It’s hard to come to grips with Michael Hooper’s Wallaby-laden Waratahs winning just two of seven Super Rugby games this season.
How can a side that boasts around 10 Wallabies in the starting lineup every game play like a social side?.
Remember what Hooper said after the South African leg when the Waratahs were thumped 92 points to 50 by the Lions and Sharks?
“It’s been a successful tour on the training paddock” was the captain’s summary.
Unbelievable.
Having fallen over the line against the Force in the opening round, those two defeats were the second and third rounds.
Since then the woeful Waratahs have been beaten by the Brumbies, came from well behind to beat the Rebels, and have since been convincingly beaten by the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
This week Nathan Grey, the former tough-tackling Wallaby centre, and currently the Waratahs’ defence coach, said, “It gets frustrating from our perspective because when they’re training the guys are doing well defensively and it’s quite strong.
“But in game, whether it’s a little bit of lack of confidence and a lack of belief and a little bit of fear of failure, that creeps into the guys’ minds.”
Bloody hell, that’s the second time the Waratahs have been quoted as performing well on the training paddock.
How can so many quality footballers not take their training form into a game?
How do they forget how to pass, catch, support, and tackle?
Let’s look at the cold hard, but painful, truth:
The Waratahs are the only franchise in 18 not to post a bonus point in seven games from either tries, or losing by seven points or less – not one bonus point.
The Waratahs have scored 163 points for, and had 237 against for a deficit of 74 – pathetic.
The Waratahs have scored 21 tries, 10th among 12th on the list among 18 franchises led by the Hurricanes with 48, but let in 31 tries, the sixth-worst.
That’s an average of three tries a game for the Waratahs, but letting in 4.45 game.
The Waratahs have turned over possession 135 times in seven games – an average of 20.14 a game.
And to top off the miseries, the Waratahs have missed 182 tackles, or an average of 26 a game.
There’s no hope in hell the Waratahs can beat any side with those stats.
But they are lucky, they play the Kings tonight, who can’t beat time, and should never ahve been invited into the tournament last season.
They will be gone for next season.
Can the Waratahs run up a cricket score to roughly get back in the fight?
Here’s a suggestion.
If Waratah management put up photos of Waratah legends all around the Alliance dressing shed walls, that’s a start.
Let’s have Ken Catchpole, Nick Farr-Jones, John Hipwell, Mark Ella, David Campese, Matt Burke, Jim Lenehan, Michael O’Connor, Michael Hawker, and Dick Tooth up there from the NSW backs of the past.
And Jon White, Col Windon, Tony Daley, Phil Kearns, Ewen McKenzie, Topo Rodrigues, Peter Johnson, Rob Heming, Steve Cutler, Simon Poidevin, Phil Waugh, and Tim Gavin from up front.
Perhaps the physical reminder of those who made the Waratahs one of the best provincial sides in world rugby might give the current crop the adrenalin they are obviously missing.
Michael Hooper dropped this quote last night.
“It’s really time to start kicking into gear.”
At long last the captain has got the message, but can the troops follow suit?
Gomez
Guest
I can't understand this lost the change room theory. I played under a few coaches whom I couldn't stand but I still did my best because I took pride in the way I performed. Sometimes what the coach envisioned and what actually happened on the the park had no connection but we won most of our games because of our personal attitudes.
Piru
Guest
Matt, hard to see where your you get your figures from. In terms of size Wa is about 45% of Australia In terms of population about 15% In terms of professional rugby positions, 20% From what orifice did you pull 5?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
'thinks a Maul is the place he gets his hair styled' hahahahha
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Matt, this is the Roar, we are all experts,... on everything. We are Fans, there fore we are qualified to speak on any subject with authority
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I am not anti-Sydney, I was born there, Were any of my arguments flawed? Was I positive about the actual talent in the side. Blind Freddy can see that Pocock, Gill and Now Alcock and Smith are the form #7's for Australia, yet Michael Blooper, a Back Rower that can't ruck and thinks a Maul is the place he gets his hair styled has a guaranteed spot in not only the Tah's but the Wallabies as well. Did you watch the game last night? He and Phipps stood there and watched as the game winning try was scored at their feet. And before sprouting his wonderful stats, I don;t care, none of them have anything to do with being a forward. Compare those stats with Samu Kerevi, he has 3 times the run meters and makes turnovers after a ruck has formed. Hanagan had a great game, his yellow was a crap refereeing decision. Put him at 7 and get Jed more time on the field.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Fair argument. The players definitely need to lift their effort level, no doubt. They're not playing (or training hard enough) for their fans, their teammates, the money or the coach. It really isn't fair to blame Gibson alone for their form. And you're right, it does send the wrong message.
