Firstly, I think this is bad idea, even when measured against a franchise that have made bad ideas seem commonplace (like acquiring Cross in the offseason). What good do they think can come of this? the fans letting them know they are not happy with the football? If they don't know that yet there are bigger problems at HQ than a few bums missing from seats. Also, why the fuck are they turning to the public for assistance - it's your bloody job to work out how to play good rugby! Do I get a fee for implementing succesfull ideas? Is there a set of KPIs?
Anyway, not wanting to tell the coaches how to suck eggs, but I would suggest to them (were I going along) that the reason fans are booing (well, those fans that bother showing up) is that the team is playing a fairly uninspiring brand of football since their first bye. It seems as though the loss to the cheatahs wasnt a wake up call, it was an unexpected slap that has left many in the waratah camp backing into their shells. Since that game, the first option has been to look for the attacking kick. Has it paid off? maybe once or twice (unless you count Cross' try last weekend as a set move). Surely we have better options on good attacking ball than to kick for a winger? But the biggest change since a reasonable exciting portion of last season is the offloading forwards. None of them do it anymore, they seem scared of the potential turnover so the whole team has contracted Tom Carter Syndrome and go head down ball tucked into any contact. When they do have good ball, or sustained possession, they cant seem to go anywhere with it.
I also don't buy the "they kicked to us and made us play negatively" excuse that Hickey is putting about (and I expect will be his "go to" retort at the fan forum). Yes the opposition team is kicking at you - it's a better than 50% chance you will kick it back to them. And they back that they are better kickers than you. And often they are correct! The reason the Tahs are so consistantly kicking the ball back to their opposition is that the forwards are WALKING!!!! No-one is running back to support a counter, no-one is running into position to provide options, and no-one is preparing for a ruck should Beale or Turner get tackled. I suppose the problem is a bit chicken and egg, are the forwards walking because they expect KB (Kurtley Beale) to kick, or is KB (Kurtley Beale) forced to kick because no-one is there to support him? Either way, surely it is the coaches job to set the strategy for the game, and then ENSURE THE PLAYERS PLAY TO THE STRATEGY. I'm not sure if it's fitness or attitude, but either problem is fixable by a good coaching staff.
Beau Robinson was on Inside Rugby last night and said something interesting about the difference between the tahs and the reds. At the reds there is a young culture that promotes backing yourself and going for it, he says, which was not evident at the tahs. I was hoping someone made more of this response (but of course they didnt) and asked where the old conservativity is from. The head coach is the same, so did link learn a few things in Paris? Is it the playing group and is Waugh really dragging the team into a conservative game plan? Or is it NSWHQ sticking their nose in? Unfortunately the opportunity was lost and they crossed to Marto's arse, or some such thing.
Any way I look at the problem of the waratahs, I come to the same conclusion. The fans are not turning up, because the team are not playing well (or in some cases even winning) because the team are not playing to their potential and are playing a poor game plan poorly. And in my view, the underlying problem to all the above is coaching staff.
Anyway, sorry for the long post (got the blood up - good thing I havent been drinking!) but thats what I would ask them. The big question though, is would they listen?
