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Michael Cheika will long remember 50 after last night’s 31-5 win over the Reds at Allianz Stadium.
It was his 50th game as Waratahs’ coach, and it took 50 minutes before his players got off their backsides and started to play their normal entertaining rugby.
The Waratahs only led 3-0 at the break, and even though they knew they were going to top the Australia Conference after the Brumbies were beaten earlier 37-24 by the Crusaders, a Waratah loss could allow the Stormers to grab second place on the ladder, forcing the Waratahs into a sudden-death clash with the Brumbies next Saturday.
There should have been 35,000 at Allianz last night because of its importance, but most of the disappointing 26,746 crowd would have been very nervous of the latter possibility.
But all was forgiven when Waratah 10 Bernard Foley switched on to become man of the match, igniting the mistake-ridden Waratahs to cross for four converted tries in the last half an hour.
The secret was Cheika, he’s never fazed.
No Australian team has ever won back-to-back Super titles, but this one can if they play the last 30 minutes from the kick-off.
When they didn’t, Cheika got them back on track for the second session.
Between Foley, Israel Folau, Michael Hooper, Will Skelton, and Jacques Potgieter the Waratahs are blossoming at the right time, and can enjoy their week off before their semi at Allianz on Saturday week.
Foley effectively shut the door on Quade Cooper and Mat Giteau’s claim on the 10 jersey for the abbreviated Rugby Championship that kicks off on July 18 against the Boks at Suncorp.
Folau was always a danger man, while Hooper made up some lost ground to Brumby David Pocock who didn’t play the second half last night after failing a concussion test.
Cheika wouldn’t show it, but deep down he must be relieved the Crusaders failed to make the play-offs by one lousy point – their first miss since 2001.
They played superbly in shutting down the Brumbies, as you would expect from a side with the likes of Richie McCaw, Kieran Reid, Matt Todd and Dan Carter would provide.
Todd created his own history by becoming the first forward from anywhere to cross for tries in five successive Super Rugby games.
So for McCaw and Carter, plus Reds’ stalwarts Will Genia and James Horwill, last night was the end of the Super Rugby road for the quality quartet.
It was especially meaningful for Genia who said post-match – “My lasting memory will be getting a standing ovation from a NSW crowd”.
Will, it’s no surprise to a New South Welshman who will readily salute those who thoroughly deserve it, no matter what country or team they represent.