Same again for the Waratahs despite criticism
By AAP, 10 Mar 2010 AAP is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Chris Hickey, NSW Waratahs, Rugby Union
NSW have kept the faith with the squad that recorded a scratchy win in their last Super 14 start, naming an unchanged 22 for the round five clash with the Lions at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.
The Waratahs returned from South Africa last week to record a win in their first home game of the season, and will be aiming to move to a positive win-loss record with a victory over the Johannesburg-based franchise.
The `Tahs hardly set the world on fire with their 25-21 over the Sharks last week but coach Chris Hickey said the side would lift their attacking game against a Lions side that likes to throw the ball around.
“We copped a scare against the Lions at Ellis Park last year and they certainly showed against the Chiefs in round two that they have a lot of points in them,” said Hickey of the Lions, who lost that Super 14 match 72-65 to the New Zealanders in the highest ever scoring match of the competition.
“That said, we’re going into this match confident of a strong attacking performance and we’re hoping to give the crowd at the SFS a great showing on Friday night.”
Hickey said the squad would be looking to move up a gear from last weekend’s victory with the comfort of not having to endure a week of travel.
“Effectively, we’ve spent seven weeks on the road when you include our pre-season in Lismore, Orange and Canberra, then starting the tournament in Brisbane, Cape Town, Pretoria and a long trip back to Sydney,” he said.
“While we were happy to get away with the win against the Sharks, we know there are a number of areas we need to improve this weekend.
“We’ve shown glimpses of our potential at times this season, but as a group we know we need to cut out the errors in execution, make good decisions on the run and put it together for a full 80 minutes.
“While we took advantage of the opportunities we had at the start of the Bulls game, we didn’t do that last week and we need to improve in that area from the first whistle.”
Waratahs: Sosene Anesi, Lachie Turner, Tom Carter, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson (Eastwood)
Res: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Will Caldwell, Ben Mowen, Josh Holmes, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne.
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- Chris Hickey, NSW Waratahs, Rugby Union
ballboy said | March 10th 2010 @ 7:41am | Report comment
So is that Hickey saying he was happy with his team’s performance last week? He doesn’t have enough in reserves? Or they just had a bad night at the office and can’t play that badly again? You’d think he’d show a bit of backbone and fire someone wouldn’t you.
I hope for Australian rugby that the Tahs do strike back this week but I’m tipping against them. The pressure that will be on every one of the Tahs this week will be too much. Waugh especially looks like he’s really under the pump. Does he have the support of his players?
Lions to maul a hapless, vunerable, nervous Tah team.
Headline prediction:
‘Ta-Tah’
Brett McKay said | March 10th 2010 @ 8:04am | Report comment
maybe Hickey read Loges’ column last week, and decided to keep the same 15 to show it can be done. Of course he then misses the point that changes are actually needed, rather just being made because they can…
Go_the_Wannabe's said | March 10th 2010 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Doesn’t really matter who they pick and where they play……it’s too ingrained in their culture to ‘win ugly’.
Hickey never used to win ugly with Eastwood……he must be wondering what the hell he can do to change their mindset.
I’ll also bet he never thought he was in for this! I actually feel for the guy.
I don’t know what’s actually wrong with the Tah’s but I’m tipping it’s got a long Latin sounding name. They should all go to the ‘head bin’ and see a good sports shrink.
Hawko said | March 10th 2010 @ 11:39am | Report comment
People have a rose-tinted memory of how Eastwood used to play.
It’s not the culture, its the gameplan and the players committment to that plan that is crucial to the way they play. And that’s not to say “throw it to the winger on every play”. Look at what Link did to destroy the Chiefs. That was exciting, imaginative rugby and I enjoyed the thrill of the contest and the work done with ball-in-hand. It was achieved with a limited group of players playing to a pre-determined plan that just throttled the Chiefs and destroyed their mojo! Shivers down the spine stuff.
The first quarter against the Bulls was likewise “shiver down the spine” stuff. Similar play would have destroyed the Sharks, but we didn’t do it. Carter, Anese, Barnes, Burgess and Mumm all played poorly yet they still retain their place this week. So we can expect the same result this week because the players have not been called to account. They have to be made accountable for their performance.
The only possible explanation is that some individuals got a bollocking behind closed doors and are on their last chance. If they play badly against the Lions we should therefore expect a selection bloodbath next week.
inthestands said | March 10th 2010 @ 9:19pm | Report comment
“Look at what Link did to destroy the Chiefs. That was exciting, imaginative rugby and I enjoyed the thrill of the contest and the work done with ball-in-hand.”
Hats off to the Reds for their performance last Friday… bloody amazing they stayed in the game long enough to get the points needed for victory. However, they did only score two tries to three, and one of them was a speed contest off a turnover when they were under the pump.
Please don’t take this as saying they were lucky, but if you take out that breakout, the Reds would have most likely not got over the line. Cooper’s rejuvinated kicking boot did the job more than anything…
Go_the_Wannabe's said | March 11th 2010 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I think you’re talking more about short term week to week issues and I’m trying to point out it’s ingrained in their culture.
If you don’t sort out the long term issues first, then you will always be trying to put out the short term bushfires.
Tahs have always been perennial under achievers and maybe always will be……(and this comes from someone born in the state).
One things for sure, if the home crowd keeps booing their own team for kicking instead of running the ball then you’d think that should embarass the players into playing attractive rugby…….perhaps.
The next home game should be interesting.
CK said | March 10th 2010 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
I’m with Hawko. Rose coloured glasses indeed. You can’t blame the players or the coach however, you should be looking at the NSWRU and asking why they have no succession plan wihtin their coaching ranks. Did they really think they could pluck a coach from park rugby and turn him into a Super coach without any previous exposure at this level?
The Brumbies have always had succession of coaches; Ian Macqueen; Crazy Eyes Eddie Jones; Nucifora + Crusty the Clown… i seem to recall they were pretty well all exposed as assistance coaches to their predecessor at some point?
And now the Reds have a real coach and they’re putting the performances in each week.
Sorry Hickey, you’re just out of your depth, and it’s not your fault. No one trained you up to this level.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | March 11th 2010 @ 11:03am | Report comment
This is the coach making a clear statement that regardless of public opinion HE is in charge. And fair enough.
Facts are that we should win and win easily against the Lions. He is banking on this and that all will be forgotten or forgiven about the wasted chances of last weekend.
God help him if he’s wrong & the Lions actually manage to roll the Tahs. It is possible.
It’s not like he wasn’t warned.