Waratahs 2012

[Hawko]

Now to sack Hickey and sign Lane as Head Coach and that will be a coaching team to contend with.

May be wrong but I thought Lane let slip that he wasn't still on the short list about two weeks ago.

 

[Gnostic]

I know, but some said I was pushing shit uphill when I stated a few months back that I would like to see Gafney back at the Tahs.

 

[Nusadan]

I have said all along that I thought he would be going post RWC. DO not be surprised if he signs a contract post Super 15 2012 to qualify for the Wallabies in 2013 for the Lions tour.

I still think the Tahs are better off with Mowen and Dennis.

Mowen's with Brumbies now, eh?

 

[fatprop]

Michael Foley to be new Waratahs head coach

Iain Payten
From: The Daily Telegraph
August 19, 2011 12:00AM


MICHAEL Foley will be appointed as the new Waratahs head coach today, ending the tenure of Chris Hickey.

After a lengthy coaching review, NSW Rugby have promoted Foley from the role of forwards coach to the top job on a threeyear contract.

Former Wallabies and NSW assistant coach Alan Gaffney will also be announced in a new a coaching coordinator role that will see him work across all teams in the NSW system.

Foley will be taking on his first head coach position after acting as a wellrespected assistant coach over the past 10 years.

The former Wallabies hooker and World Cup winner served as forwards coach with English club Bath between 20012006 before joining the Australian coaching staff until 2008. Foley then joined up with the Waratahs in the same role in 2009.

Regarded as one of the best forwards coaches in rugby, it is believed that Foley will continue to look after the forwards role as NSW head coach - much like the way Reds coach Ewen McKenzie does at Queensland.

Scott Bowen will continue in his role as backs coach.

The appointment means Hickey will move on after three years at the helm of the Waratahs. Having made the finals twice and secured a winning average of 61 per cent across three seasons, Hickey will go down as among NSW's most successful coaches - but has paid the price for not securing the Tahs' maiden title.

 

[Nusadan]

What took so bloody long?

 

[Tireless Backrower]

What took so bloody long?

I have no strong view except: he couldnt be worse...oh yeah and theyre reporting this could bring Elsom back - that says something about his view of Hickey I guess but the fact is the Tahs should not even be looking at Elsom.

 

[Nusadan]

Elsom's off to Europe, methinks...he'd better do that to get away from all that negative vibe directed at him!

 

[Tireless Backrower]

Elsom's off to Europe, methinks...he'd better do that to get away from all that negative vibe directed at him!

Im starting to feel sorry for him.....going to Europe was his first mistake.
Is Vickerman a definite?

 

[Nusadan]

Im starting to feel sorry for him.....going to Europe was his first mistake.
Is Vickerman a definite?

It was a mistake in the first place though to pick him as a captain of Wobs without having paid his dues playing in the Super 14 beforehand...

I don't think it was a mistake for Elsom to go to Europe, he'd be crazy to have passed up the opportunity as a young 'un!

As for Vickerman, I guess he's a definite, someone else will confirm.

 

[Richo]

I have mixed feelings about Foley coming on as head coach. Tahs forwards have been very good, so hopefully we see the whole team lift.

Bowen confuses me. I guess after a season of shockingly poor skills execution and under-performance by a talented back line, you just have to re-sign the guy responsible.

 

[RedsHappy]

Dear me. If Payten's article is fully true, shows that the hoped-for clean out of major elements of the Tahs' tired and tied establishment is not going to take place. Was it dreaming to think it ever might?

Whilst I much admire Foley's talents, I would much have preferred a world-class new broom coach for the Tahs to purge the ranks, think anew about all selections and development strategies, and insist on no interference from HQ as the price of his joining, and then pick equally able top grade specialist coaches (with no recent ex Tahs players) in all key areas, but ideally keeping Foley on for forwards.

It's a myth that Link is the sole, or dominant, forwards coach at the Reds, Taylor and Evans as specialists have played a major role there. It's a serious mistake for a new head coach to simply assume his prior role, he has much more to do in totality and fresh thinking should be added in all departments (look at the Wallabies' backs now that Deans has assumed that specialist role himself - have we seen exceptional, consistent ensemble Wallabies backs play in any one of the 4 2011 Tests so far?)

