It’s high time the Waratahs got serious
Columnist 
4,860 reads
Tom Carter in action for the NSW Waratahs. AAP Image/David Crosling
Related coverage
Daniel Halangahue bombed a sitter conversion in Dunedin last night for the Highlanders to win 18-17. The captain’s casual approach proved very costly, but that’s how the Waratahs play their rugby.
They casually wander offside, casually knock-on or forward pass, casually miss-touch, or casually miss their lineout jumpers.
Their one constant saving grace – a solid defensive pattern.
Yet the men-in-blue boast a Wallaby-filled squad. Go figure.
Having said that, how on earth did the Waratahs get so close when it took them 34 minutes to move inside the Highlander quarter for the first time, and 44 minutes for the second time with the Pat McCutcheon charge-down try. Sadly, the flanker badly dislocated his ankle scoring, and will be out of action for sometime.
In the wash-up NSW had only 38% possession, and 41% territory.
Played under the Forsyth Barr Stadium closed roof making perfect conditions, this clash was previewed as the best of the Super Rugby third round.
And for sheer intensity played at a cracking pace, the rating was spot on. By the 80th minute both sides were knackered.
But on all the stats, the Highlanders should have won by the length of the straight. Yet they would have lost had it not been for Halangahue’s howler.
A strange game leaving the Highlanders unbeaten after three and the Waratahs with one win, and two close losses to pick up bonus points for losing by less than 7.
There were two other Australian conference games last night. The Brumbies won 24-23 over the Cheetahs in Canberra with an 80th-minute penalty from Christian Lealiifano, and the Reds an 11-6 winner over a much-improved Rebels at Suncorp.
The contrasting crowds told the interest – 12,377 in Canberra, 34,126 at Suncorp.
The Brumbies had been bitching all week their coach Jake White could possibly leave them in the first of his four-year contract to coach England.
By the 48th minute the Brumbies were trailing 23-10, and never looked in the hunt until Wallaby centre Pat McCabe, playing on the wing, injected himself into the fray.
His try, and an 8-2 favourable penalty count in the last 32 minutes from Kiwi referee Keith Brown saw the Brumbies whittle away the deficit to win at the death with the last penalty on the full-time siren.
The defending champion Reds can thank winger Dom Shipperly for remaining unbeaten after three rounds.
At the start of the tournament, the Waratahs casually kicked away possession in the last minute for Shipperly to race 75 metres to touch down for a Reds 26-24 win.
Last night he was the only try-scorer in a penalty-dominated game. But the plaudits go to the Rebels for a marvellous defensive effort under pressure, their best yet.
That was a huge plus, but the Rebels have an on-going major problem with their inability to score tries.
Fix that, and the Rebels will be a genuine handful with crack Wallabies James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale new additions to the squad.
But right now the Reds are the team to beat. And they don’t mind winning ugly.
Sport, all day long. Does this sound too good to be true? We're searching for a Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. If you're a sales star who doesn't mind a hit, kick, throw, or cycle, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
Have you seen the new Wallabies jersey? Want one of your own? We're giving away a brand new 2013 Wallabies jersey to one lucky Roarer, click here to go in the running to win.
- Explore:
- Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs
March 11th 2012 @ 5:31am
Ash said | March 11th 2012 @ 5:31am | Report comment
David the Tahs played the Highlanders not the Hurricanes.
I was at the Red’s game. The Rebel’s defense was good. The Reds look like they are taking their time this season. When they wind things up the game looks a whole lot faster. I reckon their backline needs to push out one and bring Lucas into number 10.
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
March 11th 2012 @ 5:48am
David Lord said | March 11th 2012 @ 5:48am | Report comment
Of course you’re right Ash, it was the Highlanders, an inexcusable mistake.
March 11th 2012 @ 6:04am
Sportym said | March 11th 2012 @ 6:04am | Report comment
Tsk tsk… The roar experts are taking it very casually . Not even proof reading an article before submission, that is basic journalism 101 fail
Time for everyone in Sydney to lift their game and get serious.
Saving grace, hurricanes/highlanders won.
