Round 10: Waratahs v Chiefs. Friday 26th April 7:35 pm

[Dismal Pillock]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1783834805844742290

LOL, the self handshake, the camera look.

Surely The Judiciary will consider this evidence when tabling the crime of combining mullets and leftover cigarette butts.

 

[cyclopath]

I don’t agree he’s making a genuine attempt to wrap. But you’re right the video ref clearly does.

But if Swinton or Swain put those shots on I’m pretty sure lots would be up in arms.

Quality work!

 

[drewprint]

This was easily his best of the year, both in legality and impact. The shoulder has always been a bit of a furphy because he does get the wrap right, his bigger issue has been hitting late and getting away with a bit because the processes are so focused on head contact. This tackle was bang on time though.

I don't mind him getting away with a bit right now either - hopefully he's spending all his luck on getting the all blacks 6 jersey only to be red carded in the first 10 minutes of a bledisloe match later this year.

I was thinking the same thing. He got away with clear as day shithousery on Lynagh earlier in the season so is probably feeling like he has carte blanche to keep doing them. Hoping it burns him big time in a really big match.

 

[Pfitzy]

I'd be keeping an eye on your phone, things can in fact get worse for the tahs front row stocks

See how I pull up after today's First XV game.

 

[Boof1050]

2 momentum killers for the Tahs last night, trying to kick the ball out straight from restarts after scoring points! Walton and Perese under no pressure at all to kick it as well. Its a really bad Australian trait. FFS if we starve them of the ball it makes it very hard to score tries.

 

[Thalium]

Tahs need to look a little bit further for injury cover. Obviously the local park isn’t sufficient

a few locks for next season wouldn’t hurt either

 

[Froggy]

To be fair, the Tahs had seven props and three hookers signed to there squad at the start of the year, which you would have to think would be enough. We have now lost six of those seven props and all three hookers through injury, how do you prepare for that? Sign ten hookers and fifteen props????

 

[HogansHeros]

See how I pull up after today's First XV game.

Funnily enough my phone did ring, but it was only a subbies club, not the tahs.

 

[molman]

To be fair, the Tahs had seven props and three hookers signed to there squad at the start of the year, which you would have to think would be enough. We have now lost six of those seven props and all three hookers through injury, how do you prepare for that? Sign ten hookers and fifteen props????

It makes it hard to get a good gauge if Coleman is underperforming as a coach with what he's got or not. There has been a lot of really narrow losses (Highlanders, Blues, Drua, Rebels). The opening Reds game really wasn't great, nor the one against the Brumbies, but overall its pretty small margins to this season looking a lot different.

Does a different coach with the same players and same circumstances eke out some more wins and/or drastically different outcomes?

 

[Wilson]

It makes it hard to get a good gauge if Coleman is underperforming as a coach with what he's got or not. There has been a lot of really narrow losses (Highlanders, Blues, Drua, Rebels). The opening Reds game really wasn't great, nor the one against the Brumbies, but overall its pretty small margins to this season looking a lot different.

Does a different coach with the same players and same circumstances eke out some more wins and/or drastically different outcomes?

I do think part of the problem has been Coleman's list management - way too many 6/8s, not enough locks, no depth at fullback, slow to react to season long injuries, too many solid players leaving after getting good time and not enough time given to some of the young players coming through. Even if you put the cause of front row injuries to the side those problems are exacerbated by poor list management - Horton and Latu played a season or so and were gone so there hasn't been as much development of a 3rd or 4th option and half the prop injuries came early in the season and he hasn't moved to bring an experienced alternative in.

It's the biggest issue with him taking on the DoR full time as has been suggested - that role is heavily focused on list management and player recruitment and there's little to suggest it's a strength of his.

 

[Rob42]

Coleman has said several times that he’s been chasing a couple of proper locks, there’s not a whole lot to be found.

 

[Steve_Grey]

I do think part of the problem has been Coleman's list management - way too many 6/8s, not enough locks, no depth at fullback, slow to react to season long injuries, too many solid players leaving after getting good time and not enough time given to some of the young players coming through. Even if you put the cause of front row injuries to the side those problems are exacerbated by poor list management - Horton and Latu played a season or so and were gone so there hasn't been as much development of a 3rd or 4th option and half the prop injuries came early in the season and he hasn't moved to bring an experienced alternative in.

