Waratahs v Hurricanes

Duluth

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/300305394/super-rugby-transtasman-waratahs-to-bench-two-brightest-stars-for-clash-with-hurricanes

Some info about the Tahs selection. Will Harrison is still injured and Tizzano not selected.

Ex-Crusaders academy player Charlie Gamble will be the openside

KiwiMurph

Donaldson has gone well since coming into 10 for the Tahs. I think that's the right move.

Chris B.

@mikey07 said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

@duluth said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

@kiwimurph said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

Their losing margins in their final 3 games of Super Rugby AU were 9, 1 and 2.

11, 1 & 2 unless theres a typo here?
https://www.thesilverfern.com/sr-results/?type=team&season=2021+Trans+ Ta$man&opp=all&loc=all&teamseason=2021+AU&team=waratahs

They definitely got better towards the end. Still, this should be a comfy win for the Canes

DONT EVER SAY THAT! I can see the Tahs pushing us to within 1-2 given how we start competitions or even taking the W

TAB says:

Hurricanes $1.03
Tahs $10

Don't put the whole house on the Tahs, Mikey!

NTA

@chris-b said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

Hurricanes $1.03

Not short enough.

Snowy

@nta said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

Not short enough.

I haven't seen much of them this year and I know that they lost everything, but are they actually that bad? I mean skills, players, tactics, etc.

NTA

@snowy said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

@nta said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

Not short enough.

I haven't seen much of them this year and I know that they lost everything, but are they actually that bad? I mean skills, players, tactics, etc.

Composure and experience, mainly.

Their learning curve this year would be massive, and adding 2-3 experienced players across the team would be very helpful.

Charlie Gamble was a superb player for Division 1 park footy, OK at club level, but not sure he's got the chops for Pro Rugby. He hasn't been given many opportunities, that said.

However, I am reminded that the Crusaders Academy let him go, and they seem to be alright at identifying talent...

Duluth

@snowy

Just confirming what @nta said - experience was a big issue this year

Last year the NSW admin made some incorrect decisions around covid. They decided it was a good time to spend less than other teams on player salaries. That resulted in lots of players with a half decent cv leaving

So what is left is a mixture of talented youngsters and some people that don't belong at this level. Those talented young players have no one to learn off and are making very public errors.
If they can retain these guys and recruit some old heads they'll turn it around in a year or two.

I would rate them as being about as good as a mid level NPC side. They might have an upset in them at some stage.. unlikely though

Tizzano was one of their better players, a tackling machine. Him not playing is a big blow

Canes 25+

Snowy

Cheers. It was a bit confusing as to why they had turned to custard so much without having seen them play.

Stargazer

alt text

Wow, Laumape immediately left out of the squad; PU-J & Proctor midfield, and Toala still not in the 23.

I'm starting to think they've already decided not to re-sign Toala, or Toala has decided to go somewhere else (maybe Rakete-Stones, too?).

https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/team-named-to-take-on-waratahs-in-sydney/

Edited to add: Why was Toala not allowed to play for Hastings in the Nash Cup Final (because of "Hurricanes duties"), if they don't even give him game time off the bench? What a f*ckwits.

Duluth

@stargazer said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

Wow, Laumape immediately left out of the squad; PU-J & Proctor midfield

Hard to carry a specialist 12 on the bench when Leger is already there as the backup 10

Stargazer

@duluth If they'd had named Toala on the bench instead of Patafilo, they'd have had 10 cover as well.

barbarian

Tahs have been plucky the last month, and I expect them to be plucky again this weekend.

But they just don't have the class to match it with top opposition. They are fielding a fair few glorified clubbies, who toil away but never really impact the game.

The one to watch is Izzy Perese at 13, a Wallaby smokey who has come via the Reds and Brisbane Broncos. Quick, physical, good hands.

Duluth

Team management insisted the decision to rest the in-form Laumape this week was made before he told them on Monday night he was heading to France at the end of SRTT.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/125103265/super-rugby-hurricanes-unveil-new-midfield-duo-as-departing-ngani-laumape-omitted-for-waratahs

Bovidae

I would have thought Aso was the obvious outside back reserve as he could cover centre and wing. Jules into centre doesn't seem right...

Tim

@bovidae Is Aso injured? Don't think I've seen him this year.

Bovidae

@tim I think he has been playing club rugby.

Stargazer

@tim He is playing club rugby in Wellington. Every week. Not injured, just like Toala and Visinia.

Edited to add that there are rumours that Aso has signed with a Japanese club.

Bovidae

Did the Canes publish a list of which players are travelling to Sydney?

bobily2

@duluth said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

Team management insisted the decision to rest the in-form Laumape this week was made before he told them on Monday night he was heading to France at the end of SRTT.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/125103265/super-rugby-hurricanes-unveil-new-midfield-duo-as-departing-ngani-laumape-omitted-for-waratahs

I could be giving the Hurricanes coaches too much credit here, but they probably had a good idea it was coming, and decided to plan for the future a little, regardless.

Stargazer

@bovidae No, they didn't.

The Silver Fern

Waratahs v Hurricanes