Waratahs 2012

[barbarian]

Leadership has been one of the areas where it is plain to see the Tahs have fallen short.

The 8-man leaderhsip group has been an abject failure on the field. The Tahs have lost at least 3 games where good leadership and cool heads in the final five minutes was sorely lacking.

Announcing Elsom as captain was a mistake, as with his injury problems he was never going to play enough to warrant the title. Appointing Hangers was a clear error as he wasn't even in the 8-man group! Going to Robbo was understandable but he hasn't cut the mustard. There have been a few games recently where Dean Mumm has taken the on-field captaincy after substitutions- another who isn't in the 8-man group.

In short it's a total shemozzle. That was where Phil Waugh was so good. He was the fucking captain, and everyone did what he said. Now no-one knows who is in charge.

I don't know what the solution is, someone needs to step up. Thinking it might have to be Berrick, although I don't know if he has it in him.

.

 

[hannibal]

On Boards - I agree their important and thats why they also get a focus here. They have a huge influence on culture through standards setting, recruitment at the top level, reviews of performance and setting accountability etc. My point is that these stats and trends warrant more than tinkering. There's cultural implications here that it appears are not being dealt with by the Board and management. Hence why this is more than just a discussion about players and coaches. The chairman in the fan forum last year said "If we need to change the culture, we will change the culture". Has it happened?

On players: Every team has problems each season that they contend with - thats the point of trying to look across seasons for trends as you can get a bit more insight. Over a longer period these individual factors can't explain this. There's a trade off here between waiting for more years of evidence and risking further decline like in the Brumbies last year and Reds of old or taking the leap and acting on the evidence available. I actually see lessons in the experiecnes of the Brumbies and Reds that offer hope and shouldnt be feared given the great success those two provinces have had following their tough times.

However I would point out that even in an individual season, the Crusaders can lose Ritchie McCaw, Dan Carter and their home ground and still make the finals, the Brumbies can clean out every Wallaby except 2, introduce unseasoned players, appoint a new coach and top the Australian conference, the Reds in 2010 can clean house and come back to be 5th with very young players and then win the competition the next year. That shows that in strong sides theres a hunger or agression that can overcome big hurdles. I dont sense this any longer with the Tahs and would love to see it back.

Change should be the only certainty in professional sport, particularly after a couple years of disappointment. Theres evidence at the Brumbies and Reds that shows the positive effect this has. Every organisaiton incl companies reach these periods and need a big refresh because the problem lies in the fact that incumbents (Boards, management, coaches) will never stomach taking the risks required to reinvirgorate an organisation as long as the financials are ok.

Has there been change at the Tahs? Michael Foley wasn't brought in this year. He was already running the Tahs last year as an assistant from many accounts. That wasnt change it was continuity. Hes been a fantastic forwards coach in the past but is he a head coach? Alan Gaffney is a great acquisition I would think so thats a small start. What else? Sunday afternoon games and family days? It seems that the main organisational changes have been aimed at making fans happy through "promotions" or timing changes for fixtures. But where are the real changes in team culture? The 1st half / 2nd half stats to me quesiton whether this is occurring as theres few explanations for that behaviour.

I'm just trying to offer a course of action here thats been clearly positive elsewhere. The only other alternative seems to be to accept the status quo but somehow expect a different result next year.

 

[Braveheart81]

In my opinion the two biggest changes have been losing Phil Waugh which has greatly affected the leadership and losing John Muggleton which has greatly affected the defence.

I disagree that there has been a gradual decline since 2010. I think 2011 was a really good year considering how many injury problems we had.

All I can see is that 2012 has been a terrible year. I think saying that it is due to a massive cultural problem and a sign of a long and gradual decline is drawing a long bow.

Also, I think the afternoon games (particularly the Sunday afternoon game against the Crusaders) has been an excellent innovation and there should be more of it next year.

 

[I like to watch]

The 8-man leaderhsip group has been an abject failure on the field. The Tahs have lost at least 3 games where good leadership and cool heads in the final five minutes was sorely lacking.

