This week I’m joined by regular contributors on The Roar, ‘Diggercane’ and ‘jameswm’ to preview the Waratahs v Hurricanes match this weekend.
The match sees the clash of the top two teams in the competition for metres gained per match and clean line breaks. In both measures, the Hurricanes are ranked number one with the Waratahs number two.
The Hurricanes are also ranked number one in the competition for defenders beaten per match. They are averaging 25 defenders beaten per match, 6 more than any other team in the competition. The Waratahs are seventh, with an average of 17 defenders beaten per match.
Both teams have plenty of strike weapons, but the Hurricanes have scored 31 tries so far, compared to 21 for the Waratahs.
Interestingly, the Waratahs have been doing much better in defence – they are ranked third best for number of tackles missed per match, while the Hurricanes have been missing more and are ranked twelfth in the competition. As a result the Hurricanes have conceded 21 tries, while the Waratahs have only conceded 15.
If the Waratahs are going to be successful in this match they need to rediscover their try-scoring form which has deserted them in the last month. They won’t be able to shut down the Hurricanes attack.
Both Digger and James made convincing cases why their team will win this match but I’ve decided to tip the Hurricanes due to their form and potency in attack.
Next week I’ll be previewing the big clash between the Brumbies and Sharks. I need one Brumbies fan and one Sharks fan to join me on the show to give their views. It’ll take about 10 minutes so if you’re interested let me know through the comments section and I’ll be in touch to make arrangements.
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
Hey Scott, if you're still looking for someone to help with that preview, I'd be happy to offer my thoughts. Otherwise I look forward to tuning in later in the week to hear what you foresee for the big game! Cheers, Rob
Garth Rogers
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Just like most of their side. :)
Garth Rogers
Roar Rookie
So how do you explain the continuing saga that is Kearns & Marto?
ben
Guest
Tane...why is it an issue....so none of us can identify as being samoan if we are born in nz....just like as you use a maori name you cant be maori...just a nzer? Why does the census have tick boxes for samoan tongan maori etc etc why do we have wgtn samoans and akld samoans rugby teams or the annual samoan village tournament in akld for samoans most of whom are born here. Are you saying none of us can identify with being samoan or tongan or whatever. You might want to tell the media then when identifying criminals .....ugh why do i bother...whether you like it or not you cant stop them or any of us identifying as samoans in nz aus or wherever. Faifili an levave and vito are all samoan names...cos guess which culture they identify with. I will continue identifying them as samoan boys cos we are proud to be samoan whether you like it or not. Go the samoan boys in the canes....toomaga-allen leiua motu'u schwalger vito levave lam savea and savea. Faafetai lava tane.
moaman
Guest
Samoa poached him! ;-)
Tane Mahuta
Guest
No they are not Samoan, they are NZers. Apparently being born, raised and educated doesnt make you a NZer. Please stop calling people from NZ Samoan, Tongan or Fijian if theyve NEVER lived in those countries and were born and raised in NZ. Next you will call Maitland Scottish because he plays for Scotland. If a player was born in NZ but had English parents would you call him English? Im pretty sure nobody would but people do that with PI players. If you are born and raised in NZ you are a NZer from NZ, not a whatever your parents were. Lam is a NZer that is playing for Samoa based on eligibilty through ancestry.
ben
Guest
Tane....yes i know they're all from nz...but vito levave and lam are all samoan boys....here we go again! Levave and lam play for manu samoa and vito couldve too had he not been an ab.....not because they're tongan...but because they're.......anyway whats the issue.
bennalong
Guest
I'm there and I'm sure my loud support makes a massive difference!
WEST
Roar Guru
Hurricanes have massive fire power Front and back. Waratahs have a great tackle rate...Is that because their on the defensive most games and need a high tackle rate or be killed or is it because they just don't miss much. Guess this week we'll have an answer. Hurricanes bleed tries from any section of the field and create opportunity's at will. Their tackle rate is low not poor, the fact that they have a high volume of tries more than compensates for it. Waratahs wont be easy beats. Hurricanes will have to be far more thorough at the break-downs, clean out the Waratahs quickly and effectively, cant have their forwards slowing it down or turning it, momentum is the Hurricanes strength, speed is their key. No doubt the Waratahs will target that area of the game to stub out the Canes and slow it up. If not, their in for a looong night especially if they allow Savea to run riot and he intermingle with the Forwards. It will come down to the Waratahs back-line and if they can get the highest try scorer Israel into the game or will he be lost trying to cover the backdoor like with the Blues. No doubt the Hurricanes will try and pin Israel back to cover as much as possible and let him play the role of a full time Full back. I see the Hurricanes cleaning up. Anyone know what the Waratahs coach is up to? Is he allowed into the stadium or what?
WEST
Roar Guru
Cant see it Uncle. Highlanders are a tough unit.
Argyle
Roar Guru
Mate I even backed the Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders this week but I think the Stormers will just get over the Landers...
Digby
Roar Guru
Your a good man Uncle! :)
Argyle
Roar Guru
I think the Hurricanes will get the win against NSW.
jameswm
Roar Guru
They've, ahem, been like that for 3 weeks...
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
No mate, you were very good. ;) Remember you can only work with what you've got. :(
Digby
Roar Guru
I think they surely can be too mate ;) No, I don't think they will be either. Really looking forward to it now.
eagleJack
Guest
Both teams love to run the ball. Canes (518m) and Tahs (499m) top 2 avg run metres in the comp. Irrespective of the weather Im sure they won't move away from this tactic. So we could be in for some exciting rugby, or plenty of handling errors. Surely the Tahs can be bad in that area 2 weeks in a row?!
Digby
Roar Guru
Good. The colder the better ;) Pity, would have been good to them play on a clear still night. Makes the size on the bench with Skelton and Kepu more important too if it is horrible. Nah, we will be right ;)
Digby
Roar Guru
Yep, as you have pointed out, home advantage has proved to be so important and the Canes have only managed the one away and still in New Zealand. It will be a massive boost for the Tahs and they have had a number of peripheral issues and crticism this week so they will be fired up!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Great stuff guys! As a Tahs supporter very much agree with james analysis (Foley not the answer at 10, put KB there for a while, Dennis as a back up etc). Mate I think I rarely chat with you on here but I found your views very pertinent! Digger, well, you're the voice of reason of the Roar so its hard to disagree with you ;). Having said that I hope I'll see the Tahs win on sat night. Should be cold and rainy though :(