Weather woeful, Waratahs worse

yes, fair point, ancient history anyway, though i will check the tape ;)

PeterK - better try to read again. I didn't say he was actually penalised. He would have been by a decent ref, which Bryce is not. Have a look and talk me if a player can pick the ball up from a position behind him at the ruck and be onside. Rubbish indeed.

Ben S - no matter how many times and ways you say it mate, NH Rugby is a good distance behind SH. I know this dig at the quality of Australia's scrum is a subtle dig at your perception of NH superiority and, while I appreciate your positive attitude for the NH game, the Wallabies have shown for 30 years, that (at best) parity in a scrum is more than enough to be usually number #2 and #3 and occasionally #1 in the world when you have backs who like to score tries. I'll hold off on passing that hat around for Georgian imports if its all the same to you, as I'd prefer to see them beat the second tier of Rugby nations (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales) and improve Georgia's ranking rather than add to Australia's perceived forward woes. Off-hand comments by retired Rugby Stars do not maketh your case.

Schuey, In just a few words, competency (in players, coaches and administrators) is based on the skill and ability to select and innovate new ideas, AND the ability to transmit/implement strategies to a group. At many levels, NSW Rugby lacks a sense of strategic direction. That is, an understanding of what is at issue (.. a lot more than just “basics”), and to give players as individuals, and teams as a whole, good reasons, and means and strategies to take on the necessary personal commitment. The secret, I believe, is for coaches to do a lot less ‘instructing’ and much more ‘revealing’ (p 165 of my book). To do this effectively requires a professional understanding of human behaviour (which is often quite different in groups/teams), and the personal communication skills expert in facilitating change and variation. Despite conventional thinking, this essential expertise is not necessarily an attribute of ex-players with a bit of coaching experience, or confected marketers. To answer your question re timing, ‘good people’ are a scarce commodity, but they ARE there, and they CAN make a difference is a very short time! The sooner blind adherence to cliches, orthodoxy and spin, are removed, the sooner effective change can come about. ‘Dare to risk’, ‘dare to coach’, ‘dare to manage’ – it’s a package. Yes, I am a sport psychologist, and now retired! George Shirling – author ‘EXPLODING SPORT MYTHS’

Schuey, In just a few words, competency (in players, coaches and administrators) is based on the skill and ability to select and innovate new ideas, AND the ability to transmit/implement strategies to a group. At many levels, NSW Rugby lacks a sense of strategic direction. That is, an understanding of what is at issue (.. a lot more than just "basics"), and to give players as individuals, and teams as a whole, good reasons, and means and strategies to take on the necessary personal commitment. The secret, I believe, is for coaches to do a lot less 'instructing' and much more 'revealing' (p 165 of my book). To do this effectively requires a professional understanding of human behaviour (which is often quite different in groups/teams), and the personal communication skills expert in facilitating change and variation. Despite conventional thinking, this essential expertise is not necessarily an attribute of ex-players with a bit of coaching experience, or confected marketers. To answer your question re timing, 'good people' are a scarce commodity, but they ARE there, and they CAN make a difference is a very short time! The sooner blind adherence to cliches, orthodoxy and spin, are removed, the sooner effective change can come about. 'Dare to risk', 'dare to coach', 'dare to manage' - it's a package. Yes, I am a sport psychologist, and now retired! George Shirling - author 'EXPLODING SPORT MYTHS'

Doesn't mean they're not tough and rough though. I recall Tim Lane suggesting that the ARU bring in Georgian props on the basis that they gain residency for the Wallabies a few years back. Georgia have some fine, fine forwards - you only have to look at the Top 14 to see that.

Ben w, What a ridiculous.comment, Georgia are not tough and rougher than the wallabies, they are a very average 4th string international rugby side...