March 11th 2012 @ 6:52am
mace 22 said | March 11th 2012 @ 6:52am | Report comment
There were howlers from both sides. Just picking on one and saying that was the reason for the loss.Is forgetting the biggest howler was the charge down that lead to the waratah try. If that hadn’t of happened the losing margine would’ve been greater. At least you didn’t put the blame on bryce lawrence like some roarers in another article.
March 11th 2012 @ 9:26am
jeznez said | March 11th 2012 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Mace, I replied to you on the other thread but just in case you missed it, the crux of what I tried to say is that the Highlanders deserved to win byt Lawrence is an utter joke. The two points are not mutually exclusive.
March 11th 2012 @ 12:11pm
steve.h said | March 11th 2012 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
So the world finally realises what South Africans have been saying since the Quarter finals…….. Lawrence better not think of stepping a foot on South African soil.
March 11th 2012 @ 12:59pm
Sprigs said | March 11th 2012 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Thanks for the memory, Steve. That was a great Wallaby victory and so well deserved.
March 11th 2012 @ 9:52pm
mace 22 said | March 11th 2012 @ 9:52pm | Report comment
Thanks for that but I never take any notice of the ref when watching a game. He is the sole enforcer of the laws on the field. So it’s up to the players to work out rulings and to adjust accordingly. If I concentrated to much on the ref I’d forget about the game and spend all the time yelling what a idiot he is. If lawrence was as bad as every one in the other two sanzaar countries say he is. I would think he’d be sacked
March 12th 2012 @ 5:21am
mania said | March 12th 2012 @ 5:21am | Report comment
bryce had a good game in the weekend. nothing like the wc quarters . sorry this loss comes down solely to the tah’s being boring and unimaginative. berrick was disapointing. did he run the ball at this game. remember him kicking for a ot of touch and only doing that avaeragely. barnes is not a percentage player, he needs to attack the line more.
tah’s didnt look like they wanted to win.
“… but the Rebels have an on-going major problem with their inability to score tries.Fix that, and the Rebels will be a genuine handful…” thanx captain obvious. scoring tries should be a focus for teams. wow rewrite the play books.
March 12th 2012 @ 10:37am
Jimbo Jones said | March 12th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Play the ball not the man.. Of course scoring tries is the focus for all teams, but David was pointing out that they are stuggling to cross the try line.
March 11th 2012 @ 10:05am
Wally James said | March 11th 2012 @ 10:05am | Report comment
The waratahs lost because they were not good enough. No doubt about that. End of story. They remain the great pretenders.
However, Bryce Lawrence is far from a good referee and has never been any good. His whistle is a bleat not a blast. His demeanour is dour and nitpicking. In short his man managment skills are very poor. He is very slow around the paddock and is rarely in goal when a try is scored.
Comment removed after consideration from Roar Mods. Thanks, please refrain from similar.
March 11th 2012 @ 10:59am
jeznez said | March 11th 2012 @ 10:59am | Report comment
waly, which part of me saying the highlanders deserved to win is distracted? we appear to be on the same page
March 11th 2012 @ 11:19am
Wally James said | March 11th 2012 @ 11:19am | Report comment
Sorry Jez. I meant to reinforce your comments, not critisize them.
March 11th 2012 @ 11:44am
Atawhai Drive said | March 11th 2012 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Out last night and have yet to see the game, but I always shudder when Bryce Lawrence is listed as the referee.
He seems to lack feel for the game, and his hectoring lectures to players apparently stunned the Kiwi journos in the press box last night.
All players want from a referee, from all referees, is consistency _ within a game and also from game to game.
With Lawrence, there is no predicting whether he will nitpick or put the whistle in his pocket, as happened (to the Wallabies’ benefit) in a memorable World Cup match last year.
A separate issue is that of neutral referees. Either that’s the policy or it isn’t.
But Wally, we need to be very cautious about mentioning Lawrence’s family background and the Kiwi background of SANZAR and IRB refererring heavies as a possible reason behind his appointment to big games.
