Waratahs 2022

[Lightblue]

Got to say impressive that Coleman seems to be making his mark on this team so early. Do wonder though whether tahs/nswru erred by not giving him the gig a lot earlier. I mean i he had pedigree and results at Shute shield and for all talk lack of pro coaching experience seems to have made a mockery of that.

Got to make sure find the next Darren Coleman and get them on the right coaching pathways.

Agree totally.
I think Coleman had possibly committed to the LA Gilitinis otherwise Penney wouldn’t have have got his gig. Or they thought Penney had better credentials? If the latter was the case, Penney didn’t live up to his credentials.
Watching the attitude and team bonding, it is evident that the Coleman touch is definitely improving the squad. I also like the fact that for once the Waratah management didn’t panic and sack Whitaker and Gilmore as many sideline experts were baying for. Ironic now that the defence of the Tahs seems to have improved remarkably under Gilmore with the oversight from Coleman.
I view this season with much optimism.
It’s only their second game and they are a totally different side to last year.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Agree totally.
I think Coleman had possibly committed to the LA Gilitinis otherwise Penney wouldn’t have have got his gig. Or they thought Penney had better credentials? If the latter was the case, Penney didn’t live up to his credentials.
Watching the attitude and team bonding, it is evident that the Coleman touch is definitely improving the squad. I also like the fact that for once the Waratah management didn’t panic and sack Whitaker and Gilmore as many sideline experts were baying for. Ironic now that the defence of the Tahs seems to have improved remarkably under Gilmore with the oversight from Coleman.
I view this season with much optimism.
It’s only their second game and they are a totally different side to last year.

Yep good to see no knee jerk reactions and credit of course goes to full coaching staff of Coleman, Whitaker and Gilmore.

Defence and particularly attack this game - been very good this season. Actually attack last season was vey good and just defence horrible. Not committing as many players to the ruck seems to be key change to improving defence. As you say maybe Gilmore learned and/or has had useful additional input. As given success Gilmore had with u20 was surprised with shambles of defence last season so pleasing to see this turned around under him and Coleman.

 

[Jamie]

Mixed feeling this morning, it sucks that we lost, but I am super happy with the way they played.

With that said, my thoughts:

• Reds, yet to show much in attack after 2 rounds. I suspect they will be a much better and stronger team when we meet them again in Brisbane.
• Good turnout, despite the rain, and if it was a S...T game I am sure that half the crowd would have left by halftime, everyone stuck around and enjoyed a great game.
• What is the point of giving Jamie Roberts 8 minutes per game? We need a solid 20 plus minutes from him at least. He has invaluable experience and size to break the line; I would start him next game, giving Foketi a rest.
• Forwards > Great stuff! That Cridge guy is looking good, probably the first Kiwi at the Tahs that is taking his chances. Would love to see Langi Gleeson starting also.
• WE NEED FINISHERS, both wingers work hard, and I cannot fault them, they will get better BUT we need to find a guy who knows how to score. Maybe give that Tevita Funa a crack again both Turner and Pietsch work hard, but they don't have the try-scoring machine look about them yet.
• We need Hooper back asap.

Great effort by the boys, and honestly, this team will continue to build. We are still miles away from the top teams, but I'm sure DC and co have a bag of tricks that will keep us competitive.

My last thought and a controversial one perhaps, Both Turner and Pietsch had the opportunity to score and didn't - Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) would have scored both tries

 

[Pfitzy]

Coleman didn't get the gig basically because previous administrations thought Gibson was a better choice, then fumbled to another Kiwi with reputation for young teams management under the Kiwi administrator

 

[Pfitzy]

My last thought and a controversial one perhaps, Both Turner and Pietsch had the opportunity to score and didn't - Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) would have scored both tries

There's controversial, and then there's just plain wrong. In those conditions, he would be losing the ball at the first contact.

 

[RugbyReg]

Mixed feeling this morning, it sucks that we lost, but I am super happy with the way they played.

With that said, my thoughts:

• Reds, yet to show much in attack after 2 rounds. I suspect they will be a much better and stronger team when we meet them again in Brisbane.
  

• 
  
  Both games have been played in pretty much torrential rain. We’ve been crying out for Aussie teams to play to the conditions for years. That’s what they’ve done

 

[Wilson]

Not to mention their excellent conversion rate against the tahs - part of the reason they didn't attack much was because they were so effective in turning attacks into points, particularly in the first half.

Very interested to see how the tahs go if Cridge is out, he has been huge for them and I'm starting to think he might be a huge part of the scrum strength they've shown.

 

[Jamie]

There's controversial, and then there's just plain wrong. In those conditions, he would be losing the ball at the first contact.

