Expectations of excellence a heavy burden to bear

"On da button" Rabbitz, Mr Burke reflected this arrogance when he suggested that the 'TAHS have 'the divine right of kings' to continue to serve up absolute rubbish AND that the fans/rugby-going public should smile, laugh, slap 'em on the back and pretend nothing has happened and let the 'gravy train' go on it's merry way indefinitely

You may notice that nearly all of Garth's articles tend to be snapshots of a strong emotive view.....he nearly always gets many blogs either lauding him or deriding him...and rarely replies to anything in the blog himself. Perhaps this chippy queenslander just loves to stir the pot. Particularly where NSW fans are concerned. Both the King and Stan Pilecki would be pround Garth! PS: Go the Reds!!

on approx Monday I glanced an article probably written bya Queenslander claiming the 1984 Wallabies were the best evar? Beg to differ because the 1991 Wallabies had stronger opposition - the World Cup tournament with the cream rising in the Semis & Final over a 5 week period. this means they played against the best players in the world at that time and were undefeated to win the title. However, the 84 Wallabies achieved a grand slam but had very little quality opposition as at that time the 4 home nations had very few stars or household names compred to 1991 opponents. Furthermore, the 1991 Wallabies contained 10 players that made the World's best team but 1984 only contained 7. eg Kearns, McKenzie, Eales, Ofahengaue, Poidevin, Farr-Jones Lyanagh, Horan, Little & Campese v only Rodriguez, Poido, Farr-J, Mark Ella, Lynaagh, Campo & Gould 1991 coached by Bob Dwyer were the greatest, to represent Oz.

"If Sydney were a surf spot and the Tahs were a surfer on a board they have just missed another set of beautiful rideable waves." QFT!!

Told ya you would need a thick skin Garth

The eastern suburbs are just not the same after all the kiwis left Bondi beach. :)

Agreed jokerman

I completely agree with the article. The Waratahs have reached that level of expectation of excellence that is often seen as being synonymous with the Crusaders. I've read all the picky comments below by those who may be missing the point of the article. The expectation of excellence. "...from overcoming their own fear of losing and opening themselves to their more fabled than practised style of play." In other words, playing your own game. And doing what is natural during 'critical moments' than what is simply practised. "...a team that has reached the finals of the Super rugby competition in five of the last seven years..." In a word: Excellence. "But without the expectation of excellence, a team cannot reach that higher level." The expectation of excellence enables you to step up another gear. An extra gear that wins the tight games. However It's up to you whether you use it or not. Case in point: The Reds "Facing your expectations, not avoiding them, can be a very empowering experience." Didn't get that bit. "Hopefully the Waratahs, as both a team and an organisation, can begin to hold each other to the expectations of excellence that are an essential part of the tradition of that name." That comes from winning the close games when you were convinced you were going down, but kept on churning along, not because of the scoreboard, but because of the higher standards your team mates were holding you to right there and then on the park. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

@Jiggles....That is why I find this article so pretentious!

Big Steve, I agree, I wrote: "The are majority are wonderful people but there are pretentious people there" that doesn't even make sense but what I had intend to write was that "The majority of people in the Eastern Suburbs are wonderful people but there are pretentious people there as there are in other areas throughout Australia."

P.Tah you can break that down further. Dont judge the eastern suburbs on the view that is stereotyped on this site. Not everyone who lives there is pretentious. I live east and go to club rugby games as often as I can (usually 5 or 6 a year) and go to the tahs when ever I am in sydney (probably 80% of the games over the last 10 years). I find the continued attitude to the eastern suburbs on this site very judgemental and a gross generalisation. The choice of where I live has no impact on who I am or what interests I have.

Damo, this is not lost on a narrow focus. Any grounded individual with a beating heart will see through the Faze of illusion. It reminds me of the shoe company Nike, "Just do it" Slogans. Some people believe the hype and go out and purchase shoes that cost them $300. It costs Nike only $2 to make, but they know people will fall for their advertising. Effectively Nike has convinced its consumers that their imaged has been enhanced by buying their shoes. This article has used such slogans to convince some that they too are special, and are from a more super breed. It is the ego that wrote this, and it is the ego who responds kindly to it. Both are in the glow of self-enhancing, not from heart, but from mind which is narcissism.

The Reds really are the most deserving side to win the Super 14, and it will be a huge thing for them to win the Super 14. I love watching them play. Bob Dwyer once said rugby is a simple game. To many this sounds stupid, and anybody who's tried to ref a rugby game knows how complicated it can get. But Dwyer once said it perfectly when someone complimented him on the complicated stuff the Wallabies could do. He explained that the Wallabies do the simple things right which makes the complicated stuff look easy, but it's the easy stuff that's hard. Or something to that effect. That's the Reds. McKenzie just has them doing the simple things right and the rest takes care of itself. They've made me very happy at a spectator, and really I barrack for all Aussie sides in the Super 14 anyway so... Really it would be a crushing blow to my frail heart should they lose the Super 14 this year. I don't think my body could take it. The Reds must have their priorities in place, and do it first and foremost for Frank O'Keeffe. This old man deserves it!

