Waratahs 2015
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Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Yes, and then said that they are all currently under contract.
Considering Fisher and Foley have head coaching roles, maybe he should have suggested that as well as Cheika quitting his role with the Waratahs for the good of Australian rugby, Stiles should be released by the Reds.
Of course he didn't make that suggestion.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
With such a short time frame to potentially find a new forwards coach most of the options will be under contract, doesn't mean they're not available. It's not at all uncommon for coaches to seek a release to take up a position with a national side. As far as Stiles goes Allen doesn't suggest he shouldn't be released by the reds either, the focus is on Cheika because he has a duty to Australian Rugby that Stiles doesn't.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I don't accept this generally and certainly not within 12 months of RWC and in the position Oz rugby is in.
Everyone involved in rugby has a duty.
I have a recollection of McQueen (?) attributing 1999 to those within 6 degrees of the Wobs.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that Stiles doesn't have any duty to Australian rugby, only that Cheika has a much greater and more immediate duty as a direct employee of the ARU and the man tasked with seeing that the Wallabies win the RWC.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Fuck that's my ab workout done for the day.
He's got all these plans about what Cheika should do to improve the Wallabies, but his quotes on Cheika's "attitude" toward the scrum are typical I've-got-the-answer shit.
I'm only shocked he didn't follow it up with a few diagrams, maybe re-hash the stick figures he used to demonstrate how Ben Alexander would thrive under the new Laws.
That's about 2500 words of wasted internet space right there.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I used to like his analysis on here - true, it was after the fact but that's one way of identifying faults. I guess fixing them is another question.
I think Cheika's disinterest in the set piece became notorious during season 2014 and was proved, to my mind, by Paddy Ryan coming back from Wallaby "camp" a better scrummager.
Can we all agree that the present problem arises from indifference to scrum performance until we get to test level by which time it is too late?
Is there any chance of Cheika stepping aside from the Tahs? i think there is something in the point that the other s15 coaches will be less inclined to cooperate if he is both Tahs and wobblies coach.
I think Cheika's disinterest in the set piece became notorious during season 2014 and was proved, to my mind, by Paddy Ryan coming back from Wallaby "camp" a better scrummager.
Can we all agree that the present problem arises from indifference to scrum performance until we get to test level by which time it is too late?
Is there any chance of Cheika stepping aside from the Tahs? i think there is something in the point that the other s15 coaches will be less inclined to cooperate if he is both Tahs and wobblies coach.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Well, there now might be an opening.
I found it worth a read. Regarding alternatives, not sure that there is a need to out a replacement by name to coincide with a view that an incumbent has had a good shot and should go. When did that become a requirement?
The impression I got from Cheika before the tour was that all assistant positions were open, with him even looking to a possible "Super unity ticket" at first, and Blades ending up staying on - in part to provide some changeover continuity. I dunno if that means he now has longer-term tenure.
all about as available as Mike Cron or Graham Rowntree, ie not available or particularly useful at all to suggest them
I was actually surprised he wasn't really after cheika's sacking, he has been a glass half full all tour
Don't worry everyone. You don't have to worry about Scott's articles anymore.
He's hung up his pen, so to speak.
Tony Darcy was a reasonable respected forward coach. I reckon if you have him the challenge of fixing our scrums and tight play, he'd love it.
He's hung up his pen, so to speak.
Tony Darcy was a reasonable respected forward coach. I reckon if you have him the challenge of fixing our scrums and tight play, he'd love it.
I think the initial invitation to Foley and Larkham was a bit of an olive branch and an acknowledgement that he had a very tall order in front of him.
One of the existing Wallabies assistant coaches was always likely to stay. It's generally the way things are done to retain some continuity. With the Waratahs having no specialist forwards coach (Cheika took that role), it meant it had to be Blades remaining on.
I absolutely accept that it would be ideal for Cheika not to be coaching the Tahs and Wallabies in 2015 but that's the way things are. Clearly the last few months in Australian rugby have been far from ideal and we're left in the position we're currently in.
I think there are a great deal of mixed messages in what Scott wrote, largely about the scrum problem. How will Cheika improve the scrum by not coaching the Waratahs? I believe he is trying to organise some short catchups with the Wallaby players during the year but until the squad is assembled for the Rugby Championship, it is presumably pretty hard to practice scrummaging. I'm unsure how not coaching the Waratahs in the preceding months will assist that.
I'm sure Cheika will put some more time into scrummaging at the Tahs this year in the knowledge that it could help the Wallabies at the RWC. He's got Kepu, TPN and Hooper who will be at the RWC if healthy as well as Skelton, Palu and Robinson who have pretty strong chances of making the squad. Cheika isn't a renowned scrum coach though so just him focusing more on it isn't going to solve the problem.
Now it would seem ideal if Michael Foley puts his hand up and said that from July, his Super Rugby year is over and he's happy to help the Wallabies. He could be there from day 1 of the squad assembling right through to our last game in the RWC. That assistance would surely be invaluable.
Our scrummaging problem goes beyond the front row. 2015 would seem the ideal time for people like John Eales as a board member of the ARU to offer his assistance. Surely he can provide some valuable advice to our locks on scrummaging (and Hooper and others on captaincy).
boyo
Mark Ella (57)
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
"OK fellas, let's get down to business - while obviously I'm interested in the Tahs doing well, I'd like to make sure ALL THE FORWARDS in the country are absolute arse kicking beast lords in order to widen the selection pool."
The other coaches should be aiming to keep as many Tahs OUT of the Test side through sheer awesomeness.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Yes I've called he will step down about halfway in. Like you said I just can't see how he can get to all the other franchises' trainings which he will need to pre-RWC.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Sounds on the money.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
He would need to get to them before the SA and NZ trips begin, no?
Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
I can't see Cheika stepping down from the Waratahs as he specifically made a point of not doing so when he took the Wallaby job. IIRC he stated that he felt he owed a duty to the Waratahs to complete the 2015 season, at which point he will step down. His reasons being he wanted an orderly hand-over and he felt a responsibility to the Waratahs players and supporters not to leave them in the lurch when he got a better offer. He seems to be a my word is my bond type of guy, so I can't see it happening.
RE the scrum scenario - is Topo Rodriguez still in Australia and/or available? He would seem to fit the bill.
RE the scrum scenario - is Topo Rodriguez still in Australia and/or available? He would seem to fit the bill.
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