Keeping Bowen as backs coach (if true) is surely nothing more than a major mistake and points to the darkness in the whole Tahs establishment. Little needs to be added by me here in that area. The 2011 Tahs' backs problems were the core of their whole 2011 problem, period. It was manifest that the Tahs' backs were poorly coached and poorly integrated into a cohesive, consistent set of Tahs' game plans. A travesty to see the superb Tahs' talent bank effectively wasted as a result of such coaching and technical deficiencies. What of Gaffney in the awfully entitled 'NSW coaching co-ordinator role'; WTF does that diffuse moniker mean in terms of tight responsibilities for improved results?

Fot the good of Australian rugby, we need one of our finest ever teams in NSW winning hard, and getting regular Super 15 titles. I am not inspired by these changes to think that the path from 2012 will necessarily be a better one for them. And I go back to my long-held view: it's NOT player depth or such like in Aus rugby that is the core, enduring problem: the truth is the depth we lack is (a) depth of high-quality, specialist coaching resources (partly as a result of) (b) quality of code and competent business management resources of the calibre needed to construct superior teams and coaching groups, and to create 'rugby product' that is fan-attractive and economically viable. It's the problems associated with (a) and (b) that are inhibiting rugby's dynamic regrowth in Australia; we possess a wonderful stock of players and talents, but with much of it leeching away to other codes and pursuits as we have multiple lightweights and hangers on and blazer buddies in the managerial elite paid to misdirect them.

 

[MrTimms]

Waratahs twitter just posted this:

Michael Foley is unveiled as the new head coach for the next 3 years twitpic.com/685jnt

 

[fatprop]

Waratahs twitter just posted this:

excellent

 

[fatprop]

Michael Foley takes over as head coach

19/08/2011
By HSBC Waratahs Media Unit

Michael Foley - HSBC Waratahs Head Coach (Getty Images)

Michael Foley has been appointed head coach of the HSBC Waratahs for the next three years.
Foley has served the past three seasons as assistant coach to Chris Hickey who steps down from the role as the most successful HSBC Waratahs head coach in the professional era with a 64% winning record from 2009 to 2011.
One of Australia’s most-capped front row forwards, Foley moved straight into a coaching role with Bath in England at the conclusion of his playing career where he developed their forward pack into one of the most formidable in Europe.
Foley joined the Wallabies coaching staff in 2006 as a set-piece specialist and remained with the national side for three years before signing on to join the HSBC Waratahs at the start of 2009.
Scott Bowen will remain with the team as an assistant coach along with Alan Gaffney who will join the HSBC Waratahs at the conclusion of Ireland’s World Cup campaign.
“We have undertaken an extensive global search over the past few months and on behalf of the Board I’m delighted to announce that Michael Foley will be the next head coach of the HSBC Waratahs,” said Jason Allen, Waratahs Rugby CEO.
“Michael has a reputation as one of the best technical coaches in the world and the respect he has from the playing group is second to none.
“It is also fantastic to have Alan Gaffney come back to the Sydney to once again be a part of Waratahs Rugby as the senior assistant coach. His results in European Rugby over the last decade or so at provincial and international level are hugely impressive and the experience he brings will be of great assistance to both Michael and Scott.
“He has strong links to Sydney and Waratahs Rugby at a club and state level and I know he is looking forward to the role.”
Hickey, who sits second on the all-time NSW list of matches coached and won, decided not to seek reappointment for the role.
“I approached Jason and the Board before the end of the season to let them know I would not be seeking reappointment beyond 2011,” said Hickey. “It was important to me that this did not become a distraction to the team and that a sound process was in place to appoint my successor.
“I’m proud of what we have achieved in my three years at the Waratahs and I know the organisation is in great hands with Michael Foley who will provide a seamless transition.
“We have developed a strong playing squad and have a group of experienced and dedicated staff who will continue to strive for future success.
“As a Rugby coach from New South Wales, there’s no greater honour than being asked to coach the Waratahs and I’ve enjoyed both the challenges and the rewards that come with the role.”
With planning now in place for the pre-season which commences in November, Foley said one of the key aspects for 2012 and beyond will be reconnecting with the community both on and off the field.
“It is important for the team to have a real connection with the fans, to have a strong relationship with our members and supporters and a major initiative will be finding ways to do that both on and off the field,” said Foley.
“From a Rugby perspective we need to execute at a higher skill level with greater consistency – that’s what we want to do on the field and we know that’s what the crowds want to see.
“We need to put in performances which have mums and dads saying ‘that’s worth bringing the kids to the stadium to have a look at’.
“Our connection to the community at that level is really important.”
Foley added that while the end result in 2011 was not where the players and coaching staff had aimed, there was a lot to admire and take out of the past season as preparations for 2012 kick into gear.
“The amount of character that was shown in some trying times this year was unquestionable,” said Foley. “From my perspective, to see that first hand was really inspiring.
“That doesn’t hide the fact that there were performances this year that were very disappointing, but it does create the belief that this group of players has the ability to achieve great things and I’m looking forward to being a part of that.”

