Welcome to The Rogues Rant, an occasional look at all things Rugby.

By Ron Wood

Good coaches don’t lose their ability to coach overnight. It has often been said that a coach is only as good as the players he has available to him. Both statements surely apply to Darren Coleman. Coleman finishes his three-year stint as Waratahs coach next week after what can only be described as a disappointing tenure. Coleman has a very commendable record as a coach dating back to 2005 when he held his first top grade job at Penrith. He had two seasons at Northern Suburbs before a successful stint in Italy with L’Aquila. He returned to Australia as Head Coach at the Brumbies Academy in 2009 before accepting the Head Coach role with Japanese side Toyota Industries Shuttles, with whom he won promotion to the Japanese Top League. He came back to Australia as coach of the well performed NSW Country Eagles from 2014/2018.  He won the Shute Shield with the Warringah Rats in 2017 and with Gordon in 2020 before taking out the USA Major League Rugby crown with LA Giltinis in 2021. He then took on the NSW role in 2022. It’s been mentioned here many times just what a poor state the player development programs are in NSW. This can be plainly seen by the lack of depth in player strength that Coleman has had to deal with during his time at the Waratahs. I’m sure we will see Coleman at the helm of another Rugby franchise somewhere in the world, at which time he will receive the sort of accolades and success that he deserves.  

Two weeks to go before the finals of the Super Rugby season. I reckon the final games of the season proper will all fall pretty much in line with form so far for the year. I reckon the top eight is already as it will finish for the year. The top four will be Blues, Hurricanes, Brumbies and Chiefs probably in that order. My tip is that the next four will also finish as they stand after Round 13, that is Reds, Rebels, Highlanders and Drua. Not a bad result again for the Aussie sides with three teams in the finals, but disappointing to see the Waratahs finishing at the very bottom. My tips for this week: Chiefs, Brumbies, Moana, Blues, Reds and Highlanders.

Three games locally this week going into Round 7 of the 2024 IDRU Premiership. Bowral have Kiama at home at Eridge Park and will be in for a solid afternoon. Kiama will be smarting after their first loss at the hands of the Premiers, while last week the Blacks registered just their second win of their disrupted year so far. Kiama should be too big and powerful for the young Bowral side. Kiama to Win. Shamrocks have Campbelltown at home this week and will be hopeful of bouncing back to form after their unexpected loss to the Blacks last Saturday. The Rocks will have to be right on their game against one of the form teams of the competition in the Quinnies. I don’t think they will have the answers for the genuine strength and finesse of Campbelltown. Campbelltown to Win. Match of the Round is at Shoalhaven Rugby Park between Shoalhaven and Camden. Shoalhaven were excellent last week as they repelled the challenge from Kiama. Camden have shown good form in 2024 as reflected by their position on the ladder, but I doubt they will have the answers for Shoalies this time around. Shoalhaven to Win. 

Rugby Diary

Saturday June 1     IDRU Round 8

                                Camden V Kiama

                                Campbelltown V Bowral

                                Vikings V Shoalhaven

                                Bye – Shamrocks, Tech Waratahs

Saturday June 8 – Sunday June 10

NSW Country Championships – Tamworth. Seniors, Colts & Women’s