The Waratahs have been riding their luck for the majority of the Super 14 season. Going down to a twelfth placed Highlanders side in a wet Invercargill may have been the appropriate yardstick to measure their ability entering the business end of the season.
If they do make the super rugby finals, are they the team we want representing Australian Super Rugby?
Its most likely that if they do qualify for the semis, that they will be travelling to South Africa to face either the Bulls or Stormers.
One couldn’t honestly say they would be more confident in the Waratahs going to the Republic to get the job done as opposed to the Reds or Brumbies.
Their victory over the Reds was less than convincing.
I can only wonder how this game would have panned out had it been played later in the season, once the Reds had realised they were no longer cellar dwellers.
The Reds and Brumbies have shown they are a genuine chance to lift the trophy, whilst the Waratahs have bumbled their way through the competition.
Sure, they put 70 on the Lions. But what genuine finals contender hasn’t given them a shellacking.
This seemed to be more a response to critics suggesting they play boring rugby rather than a display of superior footballing ability.
What better team to chance your hand against and prove the critics wrong than the mob running last.
Had it not been for Lachlan Turner’s length of the field effort against the Blues, and Steve Walsh’s contribution against the Brumbies, the Tahs would be sitting at least a few rungs lower than their generous fifth position.
The Tahs face the Chiefs in Waikato this weekend.
The Chiefs are team a lot like the Blues: great attacking flare, but lack the killer punch when it counts, which is apparent in their lack of a home win all year.
Certainly, a reasonable measure for any side with finals hopes, not quite a Bulls at the Bullring challenge, but nonetheless, the cagey Chiefs provide something to beat, unlike the Lions.
If they win, their chances of ruining Australia’s Super Rugby campaign increase. If they lose, it gives the Reds and Brumbies the chance to do the job the Waratahs aren’t capable of.
Boerewors_boy
Guest
Calm down, they will be lucky to make the finals, and they still have to win in NZ against the Chiefs. If its damp they'll be hard pressed.
Fuchal
Guest
I'm a long standing Waratahs fan, and I completely agree that their playing style last year and this year is frustrating to watch (though there have been some better games this year, such as the Blues win at the SFS). And I agree that they are not playing to the potential that their playing talent should be. However, I would say that the only Australian team this year to play near consistent rugby, and who has toppled the Bulls and the Crusaders, are the Reds. As painful as the Waratahs are at times - and they sure can be painful - the Brumbies are a disgrace. Hence my original post was meant to point out the laughable comparison the author of the article makes between the Brumbies of 2010 with the Reds of 2010. The Brumbies are the worst performing Australian side this year, because they've had the best on-paper team and have done little with it. The Force, had they not been desecrated by injury, would likely be in the top 6 and breathing down the Brumbies' necks. So to reiterate, I doubt the Waratahs will win the comp but if they did I would not only be pleased as punch that we finally did it, but also smug in the fact it would shut the tripe spewing from the league of Brumbies fanboys on The Roar of late. The Reds aren't living in the past, so why are the Brumbies? D
Central North
Guest
If strength of roster is a reason for criticism, why by your words are the Brumbies are a chance to win the title and not a cause for frustration? Despite the dross they've served up this season, injuries or not? F....ing Please. The blinkers are astounding. The Brumbies are living off long passed glories. They haven't made the finals for going on SIX YEARS. In that time, the Tahs make two finals, lose them, play another semifinal - i.e. consistent performances that see them there or thereabouts, and they get canned from pillar to post. Utter crap.
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
The more Aussie sides in the final the better as this case the possible two. Although 'my' WF are obviously no chance I want to see any of the remaining three Aussie sides in with my only sentimental pick being the Reds for the sheer guts and attacking style. I think anyone critiscising the Brumbies or the Tahs need to have a good look at the Crusaders and their wins and dominance over the years. They have won brillantly, ugly, just and overwhelming but at the end of it all they lifted the trophy. The Tahs and Brumbies (and NZ Hurricanes) have shown even by playing some crappy games that they have given themselves a shot at a final berth. This is a pretty tough tournament and unless you are palying like a well oiled side as the Bulls and Stormers are securing those top four positions comfortably is unusual and difficult to do. Depending on this weekend outcomes, you never know the chance of any Aussie sides being involved in the finals may be in doubt or at best hanging by a thread. Go the Tahs, Brumbies and especially the Reds.
