The Waratahs lost to the Sharks only because of their failure to adapt.
You could argue it wasn’t a failure to adapt, but rather a stubbornness to stick to a plan A. Trouble is, their plan A likely still involves Israel Folau, and he’s not coming back.
A week after the kickathon versus the Rebels, they employed the same kind of tactics but preconceptions about S’busiso Nkosi’s catching under the high ball ensured every time boot met with the ball it went into the dark Parramatta sky.
When quizzed early in the second half in a Fox Sports interview Darryl Gibson stated: “Obviously the high ball, we know their winger’s a little bit suspect there, so we want to keep putting pressure on them and getting those possessions down their end.”
A one-dimensional game plan, and as long as it worked early on, they’d be flogging it for the full 80. But after a couple of nervy ones early for Nkosi, he tidied up his game, meaning that any high bombs were just free ball given away a few metres further downfield.
In a past life, Israel Folau might’ve had a chance at contesting them, but who out of Cameron Clark, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Karmichael Hunt or Curtis Rona is realistically taking those?
It’s one thing to “play down their end” with long (unlikely, I know) touch-finders from Bernard Foley or Kurtley Beale, but it’s another thing to hand over the ball to anyone who can catch it.
Saying that the only play that wasn’t premeditated was Jed Holloway’s moment of madness would be harsh, but possibly fair.
The real reason for this kicking spree was to fill the void left from their lack of gainline success. After that weekend, the Waratahs are equal third in terms of kicks from hand – marginally trailing the Stormers and Sharks, while matching the numbers from the Jaguares, for whom kicking is typically a strength.
NSW’s struggles making ground were mentioned pregame, added to the ultra-physical South African side, and you’ve already got some problems, which makes it inexcusable when some your key forwards in Holloway and Jack Dempsey are getting carded.
All it does is make Michael Hooper’s job even harder, and the scrum becomes a liability. But they know this, they’re professional rugby players.
This Waratahs team has lost three from their last four games, and now take on arguably the hardest stretch of the year: the South African tour.
They play the Bulls at altitude, before the Lions in Johannesburg; neither are unwinnable fixtures, but NSW will need much-improved gainline success and improved discipline.
Cynical Play
Guest
Looked alright against the Oz conference leaders I recall. Pretty good kicking game from both. Good enough to win, eh?!
cookie
Roar Guru
stillmissit.. yep.. Holloway is not a 4 or 5.. Historically he has been hit and miss at 8. or perhaps injured too often. I do wonder if he can be moulded to an enforcer at 6 ? I do like the sound of Holloway at 6 and Naissarani at 8
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Lano: There seems to be no selection of horses for courses or adjustment of game plans. The Tahs are just following the Cheika playbook.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Cookie: Any #6 should be sent to Europe to meet up with Fardy to find out how to play there. When Holloway comes back I am hoping that Staniforth cements the position in the row and Holloway returns to #8 where I think he is better than Naisarani, not in terms of hit ups but in smarts and linking ability. Needs to lose about 5 kgs and do some sprint work.... RE your post a correction - Not only the Tahs BUT The Wallabies need a proper sized and capable 6 & 8!
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Plan B - make Plan A work.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
True, but difficult to stretch out to a 1000 word article ;)
Bobby
Roar Rookie
The game plan must be one capable of being executed by the players. If it is not then that is a failing of the coach. If players are capable and don't execute then it's their fault. The perfect plan us one that is executed correctly and the team wins!
Highlander
Guest
Not sure this was a failure to adapt so much as a complete disconnect between the game plan and the side selected. The Tahs, last year and this, have selected a lightweight quicker pack and look to move the ball quickly away from the forwards contact zones and with a degree of success it should be noted. So why the thinking that this smaller side could take on the giants of Durban by running the ball up the middle of the park. Certainly didn't adjust when it was obviously not working, but to attempt this as a strategy at all was a stroke of purist optimism in the first place.
Adsa
Roar Rookie
I reckon they lost because they are rubbish.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Tom yeah I agree with you but it's actually far worse than what you say. Foley and Beale are such poor open field kickers only an idiot would base a game plan around them. Foley is an inaccurate pop gun and Beale just mindlessly slams the ball down centre of field or tries a silly chip kick to himself at the wrong time. And neither of them has improved in the past 10 yrs - they've always been rubbish kickers. If you are going to have a Plan A around kicking you obviously need players who can deliver it. Waratahs don't have any. And then of course there's no Plan B either :)
ALG90
Roar Rookie
I actually think they have a better and more impactful backrow this week (Hannigan, Hooper, Swinton) than they did last week (Wells, Hooper, Dempsey). Also Staniforth was the best forward a few weeks ago so they haven't lost much with the injuries. Pity about Latu though as would be good to see if he's cleaned up his act and lineout throwing as he's great over the ball and solid in the scrum.
Lano
Roar Guru
Michael Wells: good call cookie, worst performance I've seen from a back rower in several decades.
cookie
Roar Guru
Sure they failed to adapt but the forwards particularly Michael Wells got slapped silly. The body height of the all the forwards was way too high. The Waratahs lack a proper sized 6 & 8