It’s time for Coach Hickey to make his mark
Roar Guru By Rickety Knees, 24 Feb 2010 Rickety Knees is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Rugby Union, Sosene Anese, Super Rugby, Waratahs
In 2009, had the Waratahs scored just one more try, they would have made the Super 14 semi finals. Ironically, previous coach Ewen McKenzie was sacked for playing ugly rugby in 2007.
In 2009, Hickey took ugly rugby to a new level of ugliness.
In the off-season, three high profile backs were recruited in Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell and Sosene Anese – the new $2M backline. The coaching staff had suggested that making line breaks was not the issue for the Tahs, but finishing those breaks off was.
We are now into the 2010 season and not much has changed.
First up the Tahs (undeservedly in my opinion), were able to squeak out a win against a valiant Reds side. The change in refereeing emphasis to force the tackler to roll away and not play the ball lifted the tempo of the game and the result was great game of rugby, that somehow the Tahs won.
In the second round, the Tahs regressed back to their 2009 style and got hammered three tries to nil in the process. Little was shown in attack and the $2M backline were left lamenting as to what might have been.
The Tahs have scored just two tries in two games thus far.
Hickey (and backs coach Weismantel) are in their second year of coaching the Tahs, and yet there is no discernible change in the playing style of the Tahs since McKenzie’s era.
This weekend the Tahs play the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, who have just come off a convincing win over the committed, talented and determined Brumbies.
Last year’s Super 14 premiers and the best coached team – the Bulls – have somehow managed to completely reverse their 2009 kick centric playing style to now running the leather off the ball.
Coach Hickey is yet to make his mark on the Waratahs in 2010.
The game has changed – the Tahs haven’t.
This weekend will be fascinating from this aspect. For if the Tahs try to beat the Bulls by kicking the ball back at them, they are going to get hammered. And if this happens, the drums of change will start to beat for Coach Hickey.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Rugby Union, Sosene Anese, Super Rugby, Waratahs
February 24th 2010 @ 11:58am
Terry Kidd said | February 24th 2010 @ 11:58am | Report comment
If I was coach of the Tahs this weekend then my basic game plan would be to keep possession, by whatever means, for as long as possible and continually attack thru the 10-12 channel until such time that you create a broken field situation for 11, 14 and 15 to exploit. The job of every other team member would be to carry the ball and back up, secure possession and repeat thru that 10-12 channel, phase after phase after phase.
It is my thought that althought the Bulls have scored heavily, they have also conceded quite a few tries and very many of the line breaks have occurred thru the 10-12 channel. Morne Steyn may be a great kicker, and he may have discovered a running and passing game, but his defence appears a little suspect and if he does enough defending then those other skills will suffer. Target Steyn and win the game !!!!
February 24th 2010 @ 12:23pm
Rickety Knees said | February 24th 2010 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Agree TK – it would better still if we could have our backrow running at Steyne. Clearly their attack is based around their 9 (Fourie du Preez) and 10 (Morne Steyne) – providing the Tahs can defend for the first 60 mins (which should not be a problem) and then the attack goes down the 10 and 12 channel with inside support runners such as Turner and Mitchell – well you never know we might just be able to jag a win.
February 25th 2010 @ 12:10am
bennalong said | February 25th 2010 @ 12:10am | Report comment
Jeez, targeting Phil seems like a dumb move.
Who’s the bloody coach? How does Phil influence who’s first receiver and whether the first receiver hits it up , kicks or passes.
Nope. He’s a great servant of the game and if he’s overruling the coach find a new, stronger coach and let him decide Phil’s fate.
I am disturbed by a structure and game plan strikingly similar to last years but they won’t kick the ball out so much against the Bulls with their strong lineout. (You’d hope)
And maybe, with Phil leading the defense Rickety, we’ll see a different and more ball-in -hand attack
By the way , who’s the ref? You can’t pick the winner without knowing him, eh?
And where’s the refs roster?
February 25th 2010 @ 7:52am
Rickety Knees said | February 25th 2010 @ 7:52am | Report comment
I believe that it is Marius Jonker
February 25th 2010 @ 10:48pm
Ben J said | February 25th 2010 @ 10:48pm | Report comment
The Tahs backline surely must think they can outplay what looks like a very inexperienced Bulls backline apart from Du Preez, Steyn and Olivier. The rest are very young with the Olivier’s partner in only his second S14 game. Zane Kirchner is the Springbok incumbent but still wet behind the ears but the one winger is a bright prospect, tall, fast and strong. There is no reason why the Tahs cannot sneak this one.
February 26th 2010 @ 2:03pm
Rickety Knees said | February 26th 2010 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
The Tahs are talking about taking risks – it will be inetresting to see how that manifests itself