What is wrong with the Tahs

[mudskipper]

That would be me, ms. To infer I was saying they "should be walk up Wallabies" is stretching the truth somewhat, or having a lend of yourself, your choice. An "Oz 22" (or, more probably, a squad of 30, as I'm not sure what the initial test teamsheet will be), there's no reason why they shouldn't feature in selections. Having seen the Tahs play every one of their Australian games this year except in Perth, the Tahs pigs are one of the better forward packs going around.

Well if you're happy with that work, that would be the definition of "You’re having lend of yourself"... but who am I to say… as for the truth you'lll find that on the S15 table...

 

[barbarian]

So are you suggesting that Moore, Elsom, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Alexander and McCabe should not have featured in the Wallabies last season?

After all the table does tell the full story...
.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

So are you suggesting that Moore, Elsom, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Alexander and McCabe should not have featured in the Wallabies last season?

After all the table does tell the full story...
.

is this an attempt to distract attention from what is the that's problem?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[barbarian]

Argh, drat!

IS, you got me.

My response to MS's post was a cunning ruse to divert attention away from the Waratahs failings. As some may know I am now the sole owner of the Waratahs, and will literally do ANYTHING to divert attention away from the plight of my beloved team. That includes engaging MS on his seemingly ludicrous assertion.

Obviously it was not cunning enough for a brilliant mind such as yourself IS. I'll get you next time though, don't you worry. My next plan will be so fiendish none of you earthlings will know what has hit you!!!!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

.

 

[Slim 293]

Now that barbarian's cunning plot has been thwarted we can once again focus on what is wrong with the Tahs...

- Skills?

- Coaching?

- Tactics?

- Kicking? Too much kicking?

- Player recruitment/development?

- Injuries to one of the 10 flankers and the backup waterboy?

- The city of Sydney?

- The culture?

- Attitude?

- The prissy flower emblem?

- Sky blue? (Hardly an intimidating colour)

- The fans?

- The administration?

- The private school system?

- No decent flyhalf since Ella?

- The Brumbies (because they took some of those players the Waratahs might have considered in hindsight after the Brumbies played them)?

- Sydney Uni?

- The Shute Shield (or, Australian rugby would be stronger if we just had every single player located in the Upper to Lower North Shore!)?

- Everyone elses fault (this includes every other team local and abroad)?

- Rugby league?

- Homebush?

- Grumbles, and the Sydney media?

- Joel Madden?

 

[Braveheart81]

I think our problem is that we're too close to Canberra.

We should tell the ACT to get out of our state.

 

[waratahjesus]

Now that barbarian's cunning plot has been thwarted we can once again focus on what is wrong with the Tahs...

So we can bow to your knowledge slim, maybe you can list what's right with the brumbies so we have a baseline to achieve to?

We can then revisit it at the end of the year, tahs fans can aspire to it and you can use it as a post mortem for your team.

 

[MrMouse]

Now that barbarian's cunning plot has been thwarted we can once again focus on what is wrong with the Tahs...

Way to quote yourself Slim! Uber productive.

For the record, if I were to assume you were being constructive and not an arse, I would edit it to something like:

So, let's recap...

What's wrong with the Tahs?

- Skills? Specifically, some of the basic skills (catch, pass) and off-the-ball skills (formation, backing up).

- Coaching? Are the right combinations being sought/found, and is good performance rewarded? Equally, is under-performance dealt with adequately? Are out of form players encouraged to play 80min of Shute Shield, or forced to endure under the spotlight of S15?

- Tactics? Specifically, confusion surrounding what exactly the game plan is, and the players not having the confidence to execute it. This, coupled with the apparent lack of a substantial B or C plan.

- Misdirected/aimless kicking?

- The recruitment of older, injured players?

- Attitude? (This could incorporate culture, and/or some of the above points)

- The administration?

- The private school system? (Well, IMHO that's more of a national problem but still...)

 

[Slim 293]

Some more options I forgot to add...

- JON?

- Robbie Deans?

- Julia Gillard?

 

[Braveheart81]

If Tony Abbott was a rugby fan, I'm sure he'd be blaming the carbon tax.

If Clive Palmer owned the Tahs, he'd be blaming the mining tax.

I believe Barry O'Farrell has already blamed the previous NSW Labor Government for the Tahs poor season as well as stating that it is up to the Federal Labor Government to fix it.

 

[Slim 293]

I can't believe I forgot Abbott... Particularly as he represents a rugby heartland in Sydney...

 

[cyclopath]

Umm, no. Slim, that is outside the rules.
Topic, everyone.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think we've exhausted it.

We're surely about to see the Tahs play like they haven't played all season, win both games in South Africa, beat the Reds, Brumbies and Hurricanes, and miss the finals by a point.

