After the debacle against a willing (at best) Cheetahs side and a thrashing from the Crusaders, the Waratahs needed a win, no matter how it was achieved.
And the Waratahs achieved this with 9 seconds left to play with a forceful plant of the ball over the line by Sitaleki Timani. ‘A win is a win,’ I once heard the legendary coach Fred Allen tell a supporter when he complained about a lacklustre All Blacks victory.
The Waratahs will have the same feeling.
After Saturday night, they have won two games against the Brumbies at Canberra. That stark statistic indicates just how hard it is to beat the Brumbies at home. This puts ‘the win is a win’ result into an historical context. It is not easy to win at Canberra even when you are strong, let alone now for the Waratahs when they were (are?) in danger of imploding.
For the record, the Brumbies have now won 75 out of their 98 Super Rugby matches in Canberra. This works out to a winning ratio of about 76 per cent. This is the second best winning ratio in Super Rugby after (who else?) the Crusaders with their 80 wins from 99 matches.
So the achievement of the Waratahs in grinding out their victory cannot be dismissed lightly, even though the Brumbies are now a fractured side playing to a non-existent (at least to my eyes) game plan and with their star players (Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper) decidedly out of form and playing out of position, or not playing (Rocky Elsom and Stephen Hoiles).
To their credit, too, the Waratahs tried to play a ball-in-hand game, until under pressure they lapsed into their aimless kicking mode.
The problem is that the ball-in-hand game needs an energetic forward pack capable of winning their set pieces and rucks and mauls, and a backline that has passing skills and systems to put runners into gaps to score tries.
Let’s start with the pack.
The lineout and scrum are shaky. I’ve gone on and on about Al Baxter but while he remains a fixture in the scrum, the Waratahs are going to have some very bad days mixed up with some ordinary scrumming days.
Dean Mumm is not an authoritative second-rower and needs to play as a flanker to be an effective member of the pack. Phil Waugh is effective as an abrasive open side flanker, but … The ‘but’ refers to his tendency to give away penalties and to his inability to play efficiently and away from the middle of the field.
The Waratahs lost their chance to have a wide-ranging and abrasive open-side flanker when they got rid of Beau Robinson. There is now a lot more to Robinson’s game than there is to Waugh’s.
But having said that, Waugh is preferable as a captain to Mumm. I would argue, however, that the ideal captain for the Waratahs right now is neither of these two, but Berrick Barnes.
The Waratahs backs have Wallabies in every position but inside centre. They should be a game-breaking unit. But they are not. They seem incapable of putting together a coherent series of attacks, let alone even one coherent and telling attack.
I believe there are two main main reasons for this: one relates to a lack of systems in their attacking arsenal to give an edge to their attack and the second involves personnel who are not up to playing a ball-in-hand game.
You would think, for instance, with a world class running fullback in Kurtley Beale and two pacy Wallabies on the wing, Lachie Turner and Drew Mitchell, that there would be systems in place to run the ball back when opponents kick deep.
I have not been able to observe these systems. Beale is almost always left to try and run the ball back by himself, or resort to chipping or banging in a high kick.
Contrast this with the Reds and their systems, often involving Quade Cooper, which bring in their speedy wingers when the opposition kicks deep. The Cheetahs were blasted out of their game at Brisbane on Saturday afternoon by Digby Ioane and Rod ‘The Rocket’ Davis bursting on to passes set up by Cooper or Will Genia. This meant that the Reds were lethal from the deep positions which they converted into attacks that set up tries or try-scoring situations.
Why can’t the Waratahs do this too? The coaching staff needs to answer this question?
Then there is the matter of the personnel. I’ve gone on a lot about Tom Carter. He is a journeyman playing in a critical position. He is trying to move the ball along with quicker hands and he did make a crucial break late in the game, but … He remains a slow thinker and mover in a position that cries out for a player with more flair and skill.
I have a suggestion for Hickey that he should think about. I have seen Josh Holmes play brilliantly at inside centre in club rugby. He is quick. Quite big (187cm, 94kg) and clever with is passing, as you’d expect from a halfback. His defence probably needs some work. He is a terrific runner with the ball.
A Barnes-Holmes five-eighths combination should release the power and speed of the Waratahs back four.
