Super 14: One giant step forward, two steps back and a star is born

Another thing, if you want to see a creative coach who would try anything, within reason, to win look at Phil Mooney and the Qld Reds. Young players without a lot of experience gaining confidence each week by developing different plans to win and using the players they have well.

mcxd I'll tell you why EM hasn't worked it out. He is playing to a plan for the team that doesn't involve working out how to beat opponents on a week by week basis. He is looking for a Waratahs playing style that is basically wrong for the cattle they have. His imagination and creativity is poor and like a lot of generals who have lost wars and many soldiers they can't imagine another way, other than the one they are using. See the 1st world war for classic examples. He is also one of those people who have been permanently damaged by his early training. He just can't let go of the statistics and the McQueen game plan (Jones modifications of course). Fundamentaly he is a true believer, by that I mean he has given away any ideas of his own to a dream of someone elses. He won't change because he can't change his religion.

I agree that the other SA teams have more wellknown players than the Stormers but their performance just shows what can be achieved when a team plays FOR eachother. I honestly thought that the Brumbies would be again be the bogey team for the Stormers but they were blown off the park in the 1st 20 by a helter skelter display from both the opposition and the ref. The Waratahs looked like the goods back home and in attrocious conditions in Pretoria almost beat a Bulls team who is dealing with a massive amount of internal politics. The reason they lost were because they were smashed back in the tackle and I rarely got the feeling that they could pull this one through because of their bodylanguage. They were involved in trench warfare and hated it. Against the Stormers it should be easier for them regarding the weather but they will be up against a 45000 capacity crowd and a bunch of young guns desperate to make the semis. Watch the Fijian wings on either side having a blast. Should be a cracker.

The Waratahs on the weekend (bar the first 20 mins) reminded me of the 2005 final against the Crusaders and typified the tahs under EM. It wasnt that it was the same game plan but it was more the inability to implement and excecute a game plan that works to your teams strengths rather than its weaknesses. In the 2005 final the tahs kept the ball away from their backline (far and away their strength at the time) and either kicked and extroadinarily kept it in the forwards. Though the forwards werent exactly inept (they did have a very strong lineout) their general ball play and scrums werent exactly settign the world on fire when the Crusaders were in that dept. Why base your game plan on your weaknesses and the oppositions strengths ?? Too many times at crucial stages has a basic error like this happened at the tahs and once again this happened again on the weekend. As previous weeks have shown keeping the ball in hand (whether it is in wet or dry conditions) is the key for the tahs to win..why throw that out the window and play to your weeknesses ? I cant understand why EM hasnt worked that out ? Though I do understand the decsion for LT to take long range penalties especially as it was used the week before quite successfully. Also given that it was 44m out and at an angle where Beale has missed much easier conversions. (still dont understnd why he take a thousand steps and actually goes nowhere when taking a conversion, giving the opposition time to run up and pressure him).

There is mention of some kind of broadcast but for the life of me I cannot find details on the internet.. Nothing is on Setanta... I just read that NZ's U20 team has 3 x S14 players (from Crusaders) which is either a reflection that we have particularly good depth in this age group OR that NZ have such depth that their U20 players as good as ours arent good enough to play for NZ s14 sides...I think I will believe the latter given that most of the other under age rugby results in the last few years going to the kiwis. As an aside, press that Johnson might coach Tahs and then to have Hickey as High Performance Manager for ARU might be on the money, as Hickey has been coaching age group sides for some time.

Roger wouldnt it be great to see this on Fox or preferably free to air? I guess there will be no coverage?

I see O'Connor and Touma are too young to play in Under 20 RWC in Wales. http://www.rugby.com.au/news/ford_australian_u20s_squad_for_irb_junior_world_ch,83381.html/section/21893 Great s14 squad backline of Haylett Petty, Mafi, Horne, Cooper, Connor, Beale, and Genia, with Pocock, Wykes, Simmons, Daley and Palmer on in forwards. Will be interesting to see what Billy Melrose thinks of Beale v Cooper!

Have a look at ARU's Under 20 squad...very strong. http://www.rugby.com.au/news/ford_australian_u20s_squad_for_irb_junior_world_ch,83381.html/section/21893 Amazing that couldnt get O'Connor and Touma approval to play as players under 18 y.o even though they have played s14. Also looks like Quade Cooper and Kurtley will be battling for 5/8 spot. Billy Melrose will be in a good position to judge which is best. Good to see the huge young winger from Randwick (Ratu Nasiganiyavi) getting a run..he will surely be the biggest winger in the comp.

Another debut which received very little coverage was Kieran Longbottom as a prop for the Force. He is the first locally produced player to be awarded a 14's contract, having played all his rep and club rugby in WA (one year of colts in QLD). He had a solid game and played both tight and loose.

