I was in Hong Kong this past week for the 7s, but was still able to catch all the Super Rugby action. Isn’t it amazing what happens when criticism comes the Waratahs’ way? The Sharks came hard at the Waratahs, but NSW, to their credit, rose to the challenge.
They played some good, hard, positive rugby and it really was a sight to see after weeks of offering so little to their fans. Now for more of the same, please! And to facilitate that, how about this for the exciting nucleus of a Waratahs backline: Foley at No. 10, Barnes 12, Horne 13, Kingston 11, and Cooper at fullback?
As for the Reds, it’s always tough when you lose players. They have a very young squad and there isn’t much leadership there. I just don’t see them winning it again this year.
In fact, I don’t think any Australian team is a real chance, except perhaps for the Brumbies, who have been a surprise packet in the competition. Still, they’re over-reliant on kicking for goal and ultimately that will count against them.
Instead of trying for three points every time you get a penalty, why not take a chance and go for seven? At least then the other team has to score twice to get ahead.
The game is about scoring tries, and unfortunately in this Super Rugby season, teams are opting for the easy three points. While you’re in the 22, put pressure on your opponent and force them to make mistakes. Back yourself.
But onto the more vexing issue of the Wallaby backline. The way things are shaping up, with Cooper out injured and Beale not having played a game, it’s not looking so good.
The biggest area of concern is in the centres.
If Beale returns to form quickly, then I’d slot him in at fullback. O’Connor and Ioane should be the wingers (O’Connor shouldn’t be playing any other position), and with Cooper out, I’d have Barnes at 10, even though he kicks too much.
Genia will be the halfback, although he’s not playing anywhere near as well as he did last year. I wouldn’t play McCabe at all. He can’t pass, so he’s not suited to inside centre.
Really, no-one has put their hand up in the Super Season so far and demanded a spot, so it’s a mystery who Deans will put there.
Deans himself must be on very shaky ground.
He needs to better define this season what style of rugby he wants the Wallabies to play and then pick the players to make that happen. We have some very good individual players, but they need to perform better as a team.
That didn’t happen at all in the World Cup last year.
I’d like to see an Australian who understands the style and mentality coaching the side. We have got so much talent with individuals with great flair. Yet the current regime does not seem to want to capitalise on this.
The Rugby World Cup was a perfect example.
I’d like to see someone like Ewen McKenzie take the helm, or at the very least, get McKenzie in to coach the Wallaby forwards.
Crazy Horse
Guest
Right on Sheek. O'Connor is a ball hog who frequently doesn't pass when he should. He's better on the wing where he can do that without squeezing the rest of the back line out.
Dan
Guest
your seriously fos!!
Justin
Guest
Thats all well and good but look at Taps, I think he is younger and so much more developed across the board. At least Nonu was making busts left right and centre from the start, he just couldnt pass once he did. McCabe doesnt make clean busts like the other two. His passing has actually come on a little bit this year, to his credit but its a stand and deliver effort rather than on the run natural passing game. His defence is superior, no question (to just about anyone). Horan was a WC winner at 21 and was right up there by the age of 23. Not finished but a bloody good footballer nonetheless. But lets leave the King out of it. He is exception rather than rule...
sheek
Guest
Matthew, That's your opinion. Since Frank has introduced the religious theme, I'm wondering what your mates Mark, Luke & John think..........!
sheek
Guest
Frank, Campo is just like St.Augustine, I believe.....!
sheek
Guest
Justin - a riposte with humour! I can handle that.....
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Anyone who has read David Campese knows something of the sheer force and magnificence of Campo in argument. There is nothing snide, nothing petty, nothing ad hominem, disingenuous, or irrelevant. All is magnanimity, clarity, and craftsmanship. Campo knows backwards and forwards the art of argument - of rhetoric, actually, in its Renaissance meaning, designating the whole enterprise of opening up and articulating and working through a given line of thought.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
St Augustine was a deluded early Roman Catholic Church father who wrote propaganda for the church - i.e. rewriting church history to suit the needs of the times. Much like Campo.
peterlala
Guest
Fair call, Frank. I must read St Augustine (who did he play for?)
peterlala
Guest
Brett, many league centres play left- or right-side throughout their careers. That's not versatile. To delve into history, former All Black Christian Cullen could have played anywhere in the backline...but he usually played fullback. Unfortunately, his international career was truncated. I won't name the idiots who dropped him, but neither of those two coaches in New Zealand now. One still drops good players without cause and seems to prefer versatility over specialisation. In my opinion, that policy opens the door to failure.
peterlala
Guest
Red Kev, "as good as de Villiers and Fourie". If you are right, Ben Tapuai should be the first picked this year.
peterlala
Guest
Sheek, I admire Campo and respect his opinion. But I think O'Connor is a natural 12. It's hard to make a judgement because O'Connor is one of those players that gets shunted from position to position.
soapit
Guest
but he did the development back in super rugby.
soapit
Guest
you can forget about the wingers getting the ball from either of those two. no thanks.
soapit
Guest
the thing was blind freddy could see the problem developing at the start of last season with our starting centres from the previous years biggest and most recent win, barnes & AAC, injured and out of form respectively. yet next to nothing was done to develop experience/depth in the position with persisting in rookie maccabe & out of form AAC.
soapit
Guest
if the winning coaches box at a world cup final is a wasteland
Justin
Guest
What absolute rot. What on earth makes YOU & Campo think YOU are so right? :)
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Die Hard of course I do, but in a different context perhaps: maybe as a tool for expansion. But what I no longer advocate is the buying in of stars at expense to plug holes in the Wallabies, which I certainly did before.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
I watched the Aussie and Kiwi U-20s, and the ITM cup and Sydney Club rugby, and I can see why Deans had problems and Henry didn't.
Tahman
Guest
JohnNo you are mistaken. Carter is the artillery, he is the first man sent out of the trenches to do the hard work. He will match Sbw in strength a physicality and help inspire the waratahs to another hard won victory this weekend. Go the Tahs! This player passion is definitely worth consideration as Wallabies material. I think it was something the 2011 wallabies really didn't have and desperately need to dominate the world stage again.