The manner of play under Hickey was as I have posted before , just down right dire. It was rubbish and closely resembles how the Wallabies played in the RWC and against Wales earlier this year. It is a tournament style without doubt, one which will minimize scoring opportunities for the opposition for the majority of adversaries. Then along comes the few games a year that the team is a bit flat or the opposition is ready to play well above the usual and the Tahs/Wallabies lose. If the two instances combine we get a humiliation such as the Cheetahs last year at the SFS (Ireland, Samoa, Scotland).
Yes Hickey produce some admirable statistics, but all teams should aim for more than the 66% win/loss but perhaps play with a verve and style that will attract fans and players alike and seek to truly win the competition. Hickey's side never really threatened to take the title and all the top sides knew that come the pointy end the Tah % Rugby would fall. There have only been three really brilliant % Rugby sides in the professional era IMO, England '02-'03, SA I think about '06-'07 and the Bulls at the same time. Those sides were totally complete Rugby sides designed and structured totally for that type of play and coached with precision to execute it. The Tahs (and the Wallabies) fail to come up to the mark in terms of players, execution and coaching to really dominate better sides with such a game plan.
