Razor-sharp Mitchell leads Waratahs rout
By Adrian Warren, 13 Mar 2010 Adrian Warren is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Drew Mitchell, Lions, NSW Waratahs, Rugby Union
A newly-shorn Drew Mitchell spearheaded a record-breaking NSW effort as the Waratahs answered their critics with a 73-12 thrashing of the Lions in their Super 14 rugby clash at Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.
Mitchell became the first Waratah to score four tries in a Super game and NSW also logged franchise Super records of 11 tries and eight conversions, all kicked by inside centre Berrick Barnes.
The team tally exceeded the Waratahs’ previous Super best of 53 points and eclipsed their former competition-best winning margin of 47.
Widely lambasted for a dour display in their season home opener against the Sharks, the Waratahs took just half an hour to earn a bonus point and scored five first-half tries to canter to a 33-5 lead at the interval.
They scored six more in the second half with winger Lachie Turner and replacement halfback Josh Holmes both finishing with two tries.
“You don’t go into a game expecting you might be able to score like that, but it’s not a surprise,” NSW coach Chris Hickey said.
“I guess it’s the culmination of things we’ve been working on for quite a while and it’s nice to see it all come off, that’s for sure.”
NSW were rewarded for not taking a single penalty shot at goal, instead opting for quick taps and kicks to touch for lineouts.
“It wasn’t that we threw away three points and ended up at the other end of the field. We actually took points away from when we made those decisions, rather than take penalty shots for goal,” NSW captain Phil Waugh said.
“Probably the most pleasing aspect was when we made mistakes we kept playing rather than reverting to kicking or going into our shells.
“The guys are going to a huge amount of effort to play a highly skilled game and play an entertaining game because the guys are fully aware that we want to get high crowds.”
Mitchell, who was boasting a shiny pate after a haircut earlier in the day, did some cutting of his own, both before and during the game.
“I actually had two haircuts. I had one this morning and I got home I wasn’t too pleased with it, so I got the clippers out and had a crack myself,” Mitchell said.
“I might have to put it into my pre-game ritual every week.
“The key thing for me and I guess the thing I’ll probably take most confidence out of, is you run those routes every week and sometimes you don’t get that pay.
“Tonight, it just seemed to sort of come off.”
He terrorised the Lions, though he did gift them a first-half try to opposing winger Tonderai Chavhanga after failing to ground a kick in his in-goal area.
The Waratahs rampage was set up by a strong forwards effort.
Waugh, who was making a NSW-record 119th appearance, and fellow flanker Dave Dennis were impressive, along with locks Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas.
Lions coach Dick Muir said it was a poor showing by his side, but felt the Waratahs deserved huge credit, especially on defence.
“We wanted to come out and play this evening. Unfortunately the Waratahs defence was outstanding and they didn’t give us too much space to move in,” Muir said.
“When we turned the ball over they just capitalised on that and it looked like we didn’t have any defence.”
The only injury concern for Hickey was a hamstring injury to No.8 Wycliff Palu.
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- Explore:
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bruski said | March 13th 2010 @ 6:04am | Report comment
Quite the opposite to last week, well done NSW. Lets see if QLD can match that, hope so…
katzilla said | March 13th 2010 @ 6:14am | Report comment
Well done Waratahs, please don’t go back into your shell when you hit the big teams though. All the big teams will tear you a new one of you keep kicking the ball to them.
RickG said | March 13th 2010 @ 6:55am | Report comment
11 tries eh? Is that enough for everyone now
Onceinawhile said | March 13th 2010 @ 6:57am | Report comment
Without focusing on the score, as there will no doubt be those whom will point out repeatedly that the Lions were horrible and they need to do it against a strong team yadda yadda yadda, what impressed me most was the fact that they took chances when they came, if there are fifty or five chances a game they showed they are good enough to take them.
