NSW Waratahs coach Michael Foley and his selectors had better take a long hard look in the mirror and ask themselves two questions.
How can the rank-outsiders Western Force beat them for the first time 21-20 at Allianz Stadium last night when the Waratahs are at least a 25 percent better side on a man-for-man basis?
And how come David Harvey, an Australian Sevens rep and two-time Ken Catchpole Medal winner in 2008 and 2011 right under the selector’s noses has never been offered a contract, not even a trial, but ended up debuting for the Force last night at 29-years-of-age, contributing 16 of the 21 points with a converted try, and three penalties?
Not taking anything away from the David Pocock superbly led Force, with evergreen lock Nathan Sharpe turning in a blinder – it was a pathetic performance from the men in blue.
One win from four games is the worst start in a Super tournament since 1997. Diehard supporters will claim the Waratahs have been unlucky to lose by a point to both the Highlanders and the Force, and beaten by a runaway 75m try in the 80th minute by Reds winger Dom Shipperly.
The scorelines are correct. Unlucky, definitely not.
The runaway try was the result of dumb rugby, kicking away possession with less than a minute on the clock. In both the one-point losses, the Waratahs simply didn’t turn up to play.
Last night, with a six-man Wallaby pack, the Waratahs managed just 24 percent possession in the first half, and were only camped in the opposition half for 36 percent of the time. The pack was dead in the water.
Yet the Waratahs led 14-13 at the break with two converted tries, which just goes to prove what the Waratahs can do with their hands on the ball. All of the Force’s 13 points were from full-back David Harvey.
That wouldn’t have surprised Gordon supporters. Harvey was the club’s fly-half who has led the Shute Shield season points-scorers four times, and one year was the Shield’s leading try-scorer.
No surprise to the Harvey family either, David is a nephew of Neil Harvey, one of the world’s greatest left-handed batsmen, an Invincible, and a superb fieldsmen.
The sporting genes are there.
So let’s ask again – where were the NSW selectors when Harvey was firing?
They should be busy this week, after last night’s shock loss. Too many Waratahs are feeling comfortably safe in their positions – they need a rocket.
So too coach Foley. He must be quizzed as to why Waratah intensity dropped when second half possession increased. And quizzed why the increased possession was butchered by poor options, poor handling, and far too much kicking.
Waratah watchers have come to realise the side doesn’t respect possession enough.
That’s why the paltry number of 14,673 spectators last night booed the Waratahs off the ground.
And they deserved it.
Hansie
Guest
Sheesh, the Tom Carter Fan Club is obviously full of sensitive types.
Sprigs
Guest
Want electric.. come to Suncorp when the Reds are on the rampage...
Sprigs
Guest
I thought the Highlanders must have been on what they call "P" and we call "ice"...them TV coverage of them seems to be like those movies they speed up..
levelheaded
Guest
Seriously, who does boo a team. I am sure they didn't go out to play this game, c'mon no one would ever think that! For a supposed fan to boo, you should hang your head in shame, what character are you purveying to the young folk, what a bunch of clowns. Everyone in sports knows that if a team comes and plays a certian way against the tahs at SFS (wonder why SFS, snobby eastern suburub types I feel) you will get the crowd against their home team - seriously!! When the reds were playing poorly against the rebels, and it was very poor, their crowd stood up and supported the team - no not the SFS crowd, they reckon do the opposite, either don't come to the game, or boo them! From my recollection I'm not sure there are many examples of how negative reinforcement forces a positive. I'm sure the team knows they need to improve, does the crowd and Rugby supporters in Sydney who sit on the fence and not attend? Time to cough up and support or shut up!
Sprigs
Guest
Most NZers know that the continual booing was shameful.