I too thought that NSW had the goods with a lovely ensemble try. What they did then defied everything that they have learned about themselves and how to win: they cannot win by kicking into the corners because they haven't the kickers nor, on Saturday, did they have the chasers. What have they learned over the last few weeks? Keep the ball in hand as much as possible; don't be seduced by the prospect of easy yards with kicks; use the counter-attack ball; use Burgess, Palu and Polota-Nau to make the busts and offload the ball when the breaks come; RETAIN POSSESSION. Kick as a last resort. How many tries have we seen from chips or grubbers? Bugger all. How many have we seen when the forwards hung onto the ball and Burgess and Beale used the blind-side to get in behind the defence, or spread the fast ball wide? Heaps. This game reminded me of the pusillanimous effort against the Crusaders when NSW kicked away most of of the possession it got and then wondered why they had only 35% of the ball for the whole game. Front-row forwards love to see the ball being belted downfield in the rain. They can stand in the middle of the park and watch the ball go downfield temporarily without having to do anything. A coach who teaches his players to do it, unless they have a Hougarde who can actually kick 60m into the corners, needs some tough love. This was a timely reminder that NSW is a good running side and a poor kicking side. They can be winners if they play their game but not the Sth African game.

>> "Worldbeaters" does not mean "Extended Springbok squad" to my knowledge. Just cause they won the cup doesn't mean that every member of the squad was world class - that sort of logic lead to MBEs all round for the 2003 England squad!

I also agree that coaching can make the difference Ben. But when I look at that Stormers team on paper (even with those good players you nominated) I don't see the class you see in the Sharks, Bulls, Crusaders, Blues - or NSW - particularly with Schalk Burger missing. It may well be that the sum of parts is greater, but my point is the Tahs, if they are to be genuine title contendes as everyone in NSW claims they are, should be able to beat them. The Brumbies were found wanting at Newlands on the weekend, we will see if the Tahs are the real deal this weekend - no excuses about altitude, rain that were to some extent fair enough on the weekend.

The Link Regarding the Brumbies. As Eric pointed out, they do not have the cattle that EM has. They are making do with small No8 and a very inexperienced flyhalf. They constantly bring in new faces and got them to play to a much higher than expected. Player such as Salvi, the hooker, the left winger (they are names that I can not remember). Also look at how well George Smith brother plays coming from playing league before. It has got to do with coaching. Laurie is not a great coach, but he is IMO a better coach than EM. The silliest thing that Laurie did (other than his hair do) is to pinch Huxley from the Reds. Also even when they lose, they play smart Rugby and always playing to their strength. They are punching above their weight considering that there are only 3 or 4 of them that will make the Wallabies this year. EM is just Lousy and I don't understand why a person so full of Rugby knowledge like you can't see it. Eric is spot on with his analysis of EM failings.

Eric - It is rare on the Roar where I get new insights into the Waratahs. I wondered what had happened to Tim Davidson and the non speaking stuff between Burgess and Sheehan is hard to swallow but easy to understand in a dysfunctional team. I always assumed that Lote had apologised to N-K but I just swallow the stuff I read. I hope the new coach gives him the punt back to league he deserves, The NRL is welcome to him and I bet he becomes a great winger there again as they don't put up with the shit he doles out in Union. This time the NSW blazers have it dead right. They have spent a fortune supporting EM and the team has played 'Roboticallly' (Spiro nailed that term) and harmony is all over the place by your description. The lesson for the day is:- 'Never get a Nice Guy to sort out a Vipers Nest' Rob - I totally agree with your thoughts about second row players. It seems that coaches just don't look at particular players skills sets and are hell bent on getting an "Athlete" rather than a great player in that position. What the hell is an athlete anyway? Maybe they should be in the Olympic squad. They sure as hell arn't doing a lot for state or Australia. Ben from Pretoria - The Stormers will make up a solid proportion of the Springboks but I don't think Luke Watson is going to be among them. He is a great player at a time when you have 2 of the top 5 No 8's and several flankers who are contending as well. If the team gels as the Stormers have we are in for a tough time from the Republic.

Yes Ben from Pretoria I agree entirely with your last sentence ; good coaching can indeed make 'the whole operate better than the sum of the parts'. ( which I 'm pretty sure is what you're saying!) This is exactly what the Tahs so often fail to do. And it's not just with EM as coach. Incidentally, and having watched the Stormers and the Bulls this weekend, just how do you breed so many huge forwards in SA?You seem to have a conveyor belt. Must be that red tea you guys drink !!

Harry "The Stormer's does not contain worldbeaters" None?At all? Here's a few you will see in a Bok training squad. Jean de Villiers-incumbent Springbok centre and the brains of the operation Ricky January-2nd only behind Fourie du Preez Luke Watson-a great season and sure to be in Pieter de Villiers's plans Andries Bekker-probably the comp's tallest lock and a real mongrel The Fijian wing - brings bulk and speed to the wings which has been a revelation Schalk Brits-The Flying Hooker The same can be said of the Crusader's backline with very few stars but that is the beauty of it. Good coaching can make the sum operate better than the parts.

