Waratahs 2012

There was a report that Stanford is on his way over in today's smh.

I haven't seen any convincing argument that says this should happen. If you want to do this at least argue for it.

Braveheart, that's a sensible review I reckon. I'd add into the strengths afternoon games, which have been great. On the weaknesses, the organisation and tactics of the backline. Poor quality kicking and a lack of running options for the fly-half have only compounded the diabolical level of ball-handling skills. For short periods in every game, the backline looks electric, but far short of that for the remainder.

Sigh. And I disagree that the culture could only be changed by a move to another city. There are lots of well-informed, passionate rugby people who love the Tahs but are just frustrated at the moment.

I agree with your comments on both afternoon games and the backline.

I think the backline problems have mostly been personnel related. Tom Carter has had a poor season after being just about our most consistent back in the last couple of seasons and it has cost us. Without Beale, we absolutely needed Mitchell as an attacking weapon and he has been out injured all season.

I think Barnes is a great player but I don't think he makes a great Super Rugby 10. I'd prefer to see him at 12 and Foley at 10. I really think Foley could be the 10 we have been looking for all these years.

Rob Horne has been getting better and AAC has been solid but neither player break a lot of tackles. They both are fast and can position themselves into gaps quite well but they're not the players that create opportunities. We've been short on the opportunity creation this season.

If we had Foley at 10, Barnes at 12, and Mitchell back on the wing in 2013, I think players like Horne and AAC (at 13 and 15) would make a lot more breaks because they'd be given a lot more opportunities by our playmakers/gamebreakers.

apart from the debacle against Fruen, how has TC's form been any different to the last few years?
He is obviously out of favour, but I see no difference in his form this year than the last few years. What has changed in your view BraveH?

He also had a poor game against the Brumbies and from reports it did seem he was carrying some sort of injury during those two games.

I guess the fact that his form has been down and has resulted him spending plenty of time on the bench or out of the side altogether (against the Stormers).

He has missed an unusually large amount of tackles this season for the player that was the most effective defender in Super Rugby.

TC was top try scorer last year with Drew. He had a good year.

I think we can learn from the demise of Tom Carter.

Last year he was the top try scorer and he was awarded the Waratah Medal. Watching him develop, I expected a lot better things from him this year.

Yet after round 11 it seems his Super Rugby career is finished. Always the team man I think that Carter was surprised and let down by the lack of support from Waratah management with regards to the loss to the Reds, the Byrnes gouging debacle and the use of him playing and defending at outside centre.

As an admirer, I am pissed that an enthusiastic and inspirational player who has missed a handful of tackles over the last four years seems to be leaving the stage as a poor defender and troublemaker.

My point is that while Carter is an easy target and a convenient distraction, the fact is that the confidence, form and effectiveness of every member of the backline, with the exception of Foley, has gone backwards this year. This needs to be resolved.

Yes, Braveheart, he's really let himself down big time this season. Remember how James O'Connor made him look stupid in Round 2 - or was that the other way round? One of them ran in 2 tries. And his defence! It's pathetic compared to the other Waratahs midfield backs. Look at the comparatives on percentage of missed tackles this season:

Carter 10.2
Ashley Cooper 19.8
Horne 20.3
Barnes 20.6
Halangahu 26.3
Foley 38.0
(Source: Fox Sports Fantasy)

Of course he might have done better in defence had he been positioned at 12 instead of out on the wing where he has been frequently positioned this season. I wonder which fool instructed him to shift out there.

And hasn't the team done so much better without him? Four games this season he hasn't started - four losses.
.

To this outsider, TC has often looked crestfallen and as if something had markedly affected his morale and even motivation. As though dulled.

Has the (slightly) new coaching group supported him this year?

Now is not the appropriate time to attempt to answer that, RH.

I don't disagree Bruce.

I was really just making the point that last season Tom Carter was close to our best player and this year he isn't. I'd argue that in 2011 Tom Carter was in career best form and was a big reason for our success.

I wasn't trying to be overly critical of Carter, more to point out that we did a lot better when he was in amazing form.

I'd still like to see him have a spot in our best team, and maybe that is playing Foley at 10, Carter at 12 and Barnes at 15.

I think Tom Carter's enthusiasm is infectious to the whole team and when he's on song he's the heart and soul of the club.

I was with you right up to this point Bruce. What about when he came on as a replacement when the Tahs were leading and they subsequently lost.By the same logic is he responsible for the loss?
Having said that some of his missed tackles this year don't show up, as he has so badly read it, he has not laid a finger on them(but not when defending at 12)
On the positives,IIRC he also ran through McCabe for his other try.
I don't get it, I'm not a fan of his style, however they have dumped him but still play the same style?

No team, absolutely no team, deserves to be booed by its own spectators. Booing is a strange way to show one's love.


There is not enough passion. Sydney has seen itself as the centre of the game in Australia since time immemorial, the local supporters have a huge sense of entitlement. The simple fact is, all five franchises will have their ups and downs, because each of them has to exist under a salary cap. Being based in Sydney has some significant disadvantages, logistically, travel times, players living a long way from each other, lots of other attractions that militate against the maintenance of a solid and creative team culture - so over time it might be sensible for local supporters to get behind their team, big-time, not whinge, moan, complain and boo them.

Just got sent this - thoughts?
http://www.change.org/petitions/reb...m-the-ground-up-coach-players-culture-and-all

A big problem for the fans, but I thought all the players lived in Paddington?