NSW coach Chris Hickey is prepared to fall on his sword for the good of the Waratahs. Hickey’s three-year contract effectively came to an end with Friday night’s 26-13 Super Rugby elimination final loss to the Blues at Eden Park.
It was the second consecutive season the Waratahs have made the playoffs in the competition but failed in an opening-week final overseas.
Although last season they made the top four, and lost to the Stormers in Cape Town, their 2011 effort to finish fifth in the expanded competition was more meritorious considering an injury crisis which left them missing nine regular starters in Auckland.
But a favourable win-loss record is unlikely to ensure Hickey retains his job with assistant coach and former Wallabies hooker Michael Foley viewed as the man to take the reins in 2012.
NSW is Australian rugby’s biggest province and their inability to win a title in 16 seasons of Super Rugby, as well as intense criticism of their conservative style through 2011, brings pressure for change.
Hickey on Saturday dodged questions whether was keen to continue and said he would be guided by what’s best for his team following a post-season review.
“We will sit down and have a good look at the season and make some decisions once we’ve conducted that review process,” he told AAP.
“I don’t think it’s about the coach, it’s about the team, and we’ll make decisions for the team based on that.
“And we’ll make decisions about my future based on that as well.
“That’s the best way to run things.”
Despite NSW needing to replace retiring skipper Phil Waugh and Melbourne-bound game-breaker Kurtley Beale, Hickey was confident the Waratahs were well placed to be title contenders next year.
Beale’s loss is off-set by the acquisition of Wallabies utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper from the Brumbies, while Test winger Drew Mitchell will return from ankle surgery.
“One of the things that came out of our injuries this was the exposure of a whole new range of players and we will have our quality injured players back and able to step in,” Hickey said.
After losing key quartet Tatafu Polota-Nau, Al Baxter, Daniel Halangahu and Luke Burgess this week, NSW were brave and led early but were eventually outgunned by the Blues.
“The belief and commitment was superb (all season) and I’m quite proud of what they were able to do in the circumstances,” Hickey said.
Both locks Kane Douglas and Sitaleki Timani suffered knee injuries and will have scans in Sydney on Sunday.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Well Mr Hickey you have been tested after 3 years and YOU have been found wanting . About falling on your sword -please do and take all those officials and players who have laid holy sacrifices at the foot of the Great Idol to Mediocrity and lets have some good, motivated people who (Heaven Forbid!!!!) who actually WANT TO WIN THE COMP!!!!!
Jack Thompson
Guest
Will he, wont he stay? Get me that sword, but if Hickey stays I'm a gone 4ever. The last three years have been an ever descending spiral into oblivion, with the occasional tease of what might have been, but lack of consistency and determination from within sabotage any likely success. Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory time and time again. In that success the tahs are at least leading the world. The whole organisation stinks and needs a strong dose of the salts, NOW. Kurtley knows how bad it has been, get out and smell the roses. Go to the Rebels, the SU way. Tom Carter for captain, will the Tahs ever get an attacking backline again??? I heard they even had a backline coach, what does he do????
John Allyne
Guest
Why not Tom Carter as captain
stillmissit
Roar Guru
James that is not a bad pack and if, like me, you believe that the winning of the game starts with great and hard forward play - it might just give us an edge. Agree about Kane Douglas. Believe Vickerman will add some backbone if his body stands up to it. Generally we are quoting the same passages and singing from the same hymn book and any other clichés you can quote?
jameswm
Guest
agreed. TPN is the obvious choice for captain. The Tahs have buckleys with Mumm there. The forwards they should be bringing along for next year are: Robinson TPN Kepu Timani Vickerman Dennis Alcock Palu Power in contact, ball running, good set pieces, line breakers, aggression Mowen Paddy Ryan - I was impressed Kane Douglas - I haven't given up on him yet Fitzpatrick I guess. Elvis was pretty good forwards to let go Mumm needs to go McCutcheon - useless Pat O'Connor - useless Waugh has retired Baxter has retired Tilse - not impressed. Can we get Dan Palmer back? Ulugia - just makes too many mistakes of all types
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Frankly I would like to see the Waratahs bring in an overseas coach preferably a Kiwi. This would break the political rubbish about who the coach should be and might bring in some new ideas and a tougher approach. Looking at The Code (one episode only) it seems that Hickey has the right ideas but cannot implement them with the guys. Like to see Phil Mooney as a backs coach - yeah! radical I know but I do believe that the Reds success has been built on his creativity and young player development, and McKenzie's defence and structures. I was hoping that Dean Mumm was going overseas but there is no mention of it. IS HE STAYING OR GOING? TPN for captain.
