Waratahs 2012

[#1 Tah]

I thought Foley looked very good... its only 8 minutes I know, but I think he needs to play for a Shute Sheild club this year and be monitored closely... Yes, I did in fact forget about Dennis.... whoops.

Cross isn't on deck for next year is he? Paka is, and I am pretty sure Vicks is.

 

[Gnostic]

So looking for next year then:

1. Get Foley on a full time contract. Keep 'em 7s skippers coming.
2. Get Foley as head coach.
3. Waugh forwards coach
4. Barnes (after impending head knock) as backs coach.
5. Get a reserve scrummie
6. Change the S&C program, it clearly didnt work this year.
7. Use a rotation policy.

Said and done, we end up with something like this:

1: Cat
2: TPN
3: Keps
4: Mumm
5: Vickerman
6: Mowen
7: Alcock
8. Palu
9: McKibben
10: Foley
11: Schmoo
12: Carter
13: Horne
14: Turner
15: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

16: Fitzy
17: Tilse/Ryan
18. Caldwell/Douglas
19: McCutcheon
20: ?
21: Halangahu
22: Paka/BKH/Kingston

WHat proven coaching credentials do Waugh and Barnes have to walk straight into a professional role? There are proven coaches in Oz ready for the positions.

The real question is, are the Tahs happy finishing where they have in the same manner they have yet again? If not are they prepared to admit that their poor execution in numerous games and not just the semi is a real reason for their continual failure and the derision of their fans?

 

[Sully]

Some say that Waugh has been coaching the Tahs for years. But after watching The Code last night maybe Michael Foley is the real coach

 

[Hawko]

WHat proven coaching credentials do Waugh and Barnes have to walk straight into a professional role? There are proven coaches in Oz ready for the positions.

The real question is, are the Tahs happy finishing where they have in the same manner they have yet again? If not are they prepared to admit that their poor execution in numerous games and not just the semi is a real reason for their continual failure and the derision of their fans?

If Foley goes to head coach then I see no reason why Waugh would not be a smashing success as forwards coach. But I agree with you that Barnes would be totally unqualified to be backs coach. Watching the Tahs backs this year says Bowen has no clue whatsoever. Without wanting to start a fight between club supporters, the backs coach needs to have been in the Randwick system before it lost its magic. The Reds back coach comes from there and he has inculcated into them an ability to play a wide variety of styles, but when the game has required open running rugby they have been able to do it. You'd love to tempt McKay back but I fear he is lost forever; and I don't think Gatland is available either. But someone from there who knows how to make a backline run must be available somewhere.

 

[Sully]

Why would Foley need a forwards coach?

 

[light]

That back 3 is strong, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15 concerns me but Mitchell should cover that well enough if there are troubles. Good centre pairing, if #10 Foley can co-ordinate that back line, it could be quite a good season. Looks promising.

 

[waratahjesus]

That back 3 is strong, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15 concerns me but Mitchell should cover that well enough if there are troubles. Good centre pairing, if #10 Foley can co-ordinate that back line, it could be quite a good season. Looks promising.

18 months ago AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was first choice fullback for the wallabies by a country mile, its not that bad an option. Hopefully the tahs pick him and leave him in a position though so he gains some confidence and plays to his ability more than he has at the brumbies.

 

[high tower]

Randwick system before it lost its magic. The Reds back coach comes from there and he has inculcated into them an ability to play a wide variety of styles, . You'd love to tempt McKay back but I fear he is lost forever;

Jimmy McKay i think you will find is an ex Warringah Rat.

 

[Gnostic]

There are plenty of good backs coaches who can get a backline moving and running support lines and actually executing basic skills, what club they learned the skills at doesn't matter. Lane comes to mind for me or even better Phil Mooney. Too many seem to have forgotten that the Reds sweeping backline plays were there for all to see last year under Mooney, they didn't have the hard edge and consistancy that Link has brought to the team. I am not bagging Link in saying this, he is by far the best Super Coach in Oz (and I would say the best coach outright IMO) but I really hope we see Mooney back at a Super side in Oz again.

