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.
Recommend this story.
- Explore:
- Ewen McKenzie, NSWRU, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs
April 25th 2009 @ 10:25pm
TahmansUncle said | April 25th 2009 @ 10:25pm | Report comment
Yikes
Sounds like you’re trying defen the indefensible – you say its rubbish – but dont give any substantive arguement.
they are boring – they are mid table – and the silence from the top is deafening
April 25th 2009 @ 10:27pm
zzzz said | April 25th 2009 @ 10:27pm | Report comment
Does anyone actually know what the NSWRU strategy is?
All I know is they replaced a coach who took them to the final with a rookie and the team looks destined to do worse this year.
And then theres’s the small matter of losing their paying spectator base.
April 25th 2009 @ 10:30pm
TahmansUncle said | April 25th 2009 @ 10:30pm | Report comment
Surely NSWRU cant believe they have progressed this year
I was dismayed to read the CEO in the Herald on Friday say that a $400,000 loss wasn’t anything to worry about – this coming from a Union that has gone to the wall twice
A real concern
April 25th 2009 @ 11:08pm
Maxxy said | April 25th 2009 @ 11:08pm | Report comment
RK – I note that this season they have created a specific Board to manage the Waratah business therefore by implication there is a honing in on the affairs of the team and its environs. This has replaced or works in conjunction with the “Rugby Committee” which was set up by the board the previous year, I am not sure but another level of control, reporting and opinion. In any event I notice in Growdens piece with L’estrange that it is to have a financial, sponsorship focus primarily but it appears the coach has to front it. Not knowing all the names I was wondering how much rugby experience exists on this advisory board – The point I am trying to make is that the tahs have all this well publicised structures that inevitably put pressure on the team by their presence – Does anyone know of any other team with as many over the shoulder lookers. (I note that the rugby advisory board is really just members of the board with a couple of business people involved) – Seeking clarity
April 26th 2009 @ 12:45am
Yikes said | April 26th 2009 @ 12:45am | Report comment
Ruckingisfun – Why do you think it is the NSWRU position that the team must win at all costs, oh, and play attractive football?
April 26th 2009 @ 4:07pm
Ruckingisfun said | April 26th 2009 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
Yikes
You – you’re missing te point. The Board sacked mckenzie, there most successful coach – because the CEO and Chairman and rugby Committee all said it wwas too boring (despite two finals and three semi final appearances)
They said they were recruiting so that there would be a more exciting brand of Rugby – well what have we got now
Great strategy from the top!
April 26th 2009 @ 5:54pm
mother teresa said | April 26th 2009 @ 5:54pm | Report comment
YIKES,
FUN HAS GOT YOU ON THE ROPES MATE;you cannot defend that nsw statement;and wheres the excitment
April 26th 2009 @ 9:23pm
Yikes said | April 26th 2009 @ 9:23pm | Report comment
Rucking – how can I be missing the point, when I’m the one asking the question you won’t answer?
Rather – it is the various Roarers who can’t get their stories straight. Either:
1) NSWRU is putting pressure on to win at all costs (ie encouraging boring rugby via the fear of losing)
2) NSWRU is putting pressure on to play attractively at all costs (via the Chairman and his comments)
They can’t both be right!
Mother Teresa – I’m not defending any statement. What the Chairman said was an idiot thing to say. But that doesn’t mean that the unbearable pressure to perform is something that is some kind of mysterious inexplicable NSWRU ‘culture of fear’. It stems directly from the fact that NSWRU is competing in a particularly fickle entertainment market, with a demographic of well-to-do, fair-weather, hyper-critical ‘fans’, who can afford to stay at home and watch Foxtel.
April 26th 2009 @ 10:56pm
Bonza said | April 26th 2009 @ 10:56pm | Report comment
Are we all getting a little confused – My take is that after consistently changing the Head Coach and CEO as many as 7 times since the competition started there is an implied pressure to deliver a title. Brendan Cannon said as much that the pressure in NSW is unlike no other province and he played at the Reds and Force. This is not to say that the pressure comes solely from the Board as the media plays its part. In fairness to the media it is their job to write and comment and they use the information they are given. Rucking makes the valid point that the Chairman enounced quite clearly last year that attractive rugby was required and decisions were made to change the coach in the same way as the CEO was removed after the season of 2007 in favour of an increased marketing focus that the Board wanted. Rucking for me is merely saying what is the result of the Boards decision making? – less attractive rugby and potentially worse results. On the marketing/financial front things are clearly going bad as the CEO announced in Growdens interview last week, sponsorship was down, ticket sales were down (6000 below budget for Force game), corporate sales were down 35% and they already posted a loss last season despite the home semi. In summary the Board made public decisions to change the style of rugby and increase the marketing,profile and sponsorship revenues – the reality at this point is that both have gone worse – Who takes responsibility for this situation?? Given the history of rapid decision making there is no wonder there is a “fear” culture. McKenzie did well to survive 5 years as the average is 2 years – reminds me of Local Goverment – nothing much changes as they are alwys preparing for the next election
April 27th 2009 @ 6:06am
TahmansUncle said | April 27th 2009 @ 6:06am | Report comment
I think you’ve put it well Bonza
Yikes – it does appear that the point being made is that the Board through their Chairman and CEO made very public statements when removing both the Coach and CEO (who both appeared to have done a pretty good job)
So now that things haven’t materialised (or in fact deteriorated) – who is that should be accountable?
Given the history – and the silence – it may be management again
If that is not an environment of fear created from within – then it is a good imitation