It seems for many diehard Waratahs fans that the highlight of their trip to the SFS this season has been either the chance to win the $5000 from HSBC or to find out how Tah Man will enter the arena.
As the faithful poured out of the doors early on Saturday night (some destined never to return), after another boring, stop-start affair, it was easy to see the disappointment and disgust on the long suffering supporters.
But what exactly are the problems with this dysfunctional side and can they be fixed?
The last two games against the Stormers and Bulls have been real arm-wrestles dominated by endless kicking and an unwillingness to run the ball.
However, on both occasions, the Waratahs have started brilliantly, controlling possession and territory, continually crossed the gain line and providing fans with the hope that this may be the week they click into gear.
Unfortunately, it has only lasted 5-10 minutes, after which the mistakes have crept in and the confidence evaporated.
After the first match of the season, Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said he believed that it may take five to six weeks for his team to click in attack. But, in actual fact, they have gone backwards.
The last six games have only yielded nine tries, the same number scored in the first three rounds, and while the forward pack has been far from dominating, the backs should have done better with the ball they’ve had.
Not since Round One, when Rob Horne cut through the Hurricanes midfield, have the Waratahs dissected an opposition’s defence.
So why is this the case?
Is it a lack of simple skills, like so many former players and those in the media have suggested? Is it a lack of speed, concentration or the wrong half and midfield combinations?
After a host of lacklustre performances, it is obvious these are problems the Waratahs must resolve.
Firstly, the catch and pass skills of some of the Waratahs’ players are far from acceptable. This was shown on Saturday night when blindside flanker Ben Mowen refused to pass to an unmarked Rob Horne, who had the line wide open.
Had that try been scored, the outcome of the game may well have been different.
So what then of the midfield? Should it be Beale or Halangahu, Carter or Tahu?
At the moment there doesn’t appear to be an obvious answer. Whatever the combination, they haven’t been able to get quality ball to their most devastating attacking weapon, Lachlan Turner.
Turner has shown what he can do with ball in hand, but he simply hasn’t been given the opportunities his talent deserves.
The Waratahs’ refusal to chance their arm has also proved to be a stumbling block.
Under the ELVs, the need for a skilful backrow and a back three willing to take on the defence in counter attack has been obvious, with the Sharks and Chiefs showing how destructive they can be thanks to Messrs Pietersen, Ndungane, Masaga and Sivivatu.
Turnover ball must be used and not kicked away, something the Waratahs have failed to recognise this year.
Can these problems be solved, then, before their run in to the finals, or will their title tilt evaporate without a whimper? Is the talent really there or have they once again managed to fool us into thinking they are contenders when they are merely pretenders?
The fans have one more chance this season to challenge for the HSBC cash carrot and to salute the ever-enthusiastic Tah Man.
Hopefully they’ll leave the game talking of tries, line breaks and ruthless defence instead of how close they came to claiming the cash.
After all, it’s what these long suffering folk really crave and something they definitely deserve.
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April 16th 2009 @ 12:02pm
Sam Bruce said | April 16th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
Yikes, I hear what your saying but the Waratahs will always have their core fans, its those who are coming to the rugby for the first or second time that will not be back. This is what should have all those worried in the NSWRU and ARU boardrooms
The long suffering know the story all to well, how many times have we seen the Tahs start so promisingly and fade towards the back end of the season, the only time this didn’t happen was a couple of seasons under one Ewen McKenzie……
I would have stuck with Burgess though, he just needs to put hours into his pass.
Giteau to carve them up this week and confirm them to their fate.
April 16th 2009 @ 12:14pm
Brian Ferrie said | April 16th 2009 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
I think that the waratah (Telopea speciosissima), like almost all Australian native plants, looks its best in the bright sunlight. One just doesn’t get the same results under artificial lighting.
April 16th 2009 @ 1:01pm
mother teresa said | April 16th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
humours good brian,guess tho the board at nswru compete with stars for limelight;it must be cold there in their shadow.ok if they wouldnt keep messing up
April 16th 2009 @ 1:59pm
Worlds Biggest said | April 16th 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
Tahs are playing sh&te rugby as everyone acknowledges. It is frustrating as they have the cattle to play attractive rugby. The Coaching staff need to fix this now. Wisemantle ( attack coach ) must be on thin ice if they can’t turn things around.
Leftie – your tone indicates Tahu is definitely a Rooster ?. Despite his injuries I would be disappointed if he goes back. We have hardly seen him.
April 17th 2009 @ 7:39am
LeftArmSpinner said | April 17th 2009 @ 7:39am | Report comment
Knives, if the players were not carrying out the coach’s instructions, they would have been dropped weeks ago and we would have seen some attempts at the instructions from the replacements (bench or otherwise), i.e. less kicking, back line moves, ball in hand play, aggressive running with support, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing. Halangahu, both from the bench and as starter has played this limited game. SNK continues to kick it back. There are no backline moves from set pieces.
I can only conclude that either the players, and it is all the backline, are doing exactly the opposite of what the coachs instruct, and doing it 100% of the time OR the coaches are instructing them to play this way and the players, all the backline, are doing it 100% of the time. Clearly it is the latter. No single player would dare ignore a coachs instructions 100% of the time, and cop the barrage that the team is copping at the moment. His teammates would be down on him straight away. And no whole backline refuses to follow a coach’s instructions 100% of the time.
Knives, it is not that hard to play running rugby. Burgess and Beale and the other Tahs backs have shown that they can do it. It is more a cultural thing, a mindset backed up with skills development and training in the art. I am not saying that it is easy either.
April 17th 2009 @ 1:27pm
Bruce Heilbuth said | April 17th 2009 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
Spot on Sam, couldn’t have put it better myself.
April 18th 2009 @ 12:04am
Bonza said | April 18th 2009 @ 12:04am | Report comment
LAS – I am on your wavelength but I am starting to wonder if the tahs run the ball more that the mistake rate will be even higher than it is now and therefore so will be the frustration – perplexing situation
April 20th 2009 @ 4:26am
pothale said | April 20th 2009 @ 4:26am | Report comment
The faithful, long-suffering fans – some of whom are planning never to return. Go help us all. This slavish doctrine that says the fans must be kept happy at all costs (or else I’m leaving) is beginning to be tiresome and ultimately destructive of the team and its players.
They should try supporting Worcester or Connacht on a wet Friday winter’s evening, then they’d learn what being a fan is actually about, instead of this ‘gimme five tries or I’m off’ attitude. What hope for a fifth Australian franchise if the fan base is this shallow and fickle.
April 23rd 2009 @ 7:02pm
Tryfest said | April 23rd 2009 @ 7:02pm | Report comment
pothale
In Sydney we can demand that – because if we don’t get five tries – we can go sailing or play golf
its all about choices!