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Bret Harris | August 24, 2009
Article from: The Australian
NSW Waratahs are poised to sign former All Blacks winger Sosene Anesi for next year's Super 14 series.
Anesi, who played one Test against Fiji in 2005, will replace sacked Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri.
A member of the Chiefs' Super rugby squad for five years, Anesi made his debut against the Waratahs in 2005.
Anesi also won a gold medal as part of the New Zealand sevens team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Despite his undoubted talent, Anesi has had difficulty securing a starting place with the Chiefs, who boast arguably the best back three in the Super 14 - All Blacks Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga.
Anesi, 28, will be the third marquee import to play for an Australian province following New Zealand openside flanker Daniel Braid at Queensland Reds and Kiwi prop Ben Castle at the Western Force, moves made possible by the ARU's decision to re-open the door to foreign players.
He will offer the Waratahs experience and great ball skills at either wing or fullback.
The NSW back three of Anesi and Australia wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner all have the ability to interchange between wing and fullback, giving the squad great versatility.
Anesi, Mitchell and Turner are expected to form a potent back-three combination.
And with Wallabies inside centre Berrick Barnes taking over the playmaking role at the Waratahs next year, the outside backs should be well served.
If Barnes starts at five-eighth as expected, young guns Kurtley Beale and Rob Horne will probably form a new-look midfield combination, which would offer playmaking skill and strike power.
The Waratahs have already signed NSW under-19s centre Rory Sidey, who has returned from a stint with Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales, to add depth to the midfield following Timana Tahu's switch back to rugby league.
The Waratahs are still looking to fill their second import spot with a second-rower as they are yet to replace former Australia lock Dan Vickerman, who left to study at Cambridge University at the end of last year.
Under ARU rules, the second import must be an emerging player who will be eligible to play for the Wallabies.
It is understood the Waratahs have their eyes on a young, South African to fill the spot.
With Barnes, Anesi and a foreign lock, the Waratahs would start to look like genuine semi-final contenders, especially as they only narrowly missed the top four this year.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html