Tahs v Fiji Warriors

[#1 Tah]

The gilbert synergie balls are designed to keep its grip when raining, when it is humid and tbere is sweat on the ball, it loses everything

 

[Lee Grant]

Interesting point. After a while you knew something was wrong and it magnified the propensity of those players who drop the ball a lot, to do so.

 

[Apostle]

Cross in particular seemed to be dropping the ball every time it came to him.

There seemed to be a really good atmosphere at the game, at least around where I was sitting with the missus. Everyone seemed to be having a genuinely good time rather than the mutters and scowls you often saw at 'tah games for the last few years. Seems to me that there is a bit more of a positive vibe surrounding the team and fans this year than there has been for a while - hopefully that continues into the season.

 

[inthestands]

I think your take on the atmosphere must have been spot on. If this bloke's on board, it just might be a big season! Wonder how membership sales will go after this article and a good first quarter/half performance by the 'A' team. I saw Jason Allen, Zemancheff, Sally Loane and Peter Medway in Bay 13 last night. I nice touch to see them amongst the general admission and not in the air-conditioned luxury of the private suites.

Flair's back in fashion for style-conscious Waratahs

February 5, 2011

AS THE Waratahs board members sat in the middle of the punters at the SFS last night, they must have been relieved their team provided the required level of entertainment from near enough the first whistle. After all, they didn't want to find themselves in a riot.

The Waratahs have repeatedly carried on about how they want to delight their fans by playing swashbuckling football, but conservatism, fear of losing and forward-based tactics have often resulted in a major let down.

With Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell and Ryan Cross in their back line, it is no surprise that the pre Super Rugby season call has been that the Waratahs could rival the Queensland Reds as the best attacking outfit among the Australian provinces.

Advertisement: Story continues below
And there were enough encouraging signs in the trial match against Fiji to indicate the SFS could be a House of Fun this season. After eight minutes the Waratahs, who from the kick-off stretched their play to both sidelines, had crossed the line three times. The fourth try was a beauty with Beale timing his crossfield kick perfectly to put Mitchell away, and by the 22nd minute the Waratahs had the game won when Turner scored their fifth try.

The standards slipped when the replacements filtered on during the second half but the hatchet job had already been completed, with six back-line tries enabling the Waratahs to go into the break leading 34-0. In the end, they finished with seven tries and a 41-13 shellacking.

Then again, you would expect such urgency, as there has already been a concerted off-field push for a lift in standards. If the Waratahs' season launch on Thursday was any indicator, excellence is the No.1 priority at Moore Park.

In decades past, such functions were renowned for degenerating into very tired and emotional affairs. During the days of the Sydney afternoon tabloid newspaper war, a NSW season launch held in a low-grade restaurant almost turned into a riot when the scribes discovered there was only light beer on offer. Not even an offering of party pies, frankfurts and tomato sauce could quell the media mass, especially one columnist who physically threatened a NSW official for having the temerity to attempt to corrupt his alcohol-soaked taste buds.

This year it was decidedly up-market and the media didn't have to fight among themselves to provide the entertainment. We were instead in the land of the pretty people at The Ivy, eating and drinking quality fare, and were even sung to.

There was smoke, explosions, statements of high hope from officials, a player parade, and then suddenly the Jersey Boys were on stage going through the Frankie Valli song list, particularly reminding all to Walk Like A Man.

The Waratahs took that ditty to heart last night, walking, talking, running, sprinting and cavorting like a man. Even if it was just a trial, there wasn't much namby-pamby stuff going on. That was always going to be the way when you confront Fiji.

Unfortunately, while the Fijians were their usual belligerent, no-nonsense selves, their skill level was well short of what was required to keep the Waratahs at bay. Some of their tackling attempts were hilarious, and even several Waratahs attacking players were astounded how easily they bumped off the Pacific Islanders.

There's no doubt the Waratahs' next trial, against the Western Force in Nowra on Thursday night, will be a considerable step up. Then we will find out if the Waratahs are the real attacking deal.

 

[barbarian]

I think the late season form of the Wallabies has seen a lift in the mood of the rugby public, especially around guys like Beale and Mitchell. There is that feeling that brilliance could be just one or two phases away. That hasn't been the case for many years.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Add to that the ticketing prices have seemed to dropped a bit and the fact juniors gain free admission(have a younger brother playing this year) it should hopefully not only bolster attendance but overall atmosphere. Playing expansively helps as well.

 

[Reddy!]

