Waratahs 2013

[scaraby]

Waratah backs must first learn to catch and pass and hold the ball in contact. Got a good forward pack that will give them plenty of first phase but if they constantly drop it or kick it away like last season then you negate the impact Cliffy and Hooper in particular can have. Riffs job will be to fix that first then get fancy after thats done. Remember Tahs under Ewen could put together 10+ phases together at will. Last season we would be lucky to get to 2.
couple of quotes from an interview he did in 2008 from the independent. ...............

As a player and later a coach at the famous Randwick club in Sydney, Gaffney developed a penchant for attacking rugby at an early stage of his career. But there is no great psychological secret to his success - he teaches players how to do things on a physical level but makes no concerted effort to get inside their heads.



"I'm not one who is big on psychology," Gaffney admits. "I like to have a good relationship with my players and I respect them. If they have some degree of respect for you, you're off to a good start.



"I'm more focused on skills and I like everyone in my teams to have the ability and confidence to play with ball in hand. We will kick it when have to - but I like attacking rugby and believe that's the way the game should be played."



Gaffney shares the same philosophy as the head coaches he serves with in Ireland - Declan Kidney at the national team and Michael Cheika at Leinster.

Sounds like a unified, attacking coaching set up that we know already has the support of senior players. If they get the basics right in the preseason we will be solid...

 

[en_force_er]

As lots of posters on here have suggested, however, the Tahs did not look fit enough to play a full game flat out last year. So it is somewhat worrying to see that the S&C coach is still on the team. The next few months are probably the key time for team preparation. If Tombleson was to be replaced, it should have happened before the start of pre-season I would have thought.

Great post other than this.

It's noted that due to WC workloads and other factors it was decided by the playing or coaching group (not sure which) to have a lighter preseason and peak later. This was meant to prevent briing fatigue and injuries into the start of the season.

Well, it failed miserably and will never be attempted again but it was an interesting idea and I can see why they tried it. The idea looked good on paper.

Hardly the S&C department's fault, they get given guidelines and parameters and work within them.

 

[Lindommer]

It's noted that due to WC workloads and other factors it was decided by the playing or coaching group (not sure which) to have a lighter preseason and peak later.

This novel approach to fitness in 2011 (don't do any/much pre-season work) followed the 2010 tack when extra bulk was reckoned to be the winning formula. And look how well that worked! Was Tombleson at the S&C helm in 2010? If so, surely his track record would count against him.

 

[I like to watch]

I thought in 2010 the S & C guys delivered, they were fucking monsters.They just didn't have a game plan to utelise their strengths.It's not much good playing 10 man Rugby with a shit kicker.

 

[en_force_er]

This novel approach to fitness in 2011 (don't do any/much pre-season work) followed the 2010 tack when extra bulk was reckoned to be the winning formula. And look how well that worked! Was Tombleson at the S&C helm in 2010? If so, surely his track record would count against him.

I think that's maybe a touch unfair, finishing 3rd and 5th in those years would indicate they mustn't have done THAT bad of a job.

S&C conditioning is a very inexact science. For example, Bruce Ross has mentioned at Sydney Uni they condition for power, strength, and size as much as endurance because they theorise your body would endure big hits better and thus fatigue slower.

Must be a hard job.

 

[Lee Grant]

As lots of posters on here have suggested, however, the Tahs did not look fit enough to play a full game flat out last year. So it is somewhat worrying to see that the S&C coach is still on the team.

This fits in with the Randwick conspiracy theory. Tom Tombleson played wing for Randwick.

We're talking to early about Gaffney anyway. His actual title at the moment is Director of Rugby so they may hire another backs coach. Who knows, with the randwick connection maybe even Campo might get the chance to put his money where his mouth is.

Didn't know that Gaffney was DOR at the Tahs: they used to call him senior assistant coach. It was a role he had with Sarries for a couple of years. In Europe the DOR is anything from being the de facto Head Coach with the HC working to his plans, to figureheads being the mentors of the HC - and some don't appear to be even that.

Campo may have a big mouth but he is a seriously good backs coach if you read comments about him.

Not to the point but back in the day when they were Wallabies, Campo and NFJ were doing coaching courses at schools on the Northern Beaches, sponsored by Col Crawford - which meant they were driving BMWs that year free of charge. I took a day off work to watch them at my son's school.

Campo was like a ringmaster and the kids were eating out of his hand.

And not to the point of this not to the point item, but NFJ couldn't make it that day so another Wallaby took his place to to teach the forwards a bit of stuff.

