WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Will be attending that trial on the 10th. Hopefully a good show. Evidently the Shoalhaven Council have paid $50,000 for the event.
Waratahs 2011
- Thread starter fatprop
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#1 Tah
Chilla Wilson (44)
Its against Fiji at the SFS, so much for taking rugby to the country!
waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
saw rob at the V8 race saturday, said he didnt know but was feeling great. not sure what that means if anything at all. was passing the ball around and running with kids and didnt look like he was restricted but playing kids is like playing qld, so not sure if he would be able to play harder games against every other team in the comp.
matty_k
Peter Johnson (47)
I love you WJ
No Wisemantle, Scott Bowen is in his spot as assistant coach
They do seem to have a cast of 1000s
I would suggest Burke and Shirvington are specialists and won't be spending a lot of time with the boys. Foley with the forwards and Bowen with the backs are the two crucial positions, the team will sink or swim on their achievements.
Question: with all these assistant coaches, what does a head coach do these days?
Question: with all these assistant coaches, what does a head coach do these days?
What a good CEO does, shows the direction and gets out of the way .
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
In the face of crap performance (Hickey) you can either go for black humour or outright abuse. Either way its the feeling of powerlessness that we supporters feel when we can see the holy grail almost within reach. But for a few dud selections to the squad and an inability to deliver a gameplan that is not hopelessly conservative, this team could already hold a Super championship trophy. This year looks a little different - we might have a backs coach of quality this time to go with a great forwards coach - but unless these two plus Muggleton become a quasi head coach committee, the dead hand of conservatism will result in another "we almost made it" year. If Kurtley, Schmoo and Turner are not given free rein to work their magic, I for one will go ballistic.
This year we are still a few of players short of of a championship, but it only needs a couple of players to really step up and we will be on track. If Kepu can step up to play as a second tight head and play around the field like he was at the end of Shute then we have five out of the best eight front rowers in Oz and should easily have the best scrum. That's a weapon we need to use. If Douglas doesn't suffer from second year syndrome and sets out to show Dingo how good a player he really is, and if Mumm steps up a gear we have a second row to fear. Our backrow is star-studded. Burgess and Barnes are fine. Our centres are problematic - I would love to see Horne and BKH at 12 and 13, with Carter in the mix for those teams where we need tight defence against big units (eg Crusaders, Bulls). BKH really needs to step up and Horne to be fit, Carter and Cross will mean the back three won't touch the ball. The back three are the equal of anyone. We have the players to take it this year if we can avoid injuries, especially in some key positions; the back-up at lock and centre is less than stellar.
Which brings us back to the head coach. Best thing is if he gets out of the way and lets the team off the leash. If he tries to impose a conservative plan and restrict our game-breakers then we will be top four contenders but no more. Just like the last two years.
I tend to disagree a bit Hawko, we struggled early this season due to cohesion and cattle issues to me. Barnes took a while to settle in and we had Carter at 13 so we had little width or pace
We started off with in game one
15. Sosene Anesi, 14. Lachie Turner , 13. Tom Carter , 12. Kurtley Beale , 11. Drew Mitchell*, 10. Berrick Barnes* , 9. Luke Burgess
and ended up with
15. Kurtley Beale , 14. Lachie Turner , 13. Rob Horne , 12. Tom Carter , 11. Drew Mitchell , 10. Berrick Barnes , 9. Luke Burgess
Beale finding his home at 15 and getting Horne back were the two key points to me - and that didn't happen to round 7.
We also now have better back up for next season at 13 with Cross & BKH.
Carter is a very effective player at 12, but not 13 cover unless we become incredibly desperate
We started off with in game one
15. Sosene Anesi, 14. Lachie Turner , 13. Tom Carter , 12. Kurtley Beale , 11. Drew Mitchell*, 10. Berrick Barnes* , 9. Luke Burgess
and ended up with
15. Kurtley Beale , 14. Lachie Turner , 13. Rob Horne , 12. Tom Carter , 11. Drew Mitchell , 10. Berrick Barnes , 9. Luke Burgess
Beale finding his home at 15 and getting Horne back were the two key points to me - and that didn't happen to round 7.
We also now have better back up for next season at 13 with Cross & BKH.
Carter is a very effective player at 12, but not 13 cover unless we become incredibly desperate
I disagree as well. The 2010 Tahs weren't as conservative as they have been in previous years and "at times" showed how awesome they can be with the right mindset.
Examples:
Bulls v Tahs
Tahs v Lions
Tahs v Hurricanes
Tans v Blues
What they seemed to lack was a little of the "Reds" finishing.
Admittedly, they did fall back into their shells at few times (like the Brumbies game).
I'm not sure who you blame for the mind-set. It seems to me that most teams think either:
1) We've got a powerful set-piece, therefore we'll kick and chase
or
2) We'll get smashed up front, so we better throw it around
What I'd like to see the Tahs do is dominate up front, specially at ruck time, then unleash the talent out back . . .
But then again . . . I guess that's is what we all want!!
PS What about Halangahu at 12?? Or Hangers at 10 and Barnes at 12??
Would BKH really add much in the centres? I thought he was more of a back 3.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Wasn't suggesting we play Carter at 13. I would play Carter at 12 and Horne at 13 when facing big slower centres and Horne at 12 and BKH at 13 for the rest. Cross would back up any injuries. I know this means Horne would switch between 12 and 13 and you wouldn't normally want to do it, but Horne is a special player and based on his history could handle either well. IMO long term Horne should aim to play 12, I think its a better fit for his skill set. All of this turns to custard if he doesn't recover from injury quickly of course; then we are really deep in it.
I agree. Just get him on the park -- anywhere!!
The brumbies didn't help, if the Tahs are being deem average last season in attack, what were the Brumbies?
BKH is a stepping quick 12 IMHO
Hangers? too much like Barnes to be next to eachother, both are good brains, but not real attacking threats individually
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
1. Add in the Crusaders game to the Brumbies as prime examples of going into our shell, plus the Stormers, both games.
2. The prime thing the head coach does is to establish the team mindset.
3. I see Hangers as a very effective back-up to Barnes at 10. I think his skill set means he is ineffective at 12 at this level of competition - either you need a crash-baller or a runner and Hangers is neither.
4. BKH needs to step up, he's done OK so far in juniors but needs to take his game to the next level. If he doesn't I am very worried about how we will go at 12 & 13, especially if Horne does not recover quickly.
5. Agree with what you'd like to see, I would too. The ability is there, it needs to become our focus.
DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
Hangers is one of the best show and go runners in Aus, although that is almost always from 10. He scored 3 from crashing over running from ten in the 2010 season and at least one in 2009. I think he has got crash ball potential, but obviously this would be less effective from 12.
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