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NSW Waratahs are deciding whether to retain South African second-rower Hendrick Roodt next season.

The Waratahs signed Roodt to a two-year deal as an emerging foreign player, but he only made one appearance off the bench in their 27-6 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town in the second round.

Roodt injured an ankle and was sidelined for 10 weeks.

"That's something we'll sit down and assess," coach Chris Hickey said.

"In a week or so we'll sit down and review all aspects of the program."

The Waratahs' New Zealand-born second-rower Cam Jowitt, who also only played one game this season against Queensland, underwent ankle surgery but he will recover in time to start pre-season training in October.

[Burgs]

Waratahs need to get more physical

Bret Harris From: The Australian May 24, 2010 12:00AM

The Waratahs were out-muscled at the breakdown in their 25-6 loss to the Stormers in the Super 14 semi-final in Cape Town yesterday and it is an issue they need to address if they want to take the next step towards claiming the title.

If the Waratahs can find a new locking partner for Kane Douglas, they could move Dean Mumm from the second row to blindside flanker, which would give them a bigger back row.

"The Stormers were particularly good at the physical contact," Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey said. "We felt we were playing off the back foot for most of the night. I thought that was significant.

"Unfortunately, we lost Cliffy Palu (injured during the season) and that had a big impact on our physicality.

"If you have a look at their (Stormers) back row, their average weight is 114kg. Ours is close to 103kg. And that's pretty significant when you talk about physical impact.

"In the tackles, their second man in; a big man coming in has a physical impact. That's certainly something we need to look at.

"Having said that, in 11 of the 14 games we played we were up to scratch.

"It's just at that top end, particularly against the South African sides, who pick big teams, that's where sometimes you can be exposed in terms of size."

The Waratahs used several second-rowers this season, including Cam Jowitt, Will Caldwell, Chris Thomson and South African Hendrik Roodt.

Jowitt played only one game before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury; Caldwell is recovering from an illness; Thomson has joined French club Narbonne and Roodt is a development project.

"Lock is an area we need to strengthen," Hickey said. "Kane Douglas is a young 20-year-old who has done a fantastic job starting in every Super 14 game this year.

"Again, when you look at size, Dean Mumm would be a number six or seven in a South African pack."

Hickey will scour the ranks of club rugby in Sydney and Brisbane for a second-rower and already has his eye on young Manly lock Greg Petersen.

The Waratahs are also looking for an outside back to provide coverage for outside centre and wing if they do not re-sign Rory Sidey. They are also yet to decide whether to keep All Black fullback Sosene Anesi.

"We still have four spots open," Hickey said. "We will look at some players in club rugby who we feel may be able to fill those positions. We have identified a number of players we will be looking at.

"There's a young guy, Greg Petersen, in the Junior Waratahs . . . plays with Manly. He is only one year out of school so he's got a couple of years of development in him. He's one player I'm aware of who has the potential to be a strong player at Super 14 level."

Hickey predicted the young Waratahs team would reach its potential over the next two or three years.

"If you look at statistics over the last 12 or 13 years of Super rugby, the average age of the winning team is about 27," Hickey said.

"At the start of this year the average age of this team was 23.

"It gives you an idea that they are a young, talented group. If they stick together as a group, and as they mature, they have three very strong years ahead of them."