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Kurtley Beale was a stand-out last night, but the Waratahs went down 26-20 to the Brumbies at Allianz Stadium.
It was the Brumbies’ first win at the venue for 14 years, and while it might seem churlish to take anything away from their victory, the facts are the Brumbies didn’t win the vital clash – the Waratahs gift wrapped it for them
Why pray tell have the Waratahs forgotten how to play basic rugby of pass, catch, and retain possession?
Thy stats are damning evidence.
The Waratahs enjoyed 62 per cent possession, and 63 per cent territory – two stats that should have been game, set, and match,
It’s even worse than that.
The Waratahs ran the ball 120 times to 68, covering 454 metres in the process to 271, but knocked on 11 times to just four, butchering all those hard-earned gains.
More Waratah pain – the Brumbies were forced to make 95 tackles compared to the Waratahs’ 57, and the Brumbies missed 24 tackles to 16,
On those stats the Waratahs should have won by the length of the straight, but were lucky to salvage a bonus point for finishing inside seven.
Add Waratahs captain Michael Hooper to the equation, who is supposed to be one of the very best number sevens in world rugby, and he gave away two stupid penalties that cost 14 points.
In other vital areas, halfback Nick Phipps and hooker Hugh Roach must take a long hard look at how they are performing.
Phipps should watch a replay of last night to see how effectively rival Tomas Cubelli serves his backline.
Cubelli doesn’t waste time playing traffic cop organising his backline, his total concentration is getting rid of the ball ASAP.
Roach is the third string hooker with Tatafa Polota-Nau and Tolu Latu out injured.
But why are Waratah hookers so pathetic feeding lineouts? It’s endemic in the squad and often costs tries as it did last night.
There you have it, another Super Rugby game thrown away, making it just about impossible for the Waratahs to qualify for the finals series.
They might get a sniff if they win eight of their remaining nine games, but the way they are playing – Kurtley Beale apart – none and Buckley’s would be more accurate.
On the credit side, full marks to coach Daryl Gibson for moving Israel Folau to outside centre, where he’s never played before.
Folau lasted just 41 seconds before he was off to a concussion test. Thankfully he returned to prove that combining Beale and Folau in the centres will be both very beneficial, and exciting.
Two kindred spirits who love to attack.
It was Beale who set up Folau’s 29th try to equal Lote Tuqiri’s Waratahs’ record set in 79 games – Folau needed just 51.
And playing alongside Beale will reap rich rewards instead of chiming in from fullback as he’s done so many times before.
Gibson showed great faith in replacement fullback Andrew Kellaway who didn’t let his coach down.
Sure triple try-scorer Joe Tomane did Kellaway twice, but the youngster had precious little chance of stopping Tomane unless the winger made a mistake. He didn’t.
And Gibson made another quality selection in naming young prop Tom Robertson ahead of the more experienced Paddy Ryan.
Robertson handled himself well, and gave Waratah supporters a taste of his speed when he made a big midfield bust in the first half – he ran like a back.
And who should knock on when the Waratahs were making a determined bid after the bell to win the game?
Paddy Ryan, of course.