Perhaps that was the first coaching session that Ewen McKenzie ever did.
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[fatprop]

One of the most interesting rugby days used to be watching Campo "coach" the Randwick backline from 15 at coogee​

 

[Inside Shoulder]

This fits in with the Randwick conspiracy theory. Tom Tombleson played wing for Randwick.

.

 

[Braveheart81]

If your surname was Tombleson, why would you call your child Tom?

 

[The Red Baron]

If your surname was Tombleson, why would you call your child Tom?

That's just as bad as that cycling bloke Robbie McEwen naming his son Ewen..

 

[waratahjesus]

IS - did u post that YouTube as a suggestion the Tahs may use the grubber as an attacking weapon?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

IS - did u post that YouTube as a suggestion the Tahs may use the grubber as an attacking weapon?

You're asking me to remember why i did something 2 hours ago?
Seemed like a good idea at the time?
I just thought it was interesting that bloke actually has some footage on Youtube - had a bit of toe too - probably gives him some credibility with the players, although last years reported pre-season shenanigans would have eroded that.

Youre usually well informed on these things: Tom Carter seemed to be carry a bit of tub?

 

[DPK]

If your surname was Tombleson, why would you call your child Tom?

Or Robbie Robinson from NZ.

All I know is he's got one of those names that no-one just uses one of. Like Pat Smear from the Foo Fighters.

 

[SuperGrover]

I saw Gaff coaching the backs at Victoria Barracks in closed sessions a few times whist Foley was doing lineout drills and he, Gaffney, was also doing generic stuff near The Loop with the backs.

Hardly any of the sessions of either were high class stuff at VB. I noticed the lineouts in one Tahs game were heaps better than in the practice sessions the previous week though I have no clue what that means. The back practice sessions were generally better than on game day but I don't know what that means either.

There were very similar comments from Craig Chalmers (the former Lions and Scotland Fly-half, now coach) in the September issue of Rugby World. The SRU had paid for his flights so that Chalmers could spend 3 weeks in Australia observing various sports. In his article he notes the Sydney Swans, Sydney Roosters, Canterbury Bulldogs, South Sydney Rabitohs and the NSW Waratahs.

His highest praise was reserved for the Swans, with some reserved for the Dogs, Roosters and Rabitohs. For the Waratahs he had this to say:

"At the Waratahs, the Super 15 side coached by Michael Foley, I got an insight into running lines, the angles and timings. But the intensity of their session was poor and it showed what can happen when a squad lacks leaders. Rocky Elsom has been injured all year and Drew Mitchell often unfit, and there was a lack of strong personalities to drive things on. Berrick Barnes was vocal but few people helped each other; there was no camaraderie and they lacked the passion and intensity of the Swans and Roosters."

 

[Lindommer]

This novel approach to fitness in 2011 (don't do any/much pre-season work) followed the 2010 tack when extra bulk was reckoned to be the winning formula. And look how well that worked! Was Tombleson at the S&C helm in 2010? If so, surely his track record would count against him.

May be I was thinking about 2012 and 2011, respectively. Ignore me on this one, I blame the wine.

 

[Bruce Ross]

May be I was thinking about 2012 and 2011, respectively. Ignore me on this one, I blame the wine.

Lindommer invokes the Vino Defence - in his case justifiably. Virtually everything that has happened to him, good or bad, over the past few decades can be more or less attributed to wine.
.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Lindommer invokes the Vino Defence - in his case justifiably. Virtually everything that has happened to him, good or bad, over the past few decades can be more or less attributed to wine.
.

He's not alone in that but I sense he's at the head of the pack from what you say Bruce

 

[Lee Grant]

I don't think anybody has done one of these for a few pages:

Main Squad

Props: B. Robinson (LHP), J. Tilse (LHP), P. Ryan (THP), S. Kepu (THP).

Hookers: TPN, D. Fitzpatrick, J. Ulugia (also LHP).

2nd rowers: K. Douglas, S. Timani, G. Peterson, O. Atkins.

Flankers: M. Hooper (7), P. McCutcheon (7), D. Dennis (6).

No. 8s: W. Palu, L. Timani (also 6).

Scrumhalves: B. McKibbin, G. Hart.

Flyhalves: B. Foley (also 15), B. Barnes (also 12, 15).

Centres: T. Carter, R. Horne, T. Kingston (also wing).

Wingers: D. Mitchell, L. Turner, P. Betham, M. Hodge.

