NSW Waratahs captain Dave Dennis is being refreshed by the challenge of using his smarts to counter the superior size of his second row rivals at opposing Super Rugby clubs.
Primarily a blindside flanker for several seasons, Dennis has moved back into the second row this year.
Listed as 112 kilos and 192 centimetres, Dennis is no pygmy.
However, he is conceding plenty of height and weight to most opposing locks and is 11 centimetres smaller and around 28 kilos lighter than his Waratahs’ second row colleague Will Skelton.
“I’ve never felt it’s a position you need to be 120 kilos,” Dennis said.
“It’s one of those positions where if you are smart about it and work on your technique you can get away with playing a bit lighter than the average lock, which obviously I am.
“But the way we play our game, there’s not too much difference in terms of my role.
“I’m still running the lineouts and I’ve been really focused on working hard in the scrum, getting better there, supporting (props )’Robbo’ (Benn Robinson) and `Tilsey’ (Jeremy Tilse) on that side.
“Around the field, if you look at the way we play, you end up being in the same position as I was last year.
“I’m really enjoying it. It’s a good challenge.
“It’s probably a bit of a refresher to be honest, that I have to think a little bit differently to what I did last year. It’s good.”
Dennis wasn’t subjected to excessive amounts of lineout work in the Waratahs first two games, as opposing teams tended to keep most of their kicks in play.
“They are giving us a lot of kick possession and not a lot of lineouts,” Waratahs’ attack coach Daryl Gibson said.
“Whether that’s a trend or what teams have identified in us, it’s certainly something we’ve looked at and monitoring really, just making sure that we understand how teams are trying to beat us.”
Dennis wants NSW to string together victories after their bye this weekend and avoid the alternate win-loss cycle that plagued them for several weeks in the early part of last season, prior to their title-clinching nine-match winning streak to end the campaign
“That’s something that we want to eliminate from our season,” Dennis said.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Sorry, a leaguie who has never played lock.
Jack Mallick
Guest
Dennis is a great captain and a good player who will certainly do a great job for the tahs. He started slow in round one (coming back from his third bloody knee reco) and then really stepped it up against the rebs including the 2 biggest hits of a physical game. Dennis is playing the hard working role of Douglas, Skelton is the hard runner up the guts that Jackpot was, and Jackpot himself is being allowed to play his natural wider running game. The pack is going to be fine, and Dennis is going to be in the middle of it.
Squirrel
Guest
Not a chance. I'd even have Horwill and Simmons over DD and that is saying something.
Chivas
Guest
Not sure the current Wallabt options meet thise other criteria either. Which I guess is your point. But sometimes that's all there is. I would actually prefer skilful, effective and accurate with a high work rate over abrasive, intimidating etc. to be honest.
pjm
Roar Rookie
You've completely missed the recruitment of Lousi.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
James. That's where I think you're wrong. It's not a matter of letting Dennis go. It's a matter of being left with 4/6 options of Douglas, Skelton, Peterson, McCutcheon and Dennis only having 3 out and out locks to begin with and then recruiting Potgetier, Grey, Chapman, Holloway and Hoiles to replace the loss of Douglas and Peterson. Only Chapman is a genuine lock option (at 195cm Holloway isn't a strong physical lock option) lock option, and even still he started his career as a 6 at the Reds and isn't a physical presence at lock. This is an example of poor squad management by Cheika which has resulted in shuffling Potgeiter and Dennis around as locks. It worked in 2014 with Douglas tying down one lock position and having Skelton and Potgeiter mostly share the other position but now It's Skelton tying down one lock position and you have a back rower filling the void at all times.
Ruck_Me_Ragged
Roar Rookie
Re. the title of the article ... it's just a bit of wishful thinking. Call me greedy but when it comes to forwards I want both those traits. Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticising the bloke - he's played for his country after all - but even in his preferred position could he be described as: a) abrasive b) intimidating c) a bloke other teams just don't want to play against? d) competent & reliable There's too much option D in Australian rugby (in general) & not enough A, B & C. At this early stage I'd say not a good move by the selectors. Hoping to be proved wrong ...
jameswm
Guest
Run over or not, it's poor defence. on the 2nd one though, Horne was right on the edge (pillar or whatever they're called). He suddenly ran away (to his wing perhaps) and left a hole, which Timani saw and jumped through. Smart play Timani, Dennis a bit unlucky to be honest. He still has to muscle up in defence big time. I said 2 years ago that the Tahs let the wrong lock/backrower go to the Rebels. They should have kept Timani and let Dennis go. And Timani is not like his brother (half a yard slower than a statue) - he is bruising, has quick feet for a big guy and can offload.
Paul
Guest
JP was only 2cm taller, and they seemed to do fine last year. If anything based on performance this year thus far I'd say the scrum has improved.
Markus
Guest
Cottrell over Dennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7lB1LsuIPc#t=3m25s Definitely not 3 metres to the right, and the only reason Dennis was as far away as he was is because he was too slow off the line. Or that his inside defender was Beale and he did not trust him to cover his man, which I can understand. Timani over Dennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tq8yAH30Lk#t=4m30s Phipps and Potgieter came across in a desperate attempt after Timani had already run over the first tackler. Guess who the first tackler was.
Alan H
Guest
Simply untrue. Cottrell did not 'run over' Dave Dennis, who was 3 clear metres to his right. Timani did not 'run over' Dave Dennis. He went under 2 other Waratahs, namely Phipps and Potgeiter. Stupid lies, easily found out. Why do you bother?
Markus
Guest
Cottrell ran straight over the top of him for a try in round 1, then Timani in round 2. The smarts have not been helping him much so far.
Mike
Guest
"The article alone by its nature by even raising the subject of him being in that position is proof of the doubt in his selection." Fittingly, this has to be one of the most mind-bogglingly illogical statements ever printed! And then we are told that the Tahs WILL NOT win the title this season and that Sydney supporters will stay away, all because of Dave Dennis at lock. Okay... :D I have no idea how Dennis will go at lock this season, but we can be sure of one thing - it will have very little to do with his size and weight and everything to do with his commitment and skill. Its up to him. And if he can put pressure on other locks then all the better for Australian rugby.
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
In my opinion Dave Dennis at 192cm is not a lock. The article alone by its nature by even raising the subject of him being in that position is proof of the doubt in his selection. The Waratah's forward pack is out of balance and will be exposed when it is comes up against a better balanced pack like the Brumbies. Michael Cheika cannot win the Super Championship in 2015 while he maintains this current situation. The Waratahs are in danger of damaging any goodwill they built up in 2014. The Sydney supporters like winners and will stay away if they think they are being conned, which they are if Dave Dennis is continued to be played at lock.