2012 HSBC WARATAHS COACHING STRUCTURE
Michael Foley
Position: Head Coach
Born: 07.06.67, Sydney NSW
Coaching Experience: Assistant Coach, Bath (2001-2006); Assistant Coach, Australia (2006-2008); Assistant Coach, HSBC Waratahs (2009-2011)

Alan Gaffney
Position: Senior Assistant Coach
Born: 16.12.46, Sydney NSW
Coaching Experience: Coach, Randwick (1984-1996); Assistant Coach, HSBC Waratahs (1997-1999); Backs Coach, Leinster (2000-2002); Head Coach, Munster (2002-2005); Assistant Coach, Australia (2005); Director of Rugby, Saracens (2006-2008); Technical Consultant, Leinster (2008-2010); Backs Coach, Ireland (2008-present)

Scott Bowen
Position: Assistant Coach
Born: 20.09.72, Sydney NSW
Coaching Experience: Assistant Coach, Eastern Suburbs (2002-2005); Assistant Coach, Australian Sevens (2004); Head Coach, Australian Youth Sevens (2004); Head Coach, Eastern Suburbs (2006-2008); Assistant Coach, Sydney Fleet (2007); Assistant Coach, HSBC Junior Waratahs (2009-2010); Assistant Coach, HSBC Waratahs (2011-present)

An interview ..............
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/0...-e6frf4pu-1226117983940?sectionvertical=rugby

 

[mark_s]

I'm chuffed. Good on Hickey for not seeking re-election, I'm sure the writing was on the wall but others might have played it differently, anyone know where he is off to.

I can't help but wonder if the timing of the announcement is related to Deans being reappointed as Wobbs coach and maybe Foley was planning on throwing his hat into the Wallaby coaching ring if Deans wasn't extnded or maybe the ARU is hoping to have both Foley and Link as strong candidates by 2013.

I sprung Foley and Deans at the SFS gym one day during the Ashes test in January and they were deep in conversation over a laptop re tahs players. It was telling then that Hickey wasn't involved.

 

[Ruggo]

Congratulations Tahs fans for getting the man you wanted. Tahs will be a genuine force next year and if I was a fan I would be bloody excited.

 

[cyclopath]

I'm not sure they'll be any more a force than previously. We have lost good players - Beale, Mowen, Waugh (although his "hold" on the team was probably not helpful, his mongrel toghness was), Baxter, maybe Timani and still have the same setup in the backs coaching. The strength of the roster will probably mean they contend, as usual, for the finals with a glorious 1st week exit.
I hope Foley and Gaffney provide the spark to change that. I am happy to see them chosen though.

 

[Crow]

Any firm new on Muggleton? The press release doesn't mention him at all, I'm assuming he's no longer there.

 

[Hawko]

The best news longer term is that Scott Bowen will get a chance to learn how to be a good skills and backs coach. Having Gaffney as the senior assistant coach will allow him to direct the backs strategy and at the same time teach Bowen from the ground up. Its been said that Bowen is a long term candidate for Aussie coach. Right now that thought is an abomination, but given time and Bowen being open to learn, it could be the making of him.

RH suggested that the Blazers may still be in control, but I think Gaffney and Foley together will be strong enough to keep that away from the team. Won't help improve the backroom management (marketing etc.) but the key thing the Tahs have to do next year is make the final playing adventurous rugby and hopefully win it. That will paper over a lot of the backroom stuff.

Press conferences will be interesting. I understand Foley is far more direct than the "don't say anything" Hickey approach. God help the first SMH cadet who shows his ignorance.

 

[DPK]

Any word on Muggo?