Another point that must be addressed is the relative poor results from place kicking. It was always a 50:50 this year if they would get it even from in front of the posts. Perhaps just because Burke was one of the best in the world doesn't mean he can impart said skills. The massive decline in the accuracy of three kickers for the Tahs made me wonder if Burke had played around with their set-up so they weren't comfortable any more. In any case somebody with proven results in coaching this talent should be appointed not somebody who could do it no matter how well.

 

[#1 Tah]

McKibben apparently is the best kicker in the team.

 

[tigerland12]

McKibben apparently is the best kicker in the team.

He is a very very good kicker from what I saw from his years playing for Brothers up in QLD.

Also, assuming Ashley-Cooper plays 15, that'll be two seasons in a row he hasn't played his ideal wallabies position for his province (yes i can see into the future haha)

 

[ChargerWA]

I must admit to being a bit surprised when someone mentioned they had seen Bourke have a place kicking contest with Kurtley, Berrick and Hangers(?) at training, and beat them all.

That sets off warning bells for me. Just because a guy can place kick himself, that doesn't mean he has the technical nous to teach it to someone else.

 

[matty_k]

Maybe goal kicking is much like a golf swing and seeing Burke has had a hell of a lot more practice at it it makes sense he (Burke) would be better.

 

[waratahjesus]

If gregan and larkham can do it for the brumbies without experience I see no reason barnes and Waugh can't. If it does come down to barnes retiring, ihope he gets involved in coaching, it would be good to have some players with modern day exposure around teams. Could lead to australia actually innovating again instead of being two years behind the all blacks but working towards catching up to what they where doing then.

 

[tigerland12]

Barnes coaching? Guys I'm certain his carear is far from over

 

[waratahjesus]

Barnes coaching? Guys I'm certain his carear is far from over

I cross my fingers it isn't, until I learnt that the specialist and the tahs had deduced he could play up to 60 minutes before getting a headache so was being managed. As I've said before I suffer something similar from concussions and that isn't a positive, that said, everyone is different and I hope he finds the balance he needs to do whatever he personally wants to do, as a fan I hope that's play, but wish him well regardless and hope he takes the time he needs to make the right decision.

 

[Sully]

If gregan and larkham can do it for the brumbies without experience I see no reason barnes and Waugh can't. If it does come down to barnes retiring, ihope he gets involved in coaching, it would be good to have some players with modern day exposure around teams. Could lead to australia actually innovating again instead of being two years behind the all blacks but working towards catching up to what they where doing then.

Mate, not saying that they wouldn't be great coaches but, the Brumbies came like 13th this season. Hardly a great example of ex players with no coaching experience doing well.

 

[TheNextBigThing]

I think the Barnes coaching idea is more in the realm of Huxley's role as a kicking coach when his melon was on the fritz.

They've got him on contract they might as well use him in some capacity.

 

[waratahjesus]

Mate, not saying that they wouldn't be great coaches but, the Brumbies came like 13th this season. Hardly a great example of ex players with no coaching experience doing well.

I know, it's just interesting though that there appointment isn't met with resistance though I guess I was trying to point out in a way. You don't need a certificate to be a good coach.

Foley has been a long time servant in assisting and specialist coaching, as long as he gets the people around him he wants then I'm happy whoever that is.

I see ALex Fergusons name popping up in the media lately in relation to couching setups in the nrl, and after reading a Roy keane autobiography a few years back, would suggest (and maybe a south African brother could help me out) that Jake white coaches in a similar way, that he surrounds himself with coaches he coaches and doesn't actually get to hands in, but more coes up with the tactics and observes from a distance, think trying something new like this could pay off in terms if getting that little but extra the tahs lack.

 

[Slim 293]

If gregan and larkham can do it for the brumbies without experience I see no reason barnes and Waugh can't. If it does come down to barnes retiring, ihope he gets involved in coaching, it would be good to have some players with modern day exposure around teams. Could lead to australia actually innovating again instead of being two years behind the all blacks but working towards catching up to what they where doing then.

You're seriously comparing Larkham to Barnes?