 

[wamberal]

I went to watch Eastwood and Gordon on Saturday. The Shute Shield is now at a very high standard, in my opinion, so it is hard for me to believe that the Waratahs cannot be a consistent challenger, at least in the Australian conference.

From what little I have seen of Foley, there does not seem to be much urgency or drive in his demeanour. In fact he comes across as being pretty laid-back. Maybe he should be laid off.

 

[BPC]

I don't think you can just blame McKibbin for that. I don't think a kicker was even in position deep in the in goal.

I think the decision comes down to a variety of players including Robinson, Barnes and Mumm who could have likely made the call prior to the scrum to not have a Plan B in place should things not proceed as planned.

I don't blame just McKibbin but Robinson with his head in the scrum couldn't do anything about a changing situation. McKibbin was in a position to do something. He (presumably) has a brain.

 

[Braveheart81]

I agree. I haven't watched the replay, but from memory, no one was standing deep in the in goal to possibly receive a pass.

McKibbin could have been in just as bad a situation as Timani in picking up the ball.

Arguably with the scrum screwing, Timani should have run to the open side where he would have had a better chance of making the gain line.

 

[It is what it is]

If Tony Abbott was a rugby fan, I'm sure he'd be blaming the carbon tax.

If Clive Palmer owned the Tahs, he'd be blaming the mining tax.

I believe Barry O'Farrell has already blamed the previous NSW Labor Government for the Tahs poor season as well as stating that it is up to the Federal Labor Government to fix it.

Don't joke, Tony used to hold up lower grade scrums for Sydney Uni back in the early 80's but not sure if he played any 1st grade.

 

[Dan54]

Slim 293 said: ↑

So, let's recap...

What's wrong with the Tahs?

- Skills? Specifically, some of the basic skills (catch, pass) and off-the-ball skills (formation, backing up).

- Coaching? Are the right combinations being sought/found, and is good performance rewarded? Equally, is under-performance dealt with adequately? Are out of form players encouraged to play 80min of Shute Shield, or forced to endure under the spotlight of S15?

- Tactics? Specifically, confusion surrounding what exactly the game plan is, and the players not having the confidence to execute it. This, coupled with the apparent lack of a substantial B or C plan.

- Misdirected/aimless kicking?

- The recruitment of older, injured players?

- Attitude? (This could incorporate culture, and/or some of the above points)

- The administration?

- The private school system? (Well, IMHO that's more of a national problem but still...)​

 

[Dan54]

Whoops was going to say about the above post of Slims apart from last 2 you can sum it up with one word
Coach!!!

I not saying Foley not good coach, but those things are what a coach is meant to sort out.

 

[Ash]

Fitzpatrick, Alcock and McCutcheon would get contracts at pretty much all the other provinces. Alcock and McCutcheon possibly as depth players, but Fitzy would walk in to several starting 22s tomorrow if fit.

Hangers and Mumm would get contracts if teams needed depth. Hangers, for instance, would have been rather useful for the Force and Reds this year. And the Brumbies more recently.

Carter would get a contract most other places too. He's not starting right now at the Tahs, so you can hardly use the case that you wouldn't start him in front of 3 wallabies to argue your point. He's a bloody useful player with limitations. But there's no point arguing that one again.

All the players you list can play at a Super rugby level, but I think you are over estimating their ability or underestimating players at other franchises.

I like Cutch, and think Alcock has gone well this year (and much better than I thought he would I am happy to say), but really, the Reds (Gill, Beau), Brumbies (Hooper, Fainga'a), and Force (Pocock, Hodgson) would not have been interested in Cutch and/or Alcock being even squad players for 2012, as they all would've been happy with the opensides they have.

The Reds and Brumbies probably wouldn't have taken Hangers at the start of the season either. The Reds were happy with the injured Cooper, Lucas, Harris and Lance before the season started...that is, until Harris, Lucas and Lance all got injured as well. Then having a fifth decent five eight would've been great. (I wouldn't have been surprised if the Reds rated Cooper, Harris and Lucas all as better 5/8s than Hangers at the start of the 2012 season - not saying they are or are not.) Same with the Brumbies, who were probably pretty satisfied with To'omua and Lilo until both went down injured. Buying a player like Hangers for a third choice or even fourth/fifth choice 5/8 is just not an option for an Australian province, especially with the salary cap. Force would've loved him though, and if I remember correctly, they did give Hangers as offer last time he was off contract. No doubt the Force also would've loved to also have Carter.

I reckon you're right with Fitzpatrick though, as he'd be on the bench for most of the other Aus teams (although we're not short on quality back up hookers in Aus at the moment with Freier, Whittaker, and S. Finger/Hanson), and at the start of the season Mumm would've been a starter for any side bar the Reds (Horwill, Simmons).