NSW coach Chris Hickey is confident his team can overcome major defensive deficiencies and lift for Queensland next week, after being outplayed 31-17 by the Blues in Super Rugby action on Saturday night.
The Waratahs leaked five first-half tries at Eden Park in Auckland as they dropped off tackles and allowed the Blues to roll over the top with clean second-phase play.
With a list of stars on the sideline and several forced to play out of position in the backline, the Tahs lacked cohesion with and without the ball, leaving major worries to address before they face Australian conference leaders, the Reds next weekend.
Hickey is hopeful centre Tom Carter, captain Phil Waugh and No.8 Wycliff Palu will all be back.
“It’s always a big game this one against the Reds but particularly this conference system it just puts a little more importance on it,” Hickey told AAP.
“We’ll fly back tomorrow and Monday we’ll start our preparations … I know everyone will be up for that one.
“Obviously 31-7 at halftime the game itself has probably got away from us.
“Our defence didn’t operate the way we’d planned it to so if you give a team like the Blues that much space to operate they’ll score tries.”
Despite wet conditions, the ball continued to stick for the Blues, who secured the bonus point after just 26 minutes of play.
NSW missed 12 tackles and conceded eight offloads in the first half, with the Blues backline combination of Alby Mathewson, Stephen Brett, Luke McAlister and Isaia Toeava running rampant.
To their credit the Tahs kept fighting and stayed in the contest, but the they never really got into the match. Their lack of feel was exemplified by a strange decision to go for penalty goal when down 24 points in the 52nd minute; to make matters worse, Kurtley Beale missed.
Daniel Halangahu, Drew Mitchell and Ryan Cross all scored to give the Waratahs hope, but Beale managed just one from four with the boot.
“I can’t, no (explain the decision to go for goal). That’s something I’ll sit down and talk to the captain (Dean Mumm) about tomorrow,” said Hickey.
Stand-in captain Mumm admitted there was work ahead.
“It was a disappointing performance from us to come over here and offer up that first half,” Mumm told Fox Sports.
“We’ve got the Reds next week and we always love that match so we’ll certainly be up for that, but there’s a lot of work to do on Monday Tuesday to sort out our defensive errors.”
Props John Afoa and Tevita Mailau and backline stars Jared Payne, Rene Ranger and Mathewson all crossed the line for the Blues in the opening half onslaught.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Halangahu was a turnstile in defence. Twice this year he has started and twice he has looked second rate. I just don't rate him. I suspect that he will be quietly dropped from the squad next year if there are a couple of younger backs coming thru the academy ..... or if the Waratahs get into the O'Connor game and pull it off.
Da
Guest
Yes rory I said On another thread something similar. Is an ex front rower is picking the backs? To be fair to foley I don't have a clue about their selection process . But I and others said before the game that other options were there for 12. Tahs backs did not need to play out of position if a new 12 was slotted in. Burgess or Holmes could have been tried. I have no beef with halangahu doing his best but he was out of position wasn't he? Would Holmes have been a better option?
Rory
Guest
Agreed. Time for Hickey to take responsibility and go before he's pushed. It's unbelievable that he has survived this long with such atrocious results when McKenzie was shown the door mid-season and went on to make the final. Haven't they (McKenzie & Reds) put egg on the faces of all those NSW officials! Tahs have no commitment or heart despite all the talent and depth at their disposal. (And sadly I'm a season ticket-holder!)
Moaman
Guest
"With a list of stars on the sideline" !!! This bs excuse frustrates the hell out of me! In a competition of this nature-which team doesn't have an injury problem? Major sides with immense resources like the Waratahs of NSW fgs shouldn't trot out that weary chestnut.It's un-australian I would have thought.