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Beau just the man to repel foreign legionAKA Beau just the man to get a Red Card!
Greg Growden | February 15, 2008
BEAU ROBINSON will be hiding under a dressing gown when the Waratahs kick off their season against the Hurricanes tomorrow night, but NSW believe he will have raised his profile considerably by the end of the game.
The Waratahs see reserve forward Robinson as a super-sub and will change their back-row combinations to give him every chance of making an impact in the second half at the Sydney Football Stadium.
If the Waratah forwards show the same fire and brimstone as at yesterday's training session, their plans for domination should come to fruition. Second-rower Dean Mumm did not hold back when he charged and then grabbed halfback Josh Valentine during the opposed session at the SFS. For a few seconds the pair grappled with each other. Peace was quickly restored, with coach Ewen McKenzie looking on happy at the show of spirit.
McKenzie will demand the same when he tries to unsettle the Hurricanes by changing his forward combinations in the latter part of the game.
Although Robinson's style is similar to that of NSW's No.1 openside breakaway, Phil Waugh, the Waratahs plan to have them working in tandem, believing they will relish the speed and open space that should come with the introduction of several experimental laws.
This means Waugh is likely to play at No.8 late in the match, as in the final trial, against the Crusaders last week, with Wycliff Palu a possibility to move from the back of the scrum to the blindside. There is even a chance Rocky Elsom will shift from No.6 to the second row. (WTF???) But McKenzie has to get it exactly right, as the Hurricanes have one of the top back rows in the tournament, an imposing All Blacks contingent of skipper Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe and Jerry Collins.
"Beau has forced our hand through weight of performance … we had to include him in the 22," McKenzie said. "We used Phil at No.8 to give Beau a fair run last week, and I was happy with how that went. Having two express back-rowers in your face … there's something in that. We can do that during the game.
"There are different combinations we can try. Wycliff Palu can play at No.6 and so we can move our back row around. Getting Beau in the game, considering he has been one of our most in-form players, is important, especially as he has made his mark coming in playing that last half, or 50 minutes. And that might be his best role at the moment by adding some intensity."
Waugh is also eager for the experiment to continue. Asked if he was likely to be locking scrums in the second half, Waugh said: "There's a possibility. With the new laws and the amount of running, there may be a time for that. I guess it will depend on form during the game, and seeing who's handling the conditions the best."
What happens in the back row may determine whether NSW get off to an encouraging start after the woes of 2007, and McKenzie does not believe the Waratahs will be intimidated.
"The Hurricanes back row is much talked about, as they're all All Blacks. But we've got an all-Wallaby back row. So I would back our blokes in this competition against all the teams we play. I am very happy with the combination, and believe we have a very well-balanced back row. And they hold no trepidation about playing against the Hurricanes."
The back row will also have to keep an eye on Waratahs five-eighth Kurtley Beale in defence, especially as the Hurricanes forwards will run at him all night. Not surprisingly, Palu stayed close to Beale during yesterday's session.
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Originally Posted by Burgs
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