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I have been amazed by the numerous diatribes targeting the NSW Waratahs in both the traditional and digital media over the past fourteen days.
In the name of balance and reality, let’s all settle down a bit.
Now is the time for unemotional thinking and consideration of both the facts and practical mid- season solutions.
The Facts:
1. The Waratahs are in third place in a very close competition. The bye effectively puts five teams – The Sharks, The Waratahs, The Chiefs, The Blues and the Hurricanes – within a win of each other. There are also another seven teams within four points of each other (Crusaders, Highlanders, Brumbies, Stormers, Western Force, Red and Lions). Only the Bulls at the top and the Cheetahs at the bottom, have a clear view of their position on the table.
2. The young guys are stepping up: Thompson, Mowen and Palmer and are dealing well with the unscheduled loss of nine players from the forward pack (Baxter, Elsom, Vicks, Dunning, Lyons, Kepu, Fava, Freier, Beau Robinson), three of whom would have been definite starters (Baxter, Vicks, Elsom), and the others bench players.
3. The Waratahs’ set piece play, recognized as essential to any successful rugby team, has been very good throughout the season. In six games, they have not conceded a tighthead, have won one tight head, have only thrown “not straight” into the lineout twice, and have stolen nine lineouts. They have a proven forward’s coach in Michael Foley, a successful international assistant and provincial Head Coach himself.
4. Their defence is well-organised and match winning. It demonstrates that the team’s collective resolve is strong and that they are aerobically fit.
5. The Waratahs have the experience that comes from losing the Final they had to lose in order to win the Final.
6. Most of the squad have experienced the negative spotlight before, just last season, and responded very effectively then.
7. The starting team and bench have a large complement of Wallabies (12/22); Brumbies (10/22); Force (9/22); Reds (6/22).
8. The backs, individually, are very skillful and have executed (on occasions) under pressure in the past two seasons.
9. The forwards are not being aggressive enough at the breakdown to provide high quality multi-phase ball.
10. The forwards have not carried the ball enough and have not supported the ball carrier enough.
11. The backs are not using their collective opportunities effectively, either from set piece, kicks, turnovers or secondary phase ball.
12. Beale is too young to carry the lead responsibility in both defence and goal kicking while also being expected to organise the attacking options.
13. The backs’ tactics of kicking for field position is too negative, often poorly executed and ignores the team’s ball playing and forward pack strengths and psyche.
14. The bench is not being used effectively. Too often, bench players don’t get any game time.
15.The Waratahs Club management was responsible for turning last week’s critical home game into an away game at a stadium well known for its lack of atmosphere and excessively dew-laden surface.
Solutions:
1. The team – backs and forwards – must get possession and go forward through Palu, Polota-Nau, Robinson, supported by Mumm, Mowen and Waugh. The backs need to do the same through Burgess’s snipes, Carter, Tuqiri and Tahu (the latter two concentrating on doing less if it ensures ball security and continuity), and with support from Horne, Norton Knight and Turner.
2. Fire the forwards up by convincing them that the competition is wide open but that they must return to their earlier dominant, energetic and confident performances to win it.
3. Change the backs’ tactics by kicking less ball away, going straight ahead then wide, reading the defence better, using set pieces as attacking platforms, and playing a metre further back behind the gain line.
4. Get the selections right by going on form, just as Dingo Deans does. Select the earlier pack, with Mowen at 6 and Mumm in the second row, and with Thompson, Dennis/Beau Robinson on the bench. Select Carter to start at 12. Use Tahu as an impact player for the last thirty minutes, replacing the least well performed of Tuqiri or Horne. If it is Horne, Tahu plays at 12 in defence and attack.
5. Demonstrate confidence in the whole squad. Use the bench more fully each game, bringing on Thompson, Kepu, Dennis/Robinson for the least well performed second rower, prop and back rower respectively. Sheehan, Halangahu and Tahu replace Burgess, Beale and Tuqiri/Horne after 50 minutes. Ease Fitzpatrick into the game with progressively longer game time. This sends two messages: the carrot is that everyone will get a chance; the stick is that you have to perform on the field or you get an early shower and no one, Wallaby or not, is exempt.
6. The coaches need to make the following tweaks to the team tactics:
Address squad confidence, energy levels give the goalkicking to Turner/Halnagahu/Sheehan and
put a backrower in the first defensive channel rather than Beale.
And finally, don’t encourage the players to read the media, traditional or digital.
The NSW Waratahs have as much chance of winning this year’s Super 14 Competition as any one of twelve other teams.
Only the Bulls have achieved any semblance of the winning consistency required to make the finals, and this was partially due to the luck of meeting the Blues and the Hurricanes when both were in self-destruct moods.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.