As any defamation lawyer will tell you, simply saying “no one is saying those blokes are biased or cheats” when you have implied otherwise is no defence if someone such as Keith Lawrence decides to sue.
Who’d be a referee? I was, for a while. What a nightmare (for the players as much as me).
March 11th 2012 @ 2:16pm
Wally James said | March 11th 2012 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
atawhai, your point is well taken about defamation. I suppose the first thing to say about that is fair comment is always a defence.
Secondly, i did not intend to imply, those lads are biased or cheats. All three were very senior refs. Their integrity is not something I impugn nor should it be.
But there must be some reasson for the continued appointment of a fellow who seems to have reached his level of incompetence. Since his appointments appear inexplicable on the face of his performances it is not unreasonable to think there may be some other basis for them. All I suggest is, it is difficult for justice to be seen to be done with the close personal relationships I have referred to. It is only natural that unconscious impartiality occurs. Were it otherwise a French ref might have got the RWC final.
On the other hand, the limited number of people who have the qualifiactions to coach and assess at this level means it is nigh on impossible to eradicate this as a problem. It is a vexed question, I agree with you.
All I say is, it’s palpably obvious Bryce is not up to the job. There are reasons he continues to be appointed. Perhaps what I suggested might be one of them.
March 11th 2012 @ 3:00pm
Darwin Stubbie said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
Have you bothered to consider that the people you mention know far, far more about the implementation of the laws of the game and the overall assessment of referees and that in fact you’re the one who is possible not impartial in this matter and your judgement has been clouded by bias and often incorrect commentary and analysis
Lawerence would not have got to where he is and remained there if he was even 10% as incompetent as has been made out by the print press, blog commentators and TV pundits over the last few years … No-one in Aust seemed too bothered with his performances in the SR final or W-cup quarter last year
The fact is NSW were outplayed last night and were run off their feet .. The possession, tackle and territory stats tell the story …. But for one piece of opportunism they didn’t look like scoring a try … Any possession they got the kicked away and it was only their defence and infringing that kept them in it … Instead of searching for excuses perhaps the question should be being asked why are the Aust teams not scoring tries
March 11th 2012 @ 3:27pm
Wally James said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
In fact Darwin, old chap I have considered that and dismissed it. I am not a NSW supporter. I don’t rely on commentary but on my own observations.
The people I have mentioned do not have any greater knowledge of the implementation of the Laws than me. They simply disagree with me as to that. I think they are wrong but clearly, if they knew my view, they would think me wrong.
I was bothered about the RWC final where Australia won. I thought Bryce was incompetent then too, just as he was when Ireland won in the upset Pool game. Australia did not dserve to win in either game I thought. His incompetence is not caused by the teams playing.
I would like to know why Australian teams are not scoring tries and I would also like to know why Bryce keeps getting appointed. The two are not mutually exclusive.
March 11th 2012 @ 3:54pm
Atawhai Drive said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
Well argued, Wally. Certainly, Bryce Lawrence does seem to struggle at the elite level.
You would hope a bit of NRL-type ruthlessness in assessing referees’ performance might apply.
March 12th 2012 @ 8:07am
Wally James said | March 12th 2012 @ 8:07am | Report comment
Thanks Atawhai. it’s a good point you raise. I’m a big believer in Refs being as accountable as players for how they perform.
Some times the League cutthroat approach can work. It gives the ref a wake up call to mind his ps and qs. It can be detrimental sometimes though I think. If the mistake is a one off then I think dropping a bloke is harsh. I mean Grant Fox, Michael Lynagh and Wilko weren’t dropped for misjudging a kick at goal.
One mistake shouldn’t mean a ref is dropped of how much it affected the outcome of the game. if that applied to top players Giteau would never have been selected after Scotland a few years ago. But if if there is consistent missing of things then off to the lower grades a ref should go.
March 11th 2012 @ 11:45am
Samvandamn said | March 11th 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Agree, a long with that charge down the Highlanders missed two kicks from out front.
If you ask me it was the Highlanders game to lose to the Waratahs game to win.
The Waratahs were out played in most facets of the game.
