Whos to blame?

[sittingbison]

...Reid refused to blame the current coaching team, led by Phil Blake, for the loss in Durban.
"I would defend the coaches strongly on that performance. I do not believe you can blame them," Reid said.
"It was not a coaching issue. The game plan was achievable and well structured.
"There were players that simply did not rise to the occasion and do their jobs."

Well it looks like Vern is laying the blame fairly and squarely on certain players shoulders, not even all the players. However game plans are not the be all and end all of sport. Getting the team to "gel", to play for each other and not themselves, to play for the shirt, to bust a gut, do the one percenters bla bla bla ad nauseaum is also in the remit of the coaching staff...think "manager" rather than "coach". After all these are elite athletes, they don't need all that much "coaching", more like directing and coaxing them in such a way to perform better than they thought they could.

The question that should be asked is how does this time which beat the powerhouse Reds and Tahrds, came within a whisker of the other Oz teams, and had honorable losses to the top two teams Chiefs and Stormers over the past two months, put in such a lamentable performance? Was it the end of the road, just the culmination of an unsettling month and being on the road? Have they decided to give up? A combination of the above, along with the Sharks desperate to get in the finals?

Whatever, I believe Vern is being too simplistic to blame certain players. It was a flogging in every aspect, skills passion commitment and dare I say it game plan. Have they tried ANY new combinations or crafty plays? Done something outside the square? Started Nalaga or Hodgo in the centres for instance? Or even Pocock? Or tried BOTH Harvey and Seymour for two playmakers? Or started Seymour or even Goodwin to see how they go thrown in the deep end?

I dont thnk so, its just been more of the same with the same, with some platitudes about throwing it wide to Nalaga.

Nothing ventured nothing gained, its the end of the road for whatever RG game plans, FFS try something new! Get the players focused and enthusiastic!!

[SNOB]

Well said Bisson. It's looking like the whole squad needs a kick up the kyber.
But upstairs has to take the majority of the blame due to poor recruiting with RG and Geniagate.
We can only hope they get things sorted chop chop because as a loyal supporter I am getting pissed off with a team that seems to have no idea were its going. No style, we don't attack and defense just comes and goes.
EWF-RWA get it sorted once and for all! I want a winning team.
Ps it doesn't have to win every week but a few would be nice.
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[palitu]

ok... look at the crusaders. played well all year, flogged by Rebels. all teams have bad games. Deal with it.

[SNOB]

all teams have bad games. Deal with it.

Agreed but we are having more than most.
But all I'm saying is lets just get on with it and start going forward. We have gone backwards over the last couple of years under RG's leadership.
Only the guts of the core players seems to have kept the Force's head above the water.
Now we need a strong coach to take them and us forward.

[shasta]

What we need is for the players to step up, play attacking Rugby, and give the rabble a right hiding on Sunday. A bonus point win puts us a point behind them & maybe within striking distance of the Tahds & Lions. Those are the goals now. Moving rigjt along!
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[benny]

(sense of humour needed)

Come on all, we have now been in the competition, what 6 years, we know its either a 'red or black' (casino call) if we win or lose every time we go to NIB or Subiaco Oval, depending on if the players want to win or just come to entertain us supporters / members.

We know every year when we get the fixtures we think to ourselves "okay we win these games at home we get close to finals football" but then after half way thru the season we bring up the archives and find out we can only choose 2 wins out of a season whiles at home... Once again stats speak for them selves.

This year - Win against Reds, and we can choose 1 more (either Rabbles / Lions / or Brumbies) NO Choosing 2 teams, we cant have 3 wins for our fans.
2011 - Bulls only
2010 - Stormers & Saders
2009 - Cheetahs & Reds & Highlanders
2008 - Bulls & Chiefs
2007 - Canes & Cheetahs
2006 - Nil

[James]

We beat the Sharks and Reds at home in 2007 too. And the Brumbies in 2008. And the Lions in 2009.

[sittingbison]

This list combined with James' observations clearly indicates how far we have fallen since RG took over.
I was at the pub a couple of weeks ago waiting for the bus to the game, and Foxtel was replaying a game against Tahrds, I thnk it was 2008? Anyhoo our our backs were Gits, Shep, Drew Mitchell, Ryan Cross, Spanner and cant remember the others. Makes this lot look very pedestrian.
Now, what are they going to deliver this week? Can the back room gee the boys up? Will they try a few different players, and move a few to different positions? Will they try some interesting style?

[SNOB]

Just had a thought. At least I/we won't be depressed all weekend.
I love Sunday games.