The result of the game against the Force has seen the Tahs move into fourth place. As a fan of the team this should be great news. What this round has shown us is that this is the most open super season we have all seen for a very long time, but things don’t look good.
The Bulls have only just won at home against the Canes and have done so without scoring many points. The Crusaders beat the Lions but not by as much as many other teams have.
The performance against the Force, the bottom ranked team of the competition, highlights the problems faced by the Tahs. Let’s be honest, it was a car crash, you could not look away but took no pleasure from watching. No attack, no backline, no enthusiasm, no urgency – they were very lucky to get a very ugly win – and too ugly to draw any fans to the next game.
Sadly, this fourth place will be the “highwater mark” of the Tahs’ year.
An evaluation of what is needed to win, what has happened and an estimate of what will happen leads to this conclusion.
What is the easiest way to win the super competition?
The answer is really quite simple:
– Win games.
– Win bonus points.
– Get a home semi.
– Get a home final.
– Win the final.
The Tahs have so far won games – four out of six. Ranking 4th in the comp and that’s okay.
The problem lies with who they have played and the bonus points. The Tahs have two bonus points. Ranking 3rd in the comp but equal with six other teams- only six teams have scored less. They have played three of the four bottom ranked teams. Basically you need to score two tries every half, and the Tahs just can not do this – not even against the weakest teams.
The struggle to score one try against the bottom team is just unexplainable. With the slightest confrontation the team resorts to the “field position” game plan, but with no attack field position leads to little.
Next week the Tahs have the Blues, the crowd will be no more than 15,000 and the Tahs will not get more than one point from the game.
The week after the Tahs play the Cheetahs – aside from the Highlanders this is the easiest game left but by now the crowd will be less than 12,000 and the Tahs will see somewhere between one to four points.
They then have the Crusaders, a bye and the Brumbies. If the Tahs can get four points from these three rounds, it would be surprising.
By then the season is as good as over.
The way the game needs to be played this year is so far away from the way the Tahs have set their game plan that they now cannot step up to.
Now is the time to make some changes for the future.
Firstly, Mr Hickey should be given the chance to consider his employment options for next year.
They should then pick a back line that can create opportunities.
If we start now they may be ready for next year.
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