Horne not fretting over Beale challenge

Tane I'll have to agree with you. If you compare the Tahs of 2008, that made the super final & were eventually beat by the Crusaders. To Cheikas current squad, that he has at his disposal. The current squad has twice the talent of the 2008 tahs squad. But in saying that, I'm hoping with the players already having a season getting to know Cheikas game plan & structures, that the Tahs can go one better than 2008..

I'm sure cheika is unconcerned about my opinion but there's plenty of politics in tahland. I'd be fairly certain not everyone wanted him appointed.

Top four will do me

More so than others though? I don't reckon. Graham and Foley need to win as the internal haters are already there waiting. Cheika has Kiwi and Qld flogs on his back, but at this point I think actual fans are pretty happy. You don't count because you automatically hate everything about the Waratahs. Almost like a Qlder :)

:)

He talks sense and I like that but he'll have to get the finals this year i think or the knives will come out.

Having options in his backline isn't really a bad problem I don't reckon. Needing to argue against every single popular opinion is probably a bigger problem. For example.

I'm sure Cheika can't sleep soundly at night knowing your dismissive appraisal of him Tane.....

Damn, I think this is the second time I've agreed with something you wrote Tane. I sincerely hope it doesn't get to be a habit. I don't like the uncertainty of players in positions. No problem with creating competition but it should be like for like; two guys competing for the 12 jumper for example as opposed to the only guys knowing their spots being a winger and the halfback. At least you finished with an arrogant view on MC's coaching to retain some balance. Thanks.

I'm not so sure Tane. It is not so much keeping everyone in the dark as keeping people focussed. He may not have settled on his combinations yet either. But to have it in the public forum, means he has everyone second guessing him. I imagine he has his own reasons for his approach and I doubt very much it is fuelled by ego and a desire to hold power over the playing group. I have been impressed. They stuck to their game plan last year when everyone was writing them off and they can back quite solidly in the back half of the season. I actually think he would be pleased enough with the overall outcome. Of course this is the tell all season. but if he can get this team a couple of steps higher on the ladder that would be pretty good. Finally, who says the players are completely in the dark. That is supposition based on what the media chooses to print. I imagine that MC has learnt to keep his cards close to his chest in a rather hostile environment. Remember everyone saying how Folau could backfire on him too and that FB wasn't his best position etc. One thing Chieka has been is dead straight and committed. Things haven't backfired on him yet, despite all the talk from the sidelines, so for me I'm cutting him some slack and hoping the Warratahs can get off to a better start and begin to deliver on their potential. Chieka hasn't appeared wishy washy or inconsistent to me. That suggests he has both a vision and a plan. How good they are will be seen over the coming season. But something for nothing, having the tight five fit in itself (as has been commented on) is a better start than they have had in a long time. I must say I am more hopeful than you without being unrealistic in how tough it will be for them.

MC could have this all backfire on him. He seems to have this idea that nobody knowing where they are playing is a good thing. Ive been unimpressed by his coaching thus far.

Chan keep thinking JDV is slow or at the same pace as Nonu,Tuilagi and co at your own perill,that try of Barret came almost immediately after JdV had ran through Nonu and scored at the other end,JdV took long to get set or set the bok structure defencively :-? JdV has nowhere near the bulk of Nonu,last I checked the bok fastest sprinters JdV was 4th fastest : Habana,JJ Engelbrecht,JP Pietersen and JDV,that is faster than Serfontein,Le Roux who are no slouches.In 2007 before JDV got injured he was second fastest behind Habana. JDV is a gifted athlete not as barbaric like Nonu of late. ;-)

I agree Chiva you've stated all the points and reasons :-)

@ felix : "...its no wonder the AB cant get rid of Nonu,he’s a big roadblock for either forwards or backs defencively. " true but one shud not underestimate o forget the contribution of Conrad smith to the mid-field glue. if fact Conrad is the best defensive center in the world, that is why MIB management is so concerned to keep him alive till end of RWC 2015 !!! The issue with big boys is that they turn slow (Nonu JDV Tuilagi Roberts...), hence u need a fast cover defender. JJ Englebrecht, Marcello Bosch, Brad Barrit, Gordan Darcy...some of the very good defensive centers. a simple concept in mid-fied defence is staying a in a straight line. If one of the centers steps out , it creates a gap , if the leading center fails to tackle his opposite man. ( this was seen in the Barrett try in SA in the match of this century; JDV went up but BB stepped him and went thru easily.)

Exactly. Everyone targets that channel. If you cut through there with support which you normally have so close in, it's open season. Wingers, fullback, centre and all the loosies just straighten and run giving the ball carrier so many options he thinks his christmas's have all come at once. While you can take out opposition players from time to time if they are the culprit, it is harder if your own 12 is such a revolving door that he is the problem. It is too obvious and I can't see Chieka going down this track unless he has got this situation covered. And as you say Felix, the SA teams will definitely exploit that as an area of weakness all day long. It is exactly suited to their style of smashing at the fringes. The AB's need a Nonu as Carter and Cruden also aren't Honiball like in their defence.

Beale at 12,I can just emagine Sharks W.Alberts bruising that channel,I for 1 think Horne might be a better choice,loosies love running the 10,12 channel,its no wonder the AB cant get rid of Nonu,he's a big roadblock for either forwards or backs defencively.

I hope so. At 24 he is young. While Beake has speed and a step I wouldn't be confident in him there against top teams. This is the channel most frequently targeted by the loosies both in attack and defence. Often it is easier to push off the open side into the 10-12 channel and picking up the second five. The first five rarely steps back inside into the forwards and if he decides to kick it is rare that he will give an opportunity for you to collect him with the ball. Even Quade who gives such opportunities more than most doesn't do it frequently. I have even known opensides who primarily target the second five. Personally I think it is a bit one dimensional and prefer to target the channel and have the option to take out either if they are sloppy or push the first five in, tackle the second five behind the gain line if they cut back in or force the ball wider. Either way Beale would be a target both in defence and on attack. I know he is a beautiful runner and have no doubt about his short passing game, but how will he go cutting back into traffic and setting up the ball up is a bit of an unknown. He will get caught and it is his strength in this situation which will be telling and how effectively the Tahs forwards can get to him to help out. Beale's kicking is good and general skills as he offers playmaking to the position. I think that is his strength over Horne. But my other area if concern is his ability to shut down attacks which hit his channel. Without doubt it will be tested by oppositions. As everyone has it is horrible when teams smash through this channel. If the opposing second five steps the incoming forwards and your second five can't take him, you find yourself spun around desperately trying to shut it down. I think Horne offers more in this area and I just feel at this stage it would be a big risk to play Beale there. But in saying that Beale is an absolute game changer unlike anyone else and as others have said before me he has to be involved. With Foley not being a Honiball either I just think a Foley/Beale combination to be a bit leaky. However, I'm Chieka as an ex-forward is pretty conservative and will be fully aware of the challenges and opportunities he has with such gifted players. I hope it is a great year for the team and they can improve on last year, which I thought was a very good first year for the coach and many of the players. This year new coach, defined and understood game plan from day one, experience and key players starting the season fit. Good luck to everyone. Looking forward to seeing the Tahs players bringing more pride to the jersey and resurgent gate sales and increasing numbers of fans vocally supporting their team from day one!