Paddy Kilmurray
Roar Pro
Fuchal, I think what frustrates people about the Waratahs is the fact that they have a playing roster capable of winning the comp, and have had for some time. Until they perform to their potential, the criticism will continue.
Fuchal
Guest
I hope the Tahs win the comp (even though I doubt they will), just so all the anti-Tahs/pro-Brumbies fans on this site pull their heads in and STFU. D
tommy l
Guest
The fact is the waratahs have scored more bonus points than the brumbies and have scored more tries. The problem with the waratahs is that they have not scored these tries through magical plays, chip and chases or even 30m rolling mauls. They have scored their tries through, kicking the ball into the oppostition half and waiting for a mistake. I'd like to see the stats for the amount of long range tries by the waratahs, or even tries not off kicks. The problem is the waratahs seem focused on purely winning when what brings, the crowds, impresses the fans and improves the attraction of the game is attacking play. I would rather see the my team lose by 20 if I saw great tries, sensational plays and lots of running rugby, than see the waratahs endlessly kick it to the other team and eventually win by 1 point. The problem has become, not involved with taking the points, but kicking in play. If I want to see people kick a ball to each other i'll go and watch the Swans. This time last year people were complaining about everyone taking the points, when the real problem with the game has become the constant kicking in play and the lack of running rugby. Eventually the tahs must realise that finishing midtable yet playing like the reds will end up pulling bigger crowds than even an ugly 1st place. To make the game more entertaining i think offside rules off kicks should be increased so that there are more quick throw-ins and more running the ball back instead of putting up bombs.
Paddy Kilmurray
Roar Pro
Fair point, Willy. However, all Australian teams have had a tough time with injury. Both the Reds and Brumbies have been without arguably their most influential players (Mortlock, Horwill) for the majority of the season, and have shown they can beat teams like the Bulls. I agree Ben Robinson's absence puts pressure on the Tah's scrum and without Cliffy Palu they lose possibly the best loose forward in Australian rugby. The roster they have is capable of much more, and should have already achieved more in the ample time that those players have been present. They have a test match quality front row lining up this weekend, on paper they should roll the Chiefs....
Willy
Guest
Absolutely Brett. I also agree with JK. It seems to annoy a lot of people that the Tahs are in contention for the finals season after season. We really should be congratulating the team for winning the close games this year - even when they've been outplayed in some aspects of the game - and for continuing their push to the finals despite injuries to key players like Rob Horne, Tatfu Polota-Nau, Ben Robinson and Cliffy Palu.
Brett McKay
Guest
Kilmurray, if you're asking this from an Australian rugby perspective (and I think you are), then I don't think we should be wishing for any Australian team in semi-final contention to not make it. We should be hoping above all hope that the Reds, Tahs, and Brumbies can all get the bonus point wins needed so that all three make it. Yes, the Tahs haven't been the most attractive team this year, but they certainly haven't been on their own. All teams have played off games at some point this year (and some more than others, obviously). That the Tahs are still in contention, despite this, is actually a remarkable outcome. You can't have average Australian sides AND harbour big expectations about the Wallabies (and I know what some of you Kiwis are thinking about that statement). Instead we should be celebrating that with two rounds to go, three Australian sides sit in the top 6. Hopefully they can finish even higher..
JK
Guest
"The Reds and Brumbies have shown they are a genuine chance to lift the trophy, whilst the Waratahs have bumbled their way through the competition." Huh...can you elaborate as to how you came to this conclusion, forget the Waratah part, but how you think the Brumbies are a genuine chance? no offence to the Brumbies, but they have bumbled just as much, if not more than the Tah's, and I'm sure even they will admit that and have. Where do you guy's come up with up with this stuff, the Tah's need to lose for the good of Australian Rugby, oh that's right from the previous guy's article/comment................anything original ? Anyway's enjoy your Tah bashing, you have plenty of friends
Willy
Guest
Bloody hell - there really is some garbage written on these pages about the Waratahs.