The Waratahs' critics need to take a lesson in geography
ADAM FREIER
March 14, 2010
We hear it all the time in all the codes: "A week is a long time in footy." For the Waratahs, that week has changed things to the tune of 73 points.
There has been much written in the past seven days about last weekend's four-point victory against the Sharks, and probably even more animated conversation around the bar. However, I don't believe enough was written, or enough was said, about the task the Waratahs had in front of them after being on the road for so long, and having just returned from two weeks in South Africa.
To paint the picture, let's hit the road to Lismore, Orange and Canberra for three away regional trials. t Following that we hop on a plane and head to Queensland to play the Reds, who have shown in 2010 that they are now a very competitive rugby team. After 79 minutes of brutal football, we find a way to win a tough game. The Reds' subsequent victories over the Chiefs and Crusaders - both semi-finalists in 2009 - are proof of how impressive that away win was.
The morning after the match in Brisbane we fly back to Sydney to wash the socks and jocks, only to repack them and head off the following day on a flight to Johannesburg and another one to Cape Town. There's only four days to adjust before taking on the much-improved Stormers.
We then venture into the concrete jungle of Pretoria with many sceptics saying there's no chance of winning. The players have now adjusted to the time difference and despite playing at altitude against the defending champions and competition favourites, we score four fantastic tries but go down courageously.
Plaudits abound for the Tahs, who have shown what they are capable of. No rest for the wicked, though, and nursing the bumps and bruises of taking on the Bulls, we're back on a bus to Jo'burg and another transcontinental flight to Sydney.
Anyone who has done this trip will tell you that travelling east is harder than travelling west, and even if you manage to doze a bit on the flight, it's hard to send yourself to sleep the following week with your body still telling you it's lunchtime.
By the time you get to Friday you're waking up at 5am, but you're happy with that - it's an improvement on the past four nights. You then head to the captain's run, a session run by Phil Waugh. You welcome Tatafu Polota-Nau and Cliffy Palu back into the team after their four-week injuries have been negotiated down to six-and-a-half days.
You finish the final 40-minute session, go through the recovery and on the surface everything feels like a game week. Apart from the fact your body clock is telling you something totally different to what's on your wrist and you've got to play a game of footy in the toughest provincial rugby comp in the world tomorrow night. Tired? I am tired writing it.
My point is that even though some might think teams are used to it after so many years, you should never underestimate the effects of long-haul travel on performance.
As mentioned earlier, enough has already been written about the match against the Sharks. Coach Chris Hickey probably put it best when he said we were happy with the win but not with the performance. A fair assessment.
The following week Hickey names exactly the same team to play the Lions, and it comes out and rewrites the record books in front of 17,000 loyal fans. How does it happen?
Sure, the Lions weren't up to the challenge, but why so much of a difference in the performance and execution of the Tahs? I continue to come back to the effect of travel and you only have to look at the number of travel-affected performances after just four rounds in 2010 to realise it's not just me creating excuses.
The Chiefs finished runners-up in 2009 but after travelling to Durban in round one they struggled to limp past the Sharks with a penalty after the bell. Similarly, after travelling back to Perth, and then onwards to Hamilton they were dusted by the Reds.
The Tahs and Brumbies both underperformed in their first weeks in South Africa, but in their second weeks produced better efforts, with the Brumbies scoring a victory and NSW going down despite an impressive display. When they returned last weekend, both teams laboured to victories against winless opposition. The Sharks even put in a much sterner effort against the Waratahs than they did in their tryless 29-point loss to the Crusaders the previous week after flying from Durban to Christchurch.
The Hurricanes, semi-finalists in four of the last five seasons, were undefeated going into their round-four clash with the Cheetahs but after travelling to Bloemfontein they were beaten comprehensively by the 2009 wooden spooners.
The Waratahs' result on Friday was a massive win and a historic achievement for all involved. That it came in a match in which Waugh became the most capped Waratah and most capped NSW captain made it even more special.
While they might not receive it, the coaches deserve credit for having faith in the squad from the previous week knowing that, despite the criticism, the result would come. They knew the team would be better in their second week after travel, and the results of other teams flying to and from South Africa in 2010 has proved this.
:thumb He writes well, positively and shows insight
