What does Michael Cheika have in common with our two World Cup wining coaches? Like Bob Dwyer and Rod McQueen, he was a first grade backrower who did not play for the Wallabies.
Also like Dwyer and McQueen, Cheika has successfully coached a premiership winning team at the provincial level.
Cheika hails from the Randwick Rugby Club – as did Dwyer – and as a very mobile backrower, he is steeped in the tradition of running rugby having played alongside the Ella Brothers. A passionate man, he has the ability to drive and inspire players to give their best.
Having the confidence to run the ball rather than kick it (and sweat on opposition mistakes) is the hurdle that the Tahs have to take in 2013. The running rugby intent will be there, but only time will tell whether the players deliver for Cheika.
This Waratah team – like many Tah teams before them – has an excellent playing roster. The side has a Wallaby laden pack, midfield and outside backs.
Where the Tahs are vulnerable is around 9 and 10. Will Brendan McKibbon/Bernard Foley be able to mix it with Will Genia/Quade Cooper or Nic White/Matt Toomua.
The last time the Tahs made the Super Rugby final, Kurtley Beale and Luke Burgess were in the halves, playing against Daniel Carter and Andrew Ellis. The Tahs scored two tries to one but still lost.
Since then it has been a revolving door of kicking no 10s (that have driven the crowds away) and journeymen 9s.
In many ways the success of this season revolves around crisp, clean service from McKibbon to Foley, and his ability to ignite the backline.
Whether Foley gets the service he needs and has the vision and execution will determine whether he steers the Tahs to the finals.
It is a big year for Bernard Foley – will he be good enough? Will he stay fit?
joeb
Guest
" It is going to take more than this season for Cheika to get the side that he wants. I would be targeting Toomua or Lealiifano from the Brumbies." Funny how the season has just barely started and we're already speaking of targeting "Toomua or Lealiifano" for next season. Seems one SNK is back in town too, ;) Perth town that is.
winediamond
Guest
BB of B Thhanks for such a thoughtful response.What is remarkable, is that you have pretty much verbalised my entire reasoning !!!. Some sort of psychic link perhaps !!! Cheika's choices are going to be very indicative of the kind of coach we have got. Also NSW go into the season - 4 frontline players still functional, which is a demonstration of depth. No other aus province could cope. Let's see how they go against the saders to nite. cheers WD
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
wd - I have to admit that your selections 9-15 have me excited. On one hand I'm torn with moving away from established combinations with new chums and upsetting the apple cart too much. Then on the other I'm thinking 'well sh-t the established guys didn't fire too often anyway. What's to lose'? :) So many new chums in new spots could be the start of something exciting. Hopefully exciting for the right reasons. * 9 - I like Hart * 10 - People are raving about Volavola as a bright future. Lane gone, Foley & Barnesy injured too. What choice? A great chance to give him a run. No pressure! * 11 - Drew. Will his body hold-up. It would be great to see him at his best again. * 12 - AAC. Seems odd moving the Wallaby OC in one. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Do it for the team! * 13 - Izzy. Wing is sensible & predictable. My attitude (I think) is 'in for a penny, in for a pound'. Let's try him. * 14 - Kingston done well in trials. Will do a good job. * 15 - Who ever's best of those still standing. I can't say I know Crawford at all. As you say "glad someone else is making the call". :(
winediamond
Guest
BB of B Well 1 at least!!!. Look i don't disagree. The questions are whether 1/ we bite the bullet & establish AAC at 12 & have a fundamentally stronger lineup without Carter 2/ "Shield " Izzy in defence at 13 with one of the wingers playing there & so on In short i'm glad i'm not making the call The saying goes "necessity is the mother of invention"!!!. So it will be. Seems Cheika is having a look at Hodge too.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
wd - Bold move slipping Izzy straight into 13 and one that's sure to attract comments. I can't decide just where is best for him to learn, gain confidence and minimise being exposed. Most popular opinions are on the wing. Next is full back. A few reckon he'll get caught out at 15 and that it's no place for a new chum to learn the trade, even a talented one. And if 15 is risky, then what's that say about 13? I think we all see him as a 13 eventually. Just when is the question.
winediamond
Guest
Phil Barnes is out for 4 rounds,as i remember. So Kingston will be playing, & Folau or Mitchell will be playing at 15 . This puts Turner on the bench if you play Carter at 12.If you play a 4 -3 bench Then Cam Crawford, or Betham on the bench. Im not a Carter fan he is too slow, & predictable. A bolder, more long term , & aggressive, approach would be the following 9/ Hart 10/ Foley 11/ Mitchell 12/ AAC 13 Folau 14Kingston 15 Crawford with McKibbin , Volavola, Turner on bench I'm sanguine about Turner being run on for Crawford However a specialist 15 is desirable.
phil
Guest
Time for the Waratahs to stop persisting withRob Horne. He is perpetually injured and has notlived upto the hype. Iwill get shot down here but i would be very happy to see the following backline for the Reds clash which in fact i will be taking my 3 year old son to his irst Waratahs game! 9. Grayson Hart 10. Bernard Foley ( Ben Volvola if Foley is still injured) 11. Drew Mitchell 12. Tom Carter ( i have it on good authority he will play 12 in their opening match) 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper 14. Israel Folau 15. Berrick Barnes ( If he is injured then Folau at 15 & Tom Kingston to the wing) with Mckibben & Kingston n the bench. Thoughts?
scottmit
Guest
Three injuries before the season starts... just saying. And horne has been a crock for years
jeznez
Roar Guru
Rolled ankle. Not sure how serious the injuries to any of Foley, Barnes or Horne are. Horne is likely to be most serious as he missed the November tour with a hamstring injury if memory serves correctly.
winediamond
Guest
Scottmit What happened to Foley???. We have to get VolaVola up to speed, or request a release of Zac Holmes from the Brumbies.
Scottmit
Guest
First choice backs look good McKibbon Foley Mitchell Barnes Ashley-Cooper Turner Folau beyond that the real challengers get a bit thin Hart on McKibbon Horne to play in centres, also covering 5/8 with Barnes and fullback with AAC Kingston on back 3 Pity about Lane because he was at that level Carter for emergencies The rest (Lucas Volavola Betham Hodge Crawford) look more in the promising category with Barnes Foley and Horne already injured... now I'm nervous
winediamond
Guest
JN Thanks for that cheers WD
winediamond
Guest
JN Thanks for that. cheers WD
winediamond
Guest
KPM Agreed. However it's more than likely he'll get a chance in a month or 2. Berrick is already down for 3-4 rounds. That means McK ibbin, or Foley for kicker. Gibson wants Horne at 12. Who is 13???. I would play AAC, He is after all the wallaby incumbent (for what that's worth !!)
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
A shame, it would have been interesting to see how he did.
jeznez
Roar Guru
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/sam-lane-withdraws-from-waratahs-in-order-to-rehab-after-knee-injury/story-fn8t7efs-1226570298215
jeznez
Roar Guru
Lane injured his knee so is out of the side. Apparently wants to play club footy and sevens while he goes through recovery.
winediamond
Guest
Yeah RK Then there is Robbie Coleman too. Too many roosters in the henhouse!!!. What about Sam Lane??
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
I forgot about Zac Holmes - very impressive ... surely the Brumbies will struggle to keep Toomua, Lealiifano and Holmes?
Justin2
Guest
Not at the Brumbies he wouldn't be... I'd take white any day, he can actually hit his target under pressure