And what about some of the counter-attack, I have never seen a Tah super team counter attack like that before, despite the talk from Hickey about what they have been working towards, rubbish, he let them of the leash ,he knew he had too and the opportunity was there. I admit when Mowen was dropped, I thought WTF! I might have to go back into my box, Dennis was outstanding and showed signs he may well be around for a long time and not only in a blue jersey, thanks for pointing that one out Robbie. Young Douglas was also strong as was Mitchell after his monumental #$%k up.
No reason to take a backward step now, they know what they are capable of, and jeeez does’nt that bench look good now, I’m goin to throw it out there, ……..not scared………………… here goes……….. Best bench in the Comp!
Do you win a prize for that?
LeftArmSpinner said | March 13th 2010 @ 6:59am | Report comment
It was a massive improvement on the previous weeks, no doubt. The defence was better and the counterattack and opportunism produced the tries. Who are the best counter attackers? the crusaders and the Chiefs. Counterattack is a valid strategy, just not on its own but as a part of an overall strategy.
Other than Mitchell’s try under the posts from a worked move, the others were opportunist. While there is nothing wrong with opportunism, this is still a team with a very fragile psyche as shown by the lapses in concentration and intent, where they reverted to aimless kicking.
Next week, against an injury depleted force probably won’t tell us much but it just might.
But the Blues can play and they arrive at SFS in two weeks. So my message to the Tahs is “Now, that’s quite a different subject so dont let my glad expression give you the wrong impression.” There’s real challenges to come. Be prepared or it will be a case of “the tears of a clown.”
The crowd of 16,000 was lower than I expected, I thought about 17-18,000. The SFS members again stood up to support the tahs when others didn’t. Yep, those members deemed stupid enough to pay for a seat twice but also not deemed worthy enough for an seat to the Brumbies game at ANZ in week 11 in a 2/3 empty and hence soul-less arena.
Bay35Pablo said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:27am | Report comment
LAS, I was expecting about 18,000 as well, after 20,500 for the Sharks. The SAF tems never get the bigger crowds, with less ex pats around to turn up than the Kiwis. Having said that, both games this season have had Saffers at the game even if it wasn’t their usual side. I am also impressed at the number of Poms, Scots and Irish that turn up.
The crowds are clearly staying away until the spectacle improves. The members are turning up in numbers as you say, and who is there are the rusted on supporters.
If (and it’s a big IF) the Tahs can string a few performances like that together, and get them in finals contention, then we might start rebuilding the crowds. Going into next year with more derby matches, and a World Cup, we might then start building them again. But it will take a few years to get back to the glory days of the early 2000s when the Tahs were the hottest ticket in town (which the leaguies did play a part in).
The funny thing is, we went to a pub afterwards and caught some of the Broncos v Cowboys game, and I was amazed at how much slower and less intense it looked. Which surprised me. Although it was the 2nd half, the players were going into tackles looking to go to ground, and when running were almost waiting for the tackle. By contrast the union had blokes flying into each other, knowing if they didn’t hit with force they’d lose the ball or get monstered. The lack of the contest in league, and that it is present in union and affects how they run and carry the ball, was very stark. Having said that, I still appreciate league and will be looking forward to the Lote v the Wolfman duel on Monday night.
Fragglerocker said | March 13th 2010 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
I’m not looking forward to the Brumbies match at Homebush. That stadium looks virtually empty when there is less than 30,000. An empty stadium is a terrible advertisement for the game.
Alders said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
Seems to work ok for the A-League.
matt said | March 13th 2010 @ 7:00am | Report comment
I thought the most encouraging thing was the way the forwards ran hard, straight and off loaded in the tackle.
Backs chancing their arm..Wooohoo! That style of play does not just happen, you have to persevere with it and let it become instinctive. Still a way to go on the judgement of when to have a crack and when to be safe, but that will come.
The Lions were not great, so it will be good to see how Tahs mk2 go against a quality opposition.
One technical aspect. I watched about 4 scrums in a row where Robinsonś first action after the engage, was to put his hand on the ground, before reaching up and binding on the Lions prop. I though this was illegal?
