Injured Waratahs captain Jake Gordon defends under-fire coach Rob Penney, says players must take blame
Injured Waratahs captain Jake Gordon has launched a vigorous defence of under-fire coach Rob Penney, saying the NSW players need to shoulder the blame for back-to-back record defeats in the opening two rounds of Super Rugby AU.
The proud rugby state has been annihilated 41-7 by the Reds then 61-10 by the Brumbies, both record margins in the game's professional era.
On Saturday, Penney told Stan Sport's Roz Kelly that he is "more than happy to go gracefully" if "other people'' determine he is not the right man to take NSW forward.
On Sunday, Waratahs chief executive Paul Doorn told the Sydney Morning Herald that Penney - who is in the second season of a three-year deal - is safe.
Bu rightly or wrongly, a loss at home to the Force on Friday would see knives further sharpened.
After watching 'highlights' of the Canberra carnage and Penney's raw interview, Gordon told Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven that the Kiwi coach "definitely" had the support of the players.
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"When do players take accountability for what happens on field?
"When you really think about it, he's not the one dropping the ball, he's not the one missing poor tackles," said Gordon, who suffered a serious ankle injury in his first came as captain against the Reds.
"So I look at that footage there – I feel sorry for him.
"He does all the work off the field, you've got great assistants with Chris Whitaker, Matt Cockbain and Jason Gilmore – I think it's time that players put their hand up and actually say 'you know what, I'm not doing this right.'
"Instead of the easy one where you look for the coach straight away."
Angus Bell of the Waratahs looks dejected after a Brumbies try. Getty
Former Waratahs skipper Bernard Foley, now playing for the Kubota Spears in Japan, admitted it was difficult to observe NSW's struggles from afar.
The club has plenty of emerging talent but is desperately inexperienced.
"It's tough watching the boys go to work back home and seeing the Waratahs guys," Foley told Rugby Heaven.
"One thing I was impressed with is their work-rate, and they never gave up, they tried till the 80th minute.
"So I don't think it's a matter of effort or pride.
"They just probably, as Jakey said, could be a little bit more clinical."
