild in 2013 is the key to how the Waratahs perform over the coming years.
I suspect they will improve on the lacklustre 2012 season, however their season is heavily reliant on some injury-prone individuals.
Palu, Poluta-Nau, Barnes and Horne sit in core positions for the Tahs, but to date have not stayed fit long enough to give the team some continuity. This will have to change (or the players in these positions will) if they hold any hope of bumping the ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds in 2013.
Predicted finish – conference third – overall ninth
Key player
Players love having a big man on the field that will run hard and tackle even harder. For past seasons the Tahs have relied on Palu for this inspiration, despite his limited game time. This torch has now been passed to Sitaleki Timani.
He will need to continue his bustling form to give the Tahs players the inspiration needed. He has been outstanding in the Wallabies jersey and I expect him to improve in the coming season. He will need to continue to deliver his hard running and jarring hits to help inspire the sky blue to have some self-belief.
Up and comer
Peter Betham’s form in New Zealand’s ITM Cup has people sitting up and taking notice. I had written him off two years ago after drifting between the Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels and Waratahs. But if he can translate this ITM form to Super Rugby, and the coaching staff utilise him in a similar fashion to Digby Ioane, he could be just what they need to become a more attacking team.
Best buy
Michael Hooper became the prince of Australian Rugby in 2012 and is already looking to dethrone the king of the breakdown, David Pocock. If the Tahs can utilise his assets, he will continue to develop as a player and as an on-field leader.
2013 is a defining year for Hooper and I hope he doesn’t drown in the sea of sky blue, like so many other big signings have in the past.
Biggest loss
I don’t think the Waratahs lost any player who didn’t need to be let go, or could be adequately replaced. Vickerman was a great player and source of motivation, but was not in career best form.
The same can be said of Elsom, who never showed the Australian public what he showed the Irish with his time at Leinster.
Best team
1. Benn Robinson
2. Tatafu Poluta-Nau
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Sitaleki Timani
5. Kane Douglas
6. Dave Dennis
7. Michael Hooper
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Brendan McKibbin
10. Brendan Foley
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Adam Ashley-Cooper
13. Rob Horne
14. Israel Folau
15. Berrick Barnes
16. Damien Fitzpatrick
17. Paddy Ryan
18. Greg Peterson
19. Lopeti Timani
20. Grayson Hart
21. Tom Kingston
22. Peter Betham
Other squad
23. John Ulugia
24. Jeremy Tilse
25. Ollie Atkins
26. Pat McCutheon
27. Michael Hodge
28. Cam Crawford
29. Tom Carter
30. Lachie Turner
Extended playing squad (EPS)
31. Luke Holmes – hooker
32. Jed Holloway – lock
33. Matt Lucas – scrum half
34. Ben Volavola – five-eighth
35. Sam Lane – five-eighth
FWH
Guest
Glad to see someone finally having turner in their Starting side - everyone seems to have a short memory. His last start test he was one of the best on ground against the all blacks and if it wasn't for s shocker of an injury he would have been playing the the wallabies all spring tour. He's a natural footballer, a better kicking game than all those who supposedly challenge him for his starting spot and lets not forget he's the fastest footballer in the country and a genuine finisher - If Cheika and the tags play the style of footy they are sprooking, who better than to be the finisher than LT.
PJ
Guest
Terry Kidd you dont watch alot of Rugby mate - Carter is by far tge best 12 in the Waratahs squad and possibly in Aust Rugby if Carter is a "Carthorse"how would you describe McCabe & Faingaa?? Both of who seem only to be able to crash ball and miss a lot of tackles. Carter will start at 12 against the Reds. Locked in already
Al
Guest
The first article I've read without a paragraph dedicated to Falou! ...or maybe I spent too long on F0x sports!
Armchair Critic
Roar Rookie
1-9 is spot on, however the backs should be: 10: Barnes 11: Mitchell 12: Foley 13: AAC 14: Folau 15: Turner Can't leave Turner out of the team and think he would be well suited to 15. Horne is one of the worst players in attack in Super Rugby IMO, the day he makes a linebreak I will eat my hat.
Tim1911
Guest
I have possibly the best/worst idea, try folua at 12, he's got skills he played league... Plus all those worthless chip kicks etc of Barnes would suddenly have a purpose. Can you imagine Izzy charging onto a ball that suddenly turns into one Barnes patented aimless kicks. Half SBW half Tuquiri, hes got the skill set to runs the channel inside and find space and every now and then put through a kick instead. He's gonna get so bored on the wing with Horne on the field he' ll never see the ball
glacier
Guest
Lachie Turner played full-back in the 2005 Australian Schoolboys team with Pocock at 7, Beale at 10 and Cooper on the bench.
Boomeranga
Roar Rookie
"... can we..." Your avatar tells me all I need to know. The only picture more descriptive would be a man with a bug in his date, or a silver fern.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
I never called them those things.
