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I’m still trying to work out how the NSW Waratahs lost their game to the Bulls (RSA).
After about 20 minutes of play, and a try on the board for the Waratahs and dominance around the field, I wrote in my notebook: ‘Why have the Waratahs improved so much after their robotic start to the season?’
A touch of hubris was in the question as the big Bulls pack, not as big as the Waratahs but more aggressive and vicious, began to exert control in the lineouts, scrums (who said the scrums aren’t important in ELVs rugby?) and in their kicking game. Slowly and surely, like an expert strangler, the Bulls squeezed the life and vigour out of the Waratahs.
This Waratahs side, though, is made of strong stuff. They toughed their way back to 13-13 thanks to a well-taken and brave field goal by Kurtley Beale. He kicked the goal and then slipped to the ground to avoid a ferocious charge from Bakkies Botha.
The Bulls charged back. They forced a couple of short-arm penalties and under the posts put on a simple charge forward and then dropped the field goal to give them the win.
Now back to the question of how the Waratahs lost.
First, the Bulls played very well in the wet and slippery conditions. Bryan Habana was a constant danger chasing and running with the ball, and great on cover defence too: the perfect player. The big Bulls forwards out-muscled the Waratahs. Aside from some early bursts, Wycliff Palu found it hard to make his crashing runs.
Second, the Waratahs were exposed by the lack of an outstanding goal-kicker. Lote Tuqiri took a couple of long range goal kicks. None of them looked like going over. Since his first fabulous strike at Sydney last week, he’s missed three kickable shots that a very good kicker might have converted. It’s time to see if Lachlan Turner has the goods as a goal kicker if Beale’s long range kicking isn’t given a chance.
The Waratahs are still in the hunt for a finals spot, possibly an away match, however. Next week will decide that when they play the Stormers, the form South African side, at Cape Town.
What small hope the Brumbies had of contesting the finals went down in an opening burst of attacking play from the Stormers that gave them a 20-point lead.
These two steps back for the contending Australian teams were more than matched by a terrific win by the Western Force against a bumbling Chiefs side. Like the Blues (what is it with some of these NZ sides?), the Chiefs played dumb, dumb rugby, especially at the end of the match. After clawing their way in front, they had to play out the last couple of minutes against a fired-up Force side. And they couldn’t do it, hardly championship stuff here.
It was two particularly dumb plays that (correctly) sealed their fate. First, after a series of torrid exhanges, the Chiefs finally won a turnover. What was called for was a calm head to get the ball well downfield. But Jamie Nutbrown tried to clear quickly, putting the ball in the air and short. This was the third stupid box kick from Nutbrown, with the first leading to a charged down try to the Force in the opening seconds of the match.
Memo to halfbacks: do NOT give away possession with meaningless box kicks.
From the ensuing attack Sione Lauaki, after putting on a huge hit slightly earlier sauntered back lazily into the defensive line. He was correctly penalised for ‘lazy running’ and Matt Giteau, who had missed a couple of penalties, calmly kicked the winning goal.
The Chiefs looked rattled and tired almost from the kick-off. They play two matches in South Africa, both of which they should win: the Lions at Johannesburg and the Sharks at Durban. But have they run out of gas after a slow start to the season and then the middle burst of wins?
During the IRB Hong Kong Sevens, The Roar identified a slightly-built, baby-faced youngster, James O’Connor, as ‘The new Tim Horan.’ At age 17 O’Connor made his Super 14 debut for the Force, and it was a cracker. He broke the Chiefs defence time after time. His defence was good. Like the great Horan he was relentlessly positive, quick and aggressive in everything he did, especially when he set up an important try with a searing, quick-footed run and then, under pressure, an overhead pass that found a runner.
A star in Australian rugby is born and he is The Roar’s player of Round 12.
Run home for the Super 14 finals contenders:
CRUSADERS (1st, 47 points) – Reds (away), Highlanders (home)
NSW WARATAHS (2nd, 37pts) – Stormers (a), Reds (a)
HURRICANES (3rd, 36pts) – Force (h), Blues (a)
STORMERS (4th, 35pts) – Waratahs (h), Lions (a)
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CHIEFS (5th, 33pts) – Lions (a), Sharks (a)
SHARKS (6th, 32pts) – Cheetahs (h), Chiefs (h)
BLUES (7th, 31pts) – Highlanders (a), Hurricanes (h)
BRUMBIES (8th, 28pts) – Bulls (a), Force (a)
WESTERN FORCE (9th, 28pts) – Hurricanes (a), Brumbies (h)