Announcing Elsom as captain was a mistake, as with his injury problems he was never going to play enough to warrant the title. Appointing Hangers was a clear error as he wasn't even in the 8-man group! Going to Robbo was understandable but he hasn't cut the mustard. There have been a few games recently where Dean Mumm has taken the on-field captaincy after substitutions- another who isn't in the 8-man group.

In short it's a total shemozzle. That was where Phil Waugh was so good. He was the fucking captain, and everyone did what he said. Now no-one knows who is in charge.

Step 1 in the coaching manual. Identify your Leader/s.
By any measure Foley has done this appallingly. He had no plan, the whole thing has been knee jerk reactions, one after the other.
If the coach vacillates so much on such a integral part of the unit, what other areas are there that lack clarity for the players?
You would reckon after you lost 3 or 4 close ones, the team meetings would have covered off in pretty good detail,acceptable behaviours/tactics in the final minutes of close games.
But clearly not.

 

[RedsHappy]

On Boards - I agree their important and thats why they also get a focus here. They have a huge influence on culture through standards setting, recruitment at the top level, reviews of performance and setting accountability etc. My point is that these stats and trends warrant more than tinkering. There's cultural implications here that it appears are not being dealt with by the Board and management. Hence why this is more than just a discussion about players and coaches. The chairman in the fan forum last year said "If we need to change the culture, we will change the culture". Has it happened?.....
...... .......
I'm just trying to offer a course of action here thats been clearly positive elsewhere. The only other alternative seems to be to accept the status quo but somehow expect a different result next year.

hannibal, IMO, a post of much insight and accuracy of analysis. Top contribution mate. Respect.

I for one applaud your petition idea and the effort so invested. That's a constructive act that's putting forward a proposition for change, the need for change, and why there is that need. You're leveraging fan interest, passion and lost (or losing) pride to support this process. This a democracy and free protest that is thoughtful is the guts of much of what's good about it. History shows conclusively that elites rarely renovate themselves in advance of their deficiencies becoming evident, they often require well-orchestrated protest to commence self-reform, and reform of any under performing 'assets' under their governance.

Further, a petition, if large enough, draws in media and Board attention, it can't be totally ignored.

Many of us here just drive the market for keyboards as we wear them out with our lines of angst, you are really trying hard to get serious reform at our largest RU vs just doing little more than a few blog lines, and moving on.

That's why I believe GAGR should on occasion attempt to organise a constructive group* of its most passionate and knowledgeable posters to, for example, take a considered set of data, concerns and strategic recommendations directly to Nick Farr-Jones the new NSWRU Chairman (he has now been appointed?). I'll bet he would rarely if ever have met a more capable group of well-meaning 'advisers' as to what the Tahs need to do, and why they need to do it. Such a positive, organised action step would also serve to enhance this site's credentials for contributing powerful ideas for the code's benefit to those entrusted to secure its success, vs simply banging away in a minute corner of cyberspace with only the faintest of echoes.

(*My recommended group: Barbarian (chairperson), Bruce Ross, Braveheart, Gnostic, i like to watch, Lee Grant.)

 

[wamberal]

Fatprop is one of the most insightful posters, he should be on any group about the Tarts.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I'll bet he would rarely if ever have met a more capable group of well-meaning 'advisers' as to what the Tahs need to do, and why they need to do it.

Not sure about that - he spends a lot of time in the Nippon Club

 

[hannibal]

Great idea RedsHappy. BTW if it helps that process, theres a 15 page document with all stats on the Tahs and my ridiculously waffling prose available for anyone who wants it. Call it the Tah Manifesto! Just putting in some effort to catalyse some action. I wont post it here as its too much detail for everyone but happy to share a copy via email if you want it. Just send a message to rebuildthetahs@yahoo.com.au.

 

[mjw]

In my opinion the two biggest changes have been losing Phil Waugh which has greatly affected the leadership and losing John Muggleton which has greatly affected the defence.

I disagree that there has been a gradual decline since 2010. I think 2011 was a really good year considering how many injury problems we had.

