Spiro shows little love for forward play shock

[fatprop]

The king of the fling it wide brigade appears not to have seen the Tahs play the Highlanders & Stormers last season or the final of the S14

Big games are won by the pigs, the back just work out the margin, just watch the ABs in the last quarter against Aus as they close us out or the work by the English forwards to dominate the tackle

He also hates Carter ....... WJ will have a fatwa out imediately

Waugh has it wrong: Tahs must be faster, not bulkier
Spiro Zavos
February 12, 2011

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THIS is the year for supporters to fill their boots with rugby. The IRB Sevens and the Six Nations tournaments have already started. Next week is the beginning of the Super Rugby tournament, with its new format of three conferences (Australia, South Africa and New Zealand), each with five teams. Each conference will have 20 local derby games.

Then there are the Tests with the Wallabies playing the All Blacks and the Springboks. And, finally, to cap off a season of wall-to-wall rugby there is the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Channel Nine, which is the best and most innovative presenter of sports programs, will present a package of Super Rugby highlights each week. It will also present the free-to-air coverage of the Rugby World Cup. Two of the channel's sports heavyweights, Ken Sutcliffe and Tim Sheridan, were at the ARU's launch of the Super Rugby season. I took their presence to be a significant statement of interest on the part of Channel Nine.

At the launch, too, Waratahs captain Phil Waugh was asked what he had learnt from last season.

''We were out-muscled in the semi-final by the Stormers,'' he replied. ''We've done a lot of work physically. A lot of the guys have put on weight.'' As he finished off his remarks someone whispered to me: ''Doesn't Phil understand that with the tackled ball interpretations now, it's all about running rugby?''

There is something in this. New Zealand teams are making their players leaner rather than heavier. Sonny Bill Williams arrived at the Crusaders camp at his boxing weight of 108 kilograms. He was told to take off 5kg immediately. This approach is in keeping with an old mantra that represents the accumulated wisdom of New Zealand rugby: ''The pace of the forwards is the pace of the fastest forward, the pace of the backs is the pace of the slowest back.''

A defiance of this formula over the years by Waratahs teams is a primary reason, in my opinion, why Australia's strongest state side has not been able to achieve a Super Rugby championship. On paper, the Waratahs should be strong contenders for the title this season, as in all the other seasons since 1996. The Waratahs have a pack and a back line stacked with Wallabies. The back three, especially if Kurtley Beale can repeat his Wallabies form, should be as brilliant and lethal as any finishers in the tournament. But the obsession with bulking up is a worry.

Why? The experience of Beale is interesting. It was only when he entered the Wallabies camp last season and Robbie Deans prepared him like a New Zealand fullback, de-bulking him as it were, that he started to play with brilliance.

Something similar should happen to Tom Carter, a mainstay of the Waratahs back line (with 42 consecutive matches) since 2008. He is listed in the media guide at 189 centimetres and 98kg. But he plays heavier. In my opinion, he tends to slow down the back-line attacks. In the trial game against the Fiji Warriors, the Waratahs back line plays often broke down when he got the ball. The pace of the backs …

The pace of the forwards brings us to the case of Waugh. In my view, his obsessive digging for the ball in rucks and his insistence, as the captain, that the Waratahs play a kicking game when they are under pressure has worked against his side in finals rugby. The modern No.7, a Richie McCaw, David Pocock or Daniel Braid, races around the field supporting attacks with aggressive running or linking up to continue the attack. Without a fast flanker, the Waratahs' pack is often too slow to breakdowns against the best opposition. It is this lack of pace on the ball, rather than any lack of bulk, that is the problem.

In the trial matches this season Waugh has played more as a linking forward. He is a strong ball-runner when he plays this game. The Waratahs' backs, too, have refrained from kicking. They have tried to move the ball to the extremities of the field to set up try-scoring chances. If this is to be the pattern of play for the Waratahs in 2011, supporters can anticipate a strong, even victorious Super Rugby campaign.

Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie was asked at the launch what he had learnt from last season.

''It's easier to win when you play entertaining rugby,'' he replied.

The Brumbies, too, with Stephen Larkham as the new backs coach, have promised to try to win the tournament by playing running rugby.

Waratahs, please take note.

 

[Scarfman]

As an aside, the SBW info sounds suspect. Boxers have pretty bloody low body fat. And SBW looked totally ripped when boxing.

