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The real Beale and Foley's boot see Waratahs home

20th February, 2015
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20th February, 2015
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The Waratahs won’t retain the Super Rugby title unless Kurtley Beale cuts loose as he did last night at AAMI Stadium, and the golden boot of Bernard Foley keeps finding the uprights.

The scoreboard shows Waratahs 38 Rebels 28, but it was a whole lot closer than that.

The difference was the brilliance of Beale who left the field for a concussion test in the 14th minute and returned with his mojo back in business to chip-kick over the close defence to regather on the full and throw a perfect inside pass to Stephen Hoiles to cash over without a hand on him.

Five minutes later Beale landed a monster penalty to play the major role in the Waratahs’ 16-14 half-time lead.

After a couple of decisive breaks in the second half, Beale loomed up outside a superb Foley break to score to end a 28-all draw when either side could win.

So when does Kurtley Beale fire?

When his eight-man international pack delivers good clean quick ball, when half Nick Phipps stops lifting the ball shoulder high before clearing set play or rucks, and more importantly Phipps finding his support, instead of passing to fresh air.

Phipps can be both a match-winner, and a back-line killer, in the same game. Unfortunately for the Waratahs, it’s more often the latter.

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Once Phipps does the right thing, a positive chain reaction is set in motion.

Foley’s goal-kicking is a huge asset – six from seven last night, worth 15 points.

But he’s also adept at sizing up the opposition in general play. His understanding with Beale is a priceless asset, and once Beale and Israel Folau regain their understanding mojo, the Waratahs will win handsomely as they did last season.

And there’s a bonus in the form of new winger Taqele Naryaravoro, a likely lump of a lad at 195cm and 120kgs. His two tries last night proved he can be a tearaway train-wreck, once he sees more of the ball.

But all games are won up-front.

The Waratah pack is awesome in international caps, but the problems were obvious when prop Benn Robinson and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau both left the field for concussion tests and didn’t return.

The Waratah scrum was torn apart by the Rebels

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In the overall, the Waratahs were 300% on last week’s dismal loss to the Force, but they should have won by more than 10 points.

The Waratahs enjoyed 59% possession, won the phases 119-87, the rucks and mauls 107-67, and made 124 runs to the Rebels’ 83.

The debits were the difference.

They turned over possession 14-9, missed 27 tackles to just 12, and made 10 handling errors to eight.

Not good enough, but full marks to Scott Higginbotham’s men for being right in the thick of it for 70 minutes to make it a nail-biter to watch.

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika summed up his side’s 80-minute effort.

“We earned our way, either back into the game or ahead, just through some old-fashioned grunt”.

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Fair enough, but what the quote didn’t cover were the dumb rugby and stupid mistakes, unbecoming the defending Super Rugby champions.

They can enjoy their bye next week, but once they get back into action the credits must be enhanced, and the debits limited.

And that will give the Bernard Foley-Kurtley Beale-Israel Folau triumvirate the chances they deserve to play entertaining, positive, and winning rugby.

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