Let’s take a short (and subjective) look at how Australia’s Super Rugby teams went in 2012.
Waratahs
As a long-term and long-suffering Waratahs fan, one becomes inured to failure, year after year. I have little remaining hair, my enamel is worn from grinding, my throat hoarse from expletives. It all feels familiar.
The Waratahs started the year by losing Kurtley Beale to the Rebels and swapping Ben Mowen for a seriously injured Rocky Elsom. They continued it by constantly employing the box kick to throw away such hard-won possession as they had. If it didn’t go out on the full, it went straight to a defender.
It became so disheartening that one Saturday evening I sat in the Dolphin watching it on the TV because I couldn’t be bothered walking to the SFS. It wasn’t raining, or particularly cold, but the thought of queueing up endlessly for overpriced flat beer and a cold pie to accompany the dross the Waratahs were serving up was too much to bear.
And don’t get me started on the RSA stuff. How many beers have you had sir? None actually, I’ve been in the queue for 42 minutes. I ended up standing outside the pub with the doorman watching it through the window. Our shared, abject, disbelief was testament to the incompetence the Waratahs displayed that night.
Only a complete clean-out of management and coaching, along with some of the playing group, can fix this mess. For a team boasting so many Wallabies they are making a hash of it. Unfortunately the board has retained the coaching staff – here’s hoping they have learned some hard lessons.
Rebels
The rockstar backline – a Wallaby-capped halfback serving it up to the likes of Cipriani, JOC, Beale, and league recruit Cooper Vuna. A workmanlike pack ably led by Welshman Gareth Delve. The venerable Sir Sterling to lead his young charges forward and make their mark in season two. So what happened?
Well, not a lot, actually. Sir Sterling was mostly crocked. About halfway through the season someone woke up and realised Cips is a worse tackler than Quade Cooper (sad but true) and wasn’t going to do anything other than stand deep in the pocket and boot the leather off it.
His early release was a bit of a turning point, especially because KB had a run in the 10 shirt and demonstrated (as he did in Christchurch playing for the ‘tahs in 2008) that there is at least a faint possibility that he should be the Wallaby 10 as well.
A couple of high-table scalps or near scalps were seized. If only the Rebels management could grab some good Pumas players (read props) to fill a couple of their extended foreign quota, they might start to go well. I think they got the wrong Cooper though – is Cooper Cronk’s NRL contract up yet?
Force
Is it just my impression, or did the Rebels take the Force off everyone’s radar? The only Force players you immediately remember are David Pocock and Nathan Charles, the former for sublime breakdown work, the latter for the triumph of mind over matter. Nathan Sharpe has retired. Do they have any backs?
In fairness, on googling the player bios I recognised a few others – McCalman, Stannard, Holmes, Mafi, Ma’afu, Cowan, Brown. Mostly because they played for the Wallabies, or perhaps Eastwood or Sydney University, at some point. They have not been the same since Firepower, and their high-paid imports followed the money elsewhere.
Yet watching them play wasn’t so bad. They had a crack, even at the finals-bound Crusaders. At least they didn’t box kick all day. They seem to have slipped since that heady evening of their first home win at Subiaco. Another team which the ARU should allow to bring in a couple of Puma players, probably in the backs in this instance.
Brumbies
Goodbye player power, hello the firm guiding hand of Jake White. A bunch of no-names who faltered at the last hurdle and lost their finals spot. A bunch with both of their first-choice five-eighths out with long-term injuries for much of the season. At 13, Andrew Smith: seven ft tall, 130 muscular kilograms, runs the hundred metres in 10.1 seconds in rugby boots (OK, I’m exaggerating).
They gave explicit lessons that the Waratahs should note, about training and about a game plan that does not involve kicking to the other side. And one about swapping an injured veteran for a good young player who may well feature in the Wallaby back row soon.
I had a feeling bringing in a coach about my age (25 years older than the players) was a good idea. People respond to smart leadership, and the man has the runs on the board. The Brumbies played above expectations this season. They have a young squad, they are being well coached and developed, and to the outsider it seems like the player versus coach squabbles of the past (going back to David Nucifora) have departed with the ‘senior player leadership group’.
Sorry, but I’m a fan of what the late Sir Henry Bolte once said – you are put in charge to make decisions and lead people, not to persuade them to agree with you.
Reds
The defending champions’ season was severely disrupted by injury in the early going. At one stage I recall them missing their top three five-eighths. I can’t remember the name of the young chappie they called in mid-season, but have a vague recollection he was injured too.
Yet, despite the horror start, Link got them going when the injured returned to action, they won several on the trot, pinched the conference quarter-final berth… and choked. No whining about referee Kaplan here, I’ll leave that to other contributors. No whining about losing Big Kev to yet another long-term injury at the business end.
Probably the best Australian team this year and deserved to top the conference, and would have finished well ahead of the Ponies if not for the wounded list. Funny thing is they did better against the Sharks in Durban early in the season with several key players crocked than they did at Suncorp with most of their first-pick team.
They certainly as a group had final experience; Genia was immense; Higginbotham played a bit wide for my personal liking, but if that’s the team game plan, so be it. The Sharks looked hungrier, the ball bounced their way (more than once) and that was that.
What I liked was how annoyed Genia, and as I saw it, Digby, were at the end. The Reds are going to shred a few teams next year, and hopefully that will flow through to the Wallabies against the Lions. As for Quade Cooper missing the quarter-final, anyone else find it ironic he was suspended for finally making a tackle?
Sluggy
Roar Guru
"I still believe that if QC fixes his defensive weaknesses and minimises the panicky meltdowns he’d be my pick for 10 simply because of his vision and the accuracy/speed of his long pass, its second to none in this country." Fair comment. He hasn't played much this season, and the Reds seemed to miss him. If Deans brings him back in from the bench as the RC progresses it will be interesting to see what sort of impact he has. The queries about what type of player wears 12 might have sorted themselves out by then.
Jutsie
Guest
Yeah its great to see him realise his full potential, he is an example to QC of the rewards you get when you work on your weaknesses (KB was as poor a defender as QC when he first came onto the scene, he may not be the greatest defender now but rarely misses a tackle). But I still believe that if QC fixes his defensive weaknesses and minimises the panicky meltdowns he'd be my pick for 10 simply because of his vision and the accuracy/speed of his long pass, its second to none in this country. If you re-watch the force v rebels game u can see KB still needs some work on his accuracy with the long pass.
jumpers
Guest
No point bleating around the bust. Fact is Oz doesn't have the depth to maintain 5 reasonably strong teams in SR!! Critics will aim at how weak the Oz conf is and they are darn right of course! Problem how to improve the conf teams, more imports? who knows? Lts hope 2013 brings a much better comp and managemt from SR Oz teams eh!
Sluggy
Roar Guru
KB always was a 5/8 until recently (the last 2-3 seasons). He was moved to the back to get him into the side with Giteau/QC at 10. I think he is simply such a good player that he is one of the best in the world in that position, and better than anyone else in the Oz squad. But I also think he could perhaps be one of the best 5/8 in the world and better than anyone else in the Oz squad if given a few games there. What might have happened over the last few years if KB had taken over from Giteau at flyhalf in November 2010, instead of Cooper, will remain an interesting 'what-if'. What he could do there over the next 3.5 years doesn't have to be a mystery.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
If McCabe is at 12 he could throw cut outs to AAC all day. Or JOC hitting the line between the centres. Off to the Rugby Club to watch the NZ game - any Roarers there please say hello.
Jutsie
Guest
JOC will miss the first 2 tests, also mitchell still looks a bit rusty. Beale at 10 is a good option but i'd much prefer him at 15 than JOC or anyother 15 option we have. Moving him to 10 is "robbing peter to pay paul" IMO.
Jutsie
Guest
Well they couldn't just simply resign the foreign players as the 2 year rule still applies as far as i know.
I do.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Incidentally, who else (if anyone) thinks Beale should be picked at 5/8 for the Wallabies? Genia Digby Beale Barnes AAC Mitchell JOC if fit Cooper comes back via the bench.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
"The Rebels were never going to be Real Madrid, but they should have been able to recruit 10 players of Super 15 standard with proper recruiting." Yes. In a squad of 30 so the youngsters and fringe players can learn from them and improve as players.
