What makes a good coach? Good players

Rugby Australia has thrown a lot at the Waratahs, but probably not as much as what Dan McKellar wanted to throw at the coaches’ box window on Friday.

The Waratahs were flat-out poor at the start of the game, and while the fluffed restarts in the second half added another layer of frustration, the guilty parties (Langi Gleeson and Miles Amatosero) should get a pass because at least they showed the requisite hunger levels for the rest of the game.

In contrast to McKellar, former Tahs coach Rob Penney was almost a picture of serenity in the Crusaders’ box – for very good reason. Penney is the first to admit that senior Crusaders such as David Havili have a massive influence within that team, telling the coaches what the group needs each week. McKellar has an enormous challenge building and developing a similar group in NSW, although Matt Phillip and Pete Samu should help next year.

The Wallaby under threat from JOC

The most noticeable thing about James O’Connor this year has been how light he looks on his feet. The Crusaders have an attack that requires the No 10 to do a lot of work off the ball – sometimes he isn’t the first receiver, or second receiver, but the third receiver as O’Connor showed for the Crusaders’ last try against the Waratahs on Friday. You have to be fit to get into position and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be loving what he is seeing from the veteran playmaker. O’Connor’s rise in influence for the Crusaders has coincided with Ben Donaldson’s drop-off in form. If you were picking a Wallabies bench tomorrow and looking for a No 10 backup with a bit of versatility, JOC would be the man.

Say it ain’t so, Allan

The sight of Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa hobbling off the field against the Reds was grim indeed – he really is in the “indispensable” category when it comes to the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions. It didn’t immediately look like a season-ender, but it was another reminder of the fragility of the Wallabies’ campaign. While the Lions could absorb a few injuries – they have already lost their likely captain Caelen Doris – the Wallabies look light in a few positions. Meanwhile, in France, Will Skelton’s La Rochelle are on the fringes of the top six in the Top 14, where they have to finish to earn a playoffs spot. Schmidt will be death-riding them over the final few rounds.