The Waratahs have gone down 48-38 to the Bulls in a thrilling Super 14 rugby match in Pretoria.
New South Wales scored the first 17 points and led 26-10 in the first half.
The defending champion Bulls scored six tries to four and are top of the ladder after starting their title defence with three bonus point wins.
The Waratahs, who have lost successive matches in South Africa following an opening round win over Queensland.
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February 28th 2010 @ 12:25pm
Chris said | February 28th 2010 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Love how when the Brumbies lose in Pretoria after leading most of the game all we hear is how they were over-hyped and will struggle to finish in the top half of the table. Then when GPS lose in Pretoria they are suddenly the greatest team on earth because they lead most of the game.
February 28th 2010 @ 12:29pm
Ora said | February 28th 2010 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
Yes the fact that they lost means nothing to some fans, I think Waratahs fans should be concerned that they let such a healty lead evaporate
February 28th 2010 @ 12:49pm
Onceinawhile said | February 28th 2010 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
That lead was never going to be enough at Pretoria, and I think most fans over the past couple of years have lamented the style with which they have been playing, win or lose most of the fans are happy with the way they went about that’s all and I reckon the majority of punters predicated they would be walloped going on thier form so far.
February 28th 2010 @ 1:04pm
Ora said | February 28th 2010 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
That lead was huge no matter where the hell you are playing what let the Tahs down was that they just don’t know how to shut out a game.
yes they played a different style of rugby to their usual game but what does it mean when they still lost.
The warratahs are sitting in 11th place after round three only above the WF, Lions and Sharks and below the Highlanders and Cheetahs be it on points differential.
If I was a Waratahs fan I would stop being sentimental and demand results from my team because being complacent with losing or they way you lost will not get you a super 14 title and this is after all what you are after isn’t it?
Every point counts and Waratahs fans surely must know this all too well especially after seasons end last year!!
February 28th 2010 @ 5:40pm
Nashi said | February 28th 2010 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
Bit harsh Ora.
Like other Tahs fans I guess I was happy to see them play a type of football that CAN get them to the finals. I would suggest that if they played like that against almost all other opposition and at any other ground they would be the ones with the victory speech in hand at the post match interview.
February 28th 2010 @ 12:26pm
bennalong said | February 28th 2010 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
What a beauty! A truly great game of Rugby!
Well done Chris Hickey!
Luke Burgess Man of the Match!
Great go foreward across the team. GO the TAHS!
The Bulls played well………………with a little help from Marius Jonkers!
(Have a look for the break-outs ended by dubious calls from the ref…..and picked up by the Saffer commentators!)
February 28th 2010 @ 2:37pm
Photon said | February 28th 2010 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
If I was a Tahs fan I’d be disappointed at losing, but I’d take solace in the knowledge that they have taken 6 points from a pretty tough road trip, okay it’s not the 10 or 15 the chiefs have but it’s something to begin. But the thing I’d take the most solace from is that for the first hour or so the waratahs played with more direction and imperus than they have done for over a year and looked like a team that might actually do something in this years comp, look they didn’t win but anyone can see that if they keep playing rugga like that it’s just a matter of time. Take nothing away from the Brumbies friday was as efficent and effective a performance as you could hope to see, they didn’t play a great game but they were smart enough too hang in there and when they’re chance came they took it ruthlessly, afterall a seven point intercept is useless when you’re already 26-6 down. As for the Bulls, they’re looking fucking awesome. I never thought a South Afican side could play complete rugby, till now!
February 28th 2010 @ 4:06pm
Chris said | February 28th 2010 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
It’s more like 5 points – and four of them were against the Reds.
March 1st 2010 @ 9:22am
Justin said | March 1st 2010 @ 9:22am | Report comment
I would be a little concerned actually if I was a Bulls supporter. They have been at home and are letting in a pile of points, 104 in 3 matches.
They will need to sort their defence out or they might find themselves on the wrong end of the stick on tour.
March 1st 2010 @ 10:25am
bennalong said | March 1st 2010 @ 10:25am | Report comment
Justin,
If I were a Bulls fan I’d be really happy. They came back after letting in tries by a team playing out of their skins.
You can’t easily judge teams as if they all play the same games and the match-ups can be compared.
Who would have expected a game plan, executed with such precision, from the Tahs?
But the Bulls seized control back with a little help from Jonkers, and strangled us out of the game for long periods.
Then we came back and, playing free passing rugby, looked like grabbing the match. Fantastic stuff and I can now see a Tahs team emerging that will at last play to their strengths in the backline
March 1st 2010 @ 11:13am
TembaVJ said | March 1st 2010 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Justin the bulls will never impress no matter how much they try… last year they were boring, this year they dont defend well..
You cant cover every aspect on field 100% you take from defense to add to attack and so on.
3 bonus point games in the 3 opening rounds… not bad id say…
March 1st 2010 @ 11:20am
Ora said | March 1st 2010 @ 11:20am | Report comment
3 bonus point wins at home is certainly a good haul however it’s not as impressive as the Chiefs 14 points all on the road. The Bulls defense isn’t that hot and teams well smart teams will know how to exploit this. The Bulls have a fantastic draw with 7 games at altitude two more in the republic and 4 on the road against the Western Force well lets face it will be a Gimme the Force are in disarray and playing in Perth is pretty much a home game for the Saffa teams anyway. I’d say the Chiefs and Blues will be the best bet to stop these guys on the road, maybe the Reds will pull another upset out of their backsides but I’m not so confident.
March 1st 2010 @ 11:36am
Rusty said | March 1st 2010 @ 11:36am | Report comment
If the Bulls defense isnt that good then how is the Chiefs for leaking 65 points against the Lions?