NSW need players like old boy Simon Poidevin. He, and the NSW players of his era had a red hot go. And that is the disappointing aspect of NSW - it would be ok if NSW lost but played their hearts out (and maybe played entertaining Rugby). Perhaps the professionalism has spoilt NSW - you can cruise and still get paid good cash. Everyone has thrown in there .02 cents about what to do with NSW. My idea is to to improve the administration and look at the grass roots of the game. Any sport in Australia that is successful has successful adminstration and takes a grass roots approach to the sport. The NSW administration is responsible for signing Elsom and getting rid of McKensie (instead we get a ex-QLDer as a coach). Also, the administratrion deems it necessary to charge $50old for a ticket to a game, thats big money in my books. On the grass roots approach it amuses me that resources are not devoted to the Shute Shield. NSW could have players from that competition pushing the backsides of the current lot out the door. Currently, we have a system where or the money is going to an elite competition and elite players who play without passion. I heard a corny saying, "pressure makes diamonds". It never works when you throw dollars just at the top, it makes more sense to throw money at the base. Imagine the athletes you could get from Western Sydney, where the Emus are based? League and AFL are throwing big dollars in that area. I still follow the game but less enthusiastic about NSW (I hate saying the marketing confected "tahs"), but love the Shute Shield.

rubbish, Palu did not give 3 penalties away

Wrong, any player who plays a test gets a fixed equal amount per test. Elsom and co. did not come bak from o.s on incentive deals, they were and continue to be paid fixed large amounts payable to the chosen 28 odd players at present. Of those 28 players Waratahs feature prominantly and are justified by the PTB to keep them in the game here in OZ. JON and Deans remain the candy men.

Agree. The tahs have one speed , no upper gear, no urgency to accelerate in forwards when it counts. Don't know if its aerobic or attitude? Barnes not a fly half, Id give Bernard Foley a run there, he has some spark. And can we put the salts through the board, now.

The fish rots from the head, the entire Waratahs organization is a shambles. There business model is survival each year as opposed to growing the game in this state and attracting new fans. Until a major shake up takes place in the front office and they get fair dinkum the Tahs will always under deliver. It is scandalous that a state with the playing resources that NSW has had since inception that they have never won a super title. Yet the bloke that got us to 2 finals in 4 years gets punted and then turns around our biggest rivals. It just beggars belief what goes on at NSW Rugby. We seem to have this chat every year about the Waratahs.

I think ur getting a bit carried away, most of the ARU top up is paid only when they play, there only getting a tiny amount if anything.

Brother, succinct and straight to the heart of the matter - classic :-)

What's a Citcelsyd? :(

Interesting that so many praise Palu for his run metres and workrate. He was indeed one of the better forwards but:- 1. Four of his runs came from picking the ball up from an offiside position as he was the pillar at the ruck and in front of the ball. Indeed Conrad Smith objected to this and Bryceagree but being such a great ref (sarcasm is you missed it) acted on the next three occassions Palu comitted the offence. 2. The Tahs shipped 16 points in the last 20 minutes of the match. This is a trait with them this year. That indicates one thing. They are not fit. How can Foley remain as coach. How can the board remain in place given they rubber stamped his position at the start of this year and his decisions such as the farcical Captainship model he created. That is selecting a Captain that was never going to play until the 6th week, and has now played what amounts to two games. He then appoints a "leadership group" and after the first injury selects the match day Captain from outside that group. This shows the forthought and planning that has gone into the Tahs campaign. I feel for a truly talented group of players that are perhaps the best in terms of depth in Oz. They just haven't been given the tools by the Board or the Coaching staff to be able to succeed in a very competitve environment. They are the ones being ridiculed when it should be Foley and Co and the board.

There wasn't a forward pass in Matu'u's try. It just looked that way because Barrett was tackled as he passed. It was clear from the reverse angle that the pass was okay.

Hi George, Say I just bought the Tahs and wanted to fix things. What high level steps would you suggest I implement over what timeframe?. Cheers, Schuey.

"But the opposite happened with the Hurricanes piling on three tries and 17 points in the last 16 minutes, mostly against the run of play. Game, set, and match." The try scored by the Canes' replacement hooker came from a forward pass, but ref Lawrence and TJ had one of their Sgt. Shultz moments. Oddly the Fox commentary team said nothing either. "Beleaguered Waratahs coach Michael Foley rued the missed chances, adding – “We are the masters of our own destiny”." Poor decision making as usual contributed, but Foles now should be happy in an assistant's role with the Tahs, i.e. "scrum doctor." We need a new head coach as Spiro said in his Rugbyheaven column yesterday; Scott Johnson could be the answer, though I'd go for Kafer.

agree - coach can instil attitude but it's up to the players