Waratahs 2013

[Inside Shoulder]

It was Daniel Halangahu wasn't it?

I thought there were 22 and they were all out injured

 

[Inside Shoulder]

- yarda, yarda

Even if they win in 2012 this will still get an airing

 

[Rob42]

Lee, I'm loving your reports from training. How would you compare this pre-season to that of 2012 in terms of the overall vibe of the thing?

 

[Lee Grant]

Captain/Coach option?

Penalty magnet more likely - he's still offside at the rucks. At least he is not getting his cheap shots in these days.

 

[Rob42]

Penalty magnet more likely - he's still offside at the rucks. At least he is not getting his cheap shots in these days.

Just wait until a player diverges from the game plan after the season starts - Monday training retribution may be in order. . .

 

[en_force_er]

Michael Hooper for captain

Hearing him talk he sounds like an intelligent but average bloke in his early 20s. He's not worldly enough to be captain yet, but he's got strong future potential.

Let him get through this year in peace so he doesn't get "2nd year syndrome" and bring him into a leadership role next year.

 

[Lee Grant]

Lee, I'm loving your reports from training. How would you compare this pre-season to that of 2012 in terms of the overall vibe of the thing?

Chalk and cheese on the vibe. Foley was a more persuasive style of coach and Cheika is a more demanding one.

Also he is doing the lion's share of the coaching in sessions I have seen - no doubt as a guideline to Gibson and Gaffney about what content and method he wants them to use. But take that with a grain of salt - who knows what has happened in other training sessions?

Heaps of ruck work.

Incidentally McCutcheon is running a bit faster now but nowhere near flat out - and who knows when he will be able to change direction?

 

[Quick Hands]

Chalk and cheese on the vibe. Foley was a more persuasive style of coach and Cheika is a more demanding one.

Also he is doing the lion's share of the coaching in sessions I have seen - no doubt as a guideline to Gibson and Gaffney about what content and method he wants them to use.

I love it that the coach is the one doing the coaching, instead of standing back with arms folded.

 

[fatprop]

- deception before the ball is received
- deception even if the ball is not received
- making moves before the ball is received, not just after
- running square and passing square
- passers not continuing a run toward a gap needed by the receiver
- soft hand drills
- yarda, yarda

music to my ears

 

[Pete King]

Chalk and cheese on the vibe. Foley was a more persuasive style of coach and Cheika is a more demanding one.

Also he is doing the lion's share of the coaching in sessions I have seen - no doubt as a guideline to Gibson and Gaffney about what content and method he wants them to use. But take that with a grain of salt - who knows what has happened in other training sessions?
.

Knowing Chiek I bet there is a few more blow ups also!!

 

[Lee Grant]

Hearing him talk he sounds like an intelligent but average bloke in his early 20s. He's not worldly enough to be captain yet, but he's got strong future potential.

Let him get through this year in peace so he doesn't get "2nd year syndrome" and bring him into a leadership role next year.

Agree - I've mentioned before that the although the Tahs have loads of experience in most forward positions (where you would like your skipper to come from) they don't seem to have many forwards who stand out as fellows who can take their team mates by the scruff of the neck.

That opinion could be bunk, but it's the impression I have.

I also mentioned that I hoped that Hooper would step up. He has a vibe about him - or more exactly a brimming confidence - that is compelling, and it could convert into captaincy potential.

 

[The Red Baron]

I think the Tahs should select an 8 man leadership group, and then select their captain from outside of the said group.

Or they could just select Folau.

 

[It is what it is]

I have no idea if the Tahs will improve in any aspect of back play which many have been talking about in recent posts.

Posters know these things are as old as the hills and will be just as important now as in the past, and will be in the future. One hopes that we will not be talking about them so much next year because they showed improvement in 2013.

What I am 100% sure about is that the Tahs were practising certain things every day I attended training.

- deception before the ball is received
- deception even if the ball is not received
- making moves before the ball is received, not just after
- running square and passing square
- passers not continuing a run toward a gap needed by the receiver
- soft hand drills
- yarda, yarda

I'm not going to report that these were done 100% correctly but I can verify that some colourful language was used.

Cheika does not just comment from the sideline; he is involved as a player in the playing segments at the end of training sessions - and yeah, he does comment.

View attachment 3155

Yes, Cheika's big on players in motion and players working hard for each other off the ball.
The benchmarks are the All Blacks and Melbourne Storm in these areas.
The stragglers are the the Wallabies predictable pick and driving and one out running and rugby league teams running from dummy half.
The challenge for the Waratahs will be the fitness to play this way and the mental toughness to stay at it and not fall back into bad habits.

 

[Quick Hands]

Agree - I've mentioned before that the although the Tahs have loads of experience in most forward positions (where you would like your skipper to come from) they don't seem to have many forwards who stand out as fellows who can take their team mates by the scruff of the neck.

That opinion could be bunk, but it's the impression I have.

I also mentioned that I hoped that Hooper would step up. He has a vibe about him - or more exactly a brimming confidence - that is compelling, and it could convert into captaincy potential.

View attachment 3160

You could be right. I just went onto the Waratah's website and looked at the full squad; there's noone that jumps out and says "I should be captain" the way a Ritchie McCaw, Brian O'Driscoll, John Eales did.

Assuming that it's going to be someone who's position in the team is reasonably secure, there's not a huge number to pick from. Hooper is one who fits the bill.

 

[Braveheart81]

Dave Dennis seems like a likely candidate although maybe he isn't loud and angry enough.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

I would have thought Barnes is a chance.

 

[It is what it is]

I would have thought Barnes is a chance.

I get a strong sense he marches to a different beat.

 

[Richo]

I'd imagine that the captain will be a forward and that Barnes will be VC.

 

[TOCC]

You could be right. I just went onto the Waratah's website and looked at the full squad; there's noone that jumps out and says "I should be captain" the way a Ritchie McCaw, Brian O'Driscoll, John Eales did.

Assuming that it's going to be someone who's position in the team is reasonably secure, there's not a huge number to pick from. Hooper is one who fits the bill.

I'm all for Hooper... Someone like Robinson or Barnes would be the safe choice, but if the Tahs really want to mix things up then someone like Hooper would be good.

 

[Lee Grant]

I would have thought Barnes is a chance.

Agree - as I said in a blog last week:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/waratahs-coaches-take-no-prisoners/

The best on-field skipper though, could be a back – Berrick Barnes. He is not shy about bossing folks.