John Allyne
Guest
Carter will be the starting 12 you may not like him but the majority of the younger crowd love him and the best public speaker of any rugby union player in Australia
PeterK
Roar Guru
Disagree. L Timani would benefit MORE from playing alongside Palu and S Timani. For one thing his style is more suited to theirs ie a power game rather than a workmanlike grinder. I would rather have a guy who makes a real difference, can be a match winner rather than a hard worker. Palu is consistent. Also now that he is over his injuries he has a higher workrate than Dennis. Yes he has a higher error rate BUT has a more positive impact.
the old man of rugby
Guest
Selector - Have you any comments on the Force?
Jutsie
Guest
I concur. Regardless of dennis' performance at test level there is no denying he was the tahs most consistent performer last year and as as an aside I think he would be a good captain in the ben mowen mould.
Markus
Guest
No-one should be there to call lineouts alone, but Dennis really was the only 80 minute player in the Tahs pack. Even his ball running was strong at Super Level, even if very ineffective in Tests. I think Lopeti Timani will get a fair share of game time this year subbing for both Dennis and Palu, but he is just a youngster and I think would benefit from playing in tandem with a consistent, low error-rate player like Dennis, rather than just playing ahead of him. At least in the short-term.
PeterK
Roar Guru
not quite true. Timani caught 2 lineouts for the wallabies on the northern tour, in 1 game. He caught them no problem. So it can be done, just has to be done more. I agree that Dennis also calls the lineouts. This was also the horrible justification for Mumm retaining his spot, calling lineouts. There is a genuine imbalance when the no 6 retains his spot due to calling lineouts / jumping. Douglas should get a go at it. However if Dennis is the only one who can then Dennis should go to lock at 5 for the Tahs, and Douglas to the bench. I would rather L Timani gets a real go than Douglas or Dennis who have had a lot of chances yet not quite good enough IMO. Yes Dennis has a high workrate but not enough impact. He is acceptable for super level but I want more.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Had a good laugh at your comments about how BB stands too deep. ;) I also worry that BB has become gun shy and opts to boot rather than run into traffic. That many head knocks make it understandable. 15 looks like his best spot (based on performance there) and he can help the young blokes settle-in. Yep 12 is the problem and Lauchie may just provide that 'left field solution'. He's at least worth a shot.
Markus
Guest
Strong looking team on paper. Some may point out the lack of a specialist fullback in the back three, but I think that given Folau's AFL experience and both Mitchell and Turner's prior experience in the fullback role, that all three rotating the role could work well, similar to Jane-Dagg in the ABs or Roff-Burke/Roff-Latham back in the day. If they had a Gear/Ioane type winger in there (more like Betham) with limited kicking and high ball skills, then an out-and-out fullback would be a must. The biggest question would probably be whether the backline of talented individuals can gel. I disagree with you about Dennis though. While he was not able to step up to Test rugby, he has been one of the Waratahs best in terms of consistency, workrate and leadership. It is not just catching in the lineout either, Dennis calls the shots. I hear Douglas has been working on his calling since the Shute Shield last year, but he is not there yet. Teaching Sitaleki Timani to catch in the lineout is easier said than done. The Force and Brumbies were both unable, so he was let go. The Wallabies did not even try (he always stood in the backline at lineout time).
jameswm
Guest
Pretty much agree PK, though Folau may need to start at wing. I'd love to see some of those trials. Tom Kingston is a good player too, we're just a bit short at 10-12.
Fin
Guest
McCabe at 12 works quite well at super rugby level and Turner has a similar skill set. In my opinion your backline assuming you have Mitchell and Falou on the wings is the best we can field early on. Depends on what Falou brings to the table as to whether it should remain that way. Many will think we don't have the ball distributers in the backlinbe we need but BB will serve well as a second reciever in fact if he thinks he is playing 10 he'll be t the right depth to play 15 maybe they should tell him he is playing 10 and just get Foley to stand between him and the halfback. If my memory serve me correctly we were the highest try scorers in 2011 with Carter and Horne in the centres and we know that neither of them can pass. Beale filled the second playmaker role from 15 and it worked well. Plus we would have the added avantage that Turner and AAC can both tackle and Turner is faster than the front row unlike TC
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
I've been saying for a while that I'd like to see players left in pozzies long enough to really get their teeth into the positions and excel at them. AAC is a point in case & so too Barnsey. For what it's worth I'd like to see AAC at 13 & BB at 15. * AAC is solid and while we may not see him return to his barn storming ways, he is a good defender and takes on the line. And while he could work on his passing & off loading, he rarely loses the ball in contact. * BB has done well at FB, is good under the high ball, a pretty decent defender, reads the game well and let's face it ....he loves to boot the ball, so stick him at the back. For my money, and I know it's early days, Hart looks the goods at 9. Foley has been mentioned for a while at 10 (so give him a decent shot) & we just need to sort that troublesome 12 spot. Just wondering if Turner could be an option at 12 or is that just madness? We have good options at 11 & 14.
Jutsie
Guest
LOL nothing worse than thinking about that. I wish the mayan apocalypse did occur