Galloping Greens

[MACCA]

Yep, couldn't agree more.
I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the Gordon coaching staff gave a simple instruction to his players before the game: "Tackle, tackle, tackle and Randwick will not have a plan B in the wet."
We passed up very kickable shots at goal and then took a kick from 40 metres out into the driving rain and wind -- it missed.
Neither side looked like scoring tries other than from driving mauls close to the try line, but with the slippery conditions neither side had the organisation or patience to score.

Agree Munro needs to come back to 1sts when fit and play at 6. The Bennett / Connor combination on the side lacks size -- only room for one of them. Figg is OK at 8 but also lacks size.
The backline needs a straight runner at 12.
Horwitz struggles in the wet and kept throwing long cut out speculators which often missed their target and just gave the defence extra time.
Very ordinary performance from team and temporary coach.

Without wanting to take anything away from Gordon this had to have been one of the most boring games of rugby I've seen (I'll just spit out the sour grapes!).

We also had Dan Falafeo? missing from the 2nd row. He played Tonga A in the PRC and will be back soon I hope. He is a big unit.

 

[refugee]

For the Coach
Not sure you can blame it on the temp coach

 

[I like to watch]

Yep, couldn't agree more.
I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the Gordon coaching staff gave a simple instruction to his players before the game: "Tackle, tackle, tackle and Randwick will not have a plan B in the wet."
We passed up very kickable shots at goal and then took a kick from 40 metres out into the driving rain and wind -- it missed.
Neither side looked like scoring tries other than from driving mauls close to the try line, but with the slippery conditions neither side had the organisation or patience to score.

Agree Munro needs to come back to 1sts when fit and play at 6. The Bennett / Connor combination on the side lacks size -- only room for one of them. Figg is OK at 8 but also lacks size.
The backline needs a straight runner at 12.
Horwitz struggles in the wet and kept throwing long cut out speculators which often missed their target and just gave the defence extra time.
Very ordinary performance from team and temporary coach.

Without wanting to take anything away from Gordon this had to have been one of the most boring games of rugby I've seen (I'll just spit out the sour grapes!).

Bit harsh on the temporary coach.
All the faithful all seem to be if the view,that your guys can't play in the wet,period.
Seems you should be bagging the guy on safari,not his temp replacement

 

[the coach]

Bit harsh on the temporary coach.
All the faithful all seem to be if the view,that your guys can't play in the wet,period.
Seems you should be bagging the guy on safari,not his temp replacement

You (and Refugee) may be right, but if the players were sent out with the game plan they played to then the coach/s deserve criticism. Over the last 2 years every time we've played on a wet track we've still tried to play a dry weather game. If you keep doing the same things but expecting different results then someone is not thinking straight.

 

[sidelinesid]

Coach , I agree, but the players have to take some responsibility for what they do on the field. The calls seemed to lack experience or thought - long throws at the lineout ( in gale force winds) long passes (in woeful conditions) . On the one hand- admirable attitude of the young but also very very low percentage success.
We must also address the breakdown play. We were penalised heavily ( yellow to Baldwin , Yellow to Munro and may be also Connor) in this area both last week and the week before which nearly lost us that game .

 

[the coach]

Coach , I agree, but the players have to take some responsibility for what they do on the field. The calls seemed to lack experience or thought - long throws at the lineout ( in gale force winds) long passes (in woeful conditions) . On the one hand- admirable attitude of the young but also very very low percentage success.
We must also address the breakdown play. We were penalised heavily ( yellow to Baldwin , Yellow to Munro and may be also Connor) in this area both last week and the week before which nearly lost us that game .

I agree, the players always take the ultimate responsibility as good teams should be able to adjust to the conditions regardless of what they may have been told to do. There were some crazy decisions being made out there on Saturday which left me unconvinced about Wigg's leadership also, but there's a lack of alternatives for the leadership role with Nio, Ingram and Lam gone. I would have thought Tim Wright would be a candidate for the captaincy -- seems pretty calm and obviously has the experience. In fact, if you look through the club, there's really been a clean out of the old heads.

 

[Rucks and Mauls]

I agree Coach. A definite lack of leadership in the elite squad. We can't always be looking to the future...a balance of youth and experience might be more successful.

 

[MACCA]

I agree, the players always take the ultimate responsibility as good teams should be able to adjust to the conditions regardless of what they may have been told to do. There were some crazy decisions being made out there on Saturday which left me unconvinced about Wigg's leadership also, but there's a lack of alternatives for the leadership role with Nio, Ingram and Lam gone. I would have thought Tim Wright would be a candidate for the captaincy -- seems pretty calm and obviously has the experience. In fact, if you look through the club, there's really been a clean out of the old heads.

I also would love to see Tim Wright as captain. He exudes calmness and has been a mainstay of the back line in recent years. Figg may have to try harder to keep his position as well.

 

[Rucks and Mauls]

I also would love to see Tim Wright as captain. He exudes calmness and has been a mainstay of the back line in recent years. Figg may have to try harder to keep his position as well.

Here here. Would be a good move I think!

 

[Rucks and Mauls]

Anyone else wondering why the coach goes on safari for two weeks during the season. Priorities?

 

[I like to watch]

Why would he be on safari,if he intends to prioritise the Wicks over the School during the season?

 

[the coach]

Anyone else wondering why the coach goes on safari for two weeks during the season. Priorities?

Maybe his job at Scots pays more than at the Wicks

 

[the coach]

We have another problem looming with Horwitz's potential involvement in the U20's squad:
Preparation Tournament 22/4 to 4/5
Assembly Camp 20 to29/5
World Cup 30/5 to 21/6

If he's selected he will only be available for 2-3 more games between now and the end of June.

Who will play 10 in firsts -- Nicolson (1st year out of Colts), Norton (a few grade games last year and now injured (?). Has Liam Windon played at 10?

Maybe Brent Kelly will come out of retirement

 

[I like to watch]

How's the 10 in 2's been going? he had some supporters on here, pushing his case recently.

 

[the coach]

How's the 10 in 2's been going? he had some supporters on here, pushing his case recently.

That's Oli Nicholson, 1st year out of Colts.
Big ask for him to step into 1st grade.

 

[I like to watch]

According to his supporters he is still colts eligible.
But that doesn't seem to be an issue down there,they blooded an 18 yo in the 2row last week,which is a bigger call IMO.
I think he was MVP in colts 1's last year, how has he been going in 2's?

 

[Rucks and Mauls]

According to his supporters is still colts eligible.
But that doesn't seem to be an issue down there,they blooded an 18 yo in the 2row last week,which is a bigger call IMO.
I think he was MVP in colts 1's last year, how has he been going in 2's?

Good player but would be a big step up from colts last year. Might be the only option.
What ever happened to Toby Brown?

 

[MACCA]

Good player but would be a big step up from colts last year. Might be the only option.
What ever happened to Toby Brown?

Toby Brown is playing in Italy. Oli Nicholson played in the trial against NSW 2 and did well.
I think he is ineligible for Colts however will stand corrected.

 

[sidelinesid]

Oli will go ok. He has a good boot ,a reasonable pass and OK hands. Given the opportunity and good support, he will grow.

 

[Rucks and Mauls]

Good point Macca. He did very well in the NSW 2 game. I'd forgotten that Horwitz was playing for them. Not sure about Oli Nicholson's colts eligibility. Can't see him going back there this year.

 

[Pete King]

Wasnt at the game, but havent been that impressed with Donlan in the first two rounds, how did he go? If we had a half that could kick well from the scrum base it could solve a few problems in the wet. Someone in the mould of a Patrick phibbs who could play as a extra forward in defence.