Waratahs 2014

[It is what it is]

I've never been able to work out the lack of place kicking ability in Australian rugby. There's no logical reason why rugby players who grow up in Australia are less capable at this skill than those who grow up in SAF, NZ, the UK or France, but it's the reality. There just seems a lack of proper emphasis on it. It's been going on since as long as I can remember - with a few sporadic exceptions.

Agree and Matthew Burke was probably our last 'mailman' kicker.

 

[Pfitzy]

Because the private school system dominates the selection table for flyhalves, and the dominant flyhalf usually wins games off his hands, not his boot.

 

[qwerty51]

Someone is listening.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...ration-20140525-zrnp8.html?rand=1401006344021

 

[RedsHappy]

Someone is listening.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...ration-20140525-zrnp8.html?rand=1401006344021

Well halle-fucking-luyah! That's one of the most heartening rugby articles of 2014.

At long last, a national coach saying smart stuff about critical stuff that may or will win Tests. And before disasters have struck that we then have to get over and figure out why we didn't do more specialist coaching in the first place.

Deans' kicking coaching model was part-time video training via Skype from RSA, presumably with an iPad next to the kicking tee and with our elite kickers looking down for instructions.

 

[Lindommer]

Gee, that was quick. Who read my remark, Georgina or Link?

 

[qwerty51]

Yeah the best part of the article is that it isn't just a focus on the Wallabies but the Australian game.

I watched the Heineken Cup final and Wilkinson obviously hit 100% but none of them even looked like missing. Dead straight, well struck kicks. Even his drop goal was perfection. You could see in the manner Saracens defended, being very disciplined that they were very weary of conceding a penalty at the ruck, as such didn't contest the breakdown much and allowed Toulon to get good ball. Having a good goal kicker is more than just the actual kicks. If we go into a WC with substandard kickers teams won't mind conceding a penalty against us knowing there's a good chance we could miss the kick.

 

[wamberal]

Agree and Matthew Burke was probably our last 'mailman' kicker.

Burke was a very good soccer player, I believe, which probably accounts for his ability.

Any senior coach who does not go out of his way to pick a good reliable kicker (both from the spot, and out of hand) is a farkwit.


We have a lot of farkwits in Australian rugby, and have had for many years, unfortunately.

 

[formerflanker]

Yeah the best part of the article is that it isn't just a focus on the Wallabies but the Australian game.

I watched the Heineken Cup final and Wilkinson obviously hit 100% but none of them even looked like missing. Dead straight, well struck kicks. Even his drop goal was perfection. You could see in the manner Saracens defended, being very disciplined that they were very weary of conceding a penalty at the ruck, as such didn't contest the breakdown much and allowed Toulon to get good ball. Having a good goal kicker is more than just the actual kicks. If we go into a WC with substandard kickers teams won't mind conceding a penalty against us knowing there's a good chance we could miss the kick.

I wonder if there are any Australian kickers with Wilkinson's obsession for hours and hours of practice? He certainly has skill but his hard work is something else we can learn from.

 

[Rob42]

Did the Tahs have any kicking coach last year? They've had Mehrtens there part-time this year, so they are at least doing something - it's not something that can be changed overnight, or even over a season or two. As others have said, it's about valuing place-kicking right through the junior ranks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Richo]

Foley's success rate of 76% isn't terrible, but the Waratahs turn down a lot of kicks in part because they know his range is limited.

 

[mjw]

Last year Brendan McKibbin was a pretty good kicker, nothing to complain about, but he couldn't hold his place in the starting team for this year's side.

 

[fatprop]

It would have been nicer if the Chiefs weren't raped at the weekend, we can expect them fired up on Saturday

 

[Nelse]

Chiefs have got Cruden back among others. I hope the Tahs can break that NZ drought, but it might be doubtful

 

[Tahspark]

Cheika has brought many wonderful attributes to the Tahs.

He's entitled to praise given that we've recently arrested our frustrating win/loss/win/loss sequence. 4 straight wins in this tight comp & at this time of the season bespeaks of a side on the rise.

For me the most pleasing aspect is that win or lose I know that the Tahs won't wilt. Cheika demanded fitness during the last two grueling pre-seasons. It's great that we're not witnessing the busted gaskets displays from the 60 mins mark as per 2011-2012.

 

[Pfitzy]

My oh fucking my. Is it time to finally start believing? I was following on Twitter/FoxSports App/Tapatalk and shitting bricks when the Cow fuckers scored that second try. But the boys came back hard, spat on the fist, and drove it right up to the elbow joint in the home side's cloaca. Balls-out awesomeness.

Thank fuck we have a break before coming back to this, but I'll be watching every key cog in the Tahs machine with apprehension during Test/club rugby.

FUCK THIS TEST WINDOW! We've got the momentum and should be able to push on from here.

Hopefully the Stormers destroy the Shorks tonight and give us a shot at #1.

 

[Badger]

My oh fucking my. Is it time to finally start believing?

Had August 2 marked in the diary since the draw was released last year. More in blind faith than anything else. The faith was tested during the lean stretch.

The Test window is a pain in the arse. All momentum is lost for three weeks.

Won't get too carried away until after the Reds game.

 

[qwerty51]

TATAFU Polota-Nau will have to make an emergency trip to the dentist after having his front teeth knocked out, Dave Dennis sustained a cut so bad that his leg tissue was exposed, and numerous Waratahs players required stitches after their brutal victory over the Chiefs.

The remarkable efforts of the Waratahs in New Plymouth was summed up by key players battling through immense pain and injury, none more so than captain Dennis who scored the decisive try with seven minutes remaining despite team staff wanting him to come off the field after a stray boot sliced open his thigh.
“He’s got the worst cut I’ve ever seen, you can see the muscles and things, it is just horrific,” said NSW coach Michael Cheika, who recoiled on the sideline when Dennis showed him the gash after the match.

“Tatafu had two front teeth knocked out completely, from the first 10 minutes.
“One is half broken, the other one is out completely, in his mouthguard.
“He was in pain because that nerve is there, and he played the whole game. That’s what it’s about.”

Destiny is in our own hands now. Win every game and we top the table.

 

[RedsHappy]

Destiny is in our own hands now. Win every game and we top the table.

Huge upset in Durban with a Stormers win. Tahs very well positioned to top the table now.

Jakeball and its prices: only one try scored in that entire match.

 

[terry j]

My oh fucking my. Is it time to finally start believing? I was following on Twitter/FoxSports App/Tapatalk and shitting bricks when the Cow fuckers scored that second try. But the boys came back hard, spat on the fist, and drove it right up to the elbow joint in the home side's cloaca. Balls-out awesomeness.

Thank fuck we have a break before coming back to this, but I'll be watching every key cog in the Tahs machine with apprehension during Test/club rugby.

FUCK THIS TEST WINDOW! We've got the momentum and should be able to push on from here.

Hopefully the Stormers destroy the Shorks tonight and give us a shot at #1.

the horrortahs finally become the hurrahtahs?

 

[USARugger]

I like Larkham's take on Jakeball a whole lot more. I think it has a higher ceiling as well.

The 'Tahs power game could not be more fun to watch. If this can be translated to the test level France is in some fucking trouble.

Reds v. 'Tahs match will be a philosophical conundrum for some of the posters here. Would the short-term bragging rights and gratification be worth potentially derailing the 'Tahs championship run and the positive cascading effect that could have on Australian rugby, should they win?

With the current financial state of things, I'm leaning towards no.