Tah very much, but tries need to make a comeback
Greg Growden | June 1, 2009
MONDAY MAUL
ANOTHER Super 14 is over, and the four Australian teams were again mere finals onlookers. At least there are rewards of sorts coming their way. Come on down the 2009 Monday Maul Super 14 awards, chronicling the best and the worst of the season:
Best Australian player
Benn Robinson. Front-rowers have long complained they are used, abused then forgotten. Not this year, when two of the standouts in the Australian provinces were Robinson, the Waratahs loose-head prop, and his ACT counterpart Ben Alexander. Robinson had a great season, with his scrummaging and midfield work of the highest quality.
Best Australian Super 14 team (who in each position made the Herald's Team of the Week the most number of times) Sam Norton-Knight; Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri; Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess; Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, Ben Mowen, Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Best Australian coach
Andy Friend. The Brumbies were again a team shackled with injury, but they held up and at times played the most entertaining brand of football. Friend deserves the accolade as much for his ability to rally his team after the Shawn Mackay tragedy. He had the gut-wrenching task of telling the team of Mackay's death when they returned from South Africa, and the following weeks succeeded in keeping the troops together. The Brumbies showed impressive character during this most dreadful of times.
Best young player
James O'Connor. No he's not a rookie, but such were his accomplishments whenever he played, you often forget he is only 18. Robbie Deans is looking at him as a fullback, but whenever he appeared at inside-centre for the Western Force he was spectacular. A special mention to ACT five-eighth Matt Toomua, who produced several mature efforts late in the Super 14.
Best Australian moments
When James O'Connor and Matt Giteau were on song; when the Waratahs got their act together in South Africa; when Timana Tahu at last got his chance at outside-centre.
Worst Australian moments
When all teams missed out on the finals; when several Australian referees got caught up in thinking they were bigger than the game; when the Waratahs early on became so so boring, lost the knack of scoring tries and then wondered why they didn't make the finals.
The wasted charmers award
The Waratahs. Few teams have enjoyed such a blessed run and a great draw. Several crucial refereeing decisions went their way, including an abominable forward pass disallowed try call by Marius Jonker in their last game against the Lions, which the Waratahs would have certainly lost. After that, some in the Waratahs camp who love moaning about referees should never, ever whinge about a whistleblower. The judiciary was also kind to them. Hate to see how they go when the season really gets tough.
The team that can't wait for next year award
Get on the Brumbies early to make next year's finals. Matt Giteau, Josh Valentine and possibly Rocky Elsom and James O'Connor heading to Canberra turns the Brumbies into a rugby hothouse.
The wackiest quotes award
"It's not about entertaining the crowd." - Waratahs coach Chris Hickey. Certainly wasn't at the Waratahs.
"Don't worry about scoring tries. The day the Waratahs coaching staff walked into NSW headquarters and told me to forget about five pointers, I thought it was a joke." - Lote Tuqiri in February. By May it was clearly no joke.
"You're not slowing down my ball." - Referee Matt Goddard during one match. My ball?
"I would sooner watch the Queensland Reds lose a game than watch the Tahs win the game." - Bob Dwyer.
Say no more!
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