The time has come, too, for Hickey to look to dropping Luke Burgess and replacing him with the live-wire halfback Brendan McKibbin. McKibbin has been the outstanding club player in Sydney and Brisbane. He has a snappy pass and is a sharp runner around the rucks and scrums.
Burgess fits into the category of being a very good rugby player but a poor halfback. He is a poor halfback because his decision-making (and this was conceded by Rod Kafer during the commentary of the Waratahs-Brumbies match) is poor.
He panics and kicks aimlessly under pressure. He often stands over the ball for an eternity while trying to work out what should be done next. But worse than all of this, his passing is appalling.
Berrick Barnes invariably gets fed harbour bridge passes that are often behind him or too high. Burgess can only pass crisply when he takes a couple of steps. His pass from the ground is so erratic that Barnes can never run on to the ball and pull his backline through with him.
The Brumbies’ last try which brought them level with the Waratahs after the conversion resulted directly from Beale having his clearing kick charged down. But why was this so? The answer is yet another Burgess slow-floater of a pass. The ball arrived in the hands of Beale only nano-seconds ahead of a charging Brumbies player.
If people think that this is too tough and that I’m on a sort of crusade against a likeable and tough competitor, let them look at the play of Will Genia.
If Genia were playing for the Waratahs I believe their backline (even with Carter) would work more lethally than it does right now.
Talking about Genia, he has come back to form after a slow start to the season. And this form has lifted the Reds who have now established a lead at the top of the Australian conference. On their form against the Cheetahs, the Reds look to be Australia’s best chance to make a strong run at winning the tournament.
The Reds play the Lions at Johannesburg on Saturday night.
This will a real test for them whether they have the toughness to beat South African sides in South Africa. This is what has to be achieved to win the Super Rugby tournament these days.
jameswm
Guest
Ha ha - one of his mates. Better not say any more.
Mike G
Guest
No need to be like that, AJ...I made reference to the Tahs as I would argue the previous weeks game in Sydney had a big effect on the Cheetahs performance the following week & that because of this I wouldn't be rushing to praise the Reds players too soon
AJ
Guest
Well bully for you Mike,but I didn't even mention the Tahs,nor for that matter the Reds or even the Cheetahs.I was just giving Genia a wrap.You think it was in favourable conditions-fair enough.He still played well though.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
They're good aren't they Wal? You'd reckon they could recognise, enjoy and compliment obvious excellence but they will not.
Mike G
Guest
Having played in ALL types of conditions over 20 years of playing the game AJ, I can tell you that it is a hell of a lot easier to play in warm (even humid) conditions, on a dry track than it is to play on a slippery surface with light rain. Not for a second am I excusing the tahs terrible performance against the Cheetahs, they deserved to lose, but nor am I getting too worked up about the Reds, given the great conditions they had to play in
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Ironawe I agree giving some dispensation to bring in foreign players, especially northern hemisphere ones, would improve overall strength of many of the old ones, and therefore supplement any loss should there by any of talent to the new franchises. These players could come from the northern hemisphere, they wouldn't need to come from New Zealand necessarily
The Worm Turns
Guest
Rickety, I like at least one mature head in the backline. I think Mortlock is too slow, maybe an impact off the bench. I would try and build around Cooper and Barnes or Cooper and JOC, with AAC at 13. My preference would be a fit Barnes at 12, a great foil for Cooper and lets the 13 have some space. Personally - Genia, Cooper, Barmes, AAC, JOC (11), Ioane (14) and Beale 15. Or - Genia, Cooper, JOC, AAC - 11 14 15 Mitchell, Vuna and Giteau (not a fan - but can cover many positions) on the bench.
The Worm Turns
Guest
Its a shame, he is a great playmaker and will be needed at the RWC. I like watching him control a match when he is on song. Having said that he has looked 75% the last couple of matches, quiet and not as assured as usual. So I am wondering if there are a few injury doubts in his head, which could lead to hesitancy. Hopefully he will recover, one of my fave players in the Aust conference, and a very valuable mature head amongst the wild youth in the side. :)
The Worm Turns
Guest
I expect that he would be packing his bags. The only reason to delay a decision after the Tahs match would be if you were strongly considering a move - so he wouldn't impact his team mates with the decision.
