Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson and captain Michael Hooper haven’t produced must inspiration, pride, and passion into their side this season.
Three wins from ten starts isn’t the Waratah way.
Gibson can be innovative for once by producing life-sized action posters of Jon White, Peter Johnson, Ewen McKenzie, Rob Heming, Steve Cutler, Simon Poidevin, Matt Burke, and Dick Tooth to remind the current crop they are letting down the coveted light blue jersey with a Waratah over the heart.
There are plenty of others that should also be up there; Greg Cornelsen, Phil Waugh, Tim Gavin, Ken Catchpole, Nick Farr-Jones, and Mark Ella are a few. I’d also add Phil Hawthorne, Michael O’Connor, Michael Hawker, John Brass, Trevor Allan and David Campese.
If that doesn’t inspire the Waratahs to win their last five games to qualify for the Super Rugby finals, then they don’t deserve to wear the jersey.
It’s a big ask, but the troops are there to do the job if they play to their ability that has so far been left in the shed.
They’ve become known as the second-half side.
Down 25-6 to the Rebels at halftime, the Tahs won 32-25
Down 26-0 to the Blues at halftime, the Waratahs lost 40-33, ‘winning’ the second half 33-14.
But there’s also been the reverse, leading the Kings 17-0, only to lose 26-24.
What a load of rubbish, where rugby basics – passing, catching, supporting, retaining possession, and tackling – have been ignored.
I’m sick of writing it, Roarers are sick of reading it, and the Waratahs still can’t click.
Which begs the question, how can such talent in being selected, not able to handle the rugby basics?
[latest_videos_strip category=”rugby” name=”Rugby”]
If those posters can’t click the current crop into gear, heaven help the Wallabies.
The cold, hard facts are the Brumbies lead the Australian conference, with 19 points, from the Reds (16), and Waratahs (14).
But the Resd have only four games to complete their season, and can’t win the conference with its automatic qualification into the final series.
The Brumbies face two mighty tough games in a fortnight, with the Kings in Port Elizabeth, and the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
It’s 10,389 kms from Canberra to Port Elizabeth, in 13 hours, 24 minutes flying time, then 7460 kms from the South African city to Buenos Aires, in 11 hours, 11 minutes. Add another 11,710 kms from Buenos Aires to Canberra, taking 19 hours, 20 minutes.
All up that’s 29556 kms and 43 hours, 55 minutes in the air – plus training sessions and 160 minutes of demanding rugby. It’s a recipe for two defeats, and the possibility of a third loss, to the Rebels, on return.
That would leave the Brumbies on 19 points, while the Waratahs with the legends looking over them face the Rebels at Allianz, the Highlanders in Dunedin, and the Chiefs in Waikato – needing to win all three.
The latter two would break the Australian drought of 17 losses in 17 games against Kiwi sides this season, but it has to be done, getting NSW to 26 points.
The Brumbies compete their scheduled rounds with the Reds at Suncorp, and the Chiefs at Waikato, which translates to four of their five remaining games away.
The Waratahs complete their scheduled rounds with the Jaguares at Allianz, and the Force in Perth, a far easier challenge.
But it’s only far easier if the run of Ls become a run of Ws – nothing else counts.
And those NSW legends on the wall will have done their job as they did in their playing days.
Fionn
Guest
Hahhaha he's definitely not the first, mate ?
Jokerman
Roar Guru
....and well done Lordy on your 2000! Impressive. Your articles are always interesting...with a lot of passion. And as I've come to know...that return of serve (to the comments) is no easy task. I'm like half pitbull, half alsatian on a chain with some and they're like the mailman about to hand in some letters....!! Choose peace, Jokerman, choose peace... I showed my lovely female friend your comment on Fionn....she thought it was very funny and "cute"...in a very positive sense. Don't worry, you won't be the first to mix up Fionn... :)
Machooka
Roar Guru
davSA... viva la difference!
