The NSW Waratahs won their game on Saturday evening against the Sharks but are losing the war.
In trying to make sense of the Waratah’s most recent performance, and genuinely trying to seek positives while avoiding succumbing to the pent up negativity built up over many years, I turned to cold analysis based around the organisation’s core objectives.
These include:
1. 2010 Competition points
2. Bonus points
3. Future revenues
4. Advancing the brand value
5. Showcasing the game of Rugby in its largest Australian market.
The expectation, not unreasonably, was that the Waratahs had a very good opportunity to meet all of its objectives. They were playing at home, at full strength, against the win-less, fragmented Sharks. The only negative was that the Waratahs had spent nine hours on a plane earlier in the week returning from South Africa while the Sharks were coming in from New Zealand.
To obtain a benchmark, I decided to compare the Waratahs performance statistics to averages from the Crusaders and Blues, Brumbies and Lions and Chiefs and Reds games in round four.
I also compared the Waratahs to the Reds’ performances, despite the vast difference in their respective oppositions.
The Waratahs ran the ball 74 times, 14 per cent below the average of the eight teams, 86 times. The Reds had 104 carries, 21 per cent above the same average. Yet the Reds only moved the ball the same total distance as the Waratahs, 490 metres, when running it.
The Waratahs kicked it 31 times, five per cent more than the average of the eight teams. The Reds and the Chiefs kicked it just 15 and 14 times respectively, or 50 per cent less than the average.
The Waratahs turned the ball over 18 times to the Sharks 10. This included two at the line-out and three at restarts. The Reds turned the ball over 24 times.
The Waratahs had about 49% of the possession while the Reds had 47%.
My conclusion is that the Reds played more rugby and took their chances against strong opposition. The Waratahs played less rugby than even the average of the other teams. They didn’t take their opportunities against a much weaker opponent.
The outcome of the game, in terms of their objectives, is very poor. They achieved only one of their five objectives: competition points. Worse than that, their failure to achieve the other four objectives has compromised the promised resurgence.
I cannot explain:
1. Why the Waratahs reverted to a game plan that is already proven not to achieve their objectives? I am sure that every reader of this article has heard a junior rugby coach telling his players that any player who kicks the ball will be replaced immediately.
2. Why the Waratahs back line, despite all the supposed skill, unable to set a line, call a move, catch and pass, exploit an overlap or score a try?
3. Why the Waratahs didn’t try to score the fourth try and the bonus point? They will not have a better opportunity this season to do so.
4. How the Waratahs captain, Phil Waugh, equates the up-tempo game plan he mentioned in the post-match interview with continually kicking possession away?
5. Why has the Waratahs coaching staff not learnt the lessons of the past and continue to ignore the needs of the spectators, the organisation and the code?
6. Why the Waratahs senior management allow the current situation to continue and damage the organisation’s reputation and financial health?
The Reds achieved, indeed exceeded, all of their objectives. Ewen McKenzie has learnt from his mistakes and adapted his game plan to respect the Reds’ spectators, the Reds organisation (in administration) and the code.
It is no surprise that the Reds players are enjoying their rugby while the Waratahs are clearly not.
In other words, the NSW Waratahs won Saturday evening’s battle but are losing the war on all fronts!
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Having just watched Luke Burgess and Josh Holmes as halfbacks in the Waratahs v Lions game, I feel very concerned that Burgess still tends to send "harbour bridge passes". They're not only slow, they invite interceptions. Maybe he should consult with a biomechanics expert, like the kind that advised the cricketers Muralitharan and S Aktar about their alledged chucking deliveries.
Dan
Guest
I hope you managed to go Leftie... would be a shame if the game you decided to skip happened to be this game in which the Tahs decided they'd just throw it around and come up with 11 tries!
