If Waratahs coach Michael Cheika was forced to make a choice he’d rather win ugly, than lose looking good.
The stats demanded the Waratahs should have won looking good last night against the Hurricanes at Hamilton, but lost 41-29.
The Waratahs comprehensively won the rucks and mauls 112-63, ran the ball 946 metres to 761 looking good, and missed only 18 tackles to 38.
The men-in-blue turned in some rollicking rousing rugby, but the Hurricanes pounced as soon as the Waratahs stuffed up.
And they stuffed up often, even when they looked good.
No better example than a 15-minute period early in the second half when the Waratahs turned over possession seven times to one in attack and the Hurricanes crossed for three tries to prop Reg Goodes, who literally pinched the ball off Paddy Ryan standing up, hooker Motu Matu’u, and the man-of-the-match – winger Julian Savea – for his second.
That was a rugby nous try.
Savea was following through a kick. The ball was in an awkward place so Savea at full pace flicked it up with his left foot into his two massive hands, and buzzed off into clear space with the Waratah defence shot to bits.
Magnificent.
Let’s face it, nous was the difference between the two sides last night. The Hurricanes had it across the park, the Waratahs wished they did.
Just another one-off example, Julian Savea is a match-winner, so the Hurricanes inside-backs made sure they fed the 193cm, 109kg destructive machine.
When are the Waratahs going to do the same with full-back Israel Folau?
He is a menace to the opposition once he gets the ball in his hands. He’s a big unit like Savea at 198cm and 98kgs and he knows how to use it.
Let him.
Up front, another classy No 7 debuted last night – Wellington’s 19-year-old Ardie Savea, Julian’s younger brother.
The youngster had a great duel with Michael Hooper and they came out about even which was one helluva salute to Savea.
So where to now for Michael Cheika?
He knows he’s on the right track trying to change the Waratah culture that’s been choking the franchise.
But it’s an on-going battle when skipper David Dennis freely admits his side is making the same mistakes every week – “and they are killing us”.
Nous?
It’s like ball sense, you have it or you don’t. Ball sense can’t be taught, or coached.
Nor can nous.
So Cheika’s only alternative is to soldier on, and hope the penny will drop with his troops, rather than dropping the ball when a try is on offer.
The frustration for Cheika can only be imagined.
He’s not asking his side to rewrite the way rugby is played. All he wants is for the Waratahs to do the simple basics right, and take the right options more often that not.
The latter takes nous, so it’s best left for just the basics to be mastered.
The Waratahs have a bye this week to mull it over.
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
I agree Atawhai. He is a big lad, heavy, big legs and a great turn of speed. He could be one of the great counter-attackers in the game if he used his bulk and hit the line at pace rather than, as you suggest, running towards support. Let the support come to him!
jeznez
Roar Guru
It is that second group who are going to provide our next good one - the prior set I see as filler until the younger brigade are ready.
Coxinator
Guest
Looking to Lucas as the future is laughable. One has to just look at his efforts trying to gather possession off a kick against the Blues. He is the slowest halfback I've seen in twenty years. Add to that he misses plenty of tackles and there's no way you can choose him based in his pass. I haven't seen Hart play this year but he must be really out of form if Lucas is ahead of him.
bennalong
Guest
Daz, Did you PLAY rugby or are you a lifetime spectator? There are fifteen other blokes trying to make it hard for you win! Read my post. They're not using the forewards up the middle as they used to. It'll happen. Cheika is sticking to his guns and forewards are slow learners!
Daz
Guest
I just don't get it. The Waratahs are a side brimful of Wallabies and they can't find a way to win? How does that bode for the Lions series? There is something more systemically wrong here than their inability to simply and easily execute the fundamentals of the game. In league they say all you have to do is "run, tackle, and score tries" and you'll win. Why is that so hard for these guys? You don't need a degree in rugby science to do that.
Pick & go..!!
Guest
I think the problem is in the force, they have a Wallabies backrow in Brown, Macalman & Hodgson. (Not that there better then MMM) but it comes down to physique MMM is probably the tallest in the starting squad I believe. So its a no brainer to play him at lock. Also MMM has played 6 for the Wallabies in the past & would of made it his own, if it wasn't for a cruel run of injuries that eventually forced him to play in Japan.
Chivas
Guest
He may. But I guess we should see him play at least SR to draw that conclusion. I can't imagine a national coach selecting a lock to 6. Unless he takes that opportunity himself, how can someone else? I think MMM may cope at 6, but not sure whether he has the power and speed to combine well with the other two. i'm not advocating three locks, nor am I shooting down the idea. But it dies concern me if he is a genuine 6 why isn't he playing there. He obviously doesn't see himself as one either. Pretty sure if he demanded to be blindside and he was good enough he would be accommodated there. Big ask for national coach to select him there when the 5 teams feeding the national side don't, won't, can't. So I guess not being able to see what he contributes there makes it tough. I hope someone does come to the party who is a genuine six and if it is MMM then he should be playing there, not waiting to get selected there.
