The Waratahs had a really good 2010 Super 14, finishing in third place, winning 9 of their 13 league games and ultimately losing in the semi finals to the Stormers. The goal for the players is to go one better in 2011 and get into the final.
The Waratahs have one of their strongest squads in years, and will be hoping to make use of their stars to push for a home semi. The Wallabies end of year tour was rather successful for a few of the squad members, Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell in particular.
These two players, amongst a group of other senior players, will be hoping to take their form in to the Super Rugby tournament. Beale, who landed that heartbreaking penalty against South Africa in the Tri Nations, will take confidence from his improvement during the year, and will be pushing to represent Australia at the World Cup.
Drew Mitchell had a rough year, being dropped from the Tri Nations squad before lifting his game and playing his way back in. He will know that there are a lot of talented players playing for his position and will have to show some decent form in the Super Rugby Competition to secure that World Cup spot.
The Waratahs will have a great backline for this season, but let’s not forget about the talent pool they have in forwards, with Benn Robinson, Dean Mumm and Tatafu Polota-Nau forming part of a strong tight five.
The only injury concern at this stage of the season is Rob Horne, the 21 year old Wallaby centre having undergone elbow surgery in November. He is set to miss the first 2 months of Super Rugby at least.
My prediction for the Waratahs season is that they will be in direct competition with the Reds for the top Australian spot and should be in playoff contention at the end of the league phase.
Fantasy League players to note: Berrick Barnes and Kurtley Beale can both kick at goal and Drew Mitchell should be in the tries this season. In the forwards Dean Mumm is one of the best Wallaby locks.
Full Warathas Squad:
Sosene Anesi ,
Berrick Barnes ,
Al Baxter ,
Kurtley Beale ,
Luke Burgess ,
Tom Carter ,
Ryan Cross ,
Dave Dennis ,
Kane Douglas ,
Damien Fitzpatrick ,
Daniel Halangahu ,
Josh Holmes ,
Rob Horne ,
Cam Jowitt ,
Brackin Karauria-Henry ,
Sekope Kepu ,
Locky McCaffrey ,
Pat McCutcheon ,
Brendan McKibbin ,
Drew Mitchell ,
Ben Mowen ,
Dean Mumm ,
Pat O’Connor ,
Afa Pakalani ,
Wycliff Palu ,
Tatafu Polota-Nau ,
Benn Robinson ,
Paddy Ryan ,
Jeremy Tilse ,
Lachie Turner ,
Phil Waugh
My least favourite team EVER!!!
@Farlington (Comment 1) :
Can’t say I disagree, but they have a bloody strong squad this year..
@Richard Ferguson (KCM) (Comment 2) : Of that there is no doubt. They will be contenders and will more then likely top their conference. Unless the Reds have something to say about it.
@Farlington (Comment 3) : @Richard Ferguson (KCM) (Comment 2) : What does the brumbies squad look like? They are always tough to beat..
@Ben (Comment 4) :
Their squad looks a bit low on depth..
BOOO
@Farlington (Comment 3) : Richard , have we set up a superbru league yet??
@Whindy (Comment 7) :
The SuperBru league will be set up and announced as soon as SuperBru allow us to.
Can’t this rugby just start already?!
Who is the Waratah lock that moved back to SA?
@Farlington (Comment 1) : Incredible to think that the Cheatahs, who used to be my second favourite team, are now vying with the Waratahs for the title of Most Loathsome Team to Behold
@Original Champion (Comment 10) :
Hendrik Roodt
@Culling Song (Comment 11) : Thats the ‘thas for you
“…winning 9 of their 13 league games…”
should have read 7 of 13… or 6 of 13… they had a few “lucky” breaks in the refereeing department last year
@Culling Song (Comment 11) : with the lions slowly crawling towards them…
funny – despite the fact that I hate playing against them, the Tahs have always been one of my favourite teams. I absolutely adore the way they play the game. To my mind, they are the best side never to have won a Super Rugby title – besides the Sharks, of course.
@robdylan (Comment 16) : thats the way i feel about the reds last year. they ran out of steam at the end last year, but they were the first team to throw caution to the wind and run everything… attractive rugby and the way the “new” rules should be played.
Thought this would be good on this thread..
What do you call a world class Aussie cricketer?
> – retired
>
> Why can’t Aussies get into their beer bottles anymore?
> – they don’t have any decent openers
>
> Why could Ricky Ponting never be a funeral director?
> – he would keep losing the ashes
>
> Why don’t Aussie fielders need to have inoculations?
> – no chance of them catching anything
>
> How bad is Aussie’s batting?
> – they are thinking of moving extras to the middle order.
>
> What would you call James Anderson if he was Australian?
> – an all rounder
>
> What would Paul Collingwood be if he was in the Australian cricket
> team?
> – in form
>
> What are Australian gripes?
> – something they make wine from
>
> How can you tell a plane load of Aussies have just landed?
> – the engines have stopped but you can still hear whining
And the best of all . . . .
> A bloke walks into a brothel and says: , how much for
total humiliation?”
> The madam replies “$60″.
> “Wow, what do I get for that! he asks.
> She answers : “A baggy green cap and an Australia Cricket shirt.”
>
>
@stevo (Comment 18) : bwahahaha!!
Least fav team…. almost…. the Bulls still reserve that right imo….As for least favourite player…. ABSOLUTELY, Kurtley #@$% Beale. For that deliberate knock down when Kanko was on for the match winning try!
@stevo (Comment 18) : very funny
hey Rob did you catch any of those jokes?
@SharksRTB (Comment 20) : I forgot about that…
@stevo (Comment 18) :
@stevo (Comment 18) : KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!!!