Karmichael Hunt gets an early chance to apply pressure in Kurtley Beale’s regular position when the NSW Waratahs play their opening Super Rugby trial against the Highlanders on Friday.
Off-season signing Hunt will line up at inside-centre alongside Lalakai Foketi in a mostly second-string team captained by Will Miller.
The 32-year-old Wallaby was given a career lifeline by Tahs coach Daryl Gibson after missing the entire Queensland Reds 2018 campaign when Reds mentor Brad Thorn refused to select him following a second brush with drugs charges.
Gibson has rested his frontline Wallabies, including the likes of Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley, Israel Folau and Beale, along with returning veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper, for the match in Alexandra, New Zealand.
But he says centre is the position earmarked for utility Hunt.
“When we were recruiting him, we always had that position in mind,” Gibson said.
“We wanted to bring a real defensive edge and physicality to our side and with Adam Ashley-Cooper – a renowned defensive genius – and Karmichael really gives us some stick there and good depth.
“I’ve been very impressed with his professionalism and the condition he has come in.
“By his own admission, he had a year away from the rigours of training professionally and the physical contacts you take.
“He’s been very professional about how he goes about his stuff and the squad have welcomed him with open arms.”
Friday’s game will also mark the first appearance for big South African recruit Le Roux Roets.
Gibson hopes the second-rower will add depth and punch to his pack and the coach accepts here will be comparisons with ex-Springbok Jacques Potgieter wio made such an impact in the Waratahs’ 2014-winning campaign.
“Those similarities are always going to be made with Jacques,” he said.
“We’re very certain with what we want from Le Roux in terms of a big-bodied lock who is strong at scrum time, good at set-pieces and in defence. And it’s also about creating depth.”
Halfback Nick Phipps sat out Wednesday’s session with a calf injury, but the 70-cap Wallaby is expected to be fit for round one of Super Rugby.
Waratahs XV (1-15)
Harry Johnson-Holmes, Andrew Tuala, Shambeckler Vui, Jed Holloway, Ryajn McCauley, Lachlan Swinton, Will Miller (capt), Hugh Sinclair, Mitch Short, Mack Mason, Cameron Clark, Karmichael Hunt, Lalakai Foketi, Curtis Rona, Alex Newsome. Res: JP Sauni, Rory O’Connor, Chris Talakai, Le Roux Roets, BJ Edwards, Pat Tafa, Jake Gordon, Ben Donaldson, Will Harrison, Richard Woolf, Will Harris, Cody Walker.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Agree Jeznez but they seem to be leaving it late
jeznez
Roar Guru
He's named in the official Waratahs squad so he should be back. Given the RA imposed cap, I'd expect the Tahs to release him if he wasn't going to be playing for them.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Michael Wells is currently playing for the Oz Sevens team ..... is he coming back to the Tahs or is he making a play for the Olympics?
Crashy
Guest
Gibson said he played well. I like thr prospect if him belting blokes this year.
John R
Roar Guru
Here we go boiss: https://www.facebook.com/HighlandersFB/videos/220077132280720/ Starts in an hour.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I certainly wouldn't write him off. I believe he'd benefit from some time out of the playing squad to really up his strength regime and to focus on improving particular areas of his game. He's got some excellent building blocks but I think his early promotion is hampering his development.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I guess I'm less hesitant to write off a 23 year old who was one of our better performing players last year. He's not the complete package, but very few players are. I think he does a lot more than people give him credit for. Especially at Super Rugby level. He's got a pretty good strike rate as a try scorer for a forward who is not the recipient of maul pies.
jeznez
Roar Guru
ps. if anything happened to Simmons then I'd have Ned into the Tahs 6 jersey in a heartbeat, with Holloway moving back in to lock.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Paul, just further to this as I feel like “I hope so-and-so lifts so Hanigan is out of the 23” as just plain bias. is directed at me. Hanigan just doesn't tick enough boxes for me yet. He is a strong second lineout option and has a motor such that he goes hard the entire time he is on the pitch. However he is weak in the cleanout, not a great defender, not a dynamic threat with ball in hand and an average scrummager on the flank (he apparently played most of his junior rugby as a lock but he is undersized for there). The Tahs played very light last year with Robertson, Fitzpatrick, Simmons, Staniforth, Miller, Hooper and Hanigan regularly making up the bulk of the pack. The only guys in the starting pack last year that play a bit 'heavy' were Kepu, Holloway, Latu (when included) and Wells (who hits harder than his 103kg suggests he should). Johnson-Holmes added another strong body in limited minutes off the bench. So when I say that I hope 135kg Rouets or 203cm Ryan McCauley put in performances that demand their inclusion it isn't just bias against a tryer like Ned. It is acknowledgement that we already have a lineout general in Simmons, who happens to have some of the same weaknesses in areas like the clean out as Hanigan. Developing some big units that can shift opposition bodies is one of the things that is going to be critical for this team to going from finals participation to being a genuine title threat.
John R
Roar Guru
VPN is your friend, friend. Hopefully they get it up, otherwise Rebels / Reds is streaming on the Rebels facebook.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I have ways around Geo blocking, so If the Highlanders have a stream, sweet!
John R
Roar Guru
I emailed the Waratahs about it, and they were saying even if it is streamed, they'll geoblock it to NZ. The Highlanders said they were hoping to stream it, but it depended on internet reliability.
Cynical Play
Guest
I've been dying to see JP S in action at SR level for 12 months. His early play reel was impressive.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I’d be happy for Hanigan to be the guy with the improvement in him. However I think the Tahs lacked pure grunt and with Hanigan being young and never getting a full pre-season I wonder when he’ll get a chance to build some of the bulk he needs. Meanwhile the Tahs have signed a 135kg bloke and have had a big young lock in the squad for a couple of years and just starting to get a couple of starts. I think we need power in the pack and those two are a more likely chance of bringing it.
Fact Cheika
Guest
I'd have to disagree with you there Rob. I think Hannigan is a squad SR player at his best. I think he's shown with his lack of contributions at test level, despite the number of opportunities, that it's beyond him. And given he's not really an abrasive carrier or defender, I don't think he has much scope to improve. Personally I don't want him anywhere near the WC squad, he just provides no value.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Paul, I agree Hanigan is unfairly maligned at SR level. I wouldn’t have him in my test 15, and probably not in the test 23 (depending on injuries) but he’s pretty good value in a SR 15 or 23, and possibly worthy of a plane ticket to the RWC.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Hunt won't be at full throttle in the trials. Keeping his "powder" dry.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
No I don’t think it necessarily is. I think some of the criticism of Hanigan at Test level is unduly being leveled at him at super level. I have not seen anything from the other options that would suggest Hanigan is a non starter. I find comments like “I hope so-and-so lifts so Hanigan is out of the 23” as just plain bias. Why should we wish one player improves over another? Frankly, I don’t care who improves the most, I hope they all do. Just that the best players are picked. Which is why I mentioned those names for the back 5, unless someone steps up
Machooka
Roar Guru
My preference as well... and Wells as well eh! :)
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Would be a huge drop wouldn't it? From Wallaby XV in 2017 to not in the Waratahs 23? Would highlight somebody had got it wrong.