Chivas
Guest
I am not sure who you are responding to. But let me start by saying I raised grass roots, but never stated I wasn't behind Super Rugby, so how you draw this conclusion is well beyond me. I explained clearly my frustration here in WA. Stating rugby has never looked so good and just support your team really doesn't help. Just take the situation here in WA and explain it how rugby is being sold and developed here. I could care less if my team is bottom of the table. If it's being propped up by other states players them I start to have an issue. Tell me which radio station I tune into. Yes I can find an article a few times a week in the West Australian on rugby which is otherwise full of AFL, racing and soccer. My comment is simply to state putting a super rugby team here in WA then walking away is daft. Saying just support SR like I don't and paying lip service to the issue identified which is development and support of grass roots footie... well as I started with, not sure to who you are responding. If you are just commenting on a couple of posts suggesting the shrinking if the number of teams, well I agree that should not happen as I opened the thread with. But to support SR in states like WA we need a bit more than lip service. That seems to be relatively easy to come by.
Pick & go..!!
Guest
Chivas, Hugh Mcmeniman for the force, is probably the sort of player that your looking for as a blindside. I know jeznez did not list him as a candidate because he is currently playing lock. But he can also play 6 Which I believe is his best position. He would be my choice as the wallabies 6. He has tones of aggression, hits hard, runs hard, can play tight & would be great as a third lineout option, also has a big engine.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
Totally disagree - I really enjoy watching the Force and Rebels, and it's good to see a home grown players like Godwin for the Force. Before the new franchises were born, games between Qld and NSW were DIRE. There is enough talent to go around, just give guys a go, have some faith. Samo was playing for QLD and Australia because he was good enough, forget about his age. You mention players returning from Europe, which proves you wrong - it actually shows we do have even more talent overseas which not not being used at the moment. Sad that rugby supporters are such a miserable bunch, reality is domestic rugby has never looked so good. What do you guys want, to watch amateur rugby at Concord again with two men and a dog? Also, how can grass roots we close to terminal when we have more people playing rugby in Australia than ever before. Plus, I watched my first NRL match tonight (Roosters in Canberra) and it was really woeful, much less entertaining than Force v Rebels, so let's get behind Super Rugby.
gaz2be
Guest
I live in Dubai, and the choice of rugby friends is limited but all good, that said I fully support the Chiefs and he is expat Perth, sad for him and good for me.
Malo
Guest
Jeznez you must have loved the skill of the canes two front rower tries.
Chivas
Guest
I see these names and thanks, but are any of them the next big thing or looking likely to be, not just filler.
Malo
Guest
izzy aac centres would be awesome v v at fullback. horne does sweet fa
Chivas
Guest
Bit like every other conference....
jeznez
Roar Guru
Chivas, I listed the other franchises out at the bottom of my post. Mowen, Kimlin, Fardy and Macalman are the guys who can cover the role in the interim. Cottrell, Quirk, Jones and I am not sure if he is going to stay around but Lopeti Timani are the guys who could file that role in the future. The other bloke is Ita Vaea of the Brumbies who I had forgotten as he is out with blood clotting issues.
Chivas
Guest
Rome wasn't, but the Tahs aren't Rome either. They actually have a large number of experienced players, coaches and support staff. As good as if not better than any other Australian franchise. I understand they have been playing poorly up until this season and on results still probably are. So 10 this year, 5 from bottom. Finals next year?!? Big leap or would 8 be ok next year. By the time they make it to the finals we'll be dead, the game will have evolved into a version of netball which the Tahs may succeed at... just put them in a dress. Anyway they do need to show a bit. The jury is still out. They lost to the Hurricanes a loose side at the best of times, so some players found they had a bit of space and could go for a bit of a gallop. They are really going to need to get their sht together and step up when they face some real opposition else this year will have been a waste and coming 10th meaningless. I guess all I am saying is I agree about turning things around and making the finals, but turning things around and being in a position to fight for a top 6 spot (middle of the table) should not be unreasonable. At the moment they don't look close. Hopefully they get a bullet up them this week and made to look at their jersey and show some pride in it, the number on the back of it, the players and fans that wish they could be wearing it and go out and do the damn thing proud!
Chivas
Guest
Thanks for the response. What about in other franchises, do we have any hard but blind sides, like a Jerry Collins, Aaron Hopa, Schalk Burger, Kaino... It would be awesome if you did, then the Waalabies have a more solid platform for Genia to work his magic off. I keep getting the feeling the wallabies are short a loose forward by having one of these floaty types out there. I also agree the tight five need to have a rocket up their a... but it needs to come from an on field captain, which is why Horwill is valuable and backs are ineffective captains by and large.. But my question does that mean Timani is our only hope for the future?
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
This season isn't about reaching the finals. It's about installing new systems and new attitudes. A work in progress.. Finishing in the top ten is the goal. I'm prepared to wait until next year to really push for a finals berth. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Albo
Guest
I agree there J2. Confidence is key for Folau. He needs to back himself more. He'll get there buy you're right it will take time. I've seen enough though to be happy to wait.