Waratahs to match Bulls' brawn
By Bret Harris
March 07, 2007
NEW South Wales will field a monster back row to combat brawn with brawn when they play the Bulls in Sydney on Saturday night.
The addition of David Lyons to the Waratahs pack, which includes Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu, will see NSW field a back row weighing 350kg.
"I make up 117 of that," Lyons, who will become the fourth most-capped Waratah in his 91st game, said.
"I haven't quite got the top weight.
"Cliffy's got me there ... they have definitely got brawn all over the field. Hopefully, we'll be able to counteract that and give them a bit back."
The decision to play a huge back row may negate the Bulls' strength at the start of the game, which will allow the Waratahs to unleash mobile openside flanker Beau Robinson off the bench in the final stages of the game - when the big men are tired.
But the configuration of Lyons at No.7, Elsom at No.6 and Palu at No.8 is surprising.
Lyons has played openside flanker only once - for Australia A against Canada at Parramatta Stadium in 2002, when Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie was the Test assistant coach.
Lyons at No.8 with Elsom at openside and Palu at blindside is a more logical back row.
The Waratahs always maintain that the numbers on their backs are meaningless, so perhaps they will run that back-row combination.
"Rocky, Cliffy and myself all at times in the game can change around and play on the ball," Lyons said.
Lyons was impressed with the Bulls' 19-7 win against the Brumbies in Canberra last Saturday.
"I've watched their last couple of games, and it's pretty typical," Lyons said.
"They try to get good go-forward, put pressure on the opposition set piece, and score penalties and close-quarter tries.
"I can't expect too much different. That's how they've played the game ever since it started. I think we'll be looking to do a bit of the same."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21337588-5002381,00.html
