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?
sideline_chat
Roar Rookie
A prophetic comment from Rickety Knees... Compare these two backlines: 9. Andy Ellis, 10. Stephen Brett, 11. Adam Whitelock, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Tim Bateman, 14. Jared Payne, 15. Leon MacDonald 9. Luke Burgess 10. Daniel Halangahu 11. Lote Tuqiri, 12. Kurtley Beale 13. Timana Tahu 14. Peter Playford 15. Lachie Turner It seems to me that the Crusaders backline who finished on 41 points is seriously outshone on paper by their Warratah counterparts. That's the only place they were outshone however and that must surely have been the difference between semi finals footy and the alternative. The backline in blue was stacked with talent, yet again though they've been relegated to the ranks of "could haves". An all too familiar tag for the Warratahs.
Rickety Knees
Guest
The ultimate irony would be the Tah's missing out on the semi's by one bomus point ......
Knives Out
Guest
Exactly Craig. Teams should play to their strengths. The Waratahs and Bulls do not have exceptional back line players. The Chiefs and Hurricanes do, hence the diversity of style. The Waratahs appear to be badly coached but even if they weren't the still backs wouldn't be setting the Super world alight. Greg, you're on the wrong thread mate. Eddie-bashing happens elsewhere.
Who Needs Melon
Guest
From the article recently quoted, when a team says something like this: "...backs Lachie Turner, Lote Tuqiri, Kurtley Beale, and Peter Playford... have agreed to cast aside their nominated positions and numbers and hunt as a group under the moniker of the "back four"... They plan to switch positions and combinations spontaneously throughout the game." Jeez doesn't that sound organised?!? There seems to be NO frickin tactics in this team. Evidenced by how many times first phase ball has gone absolutely nowhere - even when the team has had an eternity to call a play. In that respect they seem to be like a Barbarians team - lots of talent but haven't the cohesion to know how to work together as a group. Prove me wrong guys! Pulverise those Lions!
Greg
Guest
I was an Eddie Jones admirer for a long time. Still am, in a way. Anyone who can do what he does at a high level is worthy of our ear, tolerance and maybe even our best wishes. But I fear I have lost a minor hero. After a string of imbecilic dribblings (his, not mine ... but then again ...), and perhaps more tellingly a lot of clearly bitter 'get-evens', you know something's gone funky with Mr Jones' priorities -- regardless of his rugby expertise. Not to discount his insight but do you really want a bloke who decimated Queensland and coughed up one of the worst win-loss record of ANY national coach to be lambasting an Australian team? Especially the Waratahs who looks suspiciously like the Australian team he mangled in the early to mid 00's. The irony is (he's right AND) the current Waratahs have an aura about them not a long way from the 2003 Wallabies -- enormously talented but wearing playmaking straight-jackets. The continuty between forwards and backs was ugly. It was only in the 2003 semi against a mighty All Blacks side that the Aussies, predictable in the extreme, courtesy of Mr Jones' lost attacking mojo in the leadup to the event and game ( in which they were likely facing certain defeat) flung it ... and ...flung it. One of the great victories against an awesome All Blacks side -- a victory worth celebrating (even amid a bar full of manky Kiwis at 6am in a bar in Pennsylvania). They didn't repeat the effort in the final against Johnny Friggin Cupcake's England, nor on the tour of Britain a year or so later when they lost more than any contemporary Australian team should ever lose in the Northern Hemisphere. They went back into the bottle, coach. Let the Waratahs and the esteemed Mr Hickey take note, not from Eddie's words, but his record, rugby stupidity happens to the best of us. Now, get over it and belt some of these pretenders.
Even looser
Guest
Rickety, 'Monty Python' just about sums it up but who's laughing? Our backs seem to bomb even the most simple & fundamental of Rugby skills (catching, passing & retaining possession). Who was it that once said "We are not amused".
Hugh Dillon
Guest
I agree with most of what everyone says abo re -- and find the Tahs pretty boring overall. But as an old forward (and the majority of rugby lovers are forwards or ex-forwards) I have to say that I have really enjoyed watching the Tahs pigs at work in the set pieces. Benn Robinson is my player of the season. But, of course, it is a 15-man game and watching the relentless kicking (badly) and the crash balls and the slow delivery of ball at the breakdown is as dull as doing the washing up. Let me watch the Chiefs, the Blues, the Force any day. Spiro Zavos tells us that Campo is willing to teach the Tahs some ball skills, etc. With a solid diet of videos from the 3 teams above, that should be a priority for 2010...
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Big Steve has hit the nail on the head. "You kind of hope they miss the finals to help change their attitude for next year." The last thing we need is for the Tahs in anyway to think that their current style of play is something to retain. Therefore IMHO we need to bomb out badly, worry about losing sponsors and for the fans to maintain the rage. Only then will the coaching staff get it. Or will they? Their current ways seem to remind me of the tale of the King with no clothes.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
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!
Big Steve
Guest
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.
Armchair-critic
Roar Pro
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..
Brett McKay
Guest
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
Even looser
Guest
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.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
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.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
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.
fred
Guest
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
Craig
Guest
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....
Knives Out
Guest
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.