By only watching the Reds games, Australian fans can save themselves a lot of wasted time in front of the box each weekend, because the rugby played by the other Australian franchises is woeful.
The Waratahs, contributing a quarter of the weekly rubbish dished up by Australian sides, play like a limbless torso floundering around in the SFS mud, expending a lot of energy for naught.
Empty seats are increasing exponentially with every home game, while the bright idea of a forum inviting public criticism only serves to call attention to their clueless administration.
Williams, Kennedy, Dwyer, McKenzie, Hickey; over the years, the coaches have come and gone, but the song remains the same.
Unless the franchise is taken away from the incompetent NSWRU and handed over to a consortium of private enterprise, the tale of Sydney’s boring under-achievers will continue.
Things aren’t much better to the south and west, from where the remaining 75% of uninspiring rugby originates.
Since being labeled rugby’s Real Madrid, the Brumbies have been a major disappointment, every week sinking deeper into the abyss.
They are a team miserably playing out time while awaiting the arrival next year of their anointed saviour, Jake White.
Further south, Danny Cipriani has driven a stake through the heart of the Rebels, leaving them spiritless, rudderless and their debut season in tatters.
Across the Nullabor, the Force are a franchise that has been transplanted too far from rugby’s roots to ever reach any heights in this competition.
The Reds are the only Australian team worth watching.
Genia has claims to the title of world’s best halfback. Cooper, when on song, has the magician’s sleight of hand.
Samo, Higginbotham and Ioane are powerful and inspiring players, who get the team on the front foot.
Queensland have self-belief, there’s depth in the squad and they are astutely coached.
After a bye, the Crusaders will be the Reds’ next opponent.
Despite the Saders’ surprising loss this weekend, the Twickenham game showed that the combination of Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams (who could be the player of the tournament in this year’s World Cup) can be almost unstoppable.
The Reds, however, will have the home-ground advantage, in front of 30,000 roaring fans.
It should be a cracker!
Eric
Guest
KT, in my opinion, his influence is so dominant that team members are unable to develop confidence and leadership and form under him, and when he isn't there no-one is able to step up, especially with him scowling from the sideline. It is only the most resilient characters (Polota-Nau, Beale) that have a 'crack", regardless of the prospect of a spray from Phil. In my view, none of the back five will make Wallaby 15, or 22. Douglas, Mumm, Mowen, Dennis & McCutcheon; none have blossomed under Phil or the Tahs environment. Do you think Mumm really feels comfortable as captain, especially when Waugh sits in the fan forum as Captain, even though wasn't captain the week either side of the forum? And why did they ignore the message to say that the four points for beating the Lions was the main thing. Well, FFS, how about aiming for five points. The LIons are a travelling bonus point! I'm over him as a player anyway, sick to death of his countless crouching charges into the shins of the defenders, sometimes making 2 cms, sometimes not, taking ball that the 5/8 should be getting. I realise Phil can do no wrong for you, but give it some thought.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
How do you account for the common observation that they are a worse team when he is not playing? The last 2 games have been widely criticised as being 2 of their worst, yet he wasn't even in the starting line-up.
Eric
Guest
KT I'm trying to give you some constructive criticism but you aren't listening. I wasn't splitting hairs..you made a comparison between Waugh and Ray Price whilst saying indirectly that you had not seen Price play rugby. But, back to the point about Tah culture and Waugh. My armchair is in contact with two players who played under Waugh at Tahs. I can tell you that Waugh is a dominating character to the detriment of the team, and you're naive if you think Hickey is in total control. He saw what Waugh did to Ewen and is wary of the same thing.
bill
Guest
Well said AJ. I too am excited about how QLD are going, but far from confident.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Brett, if privatisation was a fait accompli, there'd be no reason for me to suggest that it needs to happen, would there? The purpose of constructive criticism is to encourage positive change.
Brett McKay
Expert
yes, I know that KT, but you'll also recall that at the time it was annouced that John O'Neill went to great lengths to explain that there were no plans to sell off even just parts of the other four teams. They will remain with the state unions. The current seperated but still related model the Tahs have is as good as you'll get for the time being..