Fullback: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (also 13, wing), C. Crawford (also wing).
[One to be added)

EPS
2. L. Holmes
6. J. Hollaway (also lock)
9. M. Lucas
10. S Lane
[One to be added - should be a THP.]

WTG
Current training are: P. Samu (8), H. Angus (10, 15, Wing); T. Browne (10),B. Volovola (10/15).


It looks a well balanced squad but a few injuries like last season in key positions will make a mockery of that comment. 6 is a bit light so the 30th guy could play there to make a 17/13 split, but I have a high regard for young Holloway in the EPS.

The comments of Chalmers about a lack of leadership were true as they were when one mentioned this over a year ago, though when it was confirmed that Rocky was coming back I was relieved. How funny that sounds now.

Not only do they lack a strong on field captain but they also want some good foremen throughout the team. One would expect an experienced side like the Tahs would have a few of them, but it doesn't appear to be the case.

The only natural leaders in the squad are McCutcheon and Fitzpatrick and they won't be starting in many games. One hopes that young Hooper will step up.

Since Foley is not a recognised goal kicker they are short in that department as they are in kickers from hand of the left footed variety, and in long kickers generally.
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[mark_s]

A background story on Holloway from the local rag

By Brad Forrest

Powering ahead: Jed Holloway has become the latest Southern Districts player to win a contract to play Super Rugby for the NSW Waratahs.

JED Holloway has become the seventh and latest Southern Districts player to be recruited by the NSW Waratahs, and follows a path from northern NSW first trod by his father 25 years ago.
Jed's family has a longstanding association with the southern Sydney region, with his father playing flanker for the Port Hacking club that in 1989 amalgamated with St George to become Southern Districts.
Continuing his education at McCauley Catholic College in Grafton, Jed joined the Yamba Buccaneers junior club, first representing the under-13s at 11 years.
As he was playing there alongside Kane Douglas, who would also join Southern Districts and later play for the Waratahs and Australia, the two boys' fathers — Graham and Chris — often worked together as carpenters in the Yamba community.
Having experienced his first taste of representative rugby playing for the NSW under 17s side, Jed made the decision to return to Sydney ahead of the rest of his family to improve his career.
Moving in with Pat and Josie Finnegan, parents of Wallaby Owen Finnegan until his parents relocated to Sutherland Shire, he finished his schooling at Waverley College before joining Southern Districts club last year.
He earned a place in the Australian Schoolboys squad that toured Samoa and New Zealand in 2010.
After a year when he won a second grade grand final with Souths, he was a member of the high-profile Australian U20s squad that competed in the IRB Junior World Cup in South Africa, rounding off a successful club season by becoming part of the first Southern Districts side to reach a first grade premiership grand final.
So, in September the Yamba community proudly celebrated both Kane Douglas, 23, making his Wallaby debut and Holloway, 19, competing in his first premiership first grade grand final.
Despite Souths losing by a point to Sydney University, Jed's consistent form throughout the year did earn him one piece of silverware, with the strong, ball carrying lock voted Shute Shield rookie of the year for 2012, following in the footsteps of Bernard Foley and Kane Douglas.
Jed said he was "absolutely thrilled" to learn last week that he and talented youngsters Matt Lucas, Sam Lane and Luke Holmes had won four of the five extended playing squad spots in the Waratahs for next season.
"Kane and I are good mates and joining him and the other five Souths players is a personal thrill for me," Jed said. "I've got to pay coach Cameron Blades [Souths head coach] a big vote of thanks because he's really improved my game, and improved the team so much this year.
"I always wanted to join Southern Districts from the time I learned that Dad had played for Port [Hacking].
"And we got so close this year ... maybe a premiership and a few games with the 'Tahs would be a great 2014 season for me."

New Waratahs head coach Michael Cheika believes Holloway has a big future.
"Jed is a very impressive young player. As a lock or back rower, to be so highly rated at such a young age is a good sign as typically these positions are late bloomers," he said.
"He's a country player, full of enthusiasm and like Kane Douglas, Paddy Ryan and Pat McCutcheon, he brings a rawness and freshness to the team that we hope will help rough up the competition in the forward pack."
Holloway is part way through a bachelor of health and movement, but he has put his studies on hold to concentrate on his rugby.

 

[latrell247]

LG

Touch wood if Hooper and McCutcheon were unavailble who would be given the call to play openside? Hugh Perrett?
Also if you had two halfbacks out who would get the call up? Josh Holmes maybe???