Bakkies
Guest
Was going to post the same thing
Bakkies
Guest
Matfield was a coach at the Bulls but was moved out of the role when the coaching set up changed.
ukkiwi
Guest
Does that say more about the Wallabies or the Warratahs?
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Don't worry, Fion he's not saying you're a little girl !?! Enjoy your trip in France, and make sure you send the roar a postcard!
davSA
Guest
James I am a huge fan of Nicholas , his articles can be quite technically driven . If all the contributors wrote in Nicholas unique style then he would no longer stand out. The variety good and bad is just fine with me.
Jameswm
Guest
Compare and contrast this article with the Nick Bishop article of today. Nuff said.
davSA
Guest
Machooka , I discovered The Roar while the SA cricket team were recently touring and was looking for an Australian perspective on them . There are many sports , mainly rugby and cricket here in SA that one can contribute to but I never bothered because within a comment or 2 the insults , racial epithets and the likes of spew out . I truly find this site one where a difference of opinion can be expressed without having to quickly turn off my laptop. Just rambling.
Rebellion
Guest
Sick to death of your Waratahs articles David. I'd like to say they're almost as insufferable to read as those penned by Mark Ella but that would be a lie.
Kiwi in europe
Guest
You actually need to have a culture that players buy into for this to work. i.e if they don't care and are uninspired to play for the jersey, then having pictures of ex-champion players is not going to work. Culture starts with the leadership group that demands standards to be followed. If the leaders are not holding themselves to account then the players are not going to follow. For example Hooper's poor decision making as captain and ability to motivate his team. Folau not putting in the extra effort to make cover tackles on defense. Nobody in support when a player makes a line break. Backs kicking the ball away 30 seconds after the Coach has told the commentator's that the half time message is to keep the ball in hand. There have been many articles on this forum with ideas on how to fix the issues. However these ideas tend to be gimmicks and short term solutions. The problems are ingrained in their culture and unless the Tah's address this these issues will not go away.
davSA
Guest
This is an excellent suggestion David . I have proposed the same thing on The Roar for the Bulls. At the moment rugby legends such as Matfield and Naas Botha sit on the sidelines ( actually in Studios ) heaping criticism on the Bulls. Like the Waratahs it clearly is not player quality that is in short supply . ...The only problem is that both the past players and the current team management must agree to it . Some coaches may in fact even be threatened by their presence. The current players are mostly young enough to have had Matfields poster above their beds as kids . What a positive difference he could make . This however must be restricted to inspiration and motivation and they must stay clear of technical detail .
Machpants
Roar Guru
I was interested to read that gatland is not using any of the 71 team to inspire his lions, but I'd the 03 English team. Lat tour he found that players just didn't look that far back, didn't connect. The youth of today, no respect, bah humbug, grumble. Not that I was born in 71!
Machooka
Roar Guru
I saw what you did there Fionn ;) Also well done David on 2000+ articles on the Roar. Massive effort! Although I don't often agree with some of your efforts, your opinions and insight are most valuable to readership here at the Roar. For mine is what the Roar is all about... differing opinions and insight. Hey, I also don't often agree with my wife... in fact mostly. And frankly I can't imagine a life where we would want to agree on all things, all the time, anyhow :)
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
That exchange explains a lot
Marko
Guest
I think the problem is that the waratahs are signing guys from rugby league and not focusing on signing guys from the shute shield where they are better players. I think the rebels have signed a few guys from the Shute shield that are performed well for them. even the coach is afraid to cut players who should not be there and sign guys who could do a better job.
Bib
Guest
As far as David lord articles go, this is out there. Time for the green dream Roar Editors. Put lord (and us) out of misery
Ryan
Roar Rookie
..that was awkward.
Bamboo
Guest
Well the Wallabies have been going at around a 55% win rate since 2013. That means the Waratahs would be at 5 wins out of 10 using your logic. Still pretty p*ss poor.