All I can see is that 2012 has been a terrible year. I think saying that it is due to a massive cultural problem and a sign of a long and gradual decline is drawing a long bow.

Also, I think the afternoon games (particularly the Sunday afternoon game against the Crusaders) has been an excellent innovation and there should be more of it next year.

Add Kurtley Beale to the losses and you are closer to the mark.

 

[mjw]

Great idea RedsHappy. BTW if it helps that process, theres a 15 page document with all stats on the Tahs and my ridiculously waffling prose available for anyone who wants it. Call it the Tah Manifesto! Just putting in some effort to catalyse some action. I wont post it here as its too much detail for everyone but happy to share a copy via email if you want it. Just send a message to rebuildthetahs@yahoo.com.au.

As I was one of the callers for a longer argument from you Hannibal, I appreciate the effort.
However, I think it naive to expect the Tahs board would be doing nothing following the results of this season and I fully expect them to be doing something about it as we speak. Its their job afterall. If not then they should be sacked.

 

[fatprop]

I tend to agree that finishing tah 8. Nau isn't what I would consider a forward leader and the rest were babies

Gaffney blames injuries and inexperience for Tahs failings, not Foley

Georgina Robinson

May 30, 2012

VETERAN Waratahs assistant coach Alan Gaffney says the dogs should be called off his senior colleague Michael Foley and the blame placed elsewhere for the team's woeful performance this season.
A decorated coach who helped Ireland to their 2009 Six Nations grand slam and their defeat of Australia at last year's World Cup, Gaffney said it was normal for questions to be asked when a team had lost nine of its 13 matches.
But he defended Foley's performance since moving from forwards coach to head coach, saying he was doing the best he could with an injury-hit squad containing many talented but inexperienced players.
''I don't know that Foles can do any more than what he's doing,'' Gaffney said yesterday.
''He doesn't commit the penalty, he doesn't miss the tackle, he doesn't [make a mistake] at the breakdown, that's not him.
''I know coaches are assessed on win-loss records and that's what happens in life. Players don't seem to be, but coaches seem to be.''
Gaffney stopped short of calling for changes in the playing squad but said it had been a tough initiation for the likes of debutant fullback Bernard Foley, young winger Tom Kingston and Atieli Pakalani.
''I don't know about changes in the squad but some of these young players are starting to come through,'' he said. ''Players who would never have been sighted off Nobbys Beach previously, [such as] Bernard Foley, a lot of these young boys are starting to hit their straps. They've still got a long way to go but maybe it is of benefit, maybe it's been a blessing in disguise.''
Gaffney said that the head coach had impressed him with his strategic planning, particularly ahead of games against their tougher competitors.
''I'm prepared to ask questions about me, that's not a problem at all, but if I had to look at Foles I think the way [he] has talked to the team and the way Foles has asked them to play against the opposition that I've seen this year, I couldn't fault him,'' he said.
''The game plan we went in with against the Stormers I thought was very solid … the game plan we went in with for the Cheetahs was excellent.''
The squad ignored speculation about their coaching staff to begin preparing for the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Foley will name his starting XV on Thursday and is waiting on updates regarding the health of players including Tatafu Polota-Nau [injured hand], Sekope Kepu [calf] and Sitaleki Timani [hip].
Captain Rocky Elsom is doubtful for the match as he seeks further treatment for a shoulder injury but Dean Mumm looks to have recovered from concussion and could be available.
Gaffney said it was time the side learnt how to close out games.
''The players came out of that game [against the Cheetahs] very, very depressed about not having won the game … but they've come back [and] they're in good spirits,'' he said. ''It's tough to take but we know we can play … we've got to also learn how to close games out and win games and that's our problem at the present time.''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/waratahs/gaffney-blames-injuries-and-inexperience-for-tahs-failings-not-foley-20120529-1zhe4.html#ixzz1wKdRVyrK

 

[I like to watch]

As I was one of the callers for a longer argument from you Hannibal, I appreciate the effort.
However, I think it naive to expect the Tahs board would be doing nothing following the results of this season and I fully expect them to be doing something about it as we speak. Its their job afterall. If not then they should be sacked.

