Guilty of mastering ‘winning ugly’ in 2010, the question needs to be asked whether the Waratahs are playing to win the Super 14 or just to make the finals.
Assuming that the Tahs make the finals, they are likely to face either the Bulls and/or the Stormers, both of which have beaten the Tahs this season.
Using low risk kick-to-the-corner tactics, as mostly employed, will not defeat either of these teams, especially in South Africa where they love to muscle up and savour the confrontation.
The Tahs initially attacked the Bulls in Pretoria by spreading the ball wide, and achieved good results in doing so, only to be over-run in the last quarter.
The Reds did the same to both the Bulls and the Stormers and won both games. Clearly the behemoth South African packs are capable of being run ragged with the right tactics.
But are the Tahs playing the right tactics?
Understandably nervous about making the finals, the Tahs went back to playing ugly rugby against the Brumbies, especially after having lost Horne, Tatafu and Robinson.
However, should the Tahs be starting to put tactics in place now to beat the South Africans and the Reds at their own game?
Whilst it would good to make the finals, to eventually lose through playing ugly would not.
JK
Guest
Whatever..........
ohtani's jacket
Guest
It seems to me that the sides left in the hunt are playing for the right to be smashed in South Africa. Why get on the plane?
Red Rooster
Guest
RK - they have done this many times already unless you are talking about the board/s (there are two now I think). I recall the Chairman making the statement about "no excuses" - will be interesting to see if the officials can blame this on the GFC as well
Red Rooster
Guest
Not sure he actually said that - all he said that the young guys at the Reds are very coachable. Everyone has made assumptions and inferences from there
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Jeez it's hard being a Tahs supporter. Let's hope that Reds v Brumbies tonight gives us something to cheer about. Last night was so lame that it hurts. Hickey and his glib comments are totally infuriating. It's time to clear the decks at the top of the Tahs
Spencer
Guest
I think you answered your own question. Everything and nothing. I refer you to Ewen McKenzies comments about certain senior player(s) at the Waratahs that arent coachable.
Wavell Wakefield
Roar Rookie
What does Phil Waugh have to do with the failures of the Waratahs?
zero
Guest
Bennalong Have you ever played rugby or known rugby outside of the Sydney CBD? Phil Waugh has destroyed all the good things we knew of rugby over the last 30 years in the game that was played for so much pleasure in cities such as Newcastle and Canberra which have a much stronger tradition in real rugby as compared to all the negativism displayed by Phil Waugh (Shore, Sydney University and NSW). Of his 80 Test caps 79 have come off the bench and all have been lost. The sooner Phil Waugh leaves rugby (world-wide) the better rugby will be.
Peter K
Guest
Carthorse was picked to give hard yards, drive up the middle like Mortlock used to. That is what Hickey sees in him. The problem is he isnt as fast, doesnt have the same power, cant step, cant pass, cant kick. Carter is terrible. This proves how much we miss Palu, when he got hurt I said it would hurt us more than any other player.
Spencer
Guest
Carter - isnt he slow!! Tahs throw it wide late in the match..Carter on the wing looked like he was running in 12 inches of mud.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Invercargill was cold and wet - only one team turned up to play and it was NOT the Tahs. In conditions that suited the Tahs signature ugly style of play, the Tahs were out kicked, out muscled and out enthused by a team coming 12th. The Force did the Australian sides a favour last week by knocking off the Crusaders, the Highlanders have obliged the Crusaders and Hurricanes this week. As Brucy B has stated the Tahs are playing not to lose and therefore won't win. What Hickey sees in Carthorse completly escapes me.
Mike G
Guest
Pretty harsh on Waugh, but I agree with the comment re Sidey, I'm really suprised he hasn't been given more of a chance this yr.
