0
![Not allowed!](images/buttons/down_dis.png)
![Not allowed!](images/buttons/up_dis.png)
Its so true. Cos I say so. And Pie agrees. One day the Force will have a proud history like the Tahs. Actually, you guys are better than the Reds already.
No distractions, no surrender - spirit of '87 energises McKenzie's Tahs
Pie Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent | May 15, 2008
EVER since Ewen McKenzie was tracked down in the backblocks of Victoria 21 years ago and told to get to Sydney for his first Waratahs appearance, he has revelled in the emotion and spirit that surrounds NSW-Queensland fixtures.
What the Waratahs coach learnt from day one was to be prepared for anything in the build-up to an interstate clash, but not to let all the brouhaha distract you. He has never forgotten that lesson, which has given him a safe pathway while preparing for his last NSW-Queensland match on Saturday night.
In 1987, McKenzie, in his second year of first grade with Randwick, saw no reason to stay in Sydney the week the Waratahs were playing Queensland at Concord Oval and decided to head to the family farm in Victoria.
However, he suddenly became NSW Rugby's most wanted man when three days before the game tight-head prop Mark Hartill went down with a virus. McKenzie was finally found and chartered an aeroplane from Geelong to Melbourne so he could get to Sydney in time for state training. His club coach, Bob Dwyer, took him to TG Millner Field, where the NSW coach, Paul Dalton, calmly explained the situation. There was no need to panic.
It didn't matter that he was joined in the front row by Eddie Jones and Peter Kay, who were also about to play their first state game. It didn't matter they were about to confront the Test front row of Andy McIntyre, Tom Lawton and Cameron Lillicrap. And it didn't matter the Queenslanders outweighed them in the scrum by at least 100 kilograms. They would just have to cope. And cope they did.
They won up front. They won out wide. They won the fight, and they won 21-19 on the scoreboard. [EDIT: If you know your history, then you be knowing where you comin from] A vivid memory of that afternoon was in the NSW dressing room, where Kay, that most belligerent of props, refused to give his state jersey back to team baggage master Ric Moore, who was just as combative.
"No one is ever going to get this jumper off me," Kay proclaimed. Moore, who took delight in wrestling many Waratahs monsters to ensure he got their jersey back, soon surrendered. This wasn't worth risking his life over.
McKenzie was more receptive when confronted by Moore. But the intense passion of that day, and what it meant to NSW, still remains.
"We were outweighed by about 20kg a man up front, and we took a tight-head," McKenzie said. "I also remember [NSW back-rower] Steve Lidbury smashing half of [Queensland second-rower] Bill Campbell's teeth out. As a first state occasion, it was great, especially as Queensland had so many of the incumbent Test team, and we beat them.
"And these NSW-Queensland games continue to be special. I enjoyed them as a player and I enjoy them as much now as a coach. This Saturday night will be no different."
What delights McKenzie is so many of his players will this week follow the same course as he did 21 years ago. He argues his players have already shown this season they don't get diverted by tension or side issues. They have overcome numerous off-field problems to keep winning and they are priming themselves to head to Brisbane, where everyone there wants them to lose and miss out on the Super 14 semi-finals. As in 1987, McKenzie is adamant NSW will cope.
"We have shown this year we are able to manage the emotion and the pressure of the occasion," McKenzie said. "We've always fronted up. We have also managed external pressures as well. We've managed a lot of criticism and still been able to perform on the weekend. We won't be sidetracked."
Still there is an element of sadness for McKenzie.
"If we don't win this game our season could be over, and we have a number of departing players and staff members as well.[EDIT: *Sniff* Remember, an ending is only the beginning of something else] Queensland don't have a mortgage on that. We have players leaving. Some have been announced. Some haven't. And it has come to an end for me as well."
![]()
Last edited by chook; 15-05-08 at 18:42.
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu
chook: good point JJ
Crazy Johns: at least the force have a kicker for goal
waratahjesus: it says i dont have acces, chook you start, i will comment
chook: i'll start one, what good things can the Force learn?
Sagerian: they've forsaken jesus, that's just wrong
Sagerian: they must be anti-religion over there..
chook: maybe Coach was snooping here?
waratahjesus: scrap that, im banned from starting threads
chook: ok
waratahjesus: chook, im going to make the thread jump in with a list in two minutes
Sagerian: bet i won't til tomorrow morning
Sagerian: speaking of... i haven't even packed yet
Sagerian: force fans just get to wear their jerseys, that sucks
Sagerian: what's everyone wearing for loud shirt day tomorrow?
chook: look sexy, play better, be cool, the list goes on
chook: or ''Things the Force could learn from the Tahs''
chook: NTP, you floating around? join in the mayhem!!
chook: hehehe
Sagerian:
waratahjesus: just make a thread stating that "THE FORCE COULD LEARN ALOT FROM THE TAHS" the will all love it
chook: somethng by Pie Growden perhaps? http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...e#contentSwap1
Jae: AHAHAHAHA
Sagerian: blues need to win, we need to win, preferably with a bp
chook: I suggest a bombardment of TAH orientated threads on TWF!! THey love the Tahs over there
I caught a cow sized fish!!! NEW WORLD RECORD!!!
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu
i love the tahs, its funny, if they were a normal team like say i dunno, the western force then they would just roll over and search for the safety of mid table nothingness! but the Tahs keep fighting, they really are australias heart and sole!
Arse in front of sole Jesus
He is a Tahs fan therefore he doesn't have a sole
War is Gods may of teaching Americans Geography
tahs dont have a heart and soul, they have bought players off so many other clubs around australia that they lack character.
Tuqiri, Brisbane Broncos
Tahu, Parramatta Eales
SNK, Brumbies
Elsom, Bulldogs,
Dunning, Circus
Vickerman, Brumbies
Valantine & Sheehan, Reds
Sam Harris, West Tigers
Wycliff Palu, some league team
we got characters from some many other clubs and from leagues. We pretty much rock.
Reds got nothing. Even Pie Morgs agrees.
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu
Pretty much rock in much the same way that vanilla rice pudding doesn't...
Yum
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu
they forgot Baxter - Circus
we brought players from other clubs? who do you guys go for again?
you guys can go back to supporting the bottom of the table again when gits comes east to learn from the master himself kurts "the king" beale!