- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The semi-final between the Waratahs and Highlanders on Saturday night showed the crowd and audience a condensed version of the NSW side’s 2015 Super Rugby campaign.
The Tahs stumbled their way through the season, somehow scraping wins and finding themselves in second place. Victories against the Brumbies, Rebels and Sharks come to mind.
A few moments of brilliance kept them in the contest, such as in the wins against the Hurricanes, Crusaders and an annihilation of the Cheetahs. But these wins were paint on mud and we all knew that, deep down, things just weren’t the same this year.
They were a wounded horse in battle, guided by their bloodied and overwhelmed rider, Michael Cheika.
Nick Phipps’ wayward pass in the first minute was the Waratahs’ Round 1 loss to the Western Force. It was wild and unexpected and allowed doubt to spring into the crowd’s mind.
Rob Horne’s try came a few minutes later and was the reassurance we all needed. The sigh of relief, the laugh, the joke – yeah, things’ll be alright, that was just a slip-up before. It was a well-worked manoeuvre and display of vision from Bernard Foley, and a show of skill and power from Horne.
The Tahs reemerged from their uncharacteristic failure in Round 1 to put the sword to the Rebels and the Reds, never playing their best but always in control.
Aaron Smith’s try followed and once led to the question, are the Waratahs really in this? They had been sloppy all season, and the Highlanders have been comparatively impressive. The ease with which the Highlanders’ backs cut through was an ominous warning of more to come.
After knocking over some local derbies the Highlanders and Stormers put an end to the Waratahs’ party. It was the sight Tahs fans became so used to over the last two years – a stunning try at the start of the game and then the inevitable lapse allowing the opponent to strike back. Could they match it with the big boys? Only time would tell.
The exchanging of penalties kept the Tahs in it, with a deficit of just one point at halftime. Don’t be daft, mate! It’s only halftime. Of course we can still win. Cheika will rough ‘em up a bit and they’ll come out twice as good in the second 40.
Correspondingly, the Tahs put three together, becoming the first team to knock over the table-topping Hurricanes, and then the Rebels and Brumbies again. The Tahs were hitting their straps, finally. Or were they?
For the first time in years the Sydney crowd united to chant “Joubert’s a wanker!” after referee Craig Joubert showed Jacques Potgieter a yellow card and awarded a penalty try to the Highlanders. The way Potgieter stared at Joubert in disbelief for several seconds before jogging off captured the rattled and shocked state of the Tahs and their crowd, just as when they fell to the Force for the second time in the season.
Not even a few moments of brilliance from Israel Folau and Michael Hooper or several huge hits from Will Skelton and Wycliff Palu could halt the Highlanders’ onslaught. Victories over the Crusaders, Sharks, Cheetahs and Reds could not hide the sorry state the Tahs were in as even in the final round before their break they were still a shambles, looking disorganised and just not quite right.
The Waratahs will continue to pressure the top spots in the competition in the coming years. A change in the guard is probably the best thing that could happen to this team. It will be great to see new, young, energetic guys coming through, which is what was lacking this year. And that is probably what has me even more keen for the 2016 season than this year.
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.