Ian Brown
Roar Pro
I agree but so the new age player therefore plays for his coach does he? Or the money does he? Not the fans, not his team mates, not the jersey or not for his own self respect and that's exactly why AUS super rugby is in the deep hole it is. Sorry I just don't cop sack the coach it's a weak message that you send the players that they are not accountable either by dropping or tearing up their contract.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I largely think you're right, Ian, but it just looks to me like Gibson has lost the dressing room—the players aren't playing for him. Perhaps I'm wrong there, but by the time that happens what can a coach actually do? It's incredibly hard to win them back after you've lost them..
Ian Brown
Roar Pro
Aside from the Waratahs which yes did reach a new low last night the much more concerning issue is as Lord did highlight the terrible for/against figures that the AUS teams have compared with 2 of the other 3 conferences. The Brumbies only played for 40m yes against a much better opponent than the Kings, the second half in both games put in by the AUS teams was appalling. So this can in part be put down to lack of fitness and benches that aren't good enough either. So as much as cutting a franchise doesn't sit well with people as long as at the same time all of the AUS 4 franchises but in particular the Waratahs have a cull at the end of 2017. What I do find interesting is the people who are calling for the sacking of Gibson I assume they are the same that wanted Deans gone as well. Interestingly yes it was Chek who brought in an abrasive SA in Pot do get a lettuce leaf Waratahs pack going forward. All that is happened is that the forward pack has gone back to what it was. Deans couldn't believe or understand how the Wallabies would just give up, I suspect neither can Gibson, the look on his face says it all. By the way it is a similar look to most of the other AUS coaches. Like in RL it is much easier to blame and sack the coach. Unfortunately there seems little franchises can do with under performing players other than quietly release them to go o's rather publicly embarrass them in a name and shame press conference, RUPA would mostly likely want to strike. The interesting thing is that RUPA is I suggest coming to terms with through the ARU's decision that actually the people who are striking in Rugby and withdrawing their labor are the viewers and the fans. As the rivers of gold turn to dust then there will be nothing left for front/back office, boards or players. By the way the players will get what they deserve and then hopefully they will start respecting those who pay their wages a little more than what it appears now. Why is it that until a player like Fardy is going o's no-one dares speak their mind? Whatever fans are left know this is crap why can't someone speak plainly, what can't the players take it, other than Davis commenting on getting more money, why doesn't he hold a press conference with his CEO and say this in unacceptable and that the jersey NOT the brand is being hurt by this group. Also have the 23 players there as well and name and shame them by quoting damming stats and then drop a bombshell by saying that ALL contracts will be reviewed at the end of this season. Maybe someone from the franchise could look at "Moneyball" a movie based on a true story that puts a money value on players and then either you contract them or you don't.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Matt Jones, '5%'? This is an extremely narrow outlook. The Force represent 20% of the Oz super rugby footprint, and much more if you could measure passion.
Hype
Guest
I wish writers would stop saying the warratahs have wallabies as a positive!
Hype
Guest
No ?
Matt Jones
Guest
we need more supporters like you
Matt Jones
Guest
what the ARU doesnt need is ignoramus like yourself
Matt Jones
Guest
WA represents about 5% of australia
Matt Jones
Guest
how do you know they are going through the motions? are you an expert in that field?
Matt Jones
Guest
looks like we have one of the anti sydney people here. How good are the other australian teams? worse
Matt Jones
Guest
school clinics will save rugby ! haha
Sean
Guest
The arrogant, entitled dismissal of the Kings is hilarious given what transpired. The recent form of both teams suggested it would be a decent contest though I doubt David has watched the Kings this season.
Midnight.mangler
Guest
Hmmm. The Kings can't beat time. The Waratah's can't beat the Kings. This sounds like a tantalizing riddle... David?