NSW coach Chris Hickey empathises with the Waratahs’ frustrated fans and is demanding improvement from his side in Saturday night’s Super 14 hosting of the Lions.
The Waratahs came under fire for winning ugly in their opening home game of the season against the Sharks last Saturday, with Hickey on Monday admitting there were no excuses for some of the schoolboy errors the SFS crowd had to endure.
The mistake-riddled 25-21 win was in stark contrast to their at-times scintillating attacking display against the defending champion Bulls the previous weekend in Pretoria.
“You can talk about the humidity and the slippery ball, but the fact is we had a number of handling areas and they were errors that we made and they really broke our attacking momentum,” Hickey said.
“What the fans are looking for is skilful football and against the Bulls I think we showed what we’re capable of doing, but we were probably a bit disappointed in our performance on Saturday night.
“The other key thing on Saturday night was probably our inability to win a kick-off.
“We’d score and then straight away find ourselves on the back foot in our quarter in a defensive situation trying to work out of there.”
The Waratahs spent much of Monday’s training session addressing their re-start woes.
“Technically, we need to get there a little bit quicker, we need to set a little bit earlier and then that takes the pressure off the catcher,” Hickey said.
Star playmaker Berrick Barnes, who on Monday announced he’d signed a contract extension that will keep him at the Waratahs until the end of the expanded 2011 Super 15 season, was unconcerned about the side’s indifferent form.
“This competition has shown that no matter what team you’re playing, you’re going to have to grind out the odd win,” Barnes said.
“No matter what it looked like the other night, it was like playing with a cake of soap out there.
“So what we tried against the Bulls in good conditions probably didn’t work so much in our favour the other night.
“We’ll be trying to play as best we can, expansively, but obviously it’s what the opposition does and how the conditions are that determines what we’re going to play.”
Barnes was also unfazed about some fans booing the `Tahs for their sloppy display against the Sharks.
“I heard them cheering us when we won, so that’s all that matters,” he said.
“When you’re two from four … obviously this is a place that’s a success and has a culture of winning and, when you’re not, people are going to have some stuff to say.
“But we’ve got a strong core group of players here and we’re confident in the direction we’re heading.
“We’ve just got to get everyone else on board, haven’t we.”
Hickey pointed out that all three teams which returned from South African stints struggled at the weekend, with the Brumbies recording a tough 24-13 home win over the winless Lions and the previously unbeaten Chiefs suffering a shock 24-18 loss to Queensland in Hamilton.
“That travel back does impact on your performance,” Hickey said.
“That’s not an excuse, but it just seems to be a pattern in this competition.”
CliffyTahTah
Guest
What a moron. He says this after telling the commentators at half time of the Sharks game that the tahs will not attack from their own half. This bloke really needs to get real. Go back to Shute shield, you are no good here. People that could coach the Tahs better than Hickey: Cheika Jake White Myself Anyone else
JamesI
Roar Rookie
Barnes: "...obviously this is a place that’s a success and has a culture of winning..." Hey? And I'm sure he said in another story earlier this week that sometimes you have to '..grind out a win..'. My God Hickey's already had him drink the blue Kool-aid.
inthestands
Roar Rookie
While not an excuse, there is no doubt that travel is playing a part this year, with travelling teams going backwards in the last 25 mins of games. I think the mental fatigue is playing as much a role as the physical. Rd 1 - Chiefs should have won by more than one-point against the Sharks; limped over at the end Rd 2 - Waratahs (v Stormers) and Brumbies (v Bulls) both struggled in the last 20-30mins. Rd 3 - Tahs (loss, but best performance of 2010) and Brumbies (win v Stormers) put in much better performances without travel. Sharks ordinary on travel to Christchurch (loss to Christchurch). Chiefs (win v Force) and Highlanders (win v Cheetahs) best two travelling performances of the year. Rd 4 - Chiefs (loss to Reds after eight hrs from Perth - 2nd long travel week), Brumbies (no bonus point v winless Lions), and Waratahs (no bonus point v winless Sharks) all struggled in last 25 mins. Therefore, in all, there have been only two decent performances by teams travelling eight hrs or more that week, compared to nine ordinary performances. I think if the Brumbies, Waratahs and Chiefs can all put in good performances this weekend, I think it's fair to say that travel is having an impact. Maybe it's the faster game with the new ruck interpretations that is the reason... I'm not sure, but the evidence - I believe - is there.
Boerewors_boy
Guest
The Tahs lack of nous has been there for years: the team kicks dumb; watch for a break and the inevitable sabotage; the team is slow to react to changed kick-off strategies; its the same old, same old, dumb, dumb, dumb. The practice is cultural and unfortunately ingrained. The try on Saturday to Polota-Nau was a rare gem, deft hands, delayed pass, power. All so rare, but a glimpse of what is possible. The new Tahs are the old North Sydney Bears, that why I am never amazed at what doesn't happen or what stuff ups do occur and why I wont give up. The Tahs do not however lack courage and defensivelly they are excellent, with the attacking spark rediscovered and the ability to execute over the advantage line, and score tries will put them near the competition top. I know one day it will happen, but will it be this year?
Aaron
Guest
Amen. If u want to make rugby cheaper to watch and put it on free to air, then by all means play ugly. However, $60 per ticket and all games on foxtel means they better start producing the product we are all screaming out for.
New Reds Recruit
Guest
I think you're right a new Captain is needed! Enough is enough! I'd rather watch the Reds lose than the Tahs win!!
Even looser
Guest
And this from Coach Hickey "...............we were probably a bit disappointed in our performance on Saturday night." That's the way, don't be too hard on yourself mate. 'Probably' a bit disappointed eh? Well that's clear enough and I feel so much better now after reading that. Probably.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
lest we forget 2009? try the last 5 years!!! why did Link get the flick? For exactly the same reason. ITS NOT THAT HARD!!!!!
sportym
Guest
He makes it sound like the Waratahs woes are 4 weeks old, lest he forget 2009. Sadly they may actually play well against the lions, to then go back to their win ugly approach against the better teams in S14. I believe the Tahs need a new Captain, waugh may talk it up but he has little interest in playing entertaining rugby.
Seiran
Guest
I think it must be difficult to play straight on the back of a trip to SA but that still doesn't explain all the horrible tactics on display last weekend. Yes, the players are tired and might be a touch off their best but that's no excuse for such poor, meaningless kicking and poor play selection. I remember in the game, right on 50 minutes, one of the wings (maybe Mitchell) caught a kick on the half way line, had two players backing him up and three opposition players in front of him, one of them a forward! Now the obvious thing you would expect from a wing catching the ball on the fly with space all around him and backup next to him is to run the ball....but no, he kicked the crap out of the ball? What was with that? I think Hickey and Waugh need a good kick up their you know whats. Waugh is well known for always playing it safe and is not the most daring player out there but that is still no excuse for some of those lazy, stupid plays.