What on earth is going on in Australian rugby?
With travel and other things, I have missed a lot of rugby news in recent times, so I cannot claim to have any answers to my question.
There is scarcely an aspect of the game we are proficient at – from the set plays right through to our dreadful passing and alignment problems. Yet I cannot accept that the assortment of coaches and specialist staff right across this country are all dills.
There has to be an explanation. Of the many offered, which are the ones most likely?
I do not readily accept that the dilution of player strength from having too many teams is the cause of all our problems. For example, you can teach an under 19 team to align and catch and pass beautifully. Occasionally our teams do these things well for short periods. The Kiwis regularly do them well for lengthy periods.
Does pressure cause our skills to fall apart? If so, how have we addressed that problem?
One of Australia’s greatest deficiencies is the poor quality of our decision-making – which, for me, is the key rugby skill. How is it being taught these days?
I realise we old buggers always see the sugar coating of the past but today the game is 24/7 for months on end. For the rest of the year coaches can watch, think and learn. That is a luxury for today’s coaches.
I was once lucky enough to watch an old master coach run opposed training between two sets of players. I saw players learn, on the run, to appreciate the simple five Ws and an H approach to decision-making.
These days, coaches have access to all manner of technical aids and to a variety of specialist staff. Would it, or would it not, now be useful to have your number two set of players replicate, in training, the tactics and style of play to be expected from the number one’s next opposition team?
While that may be a benefit to the number one set, in fact both sets might well benefit from the mental exercise involved. Is that common practice or not? While variety might be the spice of attack, many clubs do actually have their own individual, basic and predictable approaches to playing the game.
The causes of this particular problem need to be addressed as less than wise decisions occur far too often.
On another topic, I would be sorry to see the Force or Rebels get the axe. On current form, today, the Waratahs and the Reds are the ones for the choppers (yes, I know there are other considerations).
I doubt either of these sides would have the gumption to hold the Chiefs to a single try. The game on Saturday between these two teams may have been exciting as the lead changed. The blunt truth, however, is =the Reds blew a number of opportunities because of dreadful decision making and the Tahs could not score a try in the second half, despite a flood of penalties – a rare one to the Reds.
The Tahs did kick four penalties but wasted the rest of the flood. The one-sided penalty count may or may not have been justified (the laws are beyond we mere mortals) but it was pivotal to the outcome. Neither side won me.
Did I hear somewhere that the Force are now getting the benefit of the work spent in developing local talent? Lately the Rebels have been up and down (more down this weekend) but how many of the other Aussie teams will beat the Brumbies (well, the Brumbies playing the way they did for those 21 points in the first half the other night)?
I suspect the Brumbies would win most.
I have many questions, but there are far too few answers.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
No doubt it's all Cheika's fault. If he doesn't win everything this year he's a bad coach.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
Your narrative is 24 months too late. This is a waratahs team featuring mcduling, wells, roach, hanigan, horwitz, clark. No names. This is not the "star studded" waratahs of old.
Ouch
Guest
This; http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/the-game-should-hang-its-head-in-shame-over-citycountry-farce-20170501-gvwatx.html is an ideal opportunity for the ARU. Will they take it? My guess is no
Stu B
Guest
Short answer Roy.The game is being run and organised by a gaggle of fitful Dames and being played by a mob of half fit Princesses for far far to many years now.
AndyS
Guest
It would be nice to think there was some sort of plan, any sort of plan...
davSA
Guest
The Plot : Cheika , that cunning Michael Cheika had a secret meeting close to the Superugby tournament starting and said ... "Fellows this year its a mess .....so let those Kiwis and Saffas knock the heck out of each other week in , week out ....Once the BI Lions are done in NZ there will be few left standing .. That's where we come in and put all our players in who saved themselves for bigger things . Aussies to dominate... " I tell you its an ambush. You Think ?
Ouch
Guest
Oz hasn't been able to replace the players who have gone O/S with players of comparable quality. Some of these young guys who have been elevated into Super Rugby sides would still be playing NRC and club rugby if the likes of Genia, Toomua, Beale, Mowen, Kimlin et al were still here. We've had too many players leave at, or before their prime to chase the euro or pound. Perhaps a 'hard Brexit' will lower the value of the GBP and make it less enticing dollar-wise, to play in the UK at least.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I don't think the Tahs lifted at all. But for the penalties, at a count of 16-4, they were well beaten on the board. Now you can say that the Reds were ill-disciplined, and yes, they probably were... but a 16-4 penalty count? Don't tell me the Tahs weren't also breaking laws. The Tahs were lucky to win that. I don't think they deserved it.
jeff dustby
Guest
the 75th article lamenting the state of australian rugby since easter
Mark
Guest
Yes Answers to 1. Why did you expand without the players 2. Not once but twice 3. Why did you come up with this idiotic conference system 4. Was it because you knew the Aus sides were shite and you needed to guarantee them a finals spot 5. What moron thought quantity was more important than quality 6. Especially in a Sporting competition You have no one to blame but yourselves (and John "greatest sports administrator of all time" O'Neil)
Daz
Guest
By any other name I think it's still called complacency or should I call it opportunism? The Tahs showed on the weekend just enough mongrel and fight to keep their Wallaby spots super-glued. They lifted just enough to beat the Reds. It's a shame they can't show the same fight against overseas sides. But wait! They will be twice the players they are now when they pull on the green and gold.
Adam
Roar Guru
It's the small things that kills Australian rugby teams, the Wallabies included. I'd hate to know how many times Aus teams miss turnovers in their own red zone and conversely concede turn overs on attack - or worse give away penalties while on attack
Ian
Guest
Yep, that pretty much covers it all. Pivotal point in the Force game was when Ross Haylett-Petty (who had a good game) stood over a tackle, rather than just pick the ball up. Ball was then lost in counter-ruck and try scored. Self-inflicted wound that we see multiple times, week in, week out in Australian rugby.
Adam
Roar Guru
Coaching and decision making are huge issues. The Brumbies have this amazing inability to shut out games in the dying stages and lack the composure to get points late in the game. I also think that Australian rugby teams are guilty of not playing what is in front of them. You see New Zealand teams flood the game line when they have teams on the back foot. Australian teams have a tendency to go one out too much and have players isolated or the ball gets recycled at glacial pace.