March 1st 2010 @ 11:55am
Ora said | March 1st 2010 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Still had less be it 2 points less scored against them than the Blues.
Plus Rusty the Chiefs have been away from home for the first three weeks of the competition. The Bulls haven’t left the country yet their first match was against the hapless Cheetahs.
While their achievement is impressive it is not in the same vein as the Chiefs where they have gained 14 points all far away from home.
March 1st 2010 @ 12:25pm
Rusty said | March 1st 2010 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Fair enough – points on the road are points on the road but given current log positions of their opposition 12, 13 and 14 respectfully I would say there will be harder games. Then again you could argue those teams are there because of the Chiefs!
March 1st 2010 @ 11:25am
Justin said | March 1st 2010 @ 11:25am | Report comment
What I am saying is that they would/should be concerned with their defence so far.
I think they have been terrific in attack but most people know defence wins tournaments/finals.
15 points is a great start and I never said it wasnt.
Are you a Bulls supporter? If so, are you at all concerned by the D they have shown so far?
“the bulls will never impress no matter how much they try” – I’ll grab the tissue’s Temba
February 28th 2010 @ 6:25pm
Who Needs Melon said | February 28th 2010 @ 6:25pm | Report comment
Another cracking game. The Waratahs clearly really wanted this one and came to win. I’ve been critical of Burgess this season but he did have a great game. Still got the 2-step pass going but the Tah forwards did really well and hence the whole team was moving forward most of the time… which helps everything.
Bulls are the team to beat this season. They have talent across the park, steady heads and know how to win.
Looking forward to the Tahs v Brumbies match this season.
February 28th 2010 @ 8:13pm
Tragic said | February 28th 2010 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
good to see the tahs play with purpose. Although what concerns me is that i doubt it is going to be carried through to the next game. The tahs have an unattractive penchant for adopting their opposition’s tempo and game plan. Against the stormers it was the stormers who controlled, and surrendering such a lead to the bulls suggests they didn’t know what to do when they had it. The same happened to the brumbies the week before, and then against the stormers, only they were able to snatch a victory at the death. Hopefully both team’s return home will be accompanied by a stamp of authority on the nature of the game. As the waratahs have not yet revealed what sort of game plan they have this might prove interesting… I think both teams will improve during the season with favourable draws in the short term, and both are developibg new combinations against teams with established ones, but the clock is ticking boys. Sort yer sh!t out!
February 28th 2010 @ 8:36pm
DCR said | February 28th 2010 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
I agree with most of the others that the Waratahs played well. Their game plan to run at the Bulls and move it wide when possible and have a crack was correct. It was great to see runners winning the tackle with strength, good positioning and deception and all the while setting up their supports. The scrum was excellent although I would hate to be a prop waiting for the ref to call engage. At least the ref didn’t panic like the inexperienced guy last week when the scrum collapsed or they didn’t touch exactly when he called. The lineout was acceptable. Our kick-offs were good, and their’s were mostly poor. In fact their kicking was poor and usually too deep. The difference small as it was between the teams was their try line attacking. We missed out at the end of the first half and kept them too close. So we need to improve our plays in that area of the field. Maybe the forwards can use their try line charges to set up a quick release instead of going for the tryline with every charge. Some wiley old fox in the pack needs to use their nouse.
I wouldn’t muck around with the personnel in the backline, Barnes and Carter misread defensive plays when they scored and it takes time developing defensive and offensive combinations. The coach has to make up his mind about 10 and 12 and stick with it. Carter looks too slow at 13 but combinations are vital, so on balance I would leave him there.
One away win from 3 is not the end of the world. We have played two top teams at their homes with all the advantages the home team gets. The Brumbies and the Chiefs have had amazing starts. I haven’t seen either team play. Like last year the Chiefs seem to get a leg up by thrashing weak teams. Are they that good?
It is a tough competition and away wins are valuable. We need at least one more to make up for playing only 6 home games provided we win everything at home. We can do that if we build on the what we learnt in South Africa. The issue remains can we beat a very committed defensive team. This game and part of the Reds game show we have started working on our offense. Time, brains and hard work will tell if we can get there. Barring any injuries we have the players, have we got the leadership and desire?
March 1st 2010 @ 5:53am
terrykidd said | March 1st 2010 @ 5:53am | Report comment
Tis good that Burgess played well … I have never had an issue with his general play, just his service …. maybe his team mates are getting used to the delay and timing their reception of his passes better?
March 1st 2010 @ 5:54am
terrykidd said | March 1st 2010 @ 5:54am | Report comment
One other thing … I really like Ben Mowen’s effort and play …. could he be a bolter for the Wallabies this year?
March 1st 2010 @ 6:09am
stillmissit said | March 1st 2010 @ 6:09am | Report comment
Yes Terry I think Mowen is on his way to the Wallabies, unfortunately only to the bench as Rocky will always keep him out of the starting line up. We seem to be building some real stocks in back rowers and the battle for the World Cup squad will be serious.
I agree re Burgess great all round player who’s pass is not as good as it should be at times, but still good enough for the Wallaby squad.
March 1st 2010 @ 6:23am
Terry Kidd said | March 1st 2010 @ 6:23am | Report comment
Yeah mate I think both will be bench players for the Wallabies which is no bad thing for Mowen. He could be quite sensational coming on for the last 20 minutes or so and Rocky does have a history of foot and ankle injuries. Mowen is coming along nicely and is shaping as a very decent replacement 6.
March 1st 2010 @ 7:54am
johnny-boy said | March 1st 2010 @ 7:54am | Report comment
Good effort Tahs. It’s hard to win a running rugby game when you are so unfamiliar with that style. Lets hope they dont go back in to their shells (except when they play the Reds). Who knows, they might just get the hang of it and start winning a few like that.