Waratahs’ problems start with the NSWRU
Roar Guru
By Rickety Knees, 25 Apr 2009 Rickety Knees is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Ewen McKenzie, NSWRU, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs
The Waratahs' Tatafu Polota-Nau is tackled determined Western Force defence during the Super 14 match between the Waratahs and the Western Force at the Sydney Football Stadium, Saturday, April 18, 2009. Western Force beat the Waratahs 15-14. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
New South Wales is the most powerful of the Australian Unions and has ambitions to match its stature. There is always considerable pressure on all to perform. This is exacerbated by the very short Super 14 competition, where this pressure gets converted into a fear-of-losing culture.
In 2008, Ewen McKenzie succumbed to this fear and was sacked for playing ugly rugby. It was only after he was sacked that everyone lightened up and the ‘Tahs played some great football to make the final.
Roll forward to 2009 with Hickey also succumbing to the same fear and the Tahs playing not-to-lose rugby based on strong defence, kick the ball away (even in the opposition’s 22), and sweat on the opposition’s mistakes.
Contrast this with the Brumbies, who have won competitions on the back of a culture of running the ball, enjoying their game and celebrating each other.
Rod McQueen laid a wonderfully positive foundation at time when the Brumbies were first starting, a culture which is still in place today.
So my point here is that the players and the coach are not the problem, but the NSWRU and its fear based culture are. The Waratahs will never win a Super 14 while this culture persists.
It may be okay to win playing ugly, but it is not acceptable to lose doing so.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby Union articles
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (201)
- Will South African rugby force a Super 21 by 2018? (173)
- The real story of how John O’Neill turned Manchester City down (70)
- Dan Parks and the unsolved questions of expat rugby (65)
- Australian teams at Super disadvantage (58)
- Pocock set to be named new Force skipper (56)
- Can the ‘Tahs win the battle after losing the Waugh? (51)
- Wales show Southern Hemisphere how to play running rugby (29)
- What opening matches of Six Nations taught us (18)
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (201)
- Clinical Chiefs cost rusty Rebels in Corio (9)
- Six Nations shows rugby is a parochial game at heart (5)
- Goose’s Super Rugby up-and-comer XV for 2012 (29)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
- Explore:
- Ewen McKenzie, NSWRU, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs
Yikes said | April 25th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
“Contrast this with the Brumbies, who have won competitions on the back of a culture of running the ball, enjoying their game and celebrating each other.” And where’ve the Brumbies been in the comp lately?
“It may be okay to win playing ugly, but it is not acceptable to lose doing so.” And you miss the obvious question – is it OK to lose while trying to play attractive football? No. That makes you the Reds. And if the Waratahs were doing this – Hickey and co would be pilloried from dusk till dawn – just like they are now anyway.
The S14 is too short to worry about anything other than winning games. The Waratahs are perennial underachievers. And so there is no more pressure from NSWRU to win (or play attractive football) than there is from the rugby public, the fans, and the media, and disgruntled know-it-alls on The Roar. THAT’S where the pressure’s coming from.
(I might add – I’m not defending the poor skills of the Waratahs and the coaching per se. They’ve been dreadful the last few weeks. I’m saying this has no more to do with NSWRU than with public expectations of the Waratahs.)
mother teresa said | April 25th 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
YIKES
i allso cant defend the poor skills of the waratahs and especially their coaching staff.i do believe tho that a lot of politics at board level translates to factions and pressure on the players .this is not dissimilar from some other franchises who have an incompetence bordering on dysfunction
the roar is a vehicle for you and i to vent our frustrations which is not being catered for by the journos for a myriad of reasons.
as the flagship of aust rugby yikes ,you wouldnt be impressed with its directive.
Who Needs Melon said | April 25th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
Yikes,
You wrote “The Waratahs are perennial underachievers”. The question we’re all trying to asnwer is: Why?
If I read it right, Rickety Knees is implying that the pressure (direct and indirect) created by the NSWRU expectation of results is a big factor.
Whilst I agree that “the rugby public, the fans, and the media, and disgruntled know-it-alls on The Roar” also expect better results (yourself included?), you’re not implying we are as much to blame for the Waratahs underachieving as the NSWRU, are you? I’d hate to think it’s been MY fault that the Waratahs haven’t achieved up to their potential for so many years.
Yikes said | April 25th 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Why not? ‘You’ are the one who won’t go to their games unless they’re winning!
To clarify, I’m not blaming the reasons why the team is underperforming on public pressure. Rather, I’m saying that to the degree to which pressure to win and play attractively DOES impact upon the team – there is not any more pressure from NSWRU as from the general rugby public.
To answer your question as to why the Waratahs are underachievers, there is no one simple answer. There are a bunch of things that have gone wrong from year to year. From back under Matt Williams and Bob Dwyer, to the injury disaster that was 2007.
But over all – here’s a point – the S14 is a bloody tough competition! Only a few teams have been consistently successful.
But the Brumbies haven’t been in the final 4 since 2004! Half a decade! But there isn’t the same hang-wringing about their woes, is there?
matta said | April 25th 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
Yikes – I think RK’s point is that sure they will may make the finals playing boring rugby but when the pressure is on its not a natural game plan for Aussie players so they will and have faltered.
Point and case 2005 – Tahs played open brilliant rugby all year but come finals time they shut it down – and it failed when it mattered.
Same last year – 2nd half of GF they stopped attacking.
mother teresa said | April 25th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
YIKES,
why would nswrugby drop a successful coach for an unproven at super14 level if politics at board had nothing to do with it,or do you consider the public pressure to be responsible.
boards seem to use lack of performance or panache on the field as a catspaw to tidy up their own numbers and in this respect nsw is a standout..the promise of exciting rugby has not eventuated and those responsible directly and indirectly remain silent.
ohtani's jacket said | April 25th 2009 @ 11:53am | Report comment
Matta,
They didn’t stop attacking in the final, they just came up against a world class defence. They’ve lost seven straight games to the Crusaders. It has nothing to do with coaching or perennial underachieving. Twice they’ve made the Final and twice they’ve ran into a team that has the wood over them.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | April 25th 2009 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Personally I hate seeing fans getting stuck into the Tahs. But in fairness the Tahs can’t have it both ways. If we love them when their playing well and winning, it seems only fair that the other side of the coin applies when they’re playig crap and losing.
Other than training, tactics, mentaility and selections I can’t figure out why the Tahs are playing like duds. However in defence of fans who do post adverse comments and stick the slipper in allow me to say that I’d much prefer a fan prepared to critise over a fan who shrugs their shoulders and walks away, anyday.
sheek said | April 25th 2009 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
Rugby?……….Bah Humbug!
Ruckingisfun said | April 25th 2009 @ 9:32pm | Report comment
Yikes
The board showed their hand last year openly pilloring their coach with the team near the top of the table – and then openly debating would they or wouldnt they sack him
It wasn’t speculation from ROARERS – it was openj speculation from the two top honchos the Chairman and the CEO
If there was ever any validation of the points made byrickety in this piece – it can easily be seen in the quotes from the very top
Fast forward to the start of this season where the chairman then comes on stage and states NO EXCUSES
Pressure – What Pressure?