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Waratahs 2014

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Train Without a Station

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Ahhh USA Rugger. Being a seppo I imagine you wouldn't be aware of the siege mentality ingrained in every Queenslander. We were born with chips on our shoulder and in even the most horrid seasons, could get up for a NSW game. It's only been recent that NSW have been able to beat us regularly. Even more recent that it has happened in QLD.
 
T

Train Without a Station

Guest
How could you not know who he is? Don't people watch the news? He's the bloke who crashed Buddy Franklins car!
 
Badger

Badger

Bill McLean (32)
Braveheart81 said:
Unfortunately the Tahs could only get Donnie Wahlberg for their promotional event. ;)
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They would struggle to get anyone with a pulse if this story is an accurate reflection of the Tahs media team in action.

But it shouldn't be surprising considering how many Tahs have appeared on the 2014 series of G&GR podcasts.

Waratahs silence experiment
Andrew Webster
May 23, 2014
www.smh.com.au

The Waratahs are back in the hunt for the Super Rugby title – but how many people actually care?

Last week, their media department lined up an interview with Israel Folau to appear on this very page in a bid to ramp up some interest for the match against the Lions.

They refused to answer calls and text messages, and then media man Russell Fairfax refused to return a call, which is surprising from a former television reporter who really should get it.

Is rugby going so well that the sport can shun easy publicity? Are the Waratahs really going so well they can act like the Miami Heat?

If the Waratahs board wants to know why they aren't attracting healthy crowds, and ARU boss Bill Pulver wonders why his organisation is struggling financially, they might want to consider how some of their franchises market the game.
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Rob42

Rob42

John Solomon (38)
Yes, I think it's been very strongly implied that the lack of media access is not the media team's shortcomings, but a direction of the head coach. Which is very surprising, as he clearly understands the importance of good media, and always gives very interesting interviews himself.
 
Hawko

Hawko

Tony Shaw (54)
There have been some rumblings below the surface, and this site has experienced some of them, that since Russel Fairfax has been where he is, things have not been going as smoothly with media relations this year. My guess is that this is a media unit issue, not a coaching team issue.
 
qwerty51

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
If the Tahs are fair dinkum about winning the comp next week against the Chiefs is a must win and not acceptable getting a losing bonus point. Seeing as the Sharks beat the Blues it's essential we top the comp and not travel to Durban for a final.
 
Pfitzy

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
qwerty51 said:
If the Tahs are fair dinkum about winning the comp next week against the Chiefs is a must win and not acceptable getting a losing bonus point. Seeing as the Sharks beat the Blues it's essential we top the comp and not travel to Durban for a final.
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Forget it - after the Crusaders' miserable failure, and the Blues couldn't reel them in, the Shorks WILL top the competition ladder.

Conspiracy theory time! Gather 'round, kids!

Now they're a game clear at the top, even with AUS/NZ sides having a game in hand, they'll cruise into 1st. I have entertained the fantasy that they'll lose to the Cheetahs or Stormers, but that is simply not going to happen, despite the resurgence of those two sides.

It is simple: besides getting a few players (esp Lambie) back from injury, the South African franchises are going to have a big powwow and decide, for the good of the land, that they'll put in a couple of commendable losses for a bit of the old Hansie Cronje style rand action, and the Sharks will host.

Which, as I've pointed out in "The Run Home" is fine, because I'm sending the Chiefs over there to beat them in the first week.

Final at Homebush.

Bam.
 
Pfitzy

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
If there is a fluffybunny (or bunch thereof) that needs accusing for crimes against me and mine, I'm there.
 
Pfitzy

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
The Bulls have kept up their end of the bargain, now for the rest of the weekend we need the Kiwi teams to keep cannibalising each other with NO bonus points for anyone.
 
RedsHappy

RedsHappy

Tony Shaw (54)
On one of my favourite topics - the underrated but nonetheless critical importance of top grade specialist coaches under competent Head Coaches - I am hugely impressed by D Gibson's obviously effective attack coaching with the 2014 Tahs. What he and his players are achieving is clearly at the very peak of attacking standards within the whole S15 comp.