Even looser said | March 13th 2010 @ 7:52am | Report comment
Thank goodness I’m not reading anything too over the top about last night’s game. Let’s praise the boys for doing what they did and in the way they did but keep in mind who it was against.
The challenge now for the coaches is to get the team to play in that style again and again against better opposition until they live and breath this style of play and excel at it. Then and only then will they begin to impose themselves on top teams, ala Crusaders.
Jimmy said | March 14th 2010 @ 5:41am | Report comment
Exactly lets remember who they were up against.
The lions were absolutely pathetic and aren’t even worthy of playing in the Super 14
JK said | March 14th 2010 @ 6:20am | Report comment
Brumbies only managed to beat them
Ora said | March 14th 2010 @ 11:17am | Report comment
You would have to be an absolute tool if you believe this Lions outfit was a good side, blow up the Tahs at your own peril JK
JK said | March 14th 2010 @ 11:50am | Report comment
To use your own words in previous posts Ora, read what I wrote, did I talk up the Lions? Did I even talk up the Tah’s? Your comments border on trolling most of the time, you either point out the blatantly obvious or throw in a comment to get a bite.
Ora said | March 14th 2010 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
You imply because they had a close game against a Brumbies outfit straight off the plane from their South African tour that they (Lions) are a decent team. The Lions are totally ridiculous and would have to be the laughing stock of world rugby right now. The Tahs did well but like I said it pays not to take this win out of context.
JTG said | March 13th 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Well Done to the tah’s & a great win for Phil Waugh on his big night. BUT!!!!! I reckon the local subby side could have beaten the Lions last night. They had no back line, the forwards aren’t to bad. I know you will all be shouting me down but I have followed the tahs for too long to get to carried away.
Even looser said | March 13th 2010 @ 8:55am | Report comment
No mate. The truth is the truth.
By the way, anyone know who was MOM?
Bay35Pablo said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:12am | Report comment
MOM was Mitchell
Even looser said | March 13th 2010 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Cheers for that. 4 meat pies is hard to argue with I suppose. But from what I saw Phil Waugh played the house down & I thought it may have gone his way on his big night.
No shortage of contenders. Josh Holmes was outstanding too obviously in attack but more so for me in defence. Actually defence and scrum has been consistent with the Tahs in all games so far.
Bay35Pablo said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:17am | Report comment
The Lions played OK in the first 15-20. They were contesting the rucks and looked decent. Mitchell’s stuff up gifted them a try, and I was thinking it might be a back and forth affair. However, we got up on them, the heads went down, and they fell away.
The Lions aren’t a bad side, but they clearly thrive on confidence. With that gone they crumbled.
True Tah said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Pablo,
the Lions are not a traditional “spoiling” side in that they do not give away a host of penalties to stop the opposition for scoring.
Bay35Pablo said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:43am | Report comment
TT, now that you mention it I did think the rucks seemed quite clean and quick. Amazing how it can open the game up when people play to the spirit of the laws. They’ll be the only ones then ….
Force, Blues, Cheetahs, Brumbies. We should win at least 2, and preferably 3 out of that. If not, we can give up. Win all 4 and I’ll get excited.
Jimmy said | March 14th 2010 @ 5:45am | Report comment
The Lions are a bloody awful side your only kidding yourself Bay if you think otherwise
bennalong said | March 13th 2010 @ 8:51am | Report comment
No-one’s getting carried away Even Looser, but those of you fair weather fans and pessimists who have been filling these pages this season should at least have reason to pause before your next diatribe
The Tahs two away games were tough and they acquitted themselves well, especially against the Bulls which was a game of fantastic quality, one of the best in years – despite being game three.
They had demonstrated their spoken intention to play running Rugby
Against the Sharks they tried to get going in the first half, again showing their intention, but visibly ran out of steam in the second. They resorted to a positional game to defend a lead way too early and gave us a dud spectacle. But they had just made that trip from Africa which results in so many poor displays from the Saffers
But the chorus from this blog was unwarranted and lacking in reason
This game was an ‘up yours”! ! ! ……………………….I hope you feel it . I could just sit back and smile.
katzilla said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:29am | Report comment
An up yours? lol.