johnny-boy
Guest
Also CliffB it surprises me that they so often go one out with nobody tied in behind. By yourself you're just askiig to be smashed, with at least another, even better two, you have some mass. Why this isnt coached just staggers me.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Peter K, Never said that we need a Reds / Force pack. But the last few years have seen Wallaby, Waratah & Brumbies forwards do the following; seagull, stand to the side and accept the ball flat-footed. Now an amazing issue is that Sharpe on the majority of runs when playing for the Force - takes it at least with some momentum but when he is in the Wallaby pack he reverts to type of flat-footed. Up until last year the Reds & Force forwards were rarely considered and rightly so - BUT - for some reason I cannot see how - IT SEEMS THAT IT IS NOT BEING COACHED - AND CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED - pick and ruck and move with momentum. Elsom when in England/Ireland - fantastic. With the Wallabies - the majority of time - flat-footed. TPN - no argument - does it like a Kamakazi Pilot. Palu - I am still doubtful on his true capabilities - need his Mother on the sideline calling him a "pussy". He does not play with the vIgour of a man of his size and I wonder at the "ticker". After his Mother gave him a serve - he was great - but not sure after injury. Higgenbottom was not ready last year. If Palu does not come back strong - I would have Higgenbottom at 8 and leave Elsom at 6. I would have Robinson as a reserve for Pocock. I have never liked Brown - too light and goes missing in the tough. McCalman has the goods - and needs to get tougher. We have a lot of extra locks now - Simmons, Dennis, Douglas, Kimlin & the one that went from the Tahs to the Reds (Ashley something) and the fellow that scored the last ditch try for the Tahs - 209 cm - someone said. Horwell is a must - injury free - Sharpe getting better - but scrum time? There semes to be a culture for Aussie forwards to not go full out with the pick and run or receive and run and ruck. Another problem is that many times - Elsom & Palu go too far on the run and become isolated - as I have said many times - IT IS A PACK - HUNT AND FORAGE AS A PACK. Somewhere the Coaching seems to be neglecting this aspect of Ruck & Maul.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I dont think you are correct. So you wanted a pack that was just Reds and Force? LHP? Daley he was total rubbish, and he was the prop demolished by England. Robinson is far better. Hooker? Faingaa, once again a terrible scrumaging prop, was smashed. TPN and Moore far better. THP - Slipper was the prop quite correctly, I agree Maafu was a big mistake always was. Locks - Sharpe and Horwill are the locks anyway, Mumm only got in due to injury and was correclty dropped. Blindside - Elsom. OK Higginbotham would be just as good if not better. I give you that one. Openside - Pocock is there anyway. No 8 - McCalman and Brown were used and both found wanting. They really missed Palu. No way can you say TPN and Palu are soft or seagulls. They get hurt because they play so hard.
katzilla
Roar Guru
Why would the NZ teams require leaguies to fill their teams?
Wal The Hooker
Guest
Priceless! Was it 6 in a row in last year's TN...hmm
Denby
Guest
I agree with Mike G, Barnes is tough as nails. He always puts his body on the line and defends very well. By your logic bigbaz, Richie McCaw who was out for a few weeks with a concusion last year (or maybe the year before) is also soft.
AJ
Guest
Mike G,the players all say that the ball is worse with sweat-say like what happens in Brisbane on a 30+ deg day at 2.30 pm , perfect for going to the beach but not rugby.That he played the full eighty,got hurt in a tackle and then had the gas/guts to score two individual tries at the end says alot too.I dont feel the need to debate the merits of the opposition or trumpet the reds,just highlighting a very impressive display that might've been missed.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
Fortunately for us (Brumbies) both To'omua and Lealiifano both re-signed for until 2012 last year.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
I was speaking to a member at the game on Sat, who appears to have some inside source (a relative plays with the runners), apparently at least part of the reason To'omua hasn't had much of a run this year is he has lost a lot of confidence during the pre season.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Mick & IA - yes becasue the majority of the Wallaby Pack was Brumbies & Tahs with Sharpe - who most tiems seagulls. Mumm is the biggest seagul. So Wallabies = Brumbies + Tahs forward pack and standing starts?? I never know why - becasue as said above it is physics. Harder to tackel a fast mvoing forward than a deadstart plod.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
FOS - Bull Player Stats - 7 Runs, 12 tackles, 1 offload, 6 rucks & 1 Turnover You must have been watching the Wrong Game - seems (and I did not ewaych because not available here in Kyrgyzstan) - but all writeups have praised Beau Robinson's effort and workrate Cheers