Mike G
Guest
Exactly bennalong...Geez the Tahs get a rough ride sometimes! I'm all for being honest in your appraisal of a side, but fairs fair boys, the Tahs are sitting 5th (only 1 pt out of the 4), & should be in at least 4th by Sunday...They have played some really good, attractive rugby at times this year, some average rugby this year & yes, still some ugly stuff...But surely noone can argue that (overall), they have played a MUCH more exciting style of footy this year??
bennalong
Guest
But they haven't so far, and have absorbed heaps of pressure. Did you watch the game against the Crusaders?
bennalong
Guest
What a sour and cynical post. You must be a psychiatrist! Zero by name........
zero
Guest
I'm surprised at Daniel Halangahu's inclusion. His winks to Steve Walsh in Sydney Uni's matches last year as recorded on ABC's TV's matches of the round, allied to Phil Waugh's manipulation of Steve Walsh on Saturday night seem to point that Steve is a another beneficiary of Sydney University's scholarship system - beam me in Bruce Ross. The Waratahs must be very happy that Steve will now referee The Waratahs vs the Chiefs the next week - another certain win to the Tahs. Don't get me wrong, Daniel Halangahu is a very good player at Shute Shield level but he and Barnes must be the dullest 10/12 in the history of Super Rugby. Daniel will not feature in any Australian tests this year or Australian Barbarians sides. He should have taken the money that was offered him to go to Japan. As to Phil Waugh, Sydney University have only ever played attacking rugby when he was not available - and they have played brilliant rugby in that time. The minute he comes back into the equation he destroys the confidence of all those around him. Luckily for Australia Robbie Deans doesn't rate him and he won't be part of any Wallaby campaign in the next two years. The pity for NSW is that he has signed on until the end of the 2011. Curious that Chris Alcock (Gordon) who played so well in his absence has now been named as 23rd man for NSW and that Patrick McCutcheon, who reverts to 2nd grade when Waugh returns to Sydney University, has been named in the 22 although he wasn't in the original 32 man squad. Also how would Rory Sidey (West Harbour) feel after being lured back from Wales, where he had the opportunity to gain a test cap for Wales, when the old slow-coach from Sydney Uni, Tom Carter, was re-signed and now given preferential treatment as a replacement for Rob Horne. All of Waugh's manipulations of Hickey and Walsh will mean that NSW will continue to win ugly, make the fiinal four but fall at the first hurdle.
Rugbywits
Guest
Yeah Im sure its possible to win ugly. The boks did it in France. The whole thing was ugly. So you can definitely win like that. Whether its still possible under the new rule interpretations? Yeah it is evidenced by Sat night against the Brumbies. However, I was at the Auckland match this year, and that was not ugly. The Lions match wasnt ugly. Their Reds match wasn't ugly. The Crusaders one started out good and turned ugly duckling in the end. I think Polota Nau and Horne are crucial to NSW's ability to play 'pretty' football under pressure. While other players do have the talent and the ability to play expansive quick ruggers these two guys are ALWAYS trying to, in attack AND defense, so i for one hope that both of them are available in any finals game we play. Crucial.
JK
Guest
A few of those blokes have been on the sidelines, a few should have been on the sidelines, and the Red's are the next best thing to sliced bread apparently, so it's Cooper or Genia , Hangers the dark horse for me.
Peter K
Guest
A lot of people have been bagging Elsom but I for one have thought he has played quite well without setting the world on fire. Looks like the journos have agreed with me. The surprise for me is that Hodgson is not there who played so well week in week out. Pocock with his few games have been blinders. the order in merit IMO would be remembering you just have to be the standout in your team not the standout australian player so Cooper suffers with Genia ahead of him. and I have 1 player from each team first. WILL GENIA (Reds) JAMES O’CONNOR (Force) ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER (Brumbies) DREW MITCHELL (Waratahs) QUADE COOPER (Reds) ROCKY ELSOM (Brumbies) DAVID POCOCK (Force) DANIEL HALANGAHU (Waratahs) BEN ALEXANDER (Brumbies) DANIEL BRAID (Reds)
Spencer
Guest
Sorry Rickety - I had no other location to drop this extract from the RUPA email. The top 10 contenders for the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 Player of the Year award have been announced with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Heading into Round 12, the final contenders are (in alphabetical order): BEN ALEXANDER (Brumbies) ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER (Brumbies) DANIEL BRAID (Reds) QUADE COOPER (Reds) ROCKY ELSOM (Brumbies) WILL GENIA (Reds) DANIEL HALANGAHU (Waratahs) DREW MITCHELL (Waratahs) JAMES O'CONNOR (Force) DAVID POCOCK (Force) Leading journalists from around the country have been voting each week, awarding points to the top three Australian players in each Investec Bank Super 14 match involving the Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, Brumbies and Western Force.