It's the biggest issue with him taking on the DoR full time as has been suggested - that role is heavily focused on list management and player recruitment and there's little to suggest it's a strength of his.

Could do with a genuine #7 - incumbent is a great tackler, but you need more than that for the current game @7.

 

[fatprop]

A couple of points on the game

1/ The difference between the 10s was stark. Mckenzie was continuously scheming and the change in pace when he sighted an opportunity was amazing, even at 15 he left space, we kicked to that space and he accelerate and caught the ball

2/ the Chiefs in the warm up just looked more accurate and organised, one of their drill was kick return practice, structure and simple paces - and that was run through the game

3/ We created a lot of pressure early and missed two lineouts close to the goal line, that is just unacceptable

4/ The Tahs backs just want to run into people (and what is with these no look catch and passes to no one) but they aren't monsters and get splattered

5/ Gleeson needs to learn to run at gaps and weak shoulders instead of just running at and over people

 

[Derpus]

A couple of points on the game

1/ The difference between the 10s was stark. Mckenzie was continuously scheming and the change in pace when he sighted an opportunity was amazing, even at 15 he left space, we kicked to that space and he accelerate and caught the ball

2/ the Chiefs in the warm up just looked more accurate and organised, one of their drill was kick return practice, structure and simple paces - and that was run through the game

3/ We created a lot of pressure early and missed two lineouts close to the goal line, that is just unacceptable

4/ The Tahs backs just want to run into people (and what is with these no look catch and passes to no one) but they aren't monsters and get splattered

5/ Gleeson needs to learn to run at gaps and weak shoulders instead of just running at and over people

He gets over the gainline and sucks in 2-3 tacklers per carry. That's the exact role Valetini plays and gets plaudits for.

 

[Desmond]

You are

You are a 1st grade wanker. Tell me what was the highest level you achieved? You love to throw pot shots at the young future stars.

I think Pnut hit a nerve with you!!! He is getting paid top dollar and his defence as a fullback is not great. Being a young future star is not an excuse for poor defence. Who cares about what level we all played!!! We are arm chair critics you tool!!!

 

[molman]

I do think part of the problem has been Coleman's list management - way too many 6/8s, not enough locks, no depth at fullback, slow to react to season long injuries, too many solid players leaving after getting good time and not enough time given to some of the young players coming through. Even if you put the cause of front row injuries to the side those problems are exacerbated by poor list management - Horton and Latu played a season or so and were gone so there hasn't been as much development of a 3rd or 4th option and half the prop injuries came early in the season and he hasn't moved to bring an experienced alternative in.

It's the biggest issue with him taking on the DoR full time as has been suggested - that role is heavily focused on list management and player recruitment and there's little to suggest it's a strength of his.

Fair to critique his list management, but it's hard without being entirely privy to what financial and/or other constraints there may be as to how well he's managed things. A lot of the AU teams have struggled with squad depth over the years, especially when compared to the NZ teams.

I believe Gainline Analytics did some work around trying to isolate coach performance from team performance, which most people equate as the same. We have this habit of judging coaches on success (wins), but the reality is, even the best coach can't achieve when dealt a certain hand and other teams which appear successful are underperforming due to the quality of the coach. It's just hard sometimes outside looking in to work out which it is (over or underperforming).

 

[eastman]

Coleman has had ample opportunity- he’s had three years to develop and shape the team. Whilst I appreciate injuries and the impact that can have on cohesion, collectively and individually we haven’t shown much improvement (apart from Joey Walton).

 

[A mutterer]

Coleman has had ample opportunity- he’s had three years to develop and shape the team. Whilst I appreciate injuries and the impact that can have on cohesion, collectively and individually we haven’t shown much improvement (apart from Joey Walton).

He may have had 3 years, but 2 of those at least were with 0 recruitment budget following large operating losses.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Love the curtain raiser. Value for money.

 

[fatprop]

He gets over the gainline and sucks in 2-3 tacklers per carry. That's the exact role Valetini plays and gets plaudits for.

I think Valentini's soft hands in contact adds quite a bit more