To whom does the board report?
Who has the authority to sack/replace them?

 

[RedsHappy]

As I was one of the callers for a longer argument from you Hannibal, I appreciate the effort.
However, I think it naive to expect the Tahs board would be doing nothing following the results of this season and I fully expect them to be doing something about it as we speak. Its their job afterall. If not then they should be sacked.

The Tahs board or management leaked to GG (of course) that there'd be 'repercussions' and possible sackings if the team came back from SA with 2 losses. And there was to be some sort of urgent Tahs board meeting last night to 'review issues'.

What have we heard from the Tahs board after these leaks and meetings?

[Or have they just been learning from the master of pressure diffusion and co-optation: JO'N. You leak or announce 'actions and concerns' and 'reviews' etc, then wait for the pressure to subside, having done essentially nothing. Right after our 'pass mark' RWC and the media and fan pressure was rapidly mounting, J'ON declaimed that 'I'm leaving in 2 years and Robbie's successor will not be up to me'...and...' the ARU board will be holding a major, independent review (by Nucifora and other ARU board members) into our RWC performance.' Many observers thought: 'oh good, at least we'll get to know what went wrong and what will be done to improve things'. We all know what happened, this 'independent' report has never seen the light of day, and no one knows to this day what the ARU thought of RD's and the team's RWC performances, despite the ARU's promise of a team more or less designed from 2009 on to achieve outstanding results at the 2011 RWC.]

 

[RedsHappy]

Great idea RedsHappy. BTW if it helps that process, theres a 15 page document with all stats on the Tahs and my ridiculously waffling prose available for anyone who wants it. Call it the Tah Manifesto! Just putting in some effort to catalyse some action. I wont post it here as its too much detail for everyone but happy to share a copy via email if you want it. Just send a message to rebuildthetahs@yahoo.com.au.

Whatever you think about Hannibal's Tahs campaign, I just got this document and a lot of thought, work and fan passion has obviously gone into it.

 

[hannibal]

To whom does the board report?
Who has the authority to sack/replace them?

Good point. I am ashamed to admit I do not know who owns the shares in NSW Waratahs Ltd. should be able to find out though.

 

[Badger]

Good point. I am ashamed to admit I do not know who owns the shares in NSW Waratahs Ltd. should be able to find out though.

The NSWRU is likely to own 100% of the equity in NSW Waratahs Ltd.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

To whom does the board report?
Who has the authority to sack/replace them?

If things go according to plan over the next few years, the board will report to me!

 

[RedsHappy]

You're right, on current performance, they may soon come onto the open market taking bids at very low prices.

 

[RedsHappy]

The NSWRU is likely to own 100% of the equity in NSW Waratahs Ltd.

Note there has been quite a lot of director co-mingling between these two boards.

One fine day someone will explain to me why it was desirable, indeed essential, for the NSWRU to have gone to the considerable expense to have established a separate board and management just for the Tahs, and why a simple internal business division structure within the RU for the professional team(s) would not have sufficed.

Whatever, there seems little evidence that this unusual full separation has demonstrably enriched the Tahs' situation and prospects, either financially in terms of gate income or S15 wins-wise.

 

[waratahjesus]

Note there has been quite a lot of director co-mingling between these two boards.

One fine day someone will explain to me why it was desirable, indeed essential, for the NSWRU to have gone to the considerable expense to have established a separate board and management just for the Tahs, and why a simple internal business division structure within the RU for the professional team(s) would not have sufficed.

Whatever, there seems little evidence that this unusual full separation has demonstrably enriched the Tahs' situation and prospects, either financially in terms of gate income or S15 wins-wise.

Financially the new board has increased there funding to junior development whilst also delivering a very rare profit (albeit small) for Tahs rugby. They have actually done this through increased membership etc. this year wins are low, so next year may reflect a downturn but last years results weren't actually that bad.

There not delivering on field this year but board wise they have actually been a bit of a positive over the last 18 months in terms of operations.