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What a difference a week makes.
After their meek capitulation to the Crusaders last Friday the Waratahs came out of the sheds breathing fire to smoke the Chiefs in Sydney last night.
The Tahs’ six-try-to-four win was built on four things: a domination of the collisions, solid set piece, ambitious attack – including plenty of Chiefs-like off loads – and absolutely brutal defence.
The Hurricanes win over the Highlanders in the early game meant there’s no chance for a second Aussie team to make it through as a wildcard in the Australasian playoffs. Knowing this permutation before kick off, the New South Welshmen were desperate to keep their slender conference lead and that was evident in everything they did.
Blindside Dean Mumm set the defensive tone with a huge hit on fullback wunderkind Damian McKenzie early to stop a promising Chiefs attack dead in its tracks.
Despite this the Chiefs continued their occupation of the Tahs’ 22 and looked a sure bet to score out wide until Israel Folau gambled with a burst out of his defensive line to latch on to a wide ball from Brad Weber and race 80m for a 14-point try. Bernard Foley converted from out wide and the boys in blue were 10-0 up in as many minutes.
The Chiefs struck back almost immediately with a try from a Nick Phipps fumble over the line, then another to Aaron Cruden following some ensemble build up – neither of which were converted by the All Black pivot.
With the score locked up at 10 apiece after 20 there were danger signs for the home side with the Chiefs building pressure – added to by Wycliff Palu sent to the bin with 15 to go in the half. But his team resolutely stuck at it to only concede three points in his absence.
In spite of his spate in the naughty chair it was a vintage performance by the veteran No.8 who threw his big body about with controled fury.
Indeed it was his offload to send another impressive big bopper Will Skelton lumbering up the field that led to the first of Michael Hooper’s two tries a minute out from the break.
That gave the Tahs a 17-13 half time lead and a big mental boost, despite the Chiefs having dominated 74 per cent of territory in the first spell, including camping out in the Tahs’ 22 for nearly three minutes compared to just three seconds that the Tahs were allegedly in the Chiefs red zone.
An incredible stat when you consider two tries were scored in those three seconds!
Eight minutes after the resumption the visitors rallied when they stretched the Tahs to the right touchline before rapidly swinging it back to the left where busy hooker Nathan Harris barged over for their third.
But two minutes later Folau – who was at his virtually unstoppable best all night – helped wrest back the lead with a trademark midfield burst that led to a Hooper looper of a pass to give young fullback Andrew Kellaway his first Super try.
That was followed almost immediately by a scintillating 75m effort that saw Hooper over for his first Super double.
They then botched a golden overlap opportunity that would have seen them in again – only to go in again anyway via that man Folau to stun the Chiefs with three converted, unanswered tries.
Cruden gave his notoriously fast-finishing side a semblance of a sniff when he sent a beautifully weighted kick pass as a second receiver to send impressive right wing Toni Pulu over for a try that ultimately denied the Tahs a bonus-point win.
Livewire replacement back rower Jack Dempsey sealed the deal for the home team when he burst through a couple of sliding doors to scamper away for his team’s sixth try a few minutes from time.
Dempsey’s try was precipitated by McKenzie spilling the ball in contact – his second fumble in quick succession – that may have seen a black mark put through his name for Sunday’s announcement of the All Blacks squad to meet Wales.
The pending presence of international rugby was palpable in the Tahs’ performance with all the big names – Folau, Palu, Mumm, Hooper, Foley, Tatafu Polota-Nau and to a lesser extent Phipps, bringing a Test-match intensity to proceedings.
It was by far the Tahs’ best performance since the end of the Michael Cheika coaching era and would have no doubt brought as much pleasure to the Wallaby coach as it did his old understudy Darryl Gibson.
That it came against the leader of the high-flying kiwi pack, would have made the victory even sweeter.
On the flip side it asks some intriguing questions of the All Black selectors.
Chiefs’ captain and Richie McCaw’s heir apparent as All Black No.7 Sam Cane was well shaded by his Wallaby opposite in a beaten pack – and on a night that had earlier seen Ardie Savea put in a rather spellbinding, match-winning performance for the Canes.
And Cruden’s goal kicking woes must surely be of some concern to Steve Hansen and company?
Interesting times ahead.
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.