Obviously, McKenzie's performance is viewed differently by different people. I think he has failed dismally, because; 1. He has had all the cattle he wanted, the four leaguies, Rogers, Sailor, Tuquiri, Tahu, plus Frier, Polota-Nau, Norton-Knight, Justin Harrison & Vickerman, and Burgess all from the Brumbies. Who has he developed? 2. His tactics are awful...kick it and let them make mistakes 3. His man management is non-existent. When a player is dropped, eg Tim Davidson, he finds out when the team is announced and is not spoken to. Last year he never pulled Lote into line over the re-signing distraction and the crucifying of Sam N-K. He allowed Lote to say publicly that he had apologised to N-K, when he never said a word. He allows Brett Sheehan to not speak to Luke Burgess for weeks. Great stuff for team spirit. 4.His selections and understanding of back play is zilch, nada, sweet fanny adams. 5. He's got Tuynman to coach the pigs, Louden to coach the backs, Kiss to coach defence...and the only area where he should be good, the scrum, has been disastrous until recently. 6. Until the week he got sacked, the players were awful to watch, playing like square pegs in McKenzies round holes. What has he done well? I'd like to know.

Dexter, all fair enough, but my point is that the analysis of Link as a coach is often unfair and too short sighted relatively speaking. NSW have had a good year and are a better team for his service. Is there a reason why Brumbies fans and the media are more relaxed about the record of their coach? The conditions in the Bulls v Tahs game were as bigger driver than anything else in the way the game was played IMO. As I have said before, a new coach is probably needed to take them to greater heights, but the foundations that he has set puts that coach in the box seat. I know which Aussie S14 playing roster and structure i'd rather inherit next year (politics aside)

Stillmissit, I like Mumm as a backrower. But as many of us are now saying you have to recognize that lock is also a specialist position. Mumm may be guilty of this, I dont know , but watch Aust locks and notice that at the breakdown not many of them drive under the opposition. They hit a player and flop onto the side. Apart from scrummaging strength this is a real need in the specialist lock. You dont have to drive in at full pace--rather find your mark and drive in and under the opponent to dislodge him from the breakdown. Sometimes coaches fall into the habit of picking players out of position because they feel they are too good to leave out, but a side would not be functional if you had 15 Ellas in the team. The other thing that amuses me is the coaching fashion that we have 1 tight lock and 1 running lock. This was a philosophy that came with Jones and as far as I know it is still the mantra.But if you visualise a game starting at say a scrum this is totally illogical--all depending on what side of the scrum you pack on , what side the ball went etc. Does it mean the running lock hangs out when he might otherwise be needed at the breakdown etc etc. It is one of those theories that sound so neat and tidy but is not practical. In a paper article I read Mckenzie saying how much tight work Vickerman does. Why wouldnt he scour the ranks of club football to find other good scrummaging and tight working locks not just to replace Vickerman but to have 2 on the field instead of one. But no,Jones influence lives on. A tight 5 rugby forward can hide. He can make several good runs but actually hide in the tight. Conversely a good tight forward may do a lot of good work in close but unless the judge is looking for this he wont get noticed.

In reply to The Link (are you defending yourself EM) Most of the people who responded to Waratah game agrees that there is too much mindless kicking - meaning kicking for the sake of kicking or just taking instruction from the boss to kick. Inside the 22, why are the Tahs not finding touch and are kicking directly at the Bull's back line. Coaches need to know what their players are capable of. The Tahs do not have a good kicking game, so why persist. Spiros called the first few rounds from the Tahs Robotic, and that game was robotic from the Tahs. EM is a great coach if coming 3rd or fourth is the objective of the team. He does not play winning Rugby - he plays not to lose. The only way to be champions is to beat the best team out there. Stillmissit said:"The Waratahs were brain dead again and seemed to be following EM’s plan too closely. Seems to happen each time they come under agressive competition." Absolutely right on. EM's revert to Robotic game plans when under pressure. A total lack of composure or choking for the lack of a better description. Yes they are second on the table, but they don't look it at all. Both their semi and final games from previous years were the most shocking. Robotic at best due to EM strategy. I mentioned Campo because he took the words right out of my mouth. The Tahs were only kicking up and using brute force against the Bulls pack - how stupid is that? There is no plan B in EM's book. And Waugh as good as he is, does not have any individuality to take the team in a different direction. He is probably saying to the boys: "The coach wants us to kick it up and smash them up in the middle. Lets get on with it." Where is some flair for unstructured attack? None. Unlike you (The Link), I think Campo is more astute than you give him credit for. He was the attack coach for the Sharks last year and they were playing fantastic then. Thanks Sheek and NickF. I am glad that my earlier post is read in the right light. I am a big Tah's fan and I am just expecting more from this team of great individuals that needs a good coach to gel them into a great team. EM just does not know how to make full use of his resources. Why is BS in the game at all? Sheek is absolutely right that BS is not a good choice for Beal at 5/8. Rereading my previous posts on EM before he was sacked. I wanted to see Burgess picked. I wanted Polo tau in the first half. Like to see Tuquri run straight for a change. Wanted to see better centres than Jacobs and Carter. Some of my wishes came through on selection, but the strategy from EM is still in the boondocks.