PJ
Guest
Neck up Hansie you parrot, Carter would have to be close to the star performer for the Waratahs backs over the past 3 seasons. Can some one tell me what Rob Horne does other than get injured? the most overrated S15 player of the last 10 years. Give me Carter any day
drop kick
Guest
it was his inept play that got to him I mean an intercept pass in every game, kicks out on the full from kick offs, passing to no-one( his "miracle" pass). The game plan didn't make him play like that.
johnny-boy
Guest
It wasnt the booing that got to him mania , although kiwis like to think it was .....it was the wrong game plans as cooper has said himself
jameswm
Guest
Guys let's be honest here. This is the same Dave Harvey who earlier in the game risked conceding a try, took an intercept, and then got run down easily by a forward. He might have scored a lot of points (that happens when you're the kicker), but he otherwise didn't have a great game, and frankly isn't a great prospect. At club level, Halangahu kills him. Harvey is a good player - solid and won't let you down, but he's no star.
jameswm
Guest
Not in the last 8 years.
mania
Guest
manSter - ok the booing of quade by kiwi's at the WC was childish...but in their defence it was asked for by quade and the fact that it got to him shows that it was a winning tactic. its unfortunate that quade couldnt rise to the booing as he had led the NZ public to believe. we were just trying to lift a kiwi brothers game
ManSter
Guest
Oh!!! i forget we must quickly hang, draw and quarter the coach, preferably with hot utensils... Then we can move on to blaming the ARU followed by our immediate international neighbors.
ManSter
Guest
6-7 injuries are enough to cripple any team why can everyone not be a little bit more sensible. I know, lets hunt down the injured tah's and boo outside their home addresses during all tah games. Lets come to your work today and boo you every-time you do not make perfect split second decisions. And kiwi crowds at the last cup are boo-ing idiots? I think we are witnessing a new level of stupidity. Did anyone notice the Roosters crowd booing every play vs Canberra yesterday and yet the chickens won! Must be free lobotomies at Bronte for only the first 4 million clients.
harry
Guest
top 2 franchises? in terms of super rugby success the tahs are behind the brumbies and the reds.
bozo
Guest
bozo
Guest
One good thing about the Waratahs playing next Saturday afternoon is that, as my wife buys the "life member" package every year for all the family which requires me to attend Tahs games, the game time clashes with my son playing a colts trial game and I now have every reason to watch him play.
Enron
Guest
Dude, you may have just summed up the problem... Halangahu is a great club player... but he has struggled to find consistency at S15 level... and I probably rate Carter in that bracket as well... when picking a guy, surely you ask yourself, would this guy get a game for a decent Kiwi or Bokke team? if not... why pick him? take a punt, pull some kid out of high school and see how he goes. NSW rugby union seems to be the only professional sporting franchise in Australia that doesnt do this. Horan , Little , Eales.. the list of young Australian champions proves my point... oh, hold the phone.... they were all Queenslanders :-)
Baldy from Manly
Guest
I'm getting in early but surely we have better coaches in Sydney alone than 3 mentioned so far to assist Robbie Deans with the Wallabies. Blokes like Val TYSON, a forwards coach and Mark ELLA the chap who had all backlines in World Rugby scratching their heads when he had possession are two that come readily to mind. The game has not changed that much - catch, pass left and right and tackle - what a simple game! NUCIFORA is likely to be a problem again this year as he seems to have taken over with his friend John O'NEILL in selection process. Use those coaches in our back yard David; stop looking overseas and immediately stop using your 'YES' people. Some of us do look into the future !
Enron
Guest
Interesting comments.. agreed. What I really dont get about NSW, is that they have the majority of rugby players in this country, probably more than all the rest combined (including QLD) and they continually seem to underachieve at provincial level. I recall their great amateur sides with Campese etc who were good enough to beat the Springboks in 1993, and prior to that they rolled Auckland one year (super six series) when Auckland had 13 of the 15 All Blacks in it...... I used to watch the Shute shield back in 2009... and was amazed at how good the standard of rugby was... but this is not translating to a strong NSW side??? Maybe the Tahs should have a good look at the AFL... those guys are ruthless.. they draft kids at 17.. put them on a 3 year contract and if they arent good enough for first grade by age 20.. they get cut and sent home. Waratahs have a habit of picking 27 year olds to make their run on debut.... thats almost middle aged!!!!!!
Baldy from Manly
Guest
II'm getting in early but surely we have better coaches in Sydney alone than 3 mentioned so far to assist Robbie Deans with the Wallabies. Blokes like Val TYSON, a forwards coach and Mark ELLA the chap who had all backlines in World Rugby scratching their heads when he had possession are two that come readily to mind. The game has not changed that much - remember catch, pass left and right and tackle - what a simple game! NUCIFORA is likely to be a problem again this year as he seems to have taken over with his friend John O'NEILL in selection process. Use those coaches in our back yard David; stop looking overseas and immediately stop using your 'YES' people. Some of us do look into the future !