Success will cement a finals berth for the men-in-blue; a loss oblivion. The Brumbies will be playing for pride alone to end their season of disasters, sporting an Australian Super record of 12 losses.
But the Waratahs have had their fair share of disasters, lowlighted by being loudly booed off the SFS after the shock 3-23 loss to the then lowly Cheetahs.
With Waugh on the injured list, Dean Mumm led the side that forgettable night, as he did in four of the Waratahs’ six losses this season – the Blues 17-31, Sharks 21-26, and Bulls 17-23 – games that could, and should, have been won.
Making it imperative that warrior Waugh goes the distance. With the Brumbies desperately keen to poop the Waratahs’ party, there’s no love lost between the two sides.
And with Kurtley Beale heading for the Rebels, Al Baxter into retirement, and Luke Burgess to France, playing their last game for the Waratahs – as will Matt Giteau (Toulon), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Patrick Phibbs (possibly Waratahs), and Mitchell Chapman to Japan be making their swansong for the Brumbies – it has all the makings of a spirited clash if rival coaches Chris Hickey (Waratahs) and the Brumbies’ Tony Rea unleash their attackers.
And if South African referee Craig Joubert doesn’t try to be number one on the paddock, but lets the play flow with plenty of advantage.
That’s a lot of “ifs”, compounded by the delusional decision to play this vital game at the expansive ANZ Stadium, where maybe 15,000 will look like a flea on an elephant, especially after the tick under 82,000 at Origin 2 last Wednesday night made it a sea of blue.
Tomorrow night looms as a sea of empty seats.
When will rugby officials get the message that ANZ is for Bledisloe Cup or Tri-Nations? The average Super Rugby fans rate ANZ a Z-interest venue. They are far more at home at the SFS, with it’s easier access and more intimate viewing.
And think of the players trying to perform in a “three men and a dog” stadium. Hardly stimulating, or inspirational.
With the negatives out of the way, hopefully Beale, Waugh, Lachie Turner, and Tom Carter can turn on the fireworks for the Waratahs, and Giteau, Ashley-Cooper, Mark Gerrard, and Pat McCabe likewise for the Brumbies.
That will salvage something out of the wreckage.
The clash deserves it.
Carl Unger
Roar Pro
Yes about 28,000 which would be considered a successful crowd for the season but really poor on previous seasons. Enjoyed attending the game but really wish Waratahs fans would get more vocal, I even heard a chorus of "brumbies" but nothing coming from the majority waratahs folk.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
A few more then 18k turned up David! Perhaps there are more rugby supporters in the west then what u believe n a few more people willing to travel to a world class stadium
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
I'm surprised that no one has commented on the glaring inaccuracy in the article....The Brumbies have lost 10 games this season not 12.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Guest
Pros and cons for homebush... Cons Sterile Poor viewing Travel time to and from venue Entertainment - NONE (middle of nowhere) Pros 80,000+ seats Summarising... If it were not for the seating capacity I could not list a single PRO. Come to think of it is it really a pro?
WayneO
Guest
I agree 100%. You are miles from the action and the place is a vacuum. Atmosphere is simply non-existent. Watched the Tahs month or so ago and made the decision never to venture to that featureless behemoth again. Give me the SFS every day of the week. Easy to get to, and easy to get home from.
The Cat
Guest
Aha! Now I know where to find you
A rat
Guest
I actually live inside ANZ stadium and I prefer to scamper over to the SFS watch games
Dan
Guest
People do hate going to homebush though Ben... I go out there for big games, because, well, they're big games! But that doesn't change the fact it's still a crap place to watch footy.
Dan
Guest
It's not... Homebush looks good when its full on TV, but watching a game there live is just plain crap... you're too far from the action, it's a pain to get to and it doesn't hold noise well, so it's crap at building atmosphere. It's just a crap ground all round
voodoo people
Guest
SFS is a much better ground to view football of any code. At ANZ you are pretty far away from the action, especially behind the goal posts, and in a big crowd from the top tier you need binoculars. ANZ has a pretty crummy atmosphere with anything less than 30k, where the SFS can be pumping with only 15k. ANZ (aka Stade de Oz) is the national stadium, and is really only fitting for big event games, like Grand Finals, Origin, Internationals of all codes, athletics. The only club that seems to be making it truely their home is Canterbury.
