No number-crunching for ‘Tahs
1 Feb 2006
The Waratahs players will wear their initials, and not numbers, on the backs of their jerseys during the Super 14.
IRB regulations stipulate jerseys can have a name or number on the back, enabling the innovation to go ahead, a Waratahs spokesman said..
“I think it’s a great move,” said wing-centre Lote Tuqiri who modelled his initials ‘LT’ at Aussie Stadium. “The blue jersey already means a lot to me but now it’s really personal. The numbers aren’t significant, especially with our roving game plan, so I think it’s an initiative that makes sense rugby-wise too.”
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie said the idea was hatched late last year as the coaching staff pursued a more flexible playing style.
“We felt there was too much fixation, internally and externally, on the numbers the players had on their backs,” McKenzie said. “The players shouldn’t be inhibited by their run-on number. The Waratahs aren’t about who plays 10 or who plays 13 because those positions are only temporary on the playing field.
“Sure we’ll name a traditional one to 22 and have numerals on our shorts but that doesn’t define the Waratah game.
“Psychologically it’s already working wonders; the players are fully supportive of it and can’t wait to get their jerseys.”
Maenwhile, the Waratahs have named a squad of 26 players for the inaugural Rotomahana Challenge with Dan Vickerman set for a comeback from injury. Phil Waugh also makes his first appearance in 2006.
Waratahs: Peter Hewat, Wendell Sailor, Morgan Turinui, Shaun Berne, Lote Tuqiri, Sam Norton-Knight, Chris Whitaker (c), Stephen Hoiles, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Daniel Vickerman, Will Caldwell, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning.
Subs: Al Manning, Benn Robinson, Troy Takiari, Alex Kanaar, Wycliff Palu, Leroy Houston, David Lyons, Brett Sheehan, Tim Donnelly, Ben Jacobs, Daniel Halangahu.
40 Comments
1 Feb 2006, 14:16 pm
They should be wearing
CH
OK
E
1 Feb 2006, 14:16 pm
Seems pretty cool to me!
1 Feb 2006, 14:17 pm
hmmmm, i dunno about this. if you are new to rugby and trying to get into it as a spectator (e.g. Force fan) this will make it more confusing to learn the structures.
1 Feb 2006, 14:17 pm
What an innovation……..how the hell is Blades gonna spot whose who after a few ?
1 Feb 2006, 14:18 pm
It’s going to be hell for the media
1 Feb 2006, 14:23 pm
simon it wouldn’t worry you
1 Feb 2006, 14:23 pm
could be a cunning plan to fool the ref. i dont trust these aussies, their criminal background gives them a cunning edge that can only be admired by the rest of us.
1 Feb 2006, 14:28 pm
The referee will also have a hell of a time, can get confusing for the touch judges as well.
Really do not like the idea. I could remember the Cats had the initials printed on the players rugby shorts. Do not hope that the other teams move in the same direction.
1 Feb 2006, 14:28 pm
These guys cant fool me. They have made this jersey change not for any other reason than they are just too stupid to remember which jersey is there own. Now with there initials on the back of the jersey, they stand a better chance of putting on the correct jersey
1 Feb 2006, 14:29 pm
what a load of ****. trying too hard to be different. Just gonna be more confusing for spectators.
Typical.
1 Feb 2006, 14:32 pm
” The Waratahs aren’t about who plays 10 or who plays 13 because those positions are only temporary on the playing field.”
that’s because the waratahs haven’t got anyone who can play 10.
1 Feb 2006, 14:34 pm
Worst. Idea. Ever.
1 Feb 2006, 14:35 pm
lol bluewhiteblackgreen
1 Feb 2006, 14:37 pm
i don’t think it is such a bad idea. i beleive that Bishops don’t wear numbers for the same reason.
1 Feb 2006, 14:38 pm
I wonder what the lock Will Caldwell thinks of this
1 Feb 2006, 14:39 pm
What happens if two okes have te same initials?
