Wednesday’s Rugby News has CSI; Nathan Grey, Rod Kafer now a coaching king, the Brumbies believing they will win, and the Aussie mens 7s saying Hi to Mackay.
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Grey on Grey
The Waratahs are going to conduct an extensive review of their defensive failures this season, with defence coach Nathan Grey set to be under the spotlight.
The Tahs conceded 40 points in their last 4 games of the season, with 7 of their 15 regular season games featuring 40-point defensive blowouts.
Leading the extensive review will be Nathan Grey.
“It was really shattering,” Grey told Fox Sports of the Waratahs defence.
“To see the work the boys put in but then not delivering on the grass, the most important area, it was really disappointing. It is certainly something I won’t look back on fondly but like all negative things you have use it and figure how it can make you better. Be honest and get busy getting better.
“You look at all the errors, both system-wise and one-on-one stuff, the most disappointing thing is guys are putting themselves into positions but not executing.”
When Grey was asked by Fox Sports if the crap defence will follow him to the Wallabies, Grey didn’t say “Yeah but no but yeah but no but yeah, but whatever shutup.”
“I am very confident as a coaching group we will look at how we can do things better,” Grey actually did say.
“Of course there is a concern there (about the NSW defence) and an acknowledgment that we have to continue to get better and be accountable.
“But we are not hiding away from anything. The reality is we have to get on with the job in front of us.
“I will guarantee I will be working my ass to make sure everything is working.”
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Kafer Koaching King
Television Opinion Man Rod Kafer has been given the job of setting up a National Coaching Advisory Panel by the ARU.
This role will be Kafer’s first actual role in the game for more than 10 years, and while it’s not totally clear what he’s going to be doing, it’ll revolve around organising a national coaching plan or some such. Here’s the man himself, giving his opinion:
“We all remember when rugby was great, and what it brought to us, and we need to get back there,” Kafer told the Canberra Times.
“When Australia was great, we recognised that there was a team who were innovative, they were thoughtful, they were prepared to bring something a little bit different.
“We need to establish in Australia a concept of a unity of purpose. What are we about? What are things that when somebody looks at an Australian rugby team play, they can immediately identify?”
Kafer envisions a world where prospective Super players will all pass a player review system, based on Joe the Cameraman‘s famous appraisal method (adapted to rugby, of course).
“We have to determine what’s the right mechanism for rugby today,” Kafer kontinued.
“(But) every player that gets to Super Rugby level should be able to catch and pass the ball consistently under pressure.
“We should position players who get into professional rugby with a skill-set appropriate for the level of the game they are playing, and we probably don’t always get that at the moment.”
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Brumbies Believe
The Brumbies really honestly believe they can beat the reigning champs in the quater final on Friday.
“It’s a brand new season now,” coach Stephen Larkham told the Australian.
“Everything comes down to who wins the next couple of games. We’re pretty happy with how we’ve prepared for the final.
“We had two games (Queensland and the Chiefs) where the result didn’t matter where we got some minutes into the guys in preparation for this game. It’s now do or die.”
He’s being serious. Larkham really does reckon that his team, 6 from 15, can beat the Hurricanes, 12 from 15. This is a Brumbies side that lost to the Rebels!
“And I think the beauty of having a game at home is the passionate crowd that normally comes out to GIO (Stadium),” Larkham zenned.
“We’re representing this city and this area on a global scale. We’re playing an international competition against the best rugby teams in the world.
“So it’s an opportunity for fans to come out and see some top-quality rugby but also to get behind a team that has so much self-belief and just needs that little bit of encouragement from the crowd.”
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Hi Mackay
The Aussie mens 7s team will take on Japan in a two-game series in Mackay in a month’s time.
The two-game series – which hopefully will go longer than two 14-minute games – will take begin on Thursday 17 August. The idea behind the series is to say hi to regional Australia and prepare for the 2018 7s season, which will also include the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and a 7s World Cup (in San Francisco).
“This is a fantastic opportunity to take Rugby Sevens to the regions of Australia, and we’re looking forward to getting involved in the local community,” said coach and GAGR Friend Andy Friend (via rugby.com.au).
“This Series will be a crucial cog in our preparation, not only for the upcoming World Series and Commonwealth Games but also the Sevens World Cup in San Francisco next year.
“The games will be a chance for the up-and-coming stars to make their mark against a very good Japan side.
“We’ll arrive in town early in the week, so we’re excited as a team to meet the people of Mackay and introduce them to this great game of Sevens that is booming around the world.”
Both games will be played at Mackay’s BB Print Stadium, with on on 17 August and the other on 18 August. Kickoff times are TBA.
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