March 11th 2012 @ 7:11am
Stanly Grella said | March 11th 2012 @ 7:11am | Report comment
The Hughlanders missed a conversion from in front as well and a penalty, it wasn’t Hangers one act.
The Tahs git beaten by a team on top of there form last night, but only by 1, I don’t think there was anything casual about it, if there was they would have got touched up by 20
March 11th 2012 @ 7:56am
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | March 11th 2012 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Actually I’m still sitting here wondering how we only lost by 1.
I predicted a 12 point loss & to me the Highlanders looked the better team. They have more punch in their back line and are extremely dangerous. Whereas we seem light-on.
I’m not sure how the 2 play maker thing went as I don’t recall anything much going on by our backs. We were willing enough but looked like featherweights in comparison.
Which must mean that Foley’s game plan or the defence or something that I can’t manage to put my finger on (until I watch the tape again), must have worked.
Here’s hoping Pat McCutcheon makes a good recovery.
March 11th 2012 @ 8:28am
stillmissit said | March 11th 2012 @ 8:28am | Report comment
It strikes me that the Kiwi’s have stepped up a level particularly at the breakdown and it showed in the Waratahs v Highlanders. The other area we seem to be poor at is the offload. We seem to be happy to go one off, take the tackle commit only enough to win our ball and then go one off again. Seems dumb to me – am I missing something?
The breakdown is a complicated area but the Kiwi’s seem to have a plan about what to attack when and with the right numbers, then what to leave alone. We seem to be running a 10 year old ‘don’t commit too much at the breakdown’ system, which I personally hate.
I thought the Australian teams would look better this year including the Reds but I think the Kiwi’s have upped the ante and we seem to have gone nowhere. Staying ahead of your opposition makes more sense than chasing or worse copying them.
March 11th 2012 @ 3:28pm
Nicol'arse said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Agree 100% Stillmissit. The Highlanders schooled us at the breakdown. Their counter-rucking was awesome. All Australian teams could learn a thing or two about how to “dominate the space in front of the ball” at the breakdown. Its BLOODY effective!!
I understand that “attacking kicking” is an essential part of the game… but to announce it as your defining strategy is just plain stupid isn’t it?
The Highlanders were happy to run it back at us all night… and thank god our defense was impressive because they should have won by more.
Normally I would bemoan the Tahs lack of enthusiasm (or fight in the dog)… but last night they had it in spades. What they lacked was rugby “smarts”. Kicking the ball to your opposition as a strategy when you are outside your 22 and unlikely to find touch is just gifting them back possession. And if you don’t have chasers all over it to apply pressure down the other end, then please tell me what is the flamin’ point?
Rugby is nowhere near as complicated a game as some of these professional coaches make it out to be. Hats off to you Jamie Joseph. I reckon the Highlanders are playing the game the way its meant to be played…HARD up front to win the ball, then let your backs run with it. When it breaks down, get there and clear it out to win it again. Kick when you have to and the opportunity presents itself… otherwise back yourself to run it and maintain possession by going hard at the breakdown. That’s the strategy. Now learn how to do it.
The NZ teams tend to do this. Now why can’t we follow suit?
March 11th 2012 @ 8:48am
DCR said | March 11th 2012 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Forget the scoreboard this was a victory. At the same fixture two years ago there was only one thing worse than the weather and that was watching a refereeing performance amongst the worst in Super rugby history; and there have been some uglies. The ref then was one Bryce Lawrence. One can only imagine the off field manipulating, meddling and influencing that must go on of which many Lawrence performances are but a symptom. Yet it would be to compound a travesty to waste time vitriollically complaining about him and those off field shenanigans when the players like McCutcheon put in like they did yesterday.
I consider this a victory not because we were close on the scoreboard playing a top Kiwi side away with Lawrence refereeing, but because we won in so many of the crucial facets that have haunted Waratah and Australian Super teams in similar circumstances. We finished the stronger, we won the scrum, our defence especially the scrambling was tremendous (and that signifies the best attitude), our head on defence was terrific all game, and most heartwarming of all was that in the last 15 minutes we were winning the tackles and breakdown. Our young replacements were piling into the tough stuff like it mattered. Metuisela, Ulugia, Timani, and Jenkins all ripped in and stood up. Without that power in the tackle you can never win this comp.
