Before the season started, Daryl Gibson sat down for an hour and set out his priorities, as a coach and a father.
He told me he wanted to stay at the Waratahs. One more year would be enough to see some of the special youngsters he believes are in the NSW system come through. He threw up a few names – Will Harris, Ben Donaldson, Will Harrison – that Australian rugby fans would come to know through the exploits of the Australian under-20s.
His own kids were on his mind, too.
Time to go: Daryl Gibson watches on as Waratahs boss Andrew Hore addresses the media in the wake of the coach's departure.Credit:Brook Mitchell
Rugby coaches are painfully aware that the careers they have chosen can be volatile and disruptive for their children, but another year in Sydney would give them stability in their schooling.
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Despite all of this, Gibson had to go and he knew it. His record at the Waratahs was the writing on the wall.
One finals appearance in four year with a team stacked with Wallabies is underperformance pure and simple. More fool the board had they allowed Gibson to continue on for another year. At least the self-aware coach didn't appear to be asleep at the wheel.
The problem with the Waratahs under Gibson was that, although they could analyse themselves and give accurate reasons for why they were falling short, they couldn't seem to come up with the answers to change it.
In many ways, the 2019 season was a cut and paste of last year.
They finished 2018 knowing that they lacked the size and grunt to compete against the big sides, but failed to find the remedy.
This year, the South Africans exposed them again, the Bulls and Lions with their scrums in South Africa and the Sharks with their breakdown work in Sydney.
The recruit who was signed to solve some of these woes – South African second-rower Le Roux Roets – failed to even take the field.
Full flight: Semisi Masirewa scores one of his two tries for the Sunwolves against the Waratahs in March. It was the low point in the home side's season.Credit:Kyodo News
It did not help that the Waratahs had the habit for producing performances that were, frankly, a disgrace to the sky blue jumper. The 31-29 loss to the Sunwolves in round seven in Newcastle was abject.
It will be remembered for No.10 Mack Mason's meltdown, but could as easily be remembered for Israel Folau's sloppy skills, including a kick out on the full under no pressure.
In that sense Gibson was right when he said Folau's absence couldn't be blamed for the Waratahs' losses in the second half of the season.
But that performance – and too many others like it in the past couple of years – should never be allowed to be seen as acceptable for a team such as the Waratahs, who should unashamedly have ambitions to finish in the top half of the ladder every year.
For all of Gibson's qualities, which were reinforced by the dignity of his exit, these are cracks that cannot be papered over.
His replacement must be an Australian.
Before the season started, Daryl Gibson sat down for an hour and set out his priorities, as a coach and a father.
He told me he wanted to stay at the Waratahs. One more year would be enough to see some of the special youngsters he believes are in the NSW system come through. He threw up a few names – Will Harris, Ben Donaldson, Will Harrison – that Australian rugby fans would come to know through the exploits of the Australian under-20s.
His own kids were on his mind, too.
Time to go: Daryl Gibson watches on as Waratahs boss Andrew Hore addresses the media in the wake of the coach's departure.Credit:Brook Mitchell
Rugby coaches are painfully aware that the careers they have chosen can be volatile and disruptive for their children, but another year in Sydney would give them stability in their schooling.
Advertisement
Despite all of this, Gibson had to go and he knew it. His record at the Waratahs was the writing on the wall.
One finals appearance in four year with a team stacked with Wallabies is underperformance pure and simple. More fool the board had they allowed Gibson to continue on for another year. At least the self-aware coach didn't appear to be asleep at the wheel.
The problem with the Waratahs under Gibson was that, although they could analyse themselves and give accurate reasons for why they were falling short, they couldn't seem to come up with the answers to change it.
In many ways, the 2019 season was a cut and paste of last year.
They finished 2018 knowing that they lacked the size and grunt to compete against the big sides, but failed to find the remedy.
This year, the South Africans exposed them again, the Bulls and Lions with their scrums in South Africa and the Sharks with their breakdown work in Sydney.
The recruit who was signed to solve some of these woes – South African second-rower Le Roux Roets – failed to even take the field.
Full flight: Semisi Masirewa scores one of his two tries for the Sunwolves against the Waratahs in March. It was the low point in the home side's season.Credit:Kyodo News
It did not help that the Waratahs had the habit for producing performances that were, frankly, a disgrace to the sky blue jumper. The 31-29 loss to the Sunwolves in round seven in Newcastle was abject.
It will be remembered for No.10 Mack Mason's meltdown, but could as easily be remembered for Israel Folau's sloppy skills, including a kick out on the full under no pressure.
In that sense Gibson was right when he said Folau's absence couldn't be blamed for the Waratahs' losses in the second half of the season.
But that performance – and too many others like it in the past couple of years – should never be allowed to be seen as acceptable for a team such as the Waratahs, who should unashamedly have ambitions to finish in the top half of the ladder every year.
For all of Gibson's qualities, which were reinforced by the dignity of his exit, these are cracks that cannot be papered over.
His replacement must be an Australian.