Mick the clown
Guest
He should go because he is the head. He needs to take ownership for his team's tactics and performances. As a season ticket holder, I will seriously question renewing the membershi next year if he is there.... The top 3 symptoms of the Tahs performance in 2011 are - 1) Deep kickoffs, - denying us any contest to the ball. simply giving the opposition the ball with no pressure. 2) Aimless kicks from general play that are just booted down the field with a prayer that the oppostion will make a mistake. - (and no chase). (these can occur from within the oppostion half as well, when we are on teh attack 3) The backline crabbing across field. - instead of running straight, they consistantly run to the corners. - Overlap after overlap has been wasted because of the Tahs inability to run straight/straighten the point of attack. The defence just slides across and teh Tahs run out of room. The repeated lack of what is under 10's smarts can only be pinned on 1 man. - The coach
Tim
Guest
This is a bit off topic but I note 16 yo Jamil Hopoate, younger brother of Will (and supposedly as good as) is being courted by League clubs. As Jamil plays Union for St Augustine's as well as League is anyone from the Tahs setup or ARU having a look at him?.
Eric
Guest
I wonder if Hickey can express himself now the Fuhrer Phil is going. I doubt it. Jim, Al Baxter & Halangahu in the "key quartet". Spare me. I don't understand how Hickey says he is willing to fall on his sword. Does he mean he'll go if the management want him to. That isn't falling on your sword, that is being sacked.
GrecoRoman
Guest
I think Amelia is spot on in what she writes. Maybe the Tah supporting Colonel Blimps should be berated, not Amelia. And you wonder why bugger all people in NSW feel attached to the Moore Park Waratahs...
GrecoRoman
Guest
I found the comment ridiculous/offensive as well, but we are reading an article posted under the Rugby Union tab...
ah what a stunner
Guest
Amellia- it's called poor execution! they didn't take TOO MANY risk, go back and watch the game again. they continually turned it back inside when it was on outside. Anyway if you thought they did? well then you can't play boring as bats..t for the year then go out to semi with half the usual starting players and try something foreign. so who do you blame coach and captain? yes Tah's have only had a plan A for years and they were proud of it by saying we don't care if we win ugly.. we have had the best of the super aussie players to start with but they develop better when they go somewhere else!! Berrick has gone backwards since he arrived and u watch how much better Beale will go in Melbourne! who ever let him go should be sacked... no i didn't bash Waugh (please read again), he has been a great warrior and very clean off the field. so maybe u should stick to politics (boring) you pay peanuts u get monkeys and leave the rugby to the big boys bring on next year with an A,B and C game plan that suit our team strengths
p.Tah
Guest
Ok just saw AWAS mention of Unions and Greens...
Dexter William
Roar Guru
Go to the Union and complaint there. Loved the man, but he has passed his use by date and on the nose.
Amelia
Guest
Yes, sorry, but I hate when people claim unions are running the country, we have the lowest number of strikes since 1901, its ridiculous... But, back to the rugby, the Waugh bashing is pretty disrespectful... a great servant of aust rugby
IronAwe
Guest
Let's keep this about rugby shall we?
p.Tah
Guest
Amelia... Excuse my ignorance but what am I missing?
Amelia
Guest
Firstly, the Waratahs actually took TOO MANY risks in the finals game on Friday night!! Secondly, the unions have been toothless since the 1985 Accord which they (stupidly) signed witht the Hawke govt. Thirdly, the Greens are hardly running the show, if they were we'd have a far better country: military budget cut in half, troops home and the wasted money now free to be spent on things like education,healthcare and closing the gap between Aborigines and the rest of us - thing that matter... Oh, and we also wouldn't be afraid to criticise Israel and its illegal occupation
Ah what a stunner
Guest
So he should! I have been bored with this style of play for years. I'm not sure the assistant coach foley is a change of direction at all. We win playing ugly get to the semis nearly every year then get smacked by better coached teams and are left with a bitter taste in the mouth... We don't know what taking a risk is? I would like to be entertained with the talent we buy in the backs next year. Have a coach that can come up with a few methods of attack that suits our players not the coach or Phil Waugh now that he is gone. So this a plea to pick a smart innovating backs coach as the main man and have a assistant forwards coach, like the wallabies set up... But with forward old boys running the top management like the unions and greens do this country I won't hold my breath... Jobs for the boys as it goes! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.