- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Waratahs went on their first international trip under Michael Cheika this week and came away with an 11-point loss that belies the closeness of the game and the kind of performance produced.
Obviously, for a side with only four wins after nine games, there are plenty of areas to adjust and improve but things aren’t all bad for the Waratahs. Here’s my take on some of the prominent issues worth noting.
Lineout needs improvement
The Waratahs lineout was horrible against the Bulls. It was Tatafu Polota-Nau and John Ulugia’s wayward throwing compounded by jumpers not reaching their peak height at the right time.
Yes, what I just described are basic and vital functions required to perform a lineout – they weren’t present against the Bulls. The result was the Waratahs only coming away with the ball on about 56% of their own throws, a truly abysmal number.
When Michael Cheika considers who will fill the plethora of available squad positions this offseason, finding a high quality lineout option will be a priority.
The signing of Will Skelton, a young player from the Sydney academy, may help in this area.
Getting into kicking duels won’t work
For the majority of the first half the Waratahs seemed to be lulled into duelling the Bulls in a field position kicking battle.
This can be a default option for an away team until they get their feet, but the Bulls dominated the Waratahs throughout this period and chipped away with penalties without actually having to play rugby.
The game completely changed for the periods where the Waratahs tried to keep the ball in hand. They ran the ball 80 times in the match for 646m, an average of 8m a carry.
The Bulls totalled 655m with ball in hand but needed 100 carries, for an average of 6.5m each carry. Out wide the Waratahs made 12.9 metres per carry, a very strong number.
These display the strengths of the Waratahs and the part of the game they need to rely on instead of kicking to get on top – even from the beginning of away games.
Brendan McKibbin can be put on the bench, but Bernard Foley can’t
I’ve said a fair bit about McKibbin’s passing ability and his tendency to float passes over any kind of distance.
What’s clear is he doesn’t add a great deal Matt Lucas can’t, especially when McKibbin’s kicking is letting him down.
Taking him off in the second half doesn’t worry me in the slightest.
What is more worrying though is the Waratahs without Bernard Foley – when he came off the field the Waratahs attack started going more side-to-side and let the Bulls defence aim up and kill the game off.
Cam Crawford looks like a keeper
It’s only a few games into Crawford’s career with the Waratahs but it seems like he’s worth trying to keep in the fold.
He has a big frame he positions well in contact; both in attack and defence. His boot is the only long one in the Waratahs squad at the moment – three kicks, 140m on the weekend – and might end up taking more of those duties as the season progresses.
It also seems like he has a natural charisma; not easily bothered by the occasion and carries a certain gravitas within the team for a young bloke.
We have a Waratahs team that works hard
This point is the best one and I hope I’m not jinxing it, but for the second week in a row the Waratahs defended admirably and when they did have opportunities to attack continued to move the ball and support without slowing down.
Even the best sides go through periods of stress and pressure – ask the Reds about this week’s big effort without the ball – but the great ones keep picking themselves up and banding together for the next effort.
Kane Douglas had another great game on the weekend – his second in a row – full of hard work. Michael Hooper was his usual brilliant self and Wycliff Palu showed everyone why he’s the best number 8 in Australia whenever he happens to be fit.
Another stand-out duo was Rob Horne and Adam Ashley-Cooper. Together they made 24 tackles and only missed one; a veritable wall in mid-field now.
Finally, for the first time in a few years, the Waratahs might be turning into a hard working outfit. Long live the hard work.
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.