mjw
Larry Dwyer (12)
I don't agree, I thought the Reds were lucky to get as far as they did last year.
Waratahs 2013
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Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Last year the reds lost 4 or was it 5 10s along with numerous other players. That cruelled their season start but by the end of the Comp. their class was showing again. This year they have been missing Genia but my anecdotal review this year is that they are missing tackles they previously made (even with players missing through injury) and making handling errors in numbers I have not seen since E. Jones coached the side.
I would be far more despondent about the Tahs if I couldn't see major changes have been made in the whole approach to the game. I realise that Chieka is pushing the proverbial up a steep incline this year with his limited ability to change the squad he inherited. I will be less forgiving next year if these flaws are not addressed. For now I am just happy to see some basic attacking structures from the Tahs, something I haven't seen since my hair was all one colour.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
What are the structures you have seen?
I've seen stationary first receivers trying to crash the ball up. I guess that's a structure but its a shanty town type of structure.
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Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
And lets remember that the Reds have had 4 years under McKenzie to put a squad together. They've had the same coaching staff more or less and the playing group, you would think reflects the will of that coaching staff. The Waratahs on the other hand have had 4 years of disfunctional coaching and a squad which looks like no thought whatsoever was put into its construction.
Richo
John Thornett (49)
It's very hard to sustain success and contend each year. That's what's so remarkable about the Crusaders franchise. Player turnover, shifts in law emphasis, injuries, assistant coaches moving on -- small changes can have big effects. Only the very best teams are able to make their culture, development system, and identity consistently compensate for that.
Rob
Sydney Middleton (9)
Paper says that Lane's vacated EPS contract has gone to big willie skelton. CHeika has been impressed with how he has trained with the Waratahs over the pre-season and views him as a replacement for Sitalek Timani who is going to france.
I must admit that I have some reservations about picking players that have never played first grade (or any grade I think) in Shute Shield. I would be interested in peoples thoughts.
I must admit that I have some reservations about picking players that have never played first grade (or any grade I think) in Shute Shield. I would be interested in peoples thoughts.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
News Flash: Cheika and his team are doing no better currently than Foley and his did last year.
Last year Foley lost a shit load of games by close margins and everybody blamed him, the same thing is happening to Chieks but the players are getting the blame.
My take: Both are good coaches but for some reason (I'd say good media management) Chieks is getting a easy go of it.
Last year Foley lost a shit load of games by close margins and everybody blamed him, the same thing is happening to Chieks but the players are getting the blame.
My take: Both are good coaches but for some reason (I'd say good media management) Chieks is getting a easy go of it.
Richo
John Thornett (49)
That's definitely the simplistic, bird's eye view. Foley lost close games playing dire, unadventurous rugby. Cheika is losing games installing a new system with players he didn't select. Chalk and cheese, IMO.
I think that is a bit of a simplistic analysis.
The Waratahs are playing better this year IMO. They have had a few brain snaps but are also putting together periods of up-tempo, highly skilled footy. They have produced a couple of games that have been pretty good to watch.
Let's not forget Foley was around the Tahs for a few years before he took over. It was his team, he didn't inherit it from another coach. He had a big say in the roster, and thus when that system and roster failed it was on his head.
Cheika hasn't had this luxury. He is coming from the outside, tasked with fixing a side that has serious problems with attitude and application. This will not happen overnight. That is why he is not viewed in the same light as Foley.
If the team does not improve and we are in the same position in 6 weeks time then the focus will turn to the coach. But after 4 games and some promising signs I don't think it is time to get the knives out.
.
BPC
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Back in the day, Larkham was renowned as one the smartest, if not the smartest, tactican on a football field. Others such as Horan, Mortlock, Burke etc were all thought of as smart players. In the current Wallaby backline, does any of them stand out that way? I don't think so.
Interesting chicken and egg argument - is that because of Dean's choices or because it is all Deans has to work with? That I am not sure about.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
I think you blame Schoolboys selections and development, they are picking athletes before footy players.They are not coaching skills,but patterns of play.
If you are not physically developed at School, you will not represent.
If you do not represent at School, you are invisible to Academy selectors.
If you are not in an academy,you do not exist.
There are very occasional exceptions to this rule.
Reduces the pool of talent available to the smallest of puddles.
If you are not physically developed at School, you will not represent.
If you do not represent at School, you are invisible to Academy selectors.
If you are not in an academy,you do not exist.
There are very occasional exceptions to this rule.
Reduces the pool of talent available to the smallest of puddles.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
I think it is just a result of the huge changes in the game since Larkham's day, actually. The players are fitter, faster, stronger, and bigger (particularly in the backs); the breakdown rules have changed everything; there is now far less room on the field because of far more intensive and well organised defensive systems.
Horan was a very gifted centre, but I am not sure that he was particularly smart. Burke was good at marshalling defenses, for sure. Mortlock? He ended up as a pretty one dimensional centre, IMHO. That is not to denigrate any of them, they were all outstanding Wallabies, but they played in a different era.
Cooper would have been an absolute sensation, had he been around 10 or 12 years ago.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
You could make a case that,the kiwis' have multiple players in each position that could be regarded as smart or clever players.
Despite the changes in the game.
Despite the changes in the game.
Nah, the different is Chieks is trying to play positive rugby and not really trying to excuse bad performances.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
Anyone get the feeling that QC (Quade Cooper) is a Carlos Spenser reincarnate?
When mojoed up, CS was also an absolute sensation for the Darkness and his Super 12 team/s, but ultimately he was deemed to be too erratic for the Lords of Darkness, and has drifted off to foreign fields to ply his trade.
Game plans from the Darkness back then seemed to be a little too templated for an unpredictable risk taker like Carlos to fit too comfortably at Test Level.
Sound familiar?
BPC
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Smart in the rugby sense does not necessarily equate to genius off the field. The writings of Burke show this.
I think Larkham would still be sensational if he was at his prime now. Even with the more structured defences, I think he would find ways through them although perhaps not as much as he did in the 90's.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Its a bit difficult to explain without pen and paper or Scott Allen's marvellous pictures/articles. The easiest example I can give is the removal of the Waratahs passing to a one out forward or pod of two forwards one or two off the ruck.The passes to forwards close to the ruck are invariably to players in motion running an angle. Gone is the endless bash it up in the pigs and centres with constant recycle. The Tahs are trying to break the line in the first half dozen of so phases with a few pick and gos, a couple of passes to forwards running off the ruck before throwing it wide. The issue is few of the forwards make any ground because they lack the dynamic punch of the Brumbies for instance and the passing from half back has been average. Look for instance at where Timani is positioned and think about where he was placed last year.
The structures are there but getting the players to play with the required energy and application is not something that Chieka has been able to achieve. This is where my thoughts about fitness, squad selection and individual motivation come into play.
On Friday there was a specific idea/plan; they moved it wide (usually two passes) consistently, then went up the middle - that caught out lazy defenders a fair few times.
They also were using Timani as a crash ball wider out a number of times.
They were also working on short balls
Now they didn't all work but they were "structures"
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