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Dejected captain Dave Dennis says the NSW Waratahs must stamp out costly concentration lapses to revive their Super Rugby title defence.
The impressive Highlanders punished the Waratahs for a worrying mid-match lull to put the titleholders to the sword in a 26-19 bonus-point win in Dunedin on Saturday.
The hosts piled on four unanswered tries in a 20-minute blitz either side of halftime to swamp the Tahs under the closed roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
From 12-0 up after slick tries to Nick Phipps and Matt Carraro from well-executive set-piece moves, the Waratahs collapsed following the 26th-minute sin-binning of prop Sekope Kepu.
With two wins from four starts, the Waratahs are now languishing mid-table ahead of next weekend’s blockbuster derby with Australian conference leaders the Brumbies at Allianz Stadium.
Dennis admitted the concentration dips were becoming a concern.
“We play some good footy in patches and then drop off during games and that’s about where we’re at at the moment,” Dennis said.
“Three individual errors cost us 21 points tonight and we’re showing similar signs at training.
“We need to stay focused, stay positive and work hard. It’s hard to pinpoint why we’re dropping off.”
The Waratahs made a similarly stuttering start to their 2014 title-winning campaign, but that was no consolation to the skipper.
“You don’t want to look back too much,” Dennis said.
“We were inconsistent last year early in terms of going win, loss, win, loss, but our expectations and standards in our performances are higher now.”
The Waratahs made a bright enough start in their first 2015 clash with a New Zealand opposition.
Israel Folau’s deft short ball for Michael Hooper put the flanker in the clear before Phipps finished off the opening five-pointer of the game.
Hooper also set up NSW’s second try before classy Highlanders No.9 Aaron Smith seized control of the match.
With the Tahs falling off tackles and unable to match the Highlanders’ physicality and efficiency at the breakdown, Smith had an afternoon out setting up his big and pacey backs.
Kepu’s yellow card for cynical play while defending his line invited the Highlanders into the contest and Smith wasted no time putting lock Tom Franklin over for the home side’s first try with a sniping dart from the scrum base.
The match turned just before halftime when Malakai Fekitoa dispossessed Israel Folau in a crunching tackle before setting powerhouse winger Waisake Naholo off on a 60-metre sprint to the line.
Fullback Ben Smith increased the Highlanders’ two-point halftime advantage with powerful, direct hole-running and then a breakout try to winger Patrick Osborne after some Highlanders razzle dazzle had the Waratahs chasing the game.
A late try to replacement back-rower Stephen Hoiles salvaged a bonus point for the Tahs, but they’d been hoping for much more.
Unbeaten on the road since round 14 last year, the Waratahs were eyeing six straight away wins for the first time in 20 seasons of Super Rugby.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.