The Tahs’ Achilles heel
Roar Pro By Armchair-critic, 15 May 2009 Armchair-critic is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- dean mumm, Lachlan Turner, Lote Tuqiri, Phil Waugh, Rob Horne, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Timana Tahu, Waratahs, Wycliff Palu
This season the Waratahs have continually defied the wishes of their fans and insisted on playing boring, unattractive rugby. As they prepare for their final round showdown, it seems likely this will cost them a semi-final placing.
The Waratahs possess some of the most potent attacking backs in the competition, and for the majority of the year they have gone un-utilised.
If they do miss out on a semi-final place, the Tahs will lament their inability to make the most of these backs and score more tries.
Eddie Jones was recently quoted as saying he thought the Waratahs forwards and backs play as two separate sides.
I tend to agree with this assessment.
If you were a member of the Waratahs forward pack, why wouldn’t you want to deliver the ball to a backline including the likes of Tuqiri, Horne, Tahu and Turner? These guys possess the natural ability to break a game wide open through positive, attacking play.
Instead, the Waratahs have been content to kick the ball and persist with one out runners. Rarely, if at all, would we see the ball make its way out to these explosive backs.
The few times we have seen Turner and Tuquri with the ball in hand has been on counter attack. As for Horne and Tahu, they appear to be on the field solely to cart the ball into a ruck situation. From the ensuing ruck the ball is either kicked down field, or yet another one out runner is employed.
This risk-free style of rugby is gagging the natural instincts of the Waratahs’ backs. The Waratahs fans have been robbed of the opportunity to witness the many talents and skills that their team possesses.
With the backline they have at their disposal, all the Waratah forwards need to do is gain parity with their opposition. If they provide a steady platform for Horne and co. then the Waratahs should be scoring tries on a regular basis.
Its not as if the Waratahs pack is lacking in ability or experience either. Within their roster they have the luxury of selecting an almost complete starting pack who have Wallaby experience, and some left for the reserves.
Guys like Wycliff Palu and Dean Mumm have no problems getting the ball over the advantage line; and Phil Waugh can hold his own in any breakdown.
The forwards have usually been able to provide a platform, and I have no doubts that the backs would love to play attacking football.
Therefore, the question must be asked: why aren’t more tries being scored?
Recommend this story.
- Explore:
- dean mumm, Lachlan Turner, Lote Tuqiri, Phil Waugh, Rob Horne, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Timana Tahu, Waratahs, Wycliff Palu
May 15th 2009 @ 7:27am
Knives Out said | May 15th 2009 @ 7:27am | Report comment
I was under the impression that the Waratahs had played winning rugby, and as for the stereotype that they have great backs just have a look at the players in Chiefs and Hurricanes jerseys. There is no comparison.
May 15th 2009 @ 7:55am
Craig said | May 15th 2009 @ 7:55am | Report comment
KO, They might be able to compare is they tried to run the damn thing. Imagine if Leonard and Donald did nothing but kick, they wouldn’t look so hot then….
May 15th 2009 @ 8:15am
fred said | May 15th 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment
clearly underperformers with accent on coaching staffs inability to raise the bar;like a siege mentality;this group is EXISTING NOT LIVING.
so much for the new broom giving us all some creative backplay.false pretences
May 15th 2009 @ 8:27am
LeftArmSpinner said | May 15th 2009 @ 8:27am | Report comment
Arm Chair, In answer to your question, There has been a tonne of discussion on this very subject. In summary, from front to back, back row and in particular Palu, not running as much or as effectively over the gain line, leading to and compounding slow ruck ball, leading to less running opportunities for the backs, compounded by very conservative playing strategy compounded by backs losing form due to lack of ball running opportunities and compounded by heavy criticism by press, former players, coaches, spectators and supporters.
Dont get me wrong, it started with the wrong choice of playing strategy and stubbornness when it was shown not to be working. The other factors compounded the error of strategy. I just chose to describe it by starting with the go forward from the engine room.
May 15th 2009 @ 9:20am
Rickety Knees said | May 15th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
The Tah’s season hangs in the balance – either they will sneak into the finals and give it a real shake with a chance of winning the competition or they will be left lamenting their style of football which was clearly not conducive for getting the necessary bonus points.
Regardless, as been proven time and time again playing conservative Rugby in the S14 runs the risk of winning games but missing out on the semi’s through lack of bonus points. As the Brumbies had done when McQueen first coached and Hickey was his assistant. I can’t believe that Hickey has forgotten this lesson.
Hickey will either be pronounced as a genius (should the Tahs make the semi’s) or a dullard if the Tah’s miss out through the lack of bonus points.
May 15th 2009 @ 9:39am
Even looser said | May 15th 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
With the tactics employed by the Tahs I am amazed that we are still in this thing with a chance, even if ever so slight.
May 15th 2009 @ 10:34am
Brett McKay said | May 15th 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
But fear not, Armchair, the Waratahs backs have told Rupert Guiness in Johannesburg that they’re ready to “spontaneously combust”, which I thought meant they were going to go up in smoke for no obvious reason, but it seems they’re going to, wait for it….. THROW THE BALL AROUND!!!
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/news/tahs-back-four-mix-it-up/2009/05/14/1241894116176.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
May 15th 2009 @ 10:51am
Armchair-critic said | May 15th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Reference to the Rugby Heaven article:
Instead of coming up with some over-complicated plan to switch positions why don’t they just follow their instincts and play rugby? That is after all what they are supposed to be good at…
It seems to me that they are over thinking things too much when they should just go out there and play however they see it..
May 15th 2009 @ 10:53am
Big Steve said | May 15th 2009 @ 10:53am | Report comment
The million dollar question is what will they do next year?
You kind of hope they miss the finals to help change their attitude for next year. But you just get that bad feeling we will be in exactly the same place next year.
Achillies heel? Tactics and lack of confidience = coaching.
May 15th 2009 @ 11:03am
Rickety Knees said | May 15th 2009 @ 11:03am | Report comment
The Tah’s style of play has driven the crowds away. They can expect the SFS to be empty if they continue the same next year. The penny still hasn’t dropped that in Sydney they are competing against the NRL and AFL. It is about putting bums on seats.
The Tahs have the best pack and a lethal backline that have been under used – this is the stuff on Monty Python!