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Brett, the Rebels are privately owned.
Brett McKay
Guest
KT, they can't be "owned" independantly no matter how much what you want it, the ARU has pretty firm views on this at the moment...
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Brett, I want the franchise owned by people other than the NSWRU. Until that happens, it will not be independent.
Brett McKay
Guest
KT, you wanted the franchise run by people other than the NSWRU, I'm just saying that's the case now...
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Brett, the Tahs appointed the board. Who are the shareholders? The NSWRU.
Brett McKay
Guest
"Unless the franchise is taken away from the incompetent NSWRU and handed over to a consortium of private enterprise, the tale of Sydney’s boring under-achievers will continue." KT, you mustn't be aware that the NSWRU did just this, as of last year. The operations of the Super Rugby franchise is now overseen by a seperate board, comprising some decent, business-minded people. Waratahs Ltd pay a licencing fee each year to the NSWRU to use the "Waratahs" brand...
KTinHK
Roar Pro
You hit the nail on the head, sixo. I couldn't agree more.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
New broom, new attitudes agreed. But in 3 years when the new broom looks a bit dusty? The answer is to adopt a structure behind the team that justifies its existence depending on the on-field success. Ownership by the fossilised RU's will not provide that impetus. Only a vigorous ruthless private entity will re-examine itself and seek answers.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Eric, as we're splitting hairs, and I count back carefully, I've been watching rugby for 36 or 37 years. Yes, I can't remember the beginning of Ray Price's career in union, as I was a young teenager at the time, but certainly remember what he did in league. Phil Waugh is in the same mould. I'm not sure that Chris Hickey would agree that Waugh is the coach and team selecter. You've crucified him from your armchair, but it's not hard to notice that the Tahs are usually a far worse side when Phil Waugh is not playing.
Eric
Guest
KTin HK no-one disputes Phil Waugh's qualities, and I'm sure he'll do well post rugby. But your chance meeting and subsequent infatuation have blinded you. Open your eyes, he inhibits rather than encourages. His impact on team dynamics, and the little things that turn 15 players into a team greater than their sum, are missing. Don't be fooled, Phil Waugh is captain, coach & selector at the Tahs. By the way, if you have only been watching rugby for thirty years, you would have missed Ray Price's rugby career by several years. He terrorised opponents like Phil could only dream about.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Phil Waugh is one of the toughest players I've seen in 30 years of watching the game, not unlike Ray Price. Having met him with my kids briefly in the street, I found him to be gentleman with a kind heart. You'll never see anything bad written about Phil Waugh from this blogger. To blame him for the Tahs woes (as Spiro regularly does) is like blaming Jesus for the Crusades.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
I'm glad that someone noticed this blog isn't just about the Tahs. Crazy Horse, I hope you are right.
Eric
Guest
KTin HK, you keep saying the coaches have come and gone, the problem must be the administators, however some players have been there a long time through several coaches, and I am talking about Phil Waugh. No doubt there is much to admire about him, but his influence on the style of rugby and development of players is all negative. Even when he is injured he sits in the players box scowling & overbearing. FFS get rid of him, add a bit of fertiliser, and watch the team blossom. And lay off the other battling teams. The Brumbies have won more than the Tahs ever have, and the other two are having a good crack with a few wins.
Crazy Horse
Guest
"Across the Nullabor, the Force are a franchise that has been transplanted too far from rugby’s roots to ever reach any heights in this competition." FFS don't you people from NSW get it, Rugby is a world game played everywhere including Perth. Rugby is alive, well and blossoming in WA. The club I am a member of is 80 plus years old. The biggest problem we have is trying to fit our 21 teams onto our fields and finding spaces for all those who want to play in our teams. And our club is by no means the biggest in Perth. The bleating we are hearing from NSW is very similar to that wwe in WA heard from Victoria when the Eagles entered the AFL. That bleating became very muted when the Eagles won their first premiership and stopped altogether the first time there was an AFL final with no Victorian teams in it. Sooner or later the same thing will happen in Rugby. I can't wait.