But we still have weakness that must be fixed to have any chance. Our lineout was out by a foot. Poloto-Nau with more game time and training will get there so that is not a huge concern. Our first half kicking was unacceptable; two high balls out on the full is crap. We need more confidence and better attacking patterns to get over the advantage line than we showed in this game. Lastly we need much more from our second row. Kane Douglas did some good head on tackling but he backs away from the tackle contest instead of getting in there over the ball causing problems to the opposition and I hardly sighted Mumm in the whole game other than a few of his little in close drives. Without Vickerman we seem very short on in the second row, which is a bit of a surprise.
So we have to get more out of these two and develop better patterns in attack whether first phase, countering from deep and from slow ball or it is an early finish at the end of the season.
As an aside I thought of a solution to the refereeing; like league we could have two referees each from a nation of the contestants. But then all games between an RSA and NZ team would be nil all unless the African could kick goals from his own half and an Australian team would only win the penalty count when playing each other.
March 11th 2012 @ 9:20am
jeznez said | March 11th 2012 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Timani Snr back next week which will hopefully see Mumm to the bench.
Agree the young guys stood up, Timani Jr in particular had a screamer.
March 11th 2012 @ 10:51am
nathan said | March 11th 2012 @ 10:51am | Report comment
have a go at the ref? yawm. waratahs were lucky to get as close as they did. take away the chargedown try and they wouldn’t have gotten close. did they actually play any attacking rugby at all? all the aussie teams seem to have massive issues with scoring tries. you cannot win if you dont have a crack, and so far no aussie team is playing attacking rugby
March 12th 2012 @ 5:48am
mania said | March 12th 2012 @ 5:48am | Report comment
DCR – you have got to lose the eye patch. blaming lawrence for this loss is both limp and so wrong. lawrence controlled this game and did well. so what if he isnt your vision of a drill seargent in charge, its his style to be self effacing. lawrence can be lambasted for a alot of his performances but this game isnt one of them.
what lost the game for tah’s was lack of balls and spirit. no imagination or creativity.
barnes is not a [percentage player. barnes is one of the best attacking 5/8, midfield centers around. why was he playing with fire in his belly. tah’s seem to be a black hole. any attacking creative attacking rugby goes in but never comes out.
lawrence isnt a great a ref but then neither is dickinson or many other refs i could mention. its part and parcel of the game. u have great,good,average and bad players just like refs.
i dont know why aussies are complaining bout lawrence anyways. no one was complaining when he handed the woblies the WC quarters.
March 11th 2012 @ 9:02am
Albo said | March 11th 2012 @ 9:02am | Report comment
Since when have you ever seen a kick from in front that is NOT casual David? The last time I saw someone take the same amount of time for a kick in front as to aside they over thought it and it went under the posts. It was a crap kick yes, but don’t make more of it than there is.
March 11th 2012 @ 9:41am
Stin said | March 11th 2012 @ 9:41am | Report comment
And the Tahs backs seem slow?!! Across the ground and with their distribution!
March 11th 2012 @ 9:52am
p.Tah said | March 11th 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Big question David is, were you ‘entertained’? That stadium, that crowd, that atmosphere, the intensity of the play, the speed of the game, the one point victory. I was entertained
March 11th 2012 @ 10:14am
David Lord said | March 11th 2012 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Yes Tah, I was entertained. But it’s frustrating as well to see good ball butchered so often, and watch a referee add to the frustration by being so far out of his league. Lawrence has no place in rep rugby.
March 11th 2012 @ 10:34am
Rugbug said | March 11th 2012 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Lawremce has just as much right to ref as you have to write poor articles David,
Nothing but sour grapes here champ I didn’t see you writing similar articles calling for Dickinsons head in 2011 when he handed the Reds victory over the Crusaders.
Of course not the rule book looks different when its an Aussie handing out favours to Aussie teams.