 

[Lee Grant]

We won't know if Spiro is right until we are well into the season. I must admit I paused when hearing about the Mowen weight gain. I've seen him play two trials games to date and my jury is well and truly out on bulking up. Before all that came out I mentioned that the Stormers dominated the Tahs twice physically last year and would have to address that in 2011. I doubt if weight gain is the end-all of the solution - but talk is cheap - let's see if it helps.

As for Waugh: he has played a linking tight/loose game for years. You can criticise his type of play and captaincy to the cows come home but I have seen the Tahs win so many games because he was there at the death that I have a little grin when I see the criticism, because I can't remember any losses because he played.

Even he has adopted the mantra of attacking rugby for 2011. Let's see how the Tahs walk the walk when the season starts.

 

[Bruce Ross]

"Channel Nine, which is the best and most innovative presenter of sports programs, will present a package of Super Rugby highlights each week. It will also present the free-to-air coverage of the Rugby World Cup. Two of the channel's sports heavyweights, Ken Sutcliffe and Tim Sheridan, were at the ARU's launch of the Super Rugby season. I took their presence to be a significant statement of interest on the part of Channel Nine.

"At the launch, too, Waratahs captain Phil Waugh was asked what he had learnt from last season.

"Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie was asked at the launch what he had learnt from last season."

Wow! Rugby has finally made it to the big time. OMG, Ken Sutcliffe!! OMG, Tim Sheridan!! They're actually in the room, helping Growds and I soak up the free piss at the Ivy which my grandkids tell me is the place to rub shoulders with the pretty people. They'll be so proud of old granddad. And Ken and Tim, they're here! I take that to be "a significant statement of interest". I wonder if they'll actually watch any of the games.

And the "best and most innovative" Channel Nine is actually going to present "a package of Super Rugby highlights each week", or if you want to be really picky "a package of ads interspersed with Super Rugby highlights".

"THIS is the year for supporters to fill their boots with rugby." And for geriatric journos to fill their boots with free upmarket grog.

We really are blessed in this town having arguably both of the towering intellects of world rugby analysing our sport in such a cerebral manner.

 

[Gagger]

Running, attacking and entertaining rugby doesn't have to be fling it wide BBQ stuff. Watch the Bulls on attack.

This is what I hope the Tahs will do this season

 

[Train Without a Station]

As an aside, the SBW info sounds suspect. Boxers have pretty bloody low body fat. And SBW looked totally ripped when boxing.

Totally agree. Generally Boxers have lower body mass than Rugby players, both in terms of muscle and fat.

That being said the level of SBW's fight may have reduced the need to lean up and he was fighting in heavyweight division so he didn't need to make weight.

 

[Aussie D]

Half the problem with the physicality against the likes of the Stormers is that it goes against how players are generally trained in Australia. Forwards are taught at a young age to stand off and look to get the next run or support the next run rather than go in and win the contest. It is a problem at all levels of our game and only during the periods when we've had coaches who insist their 'turn up' at the breakdown have we done exceptionly well.

Spiro's spin-it-wide philosophy works extremely well when we you have the likes of the Ellas and Campese running the ball at club players but not so well when they are running it against players with high skill level who know how to defend.

 

[waratahjesus]

And the "best and most innovative" Channel Nine is actually going to present "a package of Super Rugby highlights each week", or if you want to be really picky "a package of ads interspersed with Super Rugby highlights".
.

they aint gonna get much money off ads during super rugby highlights, who exactly is going to be watching?

i spoke of spiros article in the other thread. to me, complete misquote, the tahs have mentioned in many interviews this year that it was the forwards bulking up as they felt they were outmuscled. spiro seems to think that every team can just throw the ball and find space and room. its a telling thing that spiro may not understand what the f@#k a good forward pack does at all. The crusaders havnt been the team they were for a couple of years, the south african teams are dominating and have to be the favourates to do so again this year. if the south african national team had a real coach they would probably be world cup faves as well.

i would just hope and pray that whoever replaces robbie as coach or if robbie can pull it out of his ass we start playing rugby the best way we can and stop trying to be NZ b side.

 

[TOCC]

"Channel Nine, which is the best and most innovative presenter of sports programs, will present a package of Super Rugby highlights each week. It will also present the free-to-air coverage of the Rugby World Cup. Two of the channel's sports heavyweights, Ken Sutcliffe and Tim Sheridan, were at the ARU's launch of the Super Rugby season. I took their presence to be a significant statement of interest on the part of Channel Nine.

"At the launch, too, Waratahs captain Phil Waugh was asked what he had learnt from last season.

"Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie was asked at the launch what he had learnt from last season."