And even with Palu back, that crunching tackle of bullocking run is only 1 or 2 phases away as well.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Or a bone rattling TPN tackle to half cripple an opposition player.

 

[Reddy!]

Yeh exactly. I feel Australian rugby has turned a page and there are finally established players that people want to come see play and play brilliantly. I think for a while there people were holding on to their memories of Larkham, Gregan, Burke, Latham, Roff, Rogers, Smith, Waugh and the like, whinging about why there is no one as good as them anymore.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Isn't it great to have our leading rugby journalist, Greg Growden, back writing about rugby, and in such superb early season form.

This article has it all: "Waratahs board members sat in the middle of the punters"; and an absolutely absorbing reminiscence about "a NSW season launch held in a low-grade restaurant almost turned into a riot when the scribes discovered there was only light beer on offer." Laugh? I bloody near pissed myself.

Then we were treated to a detailed discussion about our man's most recent free feed "in the land of the pretty people at The Ivy, eating and drinking quality fare." You have to wonder how he'd go trying to get into the Ivy after midnight any other time to get back among "the pretty people".

There was even enough mention of the actual game to create the impression that he had either actually been there or had spoken to someone in the bar later night who had.

I don't want to start an argument with our non-Aussie members, but I am firmly convinced that you wouldn't get that standard of rugby analysis and insight in any other country

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Agreed. We had a period where Rugby had genuine stars that produced on field then suddenly that all disappeared and things stagnated. I can remember having an argument with my uncle (who's a Soccerista evangelist) regarding this a few years back. I told him the new crop coming up had the talent to revive the game. It now appears that they are beginning to do just that and the future is looking a lot rosier than it has in a while, people are responding. Long may it continue.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Isn't it great to have our leading rugby journalist, Greg Growden, back writing about rugby, and in such superb early season form.

This article has it all: "Waratahs board members sat in the middle of the punters"; and an absolutely absorbing reminiscence about "a NSW season launch held in a low-grade restaurant almost turned into a riot when the scribes discovered there was only light beer on offer." Laugh? I bloody near pissed myself.

Then we were treated to a detailed discussion about our man's most recent free feed "in the land of the pretty people at The Ivy, eating and drinking quality fare." You have to wonder how he'd go trying to get into the Ivy after midnight any other time to get back among "the pretty people".

There was even enough mention of the actual game to create the impression that he had either actually been there or had spoken to someone in the bar later night who had.

I don't want to start an argument with our non-Aussie members, but I am firmly convinced that you wouldn't get that standard of rugby analysis and insight in any other country

Give the man a break. At least he mentioned the game, its hard for someone who engages so eagerly in his own sense of self worth and entitlement to pull his head out of his own arse for a whole two hours to report on the sport his supposed to be covering.

 

[Groucho]

* At this stage, my feeling is that the coaches may go for a Rd1 team (pending fitness of 1 & 13) of Robinson, Polota-Nau, Baxter, Mumm, Douglas, Mowen, Waugh, Palu, Burgess, Barnes, Mitchell, Cross, Horne, Turner, Beale. Reserves: Fitzpatrick, Kepu, O'Connor, Dennis, McKibbin, Halangahu, Pakalani.

Very strong team.

 

[DPK]

http://www.superrugby.com.au/Video.aspx

Video here of the Tahs vs Fiji Warriors.

Was Greg Peterson number 18? He is bloody massive.

Palu looked like he's back to his beastly best from this video. Some of those cheaps shots that people mentioned Barnes copped were atrocious.

 

[Tiger]

Jeez that first try had some pretty slick hands in it

Looks a bit helter-skelter (no surprise v Fiji and a trial) but there was some really good play in there

 

[Blue]

Aah, some things in life you can bank. Death, taxes and pre-season Tah optimism.

(Insert little fishing fecker)

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

That first try was a pearler.

 

[Piglet]

Some good player reviews here. While there was some great work shown by the Tahs first team players (Beale, Mitchell, Turner, TPN, etc), it should be remembered that they played against what was really a C or D Fiji team made up of domestic league players.

The true test for the Tahs (and whether they revert to type) will be their second match against the Reds. I don't expect the Rebels to put up too much resistance given their lack of match time together.

 

[qwerty51]

The Reds? That's an easy given for us like every year since 2000? Real test will be at Christchurch, when the Crusaders will be playing with some extra motivation.

 

[#1 Tah]

The Reds? That's an easy given for us like every year since 2000? Real test will be at Christchurch, when the Crusaders will be playing with some extra motivation.

Minus captain McCheat though.