1 Feb 2006, 14:42 pm
gecko – or Ben Jacobs!
1 Feb 2006, 14:45 pm
it would be easier if Dunning wore PIES on the back of his jersey
1 Feb 2006, 14:51 pm
lol robd @ ben jacobs!!!
1 Feb 2006, 14:51 pm
Warathas with the least cards (yellow + red) this year! Gonna make “foul play” watchers only ping NZ and SA guys as they will not recognize the original NSW culprit.
I see a new rule on the horizon already! Like the Andrew “snort” Walker kicking Cone debacle!
1 Feb 2006, 14:54 pm
Al Baxter should wear THC for tight head conceded.
1 Feb 2006, 15:01 pm
good one brumbyIV,
1 Feb 2006, 15:03 pm
yeah – Matt Dunning’s will probably stand for “More Donuts” though…
1 Feb 2006, 15:08 pm
What a LOAD OF ****, for how long are we gonna allow the convicts to hijack our sports and add their Americanized frickin ideas.
Next we’ll be taking a 10 min add break between play every 5 min.
Bloody Bullshit
1 Feb 2006, 15:14 pm
Was it not strange that the Waratahs forwards made the Bulls look sheepish in the semis last year ?
Must be the steroids in the meat in the pies ?
What you chaps recon ?
1 Feb 2006, 15:15 pm
This is just to confuse the ref. Just watch, the tahs are going to end the season with the fewest yellows and red cards.
What if more than one player have the same inittials.
Imagine wales do this. All those Jones’.
1 Feb 2006, 15:16 pm
the same waratahs forwards who made the wallaby pack cave in?
1 Feb 2006, 15:35 pm
How the hell are we gonna tell the ozzies apart if they have there initials on the back? 15 guys running around with DOOS on their back.
1 Feb 2006, 15:37 pm
Can think of Joost and Jaco vd Westhuizen rob for eg.
1 Feb 2006, 15:45 pm
lol @ Red, Hee- hee
It help with commentary though,
:ball pops out to doos,doos passes to doos and doos gets tackled.
Doos to be replaced by a fresher doos.
1 Feb 2006, 15:48 pm
At least they still have nrs on their shorts so Matt Dunning cannot hide on the wing the whole match through.
1 Feb 2006, 15:51 pm
Kiwi walks into his bedroom with a sheep under his arm and says: “Darling, this is the hog I have *** with when you have a headache.”
His girlfriend is lying in bed and replies: “I think you’ll find that’s a sheep, you idiot.”
Kiwi says: “I think you’ll find I wasn’t talking to you.”
1 Feb 2006, 16:08 pm
Imagine they put the initials on the sharks jerseys.
They can make percy montgomery’s initials PMS.
1 Feb 2006, 16:12 pm
How are the poor linesman going to identify the offenders? They use to tell the ref something like ‘eight blue hit two white’. Now it will be something like ‘blue I think it was LT hit two white’
1 Feb 2006, 16:16 pm
Good one sharkgirl
1 Feb 2006, 16:27 pm
Hier Kom has a serious point. Numbers are used for identifying players. They haven’t thought this through properly.
1 Feb 2006, 16:59 pm
2 things,
It really looks to me like LT is wearing his shorts on backwards, so maybe the numbers on the front??? Wouldn’t be a surprise that an Aussie can’t dress himself.
We all know how well the concept of not having players play according to a number on their back worked for Eddie Moans… That would explain why they had such a sh*t pack.
1 Feb 2006, 17:23 pm
How about running out with nothing on their backs. No number fixation. No player glorification.
Who cares about commentators. They only care about the colour of the jerseys (one eyed ********)
As for the refs. Before the game starts they decide whom to penalize anyway. If they’re South African, penalize them. Doesn’t matter which one, they’re all dumb japies, right?
1 Feb 2006, 17:43 pm
Imagine Eugene Terreblanche playing for the Tahs
2 Feb 2006, 00:22 am
It’s the end of the road for dyslexic rugby fans ko.
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