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Picking a starting Waratahs team for round one of Super Rugby Pacific
The Waratahs come into Super Rugby Pacific off the back of a challenging year. The team went without a win in 2021, but their fortunes are already looking up as they welcome a highly-respected coach in Darren Coleman into the fold and bring back a host of Super Rugby experience from overseas.
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Ned Hanigan and Jed Holloway will return to the Waratahs after stints in Japanese rugby, and Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is expected to feature this season following a sabbatical from Super Rugby last year.
Before the season kicks off, we have selected what we believe will be the starting lineup for the Waratahs come round one of Super Rugby Pacific.
While pre-season form and fitness may still yet play a part in who is picked come the beginning of the campaign, these selections are largely based on the availability and squad status of players at the time of writing.
1. Angus Bell
One of the youngest in the squad at just 21 years of age, the young bull has proven himself to excellent scrummager already. Despite a long season away with the Wallabies, Bell has been keen to dig in at Waratahs HQ. He brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the Waratahs front row.
2. Tom Horton
Horton brings a point of difference to the hooking role for the Waratahs. He is agile and dynamic in contrast to the traditional roles of scrummaging and line-out throwing. Locking down that starting spot will be Horton’s main priority, with competition from season campaigner Dave Porecki and former LA Giltini Mahe Vailanu.
3. Harry Johnson-Holmes
The red-headed country boy with the voice of an angel, Harry should be assured of a start at tighthead prop. He has quickly become a reliable scrummager and is well-respected within the playing group. There are few elder statesmen waiting in the wings, but Johnson-Holmes’ reliability and durability make him an asset in the front row.
4. Jed Holloway
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Holloway returns to the Waratahs after an acrimonious departure to Japan with Toyota Verblitz. He has come back to play for his home state with a renewed sense of purpose after buying into Darren Coleman’s vision for the team. His preferred position is No 8, but he is resigned to the fact he will find himself at lock for most of the season.
5. Geoff Cridge
There are big wraps on Cridge coming from New Zealand. Cridge made his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes under Chris Boyd, and after an impressive season for Hawke’s Bay in 2021 picked up a contract with the Waratahs. Cridge stands at just over 2 metres and fits all the requirements the Tahs have been looking for in a tighthead lock, adding further strength to the team’s depth in the second row.
6. Lachie Swinton
The hulking blindside flanker has benefitted from a season away with the Wallabies and has come back hungrier than ever to give Super Rugby his all. His discipline continues to be a thorn in the coach’s side, but his upsides far outweigh the negatives.
7. Carlo Tizzano
The heir apparent at the Waratahs for the No 7 jersey, Tizzano was given a chance to impress last year in the absence of Michael Hooper, and he didn’t disappoint. The bulky flanker has an abrasive style that is not everyone’s cup of tea, but he goes hard on the ball. He has expressed his desire to make the famous seven his own and will have to prove himself again when Hooper returns later in the season.
8. Will Harris
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Harris is one to look out for in 2022, and he cuts an imposing figure as a number eight. He is rangy and athletic with silky hands, but craves the forward battle in the tight stuff. He has had to bide his time in the Waratahs system but now is set for a big year.
9. Jake Gordon
The fact that Jake Gordon has been retained as Waratahs skipper for 2022 after guiding his side through their worst season in history speaks volumes about how highly-regarded Gordon is within the organisation. A natural leader and a genuine game manager, Gordon has the ability to change a game with his pace from the base of the ruck. His voice will be invaluable to the younger playmakers in the squad this year.
10. Ben Donaldson
With Will Harrison sustaining a shoulder injury in a preseason trial, Donaldson has all but won the race for the starting flyhalf spot at the Waratahs. Donaldson has been compared to Stephen Larkham due to his calm demeanour under pressure and the ability to shoot through a hole in the defence with deceptive pace. Expect ‘Donno’ to still be battling Tane Edmed to hold on to his starting jersey through the season.
11. James Turner
Jimmy the Jet has been lighting it up in the preseason trials and may have just done enough to book a spot on the wing. He recently went viral on social media after his athletic finish in the corner for a try. He had a debut to forget last year, but Turner can find his way to the try line. Mark Nawaqanitawase has bulked up over the off-season, and if he has addressed his defensive frailties, then he could be the next in line.
12. Lalakai Foketi
The 27-year old inside centre is an underrated piece of the Waratahs backline, acting as a distributor for his outside backs and relieving pressure on his playmakers inside him. His efforts last year caught the eye of Dave Rennie and made his debut for the Wallabies against Wales. Foketi has to take his game to the next level for the Waratahs to start racking up wins.
13. Izaia Perese
A wrecking ball in the midfield, if Izaia Perese can stay fit, he will be a central piece of the Waratahs attack. There were some great early signs in his return to Super Rugby last year, including a dominant performance against the Crusaders in Trans-Tasman. Earning a Wallabies debut has lit a fire in Izzy’s belly, and could be a contender for centre of the year.
14. Dylan Pietsch
Australian Sevens star Dylan Pietsch is keen to impress in the sky blue of New South Wales. He’s a fast, skilful ball runner with a Sevens motor an ability to make crucial stops in defence. There are a number of outside backs nipping at his heels, with the likes of Tevita Funa, James Ramm and Triston Reilly all impressing during the trials. This spot is up for grabs.
15. Alex Newsome
All reports coming out of Waratahs HQ is that the fullback spot is far from settled, with a number of players have been training there. Alex Newsome has been playing all the trials at fullback, though, and seems most suited to the position at this stage. He has bulked up since joining the Waratahs and his reliability under the high ball make him a good option at the back.
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
3 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
3 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments