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In coaching, no one wants to follow the headline act. Given the choice, you’d replace the guy sacked for poor results, so the only way is up. You want to be the saviour, not the maintenance man for high expectations.
We’ve seen the struggles of Manchester United post-Alex Ferguson.
In the case of Daryl Gibson at the Waratahs, there should have been no such problem.
With the ascension of demigod Michael Cheika to full-time national duty, the Waratahs appear to have reverted to type – that of fatally flawed potential. Their maiden Super Rugby title in 2014 was built on a dynamic blend of tenacity, physicality, and flair – none of which have been evident this season.
The succession plan was set. Gibson served as attack coach under Cheika, playing a central role in developing a style which made the Tahs one of the most compelling teams to watch. It should have been a seamless transition, with core principles already ingrained. Same blueprint, new foreman.
Unfortunately, rather a catalyst for sustained dominance, 2014 is looking more and more like a glitch in a prevailing pattern of underachievement.
Forget the Waratahs’ set-piece woes for a moment – their first 40 minutes against the Rebels on Sunday was the worst half of rugby served up by any side this year.
The Rebels are improving, but still not worthy of second billing in the Australian conference. That weighs on the Reds and Force as well, but extra shame is reserved for the well-resourced, recently successful Waratahs.
The 21 handling errors only tell half the story, with countless other misplaced passes behind or at the feet of runners disrupting any semblance of momentum.
When possession and penalties are conceded at the set-piece, it’s crucial that the Tahs string together productive phase play if they want to gain a foothold in matches, let alone win any.
To be outmuscled up front is one thing, to fail at the basics of catch and pass is unacceptable. No amount of sympathetic commentary about ‘greasy conditions’ can obscure the need to improve. The Waratahs are now two from five, with both wins coming against the rotten Reds.
Underwhelming is the most generous assessment one can make of Angus Ta’avao’s contributions so far. He and Paddy Ryan have not offered enough around the park to offset their scrum weakness.
Meanwhile, Israel Folau turned in his worst performance in memory; he must show more intent on kick return. Broken play is where the best fullbacks thrive, but the more time he has to think, the more passive he becomes. His sin-binning was the predictable cost for poor decision-making.
(Sidenote: if he’s carrying an injury, he needs to recover properly. As brilliant as Folau can be, the World Cup showed he’s not much use on one leg.)
Granted, injuries to Bernard Foley and now Kurtley Beale have been telling, as neither can fully shoulder the playmaking burden alone. Similarly, the double blow of Tatafu Polota-Nau and Tolu Latu is stretching front-row depth.
On the flipside, Jed Holloway has been a bright spark. Jack Dempsey, too, is proving useful in easing the burden on Michael Hooper. There is enough verve in the backline – even the replacements – to pose a threat. For that threat to become anything more than theoretical however, the Tahs need to manufacture belief from somewhere.
Benn Robinson’s recent criticism of poor training intensity was a damning indictment of the new regime. It’s clear this isn’t just random player malaise. The team is rudderless – which brings us back to Gibson.
If this is a rebuilding year, it seems we’re not yet done with the demolition process. It might be too early in the season to write them off, but there’s a sense of inevitability about current results. And it might yet get worse.
Pundits have identified the need for Gibson to put his stamp on the squad – and quickly. While Gibson himself concedes he is a far more understated presence than his predecessor, he might want to invest in a megaphone.
Right now the Tahs are becoming distinctly Gibsonian for all the wrong reasons.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.