Waratahs, Waratahs, Waratahs.
first of all PLEASE DO READ THIS, as i am intrigued to see a bunch of Waratahs fans reactions to my thoughts.
I think that if this Team (if you can even call them that at the moment) need a complete re-haul of everything. New coach/coaching mentality, new culture, new attitude pretty much new everything. Do know i am only writing this because this team does have the talent to be a Super Rugby Champion Side.
I will back up my arguments with examples, as i am awere of a lot of what is going on.
Firstly (and yes this will sound stupid) I cant see NSW playing enough 'rugby'.
Meaning i see this team as a team of individual athletes, and yes i use the word athlete on purpose. In the fact that a lot of there players are athletes as appose to rugby players. I use Tom Kingston as an example as i have been watching him play prior to Super Rugby. I have no doubt he is a talent and can do amazing things on the field. But now at the waratahs i think his ability to 'read' and 'play' the game has depleted. My example to back this up is at a Junior Rugby Presentation where he was the guest speaker he was asked to speak about his experiences with the waratahs since joining the professional team. He is a good speaker, but what i heard him say shocked me. Constantly about how he has had to put on 15kg to play, and bench x amount. Dont get me wrong, size is important, but THAT important. Teach him the skills ... and yes he is fast, but you can never be to fast, and yes you can be to big.
Leading to my next point, why do the waratahs care more about a players bulk, over there rugby ability.
A story to back this up that i was informed.
An islander schoolboy rugby player, i think with the last name 'Mafi' who was a brillant schoolboy player joined the waratahs rigby out of school. I would say around 2006/7. Extreme talent, good skills, good ball-running game, tall solid frame, not overly heavy or bulked but a good football player. Arrived at the waratahs and was informed that he was immideatly to increase his mass so that he could 'smash it up', 'push in scrums' and 'hit breakdowns'. And that is all they wanted him for. Doing what he was told, it was only after 4 months that understandably he did not like what he was doing. I think 2 weeks later he was spotted by a european club (i forget which one) and is now currently playing over there. Where he has been instructed to 'play his natural game', by running the ball, putting players in gaps, keep his frame as he is already 106kg or something like that. And from a contact i have in this area (which i beleive to be in the south of france) he is blowing people away. And is under investigation know to see if he is eligable to play for either england or france.
Put Kieran Reid (who is the best Number 8 in the world, id hope most of you agree) next to Wycliffe Palu.
One is fast, skillfull, constantly on the ball, great with the ball in hand and has the ability to put players through holes. And another looks like a nightclub bouncer, who occasionly takes a hit up. I hope you can figure out who is who.
Taking me back to my original point of coaching, which is where the kiwis win it everytime. Get that mindset into the waratahs, Skill and speed is more important than size.
Richi Mcaw could probably bench press half of what Jenkins can....
But put the 1RM stats down and pick up the rugby stats. The ability on the field.
Thoguhts are appreciated.
I hope some of you are able to kind of see where im coming from.