Jiggles don't judge Sydney on the Eastern suburbs! The are majority are wonderful people but there are pretentious people there, as there are in other areas throughout Australia. For what its worth, I dont want the Tahs to be clones of the Reds or the Crusaders. I may as just watch those teams. ... and finally how awesome is Sydney we've got a bridge AND an Opera House! Take that Queensland!! ;)

I agree this Waratahs team in my opinion is a bunch of really annoying people, and overpaid primaddonnas, I have watched some of the episodes of the code, and it has become obvious to me as to why the waratahs, have had a bad season,. People like Luke Burgess and Tom carters attitude, are examples of why the culture is so bad at the warpaths. Im just happy Mat Gitteau is not at the warpaths he would of made the team even worse, just like how him and in my opinion Rocky Elsom have had a negative impact on the BRUMBIES THIS YEAR. i hope the Waratahs do not buy this overrated now regularly injured man. And the Australian cricket team will continue to struggle while it has people like Micheal clarke sat the leadership helm. This generation Y or X are overpaid spoilt,and are used to having people say yes to them, why to me it beggars belief . There are a lot of Michelal Clarke haters and wrath haters, and I can see why and the similarities between both of them, and some other members of the Aust cricket team culture at present to which is really struggling, starting format he national selectors and filtering down to the players, and coaching set up. and the waratahs are having major team cultural issues to. It’s about time these warpath players connected with the fans, got some playes who are tactically astute and start playing some real rugby, and attacking rugby, not just kicking the ball aimlessly with no direction. Attacking and accurate kicking is good, but aimlessly kicking with limited tactical ability or knowledge with your kicking is mediocore. this current waratahs has problems and will need a strategic management review at the end of the season if they want to win in 2012. They are slowly losing me as a fan to add to the thousands of fans they have lost this year, and they better start changing for the better or i will start supporting the Reds or Force teams with good cultures, and 2 teams that have played inspired and winning rugby this year, and teams with good cultures.

Monoa, I do not "continually ridicule and criticise the Waratahs and NSW rugby as an organisation". I have stood by them through thick and thin for years and will always do so, because they are my team. I would say that in the vast majority of my posts I have stuck up for them (the coaches, the board, the players and the admin).

garth, i strongly disagree with your proposition. the tahs fans are not turning up, and i am one of them, because the team is not playing decent rugby. I am sure that, just as you can at any club, find the crazy ones who demand winning at all costs and if they lose, they go home and kick the cat. But most tahs fans are demure. just listen to how softly they barrack throughout a match. they require a team that plays to their potential. Put simply, everyone does their job, i.e. do all the right things and none of the wrong things. the basics. and play with passionate, commitment and determination. no stupid mistakes. carter and waugh finally came out and said it like it is. for years, this team has committed the most basic errors. dumb errors. enough is enough..................................... that the crowds have fallen from 35 to 11,000 suggests that there is something much more fundamental happening than one of over expectation. 24,000 people cant be cynical, shallow and have excess expectations............Just look at the other teams. even the Force and rebels get a tick for some brave performances, and they are not winning. Garth, good try, but too easy to rebutt and the evidence is just not there. it is your article that is shallow.........

I think this may be stretching it a bit - we do expect the team to entertain but winning is most important to supporters (style is only more important when you are already winning) All this talk of perfection is fantasy! Tahs are a long way from perfection, try winning the comp first (whatever way possible) then aim for the ideal of running rugby. The ABs get caught up in this from time to time but have more right to do so given their dominance over an extended period of time. The fact is, running rugby is not the most effective way to win in modern rugby. The breakdown and defence is most important, then the set piece, goal kicking, then flashy attack. Its not always pretty but look at all successful teams in recent years at all professional levels of competition - Crusaders stand out as a very strong attacking team but they also tick the more important boxes first. Even the Reds - Kings of unpredictable attack, but they first focus on the breakdown and defence... goal kicking is their only major weakness. I would like to think that Tahs fans are in a position to expect greatness every time they step on the field but this is unrealistic, particularly given the current state of the team

Ok,jump on the net and find out how many games of rugby union he played for NSW (senior team)?According to the comment I replied to, he was at least in the top ten of the "running game" exponents for the Waratahs.

Well there's no doubt there are Waratah fans commenting here. Delusional is the word for the day! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.