Seriously that is getting carried away a bit Bennalong.
It was only the Lions. Credit where credits due, i mean you can only beat who’s put infront of you, but lets not say we’ve retaken the Hamburger Hill of Running rugby when actually you’ve just cleared the front door of the base.
bennalong said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:07pm | Report comment
I’m not the one getting carried away katzilla. I simply asked for a fair go for the team getting caned early in the season quite unreasonably.
IMO the knockers – and there was a number of them calling themselves supporters – were carrying on like pork chops.
Your battle analogy is cute but misplaced. That WAS a game of fantastic skills and running Rugby but no-one said it represented anything more than the Tahs doing exactly what they said they had planned. And a lot of it.
But maybe from your reaction the “up yours” found a mark ! Eh?
katzilla said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:35pm | Report comment
Not really affected personally by your statement, note the ‘lol’ afterwards.
But that kind of sentiment would be more appropriate after the Waratahs use their new found firepower in a Desert Storm type game against an organised force like the Crusaders/Bulls/Brumbies etc.
Not the Helpless and rudderless Lions.
stillmissit said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Great game with some surprises for me.
I am a great Burgess fan – hold it there guys – but I thought Holmes was better around the paddock and in the tight stuff and his pass has always been pretty good. Neither of them are within daylight of Genia. I was also surprised by Mumm who always seems to go missing but this sort of game without ‘big bad bogeymen’ suits him. Dave Dennis and Mowen have the goods. How can Carter keep Horne off the pitch? What does this young centre need to do to prove he is one of the best in the country, leaves me scratching my head.
Waugh was everywhere and Beale showed some of his class when he came on. Weak opposition proves that you have the structure it doesn’t show if you have the fortitude and skill to beat the real competition.
This looks closer to the team I saw in Orange pre-season. Huge potential but stuttering due to conservatism and fear of failure.
Bay35Pablo said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Stillmissit, agree completely on Holmes over Burgess. We looked crisper whenever Holmes was on, and Holmes was massive in defence holding up 2 or 3 tries. Burgess went off with a head bleed, and we he came back on my group were like “Go off! Get Holmes back on!!!” Burgo needs to go back to Shute Shield and get his game right again. Maybe playing in the NPC for a season would help him.
Mumm had some mongerel back, and Dennis showed some class. Forwards showed more mongerel as required, although the scrums looked sketchy at times. TPN still can’t throw.
Anensi is mint. Can’t say enough about him. I think he is the signing of recent seasons for us. Mitchell is Campo-esque as shown last night. He can score but he can also make you scream. But Anensi shows ticker and looks dangerous whenever he has the ball, and he has a go!
Carter is a flat track bully, one trick pony. OK, he scored a try but it showed the only thing he is good at – leg drive pure blitz. Apart from that he offers nothing. When Horne has comes on he looks great. OK it’s against tired opponents but he is a class above Carter. They can’t start him soon enough. Then use Beale, Carter or Sidey off the bench for impact in the 2nd half.
Barnes had a few well picked cross field kicks that worked. I am hoping this is a sign they are starting to read and understand each other. Turner looked like heading back towards the form that excited us all when he appeared in 2008(?). He just needs the ball and some breaks/structured play. I don’t think he has been teh issue as much as the team he is in.
OK, the Lions were a weak side, and arguably anyone can look good against weak opposition, but I think this will give them a lot of confidence. The team needs to get in the habit of running it and throwing it wide, so this becomes the defauly under pressure. If they can do the same thing to the Force, which they should, they will go into the Blues games having played 3 decent games (Bulls, Lions & Force) out of 6 which starts a trend. Blues will be the real test. With some wins and throwing it around, the crowd may pick up and the Kiwis will turn up to support the Big Island getting beat.