Foley joins Waratahs coaching staff

[Jehna]

Foley joins Waratahs coaching staff

August 17, 2008

AUSTRALIA assistant coach Michael Foley will join the Waratahs coaching staff next season after signing a three-year deal with NSW Rugby.

The former Test hooker will end a three-season stint with the national team when he takes on a new role as a Waratahs forwards coach from January.

"I have enjoyed my time with the Wallabies immensely and there is still much to be done over the next few months," Foley said.

Read more..
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html

[force addict]

his is the forwards coach now? good. he can hopefully try and fix Trestle and Donut if possible.

[GIGS20]

He's pretty much the Waratahs forwards coach now, given that the Wallabies pack is full of them. He hasn't fixed Donut and Trestle with all the Wallabies time he's spent, I can't imagine much difference getting them earlier in the season.

Maybe what will happen is whoever get's the scrummage coaching job for the Wallabies will fix them.

[force addict]

i suppose, but with the Wallabies there have been many different players in the front pack from diff clubs and all the reserves as well, since Trestle and Donut are the main Tahs forwards, with TPN as well, maybe he can really focus on them

[NTT]

geez, Foley must be desparate for work ...

[frontrow]

As much as i hate trestle and donut i still believe they were the best frontrow combo out of the Aussie super 14 comp, that said as a wallaby pair they would not be my first choice at all.... Foley had to try to convert a good super14 unit into a great wallaby unit, unfortunately he did not succeed, as trestle seems to crumble at every international impact and dunning seems to be able to meet any challenge, but never seems to dominate at international level...
So i hope you can see what i am saying here, i firmly believe these two props have got what it takes for super14 dominance, they just are not international quality....You notice when benn takes the field with one or the other, he shows both up, he shows international ability, albeit he still needs to fine tune his skills, i believe he will make a great international standard player...My other choice unfortunately would be blake, but he is not up to scratch at present, so i would look to our very own force lineup and begin blooding our boys internationally...
So, in relation to Foley taking over the Tahs forwards role, i believe it is a great score for the tahs and i feel we need to respond with our forwards accepting the challenge and work thier arses off over the off season and practice the engagement repeatedly for the rest of the off season otherwise we may be left behind...

[GIGS20]

As much as i hate trestle and donut i still believe they were the best frontrow combo out of the Aussie super 14 comp

I reluctantly agree.

You notice when benn takes the field with one or the other, he shows both up, he shows international ability, albeit he still needs to fine tune his skills, i believe he will make a great international standard player

Yeah, Benn looks like he will develop nicely

...My other choice unfortunately would be blake, but he is not up to scratch at present,

He's lazy mate, that's his problem, when you say 'at the moment' I reckon he'll never be up to scratch because getting fit enough and doing the work during the game at S14 level is beyond him. He'll never reach his potential (which I agree is fairly huge)

so i would look to our very own force lineup and begin blooding our boys internationally...

I hear what you're saying and looking around Australia, there isn't a lot in the cupboard, but our boys are really quite light (if not in actual weight, the in technique, you'd know better than me) they just seem to be too easy to overpower.......... But what else is there, Queensland only seems to have Hookers ....well had! The Brumbies might start to go somewhere with Moore between Shepherdson and Henderson, but Sheppo is probably past his prime and Hendo....I don't know that' he's any more than another Donut really.

[frontrow]

Maybe we need to look outside the box, ala Alan Jones when he picked a 2nd grade hooker from obscurity and put a gold jumper on him, and turned out to be an ispirational choice as Phil Kearns has been the best hooker we have had in years....I feel we have to broaden our scope for this most crucial position, but in saying this i really feel we should be looking at schoolboy level and offering professional tuition to promising frontrow talent at this age so they can develop the skills as they progress through grade rugby and beyond...

[Cowboy]

I also think that to get more props developing they need to become a bit more appreciated by the fans (talking more general than the die hards on this site) and media. The backs skills are easier to appreciate because they are so obvious, it is harder to understand the skills of the front row just by watching the game. This probaly makes it harder to attract people into the sport who are well suited to the less glamorous positions (but may find a real niche in the sport as the talents required for the front row are probaly different to other sports they have tried but wern't that suited too).
Of course I should say that this is purely the opinion of someone who has never played a game of rugby and is a converted fan. Love watching the sport however, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[frontrow]

Well pointed out cowboy, it is not a glamourous possie and not too many of the frontrow fraternity back up for part time modelling gigs...
However, the commitment to strength and stamina is unheralded anywhere else on the pitch, (perhaps only by the second rowers in specialised training)...
It is actually great listening to former props commentary at the engagement and they are keen to point out the technical aspect of the grips, boring, wheeling, lifting, squeezing, collapsing,etc....As opposed to the glamour boys who run, pass, dummy, look good...The engine room is by far the most unheralded position on the field, as once the scrum ends the rucks and mauls need to be cleaned out or mauled upfield, the ball needs to be picked up and driven, the big hits need to be made across the field, and if you are really very very lucky, you may score a ball busting try....We don't look for glory, but after the general banter of forwards versus backs even the most passionate backs will tell you that games are won and lost up front, tries are scored by the backs from the forwards....
We need to get this message across to the youth that the glamour may be missing, but the respect is definately not...
And we should have more props in commentary, ala buhdda, kearnsey(hooker i know), baxter, crowley, who can point out the skills and power of the bretheren of the engineroom...

[force addict]

I also think that to get more props developing they need to become a bit more appreciated by the fans (talking more general than the die hards on this site) and media. The backs skills are easier to appreciate because they are so obvious, it is harder to understand the skills of the front row just by watching the game. This probaly makes it harder to attract people into the sport who are well suited to the less glamorous positions (but may find a real niche in the sport as the talents required for the front row are probaly different to other sports they have tried but wern't that suited too).
Of course I should say that this is purely the opinion of someone who has never played a game of rugby and is a converted fan. Love watching the sport however, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

don't get me wrong. i do appreciate the front rowers and i agree it is hard to see how their skills are affecting the game, with the 'folding' of players (trestle) and etc. but i guess people are more likely to appreciate players who gain metres with a good sprint. my mum and i were big supporters of Rodzilla. such a huge bloke and in one wallabies game he made a break for it and i think he also got a try.

[GIGS20]

don't get me wrong. i do appreciate the front rowers and i agree it is hard to see how their skills are affecting the game, with the 'folding' of players (trestle) and etc. but i guess people are more likely to appreciate players who gain metres with a good sprint. my mum and i were big supporters of Rodzilla. such a huge bloke and in one wallabies game he made a break for it and i think he also got a try.

That's exactly the point FA. People need to be educated in the intricacies of the fact that those sprints rarely happen without a good pile of leadup work done by the fat guys.

[frontrow]

Physique disadvantaged guys....

[Moses]

Blake's off to France. Tah's rock.

[frontrow]

Hey moses,chook,wj, etc, whats your view on Foley and the tahs, apart from the rocking bit...