Last night's exceptional - indeed genuinely world-class - ensemble attack patterns by the Tahs, executed with scintillating talent, precision and intensity, must in part be due to Gibson's work. The whole display was just wonderful to behold frankly and is exactly what will hopefully induce a sustained recovery in Sydney's engagement with our great code.

Contrast Gibson's craftwork on regular display with Meehan's at the Reds this year.

Moreover, much credit to Cheika for hiring Gibson from NZ. The right specialist coaches guided well by a good HC, can actually be of more importance than some aspects of an HC's role.

Finally: geez, the Tahs MUST get a proper full-time kicking coach. Foley's technique is clearly flawed and erratic, Beale's little better. I'll say it now: this kind of kicking inconsistency could lose the Tahs the Title if they get that far this year, which I hope they will.
 
qwerty51

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Attack is great but that was always going to be the case with the type of players in the backline. I'm more impressed by Grey's work as the defensive coach - best defence in the comp at the moment.
 
RedsHappy

RedsHappy

Tony Shaw (54)
qwerty51 said:
Attack is great but that was always going to be the case with the type of players in the backline. I'm more impressed by Grey's work as the defensive coach - best defence in the comp at the moment.
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Really, you seriously think what we saw last night is merely arising from the native talent 'of the type of players in the backline'?

Look at the same players last year, even early in this season. The improvements in precision, handling accuracy at speed, ensemble running lines from depth for the 10 and 12, and more in this vein, that's not just spontaneous talent coming alive, that's led in large part by thoughtful design, very careful practice routines, and good individual player skill development and coaching.
 
swingpass

swingpass

Peter Sullivan (51)
i was musing on what might have been for the Rebels if that had not lost Phipps, Beale and Foley to the Waratahs this year. the interplay between them has been responsible (on the back of great go forward from the tah pack) for the line breaks and ultimately the trys
 
qwerty51

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
RedsHappy said:
Really, you seriously think what we saw last night is merely arising from the native talent 'of the type of players in the backline'?

Look at the same players last year, even early in this season. The improvements in precision, handling accuracy at speed, ensemble running lines from depth for the 10 and 12, and more in this vein, that's not just spontaneous talent coming alive, that's led in large part by thoughtful design, very careful practice routines, and good individual player skill development and coaching.
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Of course there's improvement but the backs were outstanding last year too (led numerous attacking stats), the problem was the defence. The forwards are the one delivering the platform in 2014, the breakdown is much better and when the forwards get rolling with front foot ball it allows Foley/Beale plenty of time. Those 2 players ask plenty of questions of the defence especially when they have runners like Folau/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Horne to chose from. Gibson was there last too remember, the acquisition of Beale has probably played it's part more.
 
cyclopath

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
RedsHappy said:
Really, you seriously think what we saw last night is merely arising from the native talent 'of the type of players in the backline'?

Look at the same players last year, even early in this season. The improvements in precision, handling accuracy at speed, ensemble running lines from depth for the 10 and 12, and more in this vein, that's not just spontaneous talent coming alive, that's led in large part by thoughtful design, very careful practice routines, and good individual player skill development and coaching.
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I think, like @qwerty51, that the genesis of what they're doing was there last year, but the players almost didn't "trust" the style enough yet, and lost confidence more easily when things went against them, plus the improved forward play at breakdowns / running good lines from depth / in support etc has been a huge benefit. They reverted to old habits of badly directed, poorly chased kicking much more last year. Gibson undoubtedly gets some kudos.
I totally agree about kicking and set piece needing more detailed attention to continue improving, and make sure they don't lose tight games with poor kicking.
Nathan Grey has been as big a factor, if not the biggest. Tahs currently have best F/A and lowest points conceded, albeit from 1 game less than the Sharks.
 
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