Brendon
Guest
The reds game at homebush would have been 40000 at the sfs!!! The posts keep saying that the best crowd was there.. Obviously, but that's because it was there and not anywhere better. I'm from Newcastle and it is far easier to watch games at the sfs than the crappy homebush -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Other chris
Guest
Waratahs winning again? I seem to forget the first time! The Brumbies are still the only aussie side to have actually won anything.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
We can still get a home final if a few things go our way. Blues need to lose. and we need to find with a bonus point. if that happens we will finish 4.
Hawko
Guest
Current rankings have Joubert in the top three, with both others being NH refs. Kaplan is still highly rated despite being unable to fairly referee matches with the Waratahs and making schoolboy mistakes in tests. Mark Lawrence, who I rate alongside Joubert and Barnes as the top three in the world is on the nose with POB and is out of the world cup. He and Dickenson are not considered top 20 by the heirachy. Instead such genii as Bryce Lawrence, Pollock, Poite etc. are considered better. The adjudicators obviously don't watch many games!
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
One thing to keep in mind for the crwods this year is that the draw for the tahs wasn't sexy. No Blues, Crusaders, Canes, Bulls, Sharks or Stormers. I.e. all the better SAF and NZ teams. Instead - Cheetahs, Chiefs, Lions & Highlanders. Next year will be the other way around. Don't be surprised if crowds pick up, and Tahs management is scratching themselves wondering why. At least I hope. Yes we played all the Aussie teams at home for the 1st time, but this coincided with the Brummies falling in a heap. They usually provide a huge grudge match. I suspect had that been the Round 2 game it would have gotten more than it will this weekend. 33K vs the Reds was disappointing. Should have been 40K, but was very early in the year. I am surprised at how flat Tahs supporters are at the moment, even still in the running for the finals, and heading into a home game against the old enemy (no 2 after Reds) Brumbies. I think this is because: 1. We haven't been playing very exciting rugby 9although the Highlanders was a good game, probably the best home game of the year). 2. The Brummies wil likely get up and knock us off knowing us. 3. Even if we make the finals, we aren't playing the type of rugby to win the comp. 4. We won't have a home final, and may well have to get up at 2am to watch us go down against some bloody Saafie team again.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
not all people go to the rugby so they can have a "pub crawl" back through the city. i suggest you drive to to homebush bay. google maps says its 47 minutes.
Rodney
Guest
Mate I live in Cronulla ... for me to get to the SFS is 1 train, and then a free bus from Central station. After the game we enjoy a pub crawl back down the hill to Central, and the train home. The pub crawl down the hill is fun, as it's not just us, but plenty of other Tah fans also making their way home, and enjoying the atmosphere. An atmosphere that you westies will just never understand. Homebush is 2 trains away, and about 2 hours each way at that! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I used to go to every home game, back when the Tahs represented NSW and not HSBC. Back when they were winning and 30k turned up at the SFS every week. SFS all the way buddy. either that or Shark Park cause our NRL team will be gone in 3 years anyway!
mikeylives
Guest
No he wouldn't - he would go for a scrum and then Mr Baxter would collapse it, then smile sardonically at the ref and lift up his arms whilst walking backwards.
PeterK
Roar Guru
That ranking is just in your dreams. If Mark Lawrence was rnaked 2 then he would be reffing at the RWC. He is not. Kaplan and Joubert have been chosen. I think the best SH ref is Steve Walsh , then Joubert, then Mark Lawrence. However I think that the best refs in the world are from the NH , England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in particular.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Whats the bet that David Lord lives in the Eastern Suburbs or the North Shore? Pure snobery. To many posts echo Lord's thoughts. Time for a bit a reality check. The Tahs biggest crowd of the year so far - 33K. where was it. Stadium Australia. the resto of the games at the SFS have been lucky to break 20K, some a lot less. So people havent been going to Tahs games all year (exept at Stadium Aust) now people turn aroudn and say this game would have been filled if played at the SFS. thats BS. whatever the crowd is tomorrow night, it will be bigger then if it had been at the SFS. Stadium Australia is not perfect, but since when is the SFS. many times i have been stuck in the SFS car park for over an hour trying to get out of there. i would much rather be on a train (at Stadium Oz) then stuck in a car park at Moore Park. The SFS is logistically a nightmare on a big game day. why did the Tahs go to Homebush? Because they have no money. why do they have no money? because people dont watch the Tahs at Moore Park. Its so very very sad.