Perhaps, BUT he would have scored. Just my opinion, but the Tahs will finish the year with different wingers, and yes Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) might not be one of them

 

[Jamie]

• 
  
  Both games have been played in pretty much torrential rain. We’ve been crying out for Aussie teams to play to the conditions for years. That’s what they’ve done

Hi Reg, it was not a criticism of the Reds but more about the fact that they will probably be much better in the coming rounds. And yes they played to the conditions but the Tahs could have quite easily won that one with better execution. The reds took every chance they had and the Tahs did not

 

[Clubhouse coach]

The Tahs had their chances but failed in execution, if they came close to nailing that last line out, seven metres out with only two minutes to go, things may have been different. Surely at that point the Tahs must be thinking this is our most important passage of play, we must execute perfectly. I can’t imagine the Brumbies getting it so wrong.
Interestingly both the French and Springboks lost tests against the Wallabies last year through a malfunctioning set piece.

 

[dru]

Agree totally.
I think Coleman had possibly committed to the LA Gilitinis otherwise Penney wouldn’t have have got his gig. Or they thought Penney had better credentials? If the latter was the case, Penney didn’t live up to his credentials.
Watching the attitude and team bonding, it is evident that the Coleman touch is definitely improving the squad. I also like the fact that for once the Waratah management didn’t panic and sack Whitaker and Gilmore as many sideline experts were baying for. Ironic now that the defence of the Tahs seems to have improved remarkably under Gilmore with the oversight from Coleman.
I view this season with much optimism.
It’s only their second game and they are a totally different side to last year.

We are always quick to diss the outgoing. To me it was interesting in various preseason interviews where Coleman discussed the team vibe and culture. Against his expectations, the team was tight and happy. No back stabbing or narkiness. Coleman put it down to excellent culture against the odds given the season that they just came out. Penny completely failed on pretty much any given results based KPI, but he left strengths too.

 

[Pfitzy]

I can only imagine how offended you are right now to have this accusation levelled at you.

I may never recover.

No wait. I recovered.

 

[Lightblue]

We are always quick to diss the outgoing. To me it was interesting in various preseason interviews where Coleman discussed the team vibe and culture. Against his expectations, the team was tight and happy. No back stabbing or narkiness. Coleman put it down to excellent culture against the odds given the season that they just came out. Penny completely failed on pretty much any given results based KPI, but he left strengths too.

That’s a possibility, although I think Whitaker and Gilmore have a strong bond with the boys and the team reacted and stayed close as a unit with a lot of their input.
Coleman has inherited the majority of that roster as Penney had and the turn around has been very surprising.
Better coach and man manager?

 

[Lightblue]

• 
  
  Both games have been played in pretty much torrential rain. We’ve been crying out for Aussie teams to play to the conditions for years. That’s what they’ve done

That actually is a very good point.
Forget your allegiances.
Considering the conditions, it was a great game.
Close, exciting and great ball skills in the wet.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Coleman didn't get the gig basically because previous administrations thought Gibson was a better choice, then fumbled to another Kiwi with reputation for young teams management under the Kiwi administrator

Yep a bunch of outstanding decisions that served NSW rugby and tahs well there (not)

 

[Rugbynutter39]

The Tahs had their chances but failed in execution, if they came close to nailing that last line out, seven metres out with only two minutes to go, things may have been different. Surely at that point the Tahs must be thinking this is our most important passage of play, we must execute perfectly. I can’t imagine the Brumbies getting it so wrong.
Interestingly both the French and Springboks lost tests against the Wallabies last year through a malfunctioning set piece.

Poor line-out on their own 22 on their own throw led to last reds try and the poor (not in straight) throw at the death meant they missed the final opportunity to win the game. Line out funtioned well when Holloway, cridge and porecki as locks and hooker but when to shit when Williams (switched to lock when Gleeson came on), Douglas and Horton came on.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

There's controversial, and then there's just plain wrong. In those conditions, he would be losing the ball at the first contact.

And getting caught out in defence and letting in couple of tries.

 

[Drew]

• 
  
  Both games have been played in pretty much torrential rain. We’ve been crying out for Aussie teams to play to the conditions for years. That’s what they’ve done

That’s where the edge was, you guys had more experience in those conditions!
Jokes, jokes. The more clinical team won

 

[Lindommer]

My last thought and a controversial one perhaps, Both Turner and Pietsch had the opportunity to score and didn't - Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) would have scored both tries

...and let in a good half-dozen.

 

[dru]

That’s a possibility, although I think Whitaker and Gilmore have a strong bond with the boys and the team reacted and stayed close as a unit with a lot of their input.
Coleman has inherited the majority of that roster as Penney had and the turn around has been very surprising.
Better coach and man manager?

Oh I think the Waratahs have pulled together a fabulous team. And it wasn't obvious to all of us that was happening as Coleman was being called in. I'm completely happy to recognise Coleman. I'm just not writing out Penny in the process.