Carnivean
Guest
A failure of the process to achieve results doesn't make the process worthless. The Rebels went after the wrong people in many of their cases, or otherwise were unable to utilise them properly. There were, no doubt, other options that they could have pursued. To grow the depth they should have signed players of a certain standard, including 10 from overseas, and then re-signed them or not based on the quality of local player competing in the same role. If the local players aren't good enough yet, then re-sign the import. Don't lower the standard just to sign a local. Don't shortcut the process by taking an existing player. That's my take. I might be wrong. Nalaga wasn't a disappointment for mine, as a player. When he got involved he showed obvious class. He often played outside his role as required. He wasn't afraid to counter-ruck, pick and drive, etc. The disappointment is that the Force were unable to get him involved. Their backline was unable to provide opportunities for him to score. He would probably have finished even a half opportunity, he just wasn't given any. I'd suggest, as is the vogue at the moment, to suggest that the centres weren't good enough, but also that their fly-half wasn't good enough, and that the coaching was sub-standard.
Jutsie
Guest
Lipman and delve are already at the rebels that leaves 3 other imports currently playing s15 (clever isnt playing this year) how does that equate to ten picks? Also nalaga has been a failure at the force and is leaving at the YE so im quite happy that the rebs didnt go after him. The rebels did pick a number of o/seas blokes in their first year (cips, delve, lipman, chamberlain, robinson, somerville of the top of my head) but the entire aim of expanding is to build depth in AUS rugby.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
A few players did look severely fatigued at the end of the first Wales test, perhaps because they played twice in 5 days. But you are correct, it probably requires a couple of weeks at least. Which fortunately they now have, with a week or so up their sleeve to taper the training.
Carnivean
Guest
Gareth Delve, James Haskell, Michael Lipman, Napoleoni Nalaga, Freddie Michalak, Todd Clever. There are others that have been named that I can't remember, including players playing club rugby in NZ to be selected for the ITM cup. The Rebels were never going to be Real Madrid, but they should have been able to recruit 10 players of Super 15 standard with proper recruiting. The NH isn't the only source of players either. Japan, Pacific Islands, Argentina, South Africa, emerging nations (such as the US, Georgia), et al, could (perhaps should) have been looked at. Also the Rebels are exempt from the salary cap, aren't they? They're not funded by the ARU, but rather backed privately.
Jutsie
Guest
Actually it is a flaw of the import quota as not many quality NH players are going to take a pay cut to play for the rebels/force if they have a secured a starting position in a T14, pro 12 or aviva league team.
Carnivean
Guest
The period before the Wales test series was noted as possibly the shortest preparation period ever. The Wallabies that came from the Waratahs had potentially 3 games in 8 days. I think it impossible that their fitness could have improved in that timeframe. At least their physical fitness...
Carnivean
Guest
That's sloppy recruiting then, and not a flaw of the import quota.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Jez, I was referring more to the frequent box kicking by the 'tah's 9 that seemed to always go straight to a defender. My impressionistic observation of the Brumbies was they kicked it to get field position, had a chase on, and were then willing to use the ball in hand through CL. There was a video review (by Rod Kafer?) a few weeks ago where it was pointed out that the 'tahs 9 seemed to be kicking because the players lacked urgency & weren't in position to give him any other viable option. Which in turn raises questions about fitness. Perhaps the 'tahs players are performing better in gold jerseys because their fitness improves once they go into Wallaby training camp?
Sluggy
Roar Guru
"Oh and it was Sam Lane who was called into the Reds only to suffer a devastating knee injury against the Stormers in week 9" Thanks Irene. Hopefully he'll recover from that and we'll see him next year. Perhaps he is the type of young player the Force or Rebels should be looking to pick up, seeing as there are 3 (4?) players ahead of him at the Reds.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
"I suppose it is easier to pick the negatives out of a season than the positives." Bear in mind this was a concise and admittedly subjective summary - intended to capture the multi-level disappointment of a suffering Australian rugby fan, and more particularly a Waratahs follower who was hoping for a bit of vicarious joy via the Reds. A bit of a Joycean stream of consciousness. As for how you turn it around next year.... The Reds and Brumbies ought to do better, simply because of the injuries and inexperience this year. The Waratahs could hardly do worse but the clean out hasn't come, at least not yet (Is Foley going to the Force or not?). The real problem is improving the competitiveness of the Force and Rebels, Sitting back and hoping for the best, and some young players to come through, won't do it. Hence my suggestion that some of the import spots should be used to get some Puma players into Superugby - a development which over the short term will help both the ARU & UAR in general terms.