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Waratahs chairman throws some low key shade at Bernard Foley

‘You said what?!’

In a move that will please fans of passive-aggressive behavior worldwide, NSW Waratahs chairman Roger Davis has dropped a not-so-subtle hint that he’d prefer a more skillful number 10 in his side.

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Quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, Davis bemoaned the Waratahs horrible 2017 season before heaping praise on the depth of talent in New Zealand rugby:

“What you’d give for a Beauden Barrett or someone that could actually give us that depth of play.”

Incumbent Waratahs and Wallabies fly half Bernard Foley might feel pretty aggrieved about this particular remark, given that he’s had to work behind a pack that’s struggled to gain any ascendency all season. Besides, it was only two seasons ago that he guided the Wallabies to a World Cup final and three since his heroics sealed a maiden Super Rugby title for the Waratahs.

But Davis is very much from the ‘what have you done for me lately’ school of thought, judging by the rest of his comments. He describes Sydney fans as ‘fickle’, that ‘no one likes Friday night games’ and that players have ‘faded dramatically’.

However, both he and Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper have thrown their support behind embattled coach Daryl Gibson.

Hooper was quoted as saying: “There’s complete support behind Daryl and he’s the direction forward for this club.”

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Gibson might want to change gears in the off season though, 2017 has been one of the worst ever for the Waratahs. They’ve won only four games this year, enduring a hiding last weekend to the Jaguares. They end their season tonight in Perth, where they’ll take on the Force.

 

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Nickers 37 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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