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Wow. The Waratahs played so well. I am still in shock after last night.
I know that they lost, and that I should be disappointed, but the reality is that, well I’m not disappointed – I’m stoked.
That was the best that I have seen the Waratahs play in a long, long time.
Cheika’s new ball in hand mantra was stuck to, but more importantly the passes began to stick to the players and the players themselves began to come onto the ball at pace.
At times the Waratahs made the game look like touch rugby as they repeatedly easily burst through the what appeared to be thin defence of the Hurricanes.
But jeez when the Hurricanes hit, they did make it count. It was a huge defensive performance from players like Ardie Savea and Motu Matu’u will be sure to leave a couple of the Tahs men battered and bruised this morning.
But if I can indulge myself on a Wallabies level there were some really encouraging signs for Wallabies fans.
Israel Folau was immense. I could not help but smile when Beauden Barrett kicked a Gary Owen towards Folau and chased.
The huge frame of Folau soared above Barrett grasped the ball with ease, fended off the first tackle and made metres up the middle of the park. You could almost sense the awe of Barrett in that moment.
Folau’s later try was so reminscent of the many tries he scored in rugby league – you can understand how Justin Marshall wondered why the Tahs don’t use him in such a familiar capacity.
On the fringes when gifted with space, Folau skinned Savea and powered over from 10 – 15 metres out. But perhaps the most encouraging sign of all was the linkups between Mitchell and Folau.
Mitchell was very good in this game. And I am not generally a big fan. He was strong, and sensible and as usual provides a great left foot kicking game.
Next, Adam Ashley-Cooper. Ashley-Cooper looked like a new man he appeared to have more runs in this game than I have seen for a long time, he was regularly breaking through tackles, and he more than accounted for his opposite in Conrad Smith.
Rob Horne, I must admit I have to eat some humble pie on this one. Who actually thought that Rob Horne could pass, and crazier yet play a whole game injury free. I almost choked on my beer when Rob Horne put Adam Ashley-Cooper into space.
Has Rob Horne been a 12 all this time? He was mightily impressive in this game, a solid tackle on Savea springs to mind (Savea was breathtaking by the way). For Horne he needs to consistently play like this to come into any calculation for the Wallabies series, the selection headaches continue for RD and the Wallabies selectors.
But lets not lose track of the fact that on the night the Hurricanes were clinical and took their opportunities (with the aid of that funny bouncing ball).
They really had the nous, as David Lord alluded to, to out-rugby the Waratahs, but by geez the Waratahs are on the right track, and I might just be beginning to believe that Cheika can actually turn around this culture at the Waratahs.
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.