Waratahs coach Michael Cheika gave referee Glen Jackson a well-deserved verbal bath after the Crusaders snuck home 23-22 in Christchurch last night. But Jackson wasn’t the real problem.
Cheika has made massive inroads into changing Waratah culture and pattern of play to entertain and enjoy their rugby.
But those efforts haven’t been universally embraced.
Good sides don’t let a 12-point lead dissipate – twice.
The ‘Tahs led 15-3 in the shadows of halftime, playing some superb rugby, and were in control, only to go to sleep and let veteran hooker Corey Flynn in for a converted try for 15-10 at the break.
With 15 minutes to go and leading 22-10, the Waratahs let openside flanker Matt Todd in for a converted try, the ever-reliable Dan Carter landed two penalty goals in quick succession from way out, and the Crusaders led 23-22 with six minutes left on the clock.
There would have been some form of justice had replacement Berrick Barnes been successful with his sole penalty shot in overtime. But he pushed it wide.
Every ‘Tah, especially Barnes, and every supporter, was gutted by the miss, when the men-in-blue won everything bar what was on the scoreboard.
They enjoyed 51% possession, won the rucks and mauls 92-56, made 105 runs to 59, gaining 577 metres to 274, forcing the Crusaders to make 154 tackles to 84, while the home side missed 29 tackles to 18.
Plenty of possession and territory, but the fat lady sang for the Crusaders for the 11th successive time since 2004, keeping their play-off chances alive, while burying the ‘Tahs.
That was a game that got away from the ‘Tahs – again. That should never have been the case.
And if the Cheika message was getting through universally, why have Bernard Foley and Tom Kingston signed with the Rebels for next season, and Drew Mitchell is heading for France?
It can only be for the money, which puts a big question mark against all three when it comes to loyalty.
If it’s the dollars that motivate Foley, Kingston, and Mitchell, then Cheika is far better off without them.
Brumbies coach Jake White can say the same about Dan Palmer and Peter Kimlin, who are both France bound.
If they don’t see fit to be an integral part of the great things White is doing for Brumby culture, then on your bike as well.
Last night, the big difference between the Brumbies and Waratahs stood out in the final 10 minutes when the Hurricanes threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Brumbies leading 30-23, but the Brumbies withstood the constant barrage.
They closed, the Waratahs didn’t.
Both games gave Wallaby coach Robbie Deans a message.
Ben Mowen is a Wallaby-in-waiting, Nic White is the back-up half-back to Will Genia, Michael Hooper is the standout 7 if George Smith remains injured – Hooper had a blinder – and Kane Douglas put his stamp on a final six selection.
Now the Brumbies are safely in the play-offs, and depending how the Reds fare against the Rebels tