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If the opposition is tough, or the weather is wet and cold, then the basic rule of rugby applies: if the forwards go missing when the going gets tough, then the team will lose.
The Waratahs showed the truth of this with several of the forwards going missing at the breakdown. We normally talk about the players who went well, but in this instance of semi-capitulation, I think it is more pertinent to mention those who were missing in action.
Dean Mumm: A perennial player for the easy game and always MIA when the going gets tough.
Kane Douglas: A youngster, but from the first breakdown where he tapped a Highlander on the shoulder and took his place as a pillar, you just knew he was going MIA.
Alistair Baxter: Another perennial under-performer in the tough, and not only was he MIA, he was also worked over in the scrums.
Ben Mowen: Definitely the man for the dry track and taking the inside pass and sprinting upfield. He proved last night that he is not the man for wet, cold and hard tough work in the breakdown.
This completes the forwards who went MIA.
The end result was a pack who were always one or two seconds behind the ball carrier, failed at any level in both rucking and counter rucking, refused to compete at the lineout, and decided the pushing was too hard after the debutant Dan Palmer had given this bunch the go forward that they didn’t deserve and couldn’t respond to.
On a wet and windy night, these forwards proved to me once and for all that they are not man enough for the tough jobs.
The non-player who was mostly to blame for this gutless display is Chris Hickey, who has proved several times this season that he is incapable of getting this bunch of individuals up for a hard game or even to play as a team.
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.