The changing opinions of Waratahs supporters – one week damning the team and the next extolling their virtues – has drawn criticism from our overseas Roar contributors.
However, in our collective defence, we are on a rollercoaster ride.
How else do you describe it: the team is consistently inconsistent. We just don’t have any inkling on what might happen game to game.
In recent memory, we have been bored to death with ugly rugby, and had our protests ignored. Underpinning this frustration is the almost criminal neglect of Rugby in NSW by the ARU and NSWRU.
There is a sense of relief – for this week only – that the ‘Tahs abandoned ugly rugby for the match against the Chiefs, no doubt spurred on by the need for a bonus point, and produced a spectacle worth watching (no matter how bad the Chiefs were).
There is a sense of joy and relief that Barnes and Beale are finally playing in their rightful positions and playing well.
Hell, Carter even laid on a try with an inside pass!
How will the Tahs play against the Hurricanes? Who knows, I certainly don’t.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Finishing this thread off - the Tahs were simply magnificent against the Canes - an excellent follow up from the game against the Chiefs. I only hope that their newly found running rugby style is here to stay. Special thanks to Ewen McKenzie and the Qld Reds for showing us all how to do it. Now to beat the Stormers in Capetown. And then hopefully the Saders beat the Bulls in Soweto with a final at the SFS! And the Bulls and the Stormers to lament what might have been. Go the Tahs!
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Good one tragic - hopefully we won't need funereal flowers!
Tragic
Guest
Rickety, I have a suggestion for a new mascot on another thread which I realise would be much better here http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/05/12/hickey-keeps-the-faith-for-crucial-hurricanes-clash/ Us waratahs fans need some love (so do the waratahs, in fact)
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Yikes I stand corrected, thank you. However apart from political equanimity surely the west demands more resource that the east and north? This shows that the neither ARU nor NSWRU understand/acknowledge the potential of western Sydney - the biggest pool of rugby players in Australia!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Yikes - totally agree with you. I think it is very strange that the press seems to think 'Poor Parramatta' when they lost the 500,000 hand out from the leagues club yet Penrith are 'A Joke and shouldn't be in the comp'. Southern Districts and Penrith have struggled through on peanuts and hard work. Why the bleating hearts about a club that spent like Rudd and Swann?
Yikes
Guest
Actually, you're both wrong. The ARU is directly responsible for the development of the game in NSW. This is the only state where this is so. And the "total disinterest" that Rickety proclaims - well the resources are the same for the west as for the north and the south-east. 2 development staff in each. The notion that the west is ignored is total rubbish yet it gets trotted out on the Roar every time as if repeating it over and over will make it true. I suppose perception is reality even when, you know, it's not. I might add, the demise of Parramatta has nothing to do with NSWRU and everything to do with complete and total mismanagement of the Parramatta club by the people formerly running it - including a disastrous deal with Parramatta Leagues. If you think this is spin - just ask the people currently running the club, they'll tell you!
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Exactly my point TWS - which team is going to show up - the lame side that rolled over against Highlanders or the one that flogged the Chiefs 2XV
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Ah Rickety....you are on fire. On fire son! Seriously though this home ground advantage for the Tahs needs to be appreciated for what it really is. The fans need to embrace the whole thing and yell loud and proud for the boys then watch them respond. Forget about looking 'too cool for school' or glamorous, it never worked for me anyway. Just get along there and scream your lungs out. Have a ball & get dignified again afterwards.
Tim Wilson-Smythe
Guest
Dont count your chickens.........remember 2006? Courtesy of Wikipedia: The Waratahs finished 3rd on the regular season table for the 2006 Super 14 season, in which two new teams entered the expanded tournament, the Force and Central Cheetahs. In the last home match of the regular season, the Waratahs hosted the Hurricanes, which they lost 14 to 29. The news that star league recruit Wendell Sailor had tested positive to an illegal substance and thus faced a career ending ban from the game was an unwelcome intrusion on the Waratahs semifinal build up. The following week, the semi-finals, they again faced the Hurricanes, though away in Wellington. The Waratahs made their exit, losing 16 to 14. Wendell Sailor later received a two year ban from the game, marring a season that had promised so much.[1]
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! Is that loud enough?
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! Come on you manky lot. LOUDER If you wouldn't mind too much. TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!! TAHS!! TAHS!!! TAHS!!!!
Brett McKay
Guest
Simon, I asked this last week as well, but have St.Kilda and the Tahs ever been seen together??
soapit
Guest
maybe they should host some waratah games out west at parra stadium or homebush!
simonjzw
Roar Pro
it's hard to know what's more painful at the moment... Watching the Waratahs or watching St.Kilda? They might have winning records but......
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Rickety mate, the till is almost empty. NSWRU has endured 2 seasons of winning ugly and it has nearly busted them. Speaking to someone in NSWRU about this game and finals, if the supporters don't turn up for these games several of the support people will have to take compulsory leave, and before some of the smarties go on about the numbers of people involved there ain't that many these days. it is time to stand up for the Waratahs regardless of what we have said during the season! GO THE TAHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Just heard that the Bulls are fielding a 2XV against the Stormers - thereby guaranteeing the Stormers a home semi !
stillmissit
Roar Guru
I am with you Blinky and RKnees. It is that time of the season where all the boring history needs to be put aside. A fight is on against a bunch of Kiwi's who would love nothing more than to be the team to knock the Tahs out of a home final and maybe out of the finals. Would love to see a full stadium for the good of NSW rugby. Hickey must get them UP for this one, Phil Waugh will certainly be ready to roll.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Good one Brett - no mate - it just chronic in that Rugby in NSW has been left die. The editors, in their wisdom, decided to take the sting out of my article and refashion it in a way that was not my intention. I have included the source of my chronic pain - as in the original article below: "Underpinning this frustration is the almost criminal neglect of Rugby in NSW by the ARU and NSWRU i.e. the demise of Parramatta resulting from total disinterest in Western Sydney – the biggest rugby nursery in Australia – it’s like nobody in any position of authority really cares (by this I mean actually does something)". "How will the Tahs play against the Hurricanes - who knows, certainly I don't. What is the future of Rugby in NSW - who knows certainly I don't. Is there any leadership coming from anywhere on NSW Rugby issues - not that I have seen".
Brett McKay
Guest
Rickety, is this a different chronic pain to what's in your knees?!?
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Agree BBoB - living on the Central Coast I will also be in front of the TV cheering them on. They need a bonus point so hopefully they will continue from last week. Let's hope the crowd get's behind them which, we all know can make a hell of a difference. Will it be agony or ecstasy?