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
LAS - What a good laugh that was. It's funny how as we get older we become more understanding of some things in life and more cynical in others. With age hopefully comes experience and the ability to spot 'spin' (bovine manure), a mile away. I've enjoyed your flip side to Hickey's remarks. It would be even funnier if it weren't, in part at least, true. One big thing I'd like to see develop into a Habit is the willingness, persistence and ability to impose OUR game on the opposition instead of overly worrying about 'what they just might do'. Enough of this ”Sometimes what you end up playing is dictated by the opposition and they were trying to play a strong field-position game". Surely any coach at this level understands that you have to deal with what the other team will throw at you, work your way around it and then dictate play. I'd suggest a good starting point is to look at what we can do well and go with that as often as possible. Next look at what we can't do well and avoid that like the plague. Against the Bulls we saw good attacking & counter attacking ball in hand footy and good use of the new interpretations at the breakdown. Great! Develop it until it becomes our style of play. Our kicking in the Sharks was average to poor. What does that tell you? From where I'm sitting we lack persistence. If something isn't quite going to plan we too quickly opt to put boot to ball. There's often better options than kicking. Let's try them.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
So yesterday, we get this from the Tahs bunker: it says a lot. We know who is running the show and choosing the strategy: Tahs to run at Lions if game allows, says Hickey WARATAHS coach Chris Hickey would prefer his side kicked less against the Lions tonight than in their previous outing against the Sharks - but cannot guarantee that will be the case. (So, he is still in denial as to how to play under the new interpretations and when Robbie Deans says "Under the new interpreations, possession is king!", he is wrong.) ''Sometimes what you end up playing is dictated by the opposition and they were trying to play a strong field-position game,'' he said. (So you let the opposition dictate. Hmm, only if you give them the ball so that they can dictate.) ''A big factor that influenced how we were able to play was our inability to win our kick-offs. ''When we would score, we would go back and then spend the next 10 minutes trying to dig ourselves out of our own quarter. (there was no digging, just kicking!!! run it out of your half. if nothing else, it would surprise the defence) ''And consequently you probably kick a little bit (a little bit, my arse) more than you wanted to. I am sure we will address those kicks-off and that will allow us to probably (this is code for we will still be kicking) play a more ball-in-hand game.'' Hickey understands why Waratahs fans protested. However, while he would prefer to hear cheers, he believes some good can be derived from their boos in the second half last week. (the only good is if you change the strategy and there is no sign of that here!!!) ''If people [say] that that's how they feel at the time, then I guess that's how they express it,'' Hickey said. ''In some ways it's good to see some passion among the crowd, particularly when you come back from South Africa and see the amount of involvement the crowd has in the game and the passion for the game over there. Sometimes Sydney can seem a little bit quiet and subdued.'' (This is tantamount to being king hit in a pub and then the victim comments that it is good that the assailant has expressed himself!!!) Asked whether drawing a big crowd or scoring a good win was the most important objective tonight, Hickey said: ''You hope (threre is lots of use of the word hope, implying that everyone else is seeing it wrongly and that eventually they will get it! Chris, no. it is you who have got it wrong,)they go hand in hand. We want to get out and continue on from where we left off in the first half of the Sharks game. (oh dear, this is going to be ugly. he thinks the first half was good!!!) ''Hopefully, if people see that, then that gives them a reason to turn up and support.'' (we supporters saw it and wont be turning up!!!! london to a brick, the crowd is down furtther from last week)
Justin
Guest
Shower or two forecast tomorrow so they have the excuse already to kick all night again :(
bennalong
Guest
IT WAS GAME 4 LAST WEEK . IT'S NOT LAST YEAR. THEY WERE JUST BACK FROM AFRICA .WAIT AND SEE BEFORE DRAMATIZING. SHEEEET!!!!!!!
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
As a non-Australian I would offer that the Waratahs backline is the 3rd best of the Australian franchises, and accordingly the team plays to its strengths. A new coach may help, but then Burgess has spent months in camp with the Australian test team over the past two seasons and yet nobody there seemed to help him to learn to pass properly either.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
pete, i was a tah zealot, for more than 30 years and can live through losing games. But this is now ridiculous. As regards the debate, there are less people debating, (I accept that it could be that my articles dont do the job!!)less people attending, less people watching etc. It can only end where the Reds are currently, financially!!!!!
Working Class Rugger
Guest
They need Michael Cheika.
Aaron
Guest
AMEN.
Even looser
Guest
Indeed. All is forgiven. Where do I sign?
Pete
Guest
LAS, there are obviously a spectrum of supporters. On one side those who have unconditional support, on the other those that hold a mirror up to the organisation. Both sets of supporters are required. The zealots are required so the players have confidence and back themselves, knowing that no matter the repercussions on the field they will be supported. Whilst those fans that challenge the team, call for soul searching in order to achieve greater heights. The good thing for the Tahs is that we all want them to do well and are passionate enough to debate it… because we give a damn. Being a zealot, the players and staff aren’t immune from my criticism, but I’ll always support them. Anyway, I’ll see you at the game on Friday... you’ll notice me I’m the one wearing rose tinted glasses.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Rugby future, a couple of questions on your assumptions: 1. Are the Waratahs currently stable? 2. Is a stable decline into receivership a good thing? 3. Is stability in and of itself, important? Three resounding "No's" from me!
Spook
Guest
And the answer is player power and Phil Waugh. Will LAS accuse his beloved Tahs of such a thing? He is prepared to level these accusations at other sides.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
the question is, do the waratahs need stability, or do they need Michael Cheika?
dunc
Guest
If Hickey was producing this sort of rubbish over in New Zealand he would have got the chop by now.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
pete, to define entertainment, go and have a look at a decent club match, say randwick and easts. you will get two teams playing the game flat out. sure there are mistakes, but that is becasuse they are trying to play the game skillfully. League has a lower error rate but that is often because the game is a simpler to play. rugby is a very complex game and difficult to play near to perfection. but rugby players and spectators understand that. they just want to see their team giving it a go, and do it intelligently and taking into account, all the stakeholders, palyers, spectators, sponsors, etc. no one is enjoying it at the moment and it will only get worse as the season goes down the preverbial!!!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
no. I want to watch rugby, not non rugby, a la kicking and lack of intent. i have not ever mentioned perfection. that rarely occurs in a game and definitely not throughout a whole game. but a big scrum, or fast ruck ball or sweeping backline play is close to perfection for me. i want to see all aspects of rugby. clever tactics that are unpredictable and which expose the oppostion. eventually, it has to incluce scoring tries. that is rugby: 5 pointz!!!!!
OldManEmu
Guest
If you dont know OJ then we cant tell you..
JK
Guest
Stirring stuff Pete, I like it............ GO THE TAH'S