Wow! Rugby has finally made it to the big time. OMG, Ken Sutcliffe!! OMG, Tim Sheridan!! They're actually in the room, helping Growds and I soak up the free piss at the Ivy which my grandkids tell me is the place to rub shoulders with the pretty people. They'll be so proud of old granddad. And Ken and Tim, they're here! I take that to be "a significant statement of interest". I wonder if they'll actually watch any of the games.

And the "best and most innovative" Channel Nine is actually going to present "a package of Super Rugby highlights each week", or if you want to be really picky "a package of ads interspersed with Super Rugby highlights".

"THIS is the year for supporters to fill their boots with rugby." And for geriatric journos to fill their boots with free upmarket grog.

We really are blessed in this town having arguably both of the towering intellects of world rugby analysing our sport in such a cerebral manner.

yes the super rugby highlights package might be a bit of a 'non-event', but channel 9 does have the rights to the 2011 and 2015 RWC's as well as all the Wallabies incoming test matches and the tri-nations/4-nations for the next 5 years, so there is more to the picture.

 

[Hawko]

I agree. The quality of Rugby journalism and commentary seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the organisation that provides it. Thank God for G&GR. Spiro's article is particularly poor because he is capable of writing insightful analysis on occasions. Growden's next insightful piece will be his first.

Seems strange that a rugby journalist cannot differentiate between those with numbers 1-8 and those numbered 9-15. Its the Tahs forwards that have bulked up and increased their aggression (on paper at least, we'll know for sure after round 3).

At this stage Bruce's "ad package with a few Super Rugby highlights" is probably what we'll get, especially as I understand it will be only half an hour (20 minutes plus ads). But in terms of raising interest in the non-rugby community, this program has the potential to do more than anything else I can think of to sow the seeds. I hope they don't mungo-ise it.

 

[#1 Tah]

Spiro is an idiot. He doesnt seem to get the fact that the forwards win the matches. A perfect example is the Force backline, who have some brilliant players, but they only have 2 good forwards unfortunately.

 

[naza]

Agreed #1 Tah. Unfortunately there are...a LOT of Spiro's out there in Australian rugby.

 

[Jets]

The Reds had a great backline in 2009 and 2010. The difference being the forwards standing up last year and we almost make the finals.

 

[disco]

A perfect example is the Force backline, who have some brilliant players, but they only have 2 good forwards unfortunately.

Sharpe & Pocock are better than good they were our two best last year they probably fall under outstanding.

Players I would class as good would be Hodgson, McCalman, Brown & Hockings the Force struggle in the Front row.

 

[Hawko]

Sharpe & Pocock are better than good they were our two best last year they probably fall under outstanding.

Players I would class as good would be Hodgson, McCalman, Brown & Hockings the Force struggle in the Front row.

Take out Brown and Hockings and I almost agree with the rest of the post.

 

[Gnostic]

We won't know if Spiro is right until we are well into the season. I must admit I paused when hearing about the Mowen weight gain. I've seen him play two trials games to date and my jury is well and truly out on bulking up. Before all that came out I mentioned that the Stormers dominated the Tahs twice physically last year and would have to address that in 2011. I doubt if weight gain is the end-all of the solution - but talk is cheap - let's see if it helps.

As for Waugh: he has played a linking tight/loose game for years. You can criticise his type of play and captaincy to the cows come home but I have seen the Tahs win so many games because he was there at the death that I have a little grin when I see the criticism, because I can't remember any losses because he played.

Even he has adopted the mantra of attacking rugby for 2011. Let's see how the Tahs walk the walk when the season starts.

As long as the increase in mass has been functional muscle it could well be a good thing. At the time of the report of Mowen's gain it was also reported that his beep time had improved, as had his vertical jump. That would indicate that his speed and agility have no been adversely compromised. I have been saying for a few years that we have had a succession of fast forwards but we have a dearth of forwards who can compete one on one and in some cases two on one with the opposition pigs at the ruck or maul. In fact I can remember cases where players like Richard Brown were cleaned out of the ruck by a back three back. I known times have changed but if our forwards cannot out muscle a back three back at the ruck how can we expect to win rucks and mauls against their pigs.

I am glad to see that the Tahs have at least looked at last season and elected to do something about it and no just give the usual lip service.

 

[Lee Grant]

Yes, you can't blame an organisation for trying to do something different: the old adage about expecting different results doing the same things all the time comes to mind.

Mowen will be a good study in this regard. I have often called him a player who plays a "light" game, not really referring to his weight. It will interesting if his increased weight will help him to play a "heavy" game. Watching him in Super Rugby will be full of interest this season.