Halfback Jake Gordon says NSW Waratahs senior players need to support their promising youngsters as they chase an anxiety-relieving Super Rugby win on Friday against the equally desperate Melbourne Rebels.
It will be the Tahs’ first domestic hit-out of the season after convincing losses to the Crusaders and Blues, both from New Zealand.
The unbeaten conference-leading Brumbies have skipped eight points clear of NSW and Melbourne, who clash at AAMI Park.
“We’ve addressed that local derbies are a big one at the moment for us obviously if we win our conference it propels us into finals,” Gordon said.
“They are in the same position as we are at the moment with two losses but I think for us it’s a huge game this weekend, going down to Melbourne.
“I think probably easing the anxiety a little bit coming away with a win will be really good for us.”
Saturday’s 32-12 loss to the Blues in Newcastle meant NSW lost their first two games of a Super season for the first time.
Poor execution with the ball, erratic defence, kicking and scrummaging were all issues for the Tahs, who were outscored 24-5 and four tries to one after halftime.
“A lot the same as the Crusaders game, had a lot of opportunities, once again that last pass didn’t stick,” Gordon said.
“We probably didn’t stick to the gameplan either.
“There are promising signs. I know we said it last week too.
“We’re creating stuff it’s just we need to be better at finishing.”
It was a mixed night for their two exciting young backs, winger Mark Nawaqanitawase and five-eighth Will Harrison.
Nawaqanitawase’s acrobatic dive resulted in his third try in two games, though he landed awkwardly and had to come off, but was later cleared of any injury.
Harrison was replaced after 55 minutes, having had some good and bad moments.
“I think the senior guys (need) to probably put their arm around them and be like ‘let’s move on to the next job’,” Gordon said.
“But from what I’ve seen from those young guys, I actually think they’ve been going really well.”
Gordon said his halves partner Harrison wasn’t having any problems directing and ordering far more senior colleagues around the park.
“I think with ten he has to and he’s been doing that,” Gordon said
“I’ve been really happy with Will, I’ve loved playing with him so far.
“I love that he’s such an attacking weapon.”
Matt
Guest
You will never ever achieve parity in the scrum consistently when you have a 105 kilo Teletubbie up front against 135 kilo beasts.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
No offence to Jake Gordon but what needs to happen with the Tahs is two things ...... at least get parity in their scrum and most importantly ALL the players have to work much harder off the ball because that is the only way they can harden up their defence ..... don't know how many times I saw them short one side of the ruck because players were walking
BillPosters
Roar Rookie
Completely agree jeznez. Almost a completely new coaching team and most of them didn't start until well into the pre-season. The same cannot be said for Wessels and Thorn. If those guys can't turn it around this year then I reckon it's lights out for them.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Ken, pretty correct although I'd say Penney us very experienced whereas Thorn is not. Thorn is credited in some quarters but the fact remains that QLD produces talent and rhar has little to do with BT. His charges are motivated and willing to put in (and BT can take SOME credit for that). However his game plan, team management on the field us poor. Reds put themselves in the position of winning BOTH previous games but "blinked" at the pointy end. The Tahs under Penney failed to even get to the pointy end of their games.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I don’t think anyone at Tah HQ is planning to lose or otherwise fail. Similar to Rebels. The continent’s two largest populations seem unable to field teams with competitive grit. Yet comparatively smaller towns like Canberra, and to a lesser extent Brisbane, are able to foster a more, dare I say, ‘mongrel’ culture. There’s no big city in ‘team’ it seems. I sense that the ‘rebuilding’ required is cultural, not just about player and coach personnel. Mongrels as canines are individually tenacious, hunt in cooperative packs and are ruthlessly competitive. I’m not prescribing ‘dirty play’, more a tenacious pack mentality similar to the glimpse we saw in 2014. Not sure how much individual coaches or players can create such a culture in such a short time, and it is a short time since the nucleus left (albeit with a version of a similar impotent culture). It’s taken Thorn two seasons of cultural transplant and babysitting to nearly win the tight ones. So we can’t blame Penney or any of the baby Tahs for yesteryear’s results. Penney may be a nice guy. But he may need to try something other than nice at this stage of the rebuild. If we can’t have wins we need to see something more united and tenacious than what we saw in Newcastle.
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Thanks for those quotes jeznez, apppreciate it. Maybe that's as strong with language he's prepared to use at this stage of the season. I would like to see some measurable, sustained improvement with this side; as I continually struggle to see it over many years now. If Penney is still talking about the same flaws in a few weeks time, and the Tahs are getting licked more or less across the park; then the knives will sharpen and start swinging I would think. I'm curious too. I don't think many from last weeks starting 15 should feel they are automatic starters in Melbourne. Surely there has to be a few changes?
jeznez
Roar Guru
The comments I've been reading from him have been pretty much on the money: “All in all, a pretty disappointing performance,” "We can’t drop our lip but we can’t hide from the fact we weren’t anywhere near where we needed to be today" “We’ve got to show some resilience, first and foremost,” “We haven’t been totally outplayed in both games, but I said we had to learn from last week and those soft moments that we were a little bit vulnerable and we’ve got to try and find a way to put some cement in there." From Saturday he's given the lineout a tick but criticised scrummaging, kicking, defence and the lack of ability to execute the gameplan. "when we’ve got a plan, we’ve got a strategy just be patient with it, we weren’t tonight,” I'll be curious to see what he does this weekend - will some of these guys be benched? Or will he give them one more shot?
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Yep, fair call - I didn't mean to have Penney in my sights, so I'll take that back, but I felt that after last Saturdays game that some more frank and forthright assessments were warranted.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Penney’s comments have been spot on. Simmons and the other players have been a bit delusional but I like what I’m hearing from the coach
jeznez
Roar Guru
Poor coach? The guy’s been there for five minutes! Give him a chance.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Fair comment. Most fans just want the positives and not the negatives. Way of the world, I suppose. PS. and there are plenty of negatives in recent years. Ma7ntain the faith!
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
I'm just tired of all the Waratah talk, year after year, of what the coach(es), captain(s) players 'aim to do', and what they are 'gunna do' next week etc etc, and keep not doing it. Where is some brutal honesty and straight talking with this franchise about themselves firstly, and secondly to their fans? They must live in some parallel universe of grand delusion. How do these guys come out with "oh, we lost our way with our gameplan" as an alleged credible explanation for the Newcastle loss, that any objective analysis would describe as lethargic and SR sub-standard. There's at least another 10 words that would more accurately describe that last performance. Do the fans ever hear any of it? But wait, the main excuse for this season has already been wheeled out; "we're rebuilding".
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Sure the more experienced guys NEED to stand up. Robertson, Abel, HJH, Simmo were poor and got bullied. Having said that the younger guts need to take their opportunity. They haven't! Is that a coaching issue ? I don't think the Tahs are capable. Poor coach, average roster, no hard men, little mental toughness equals a poor season. On the face of it, the Rebels and Tahs will fight it out for bottom of OZ teams. A real disappointment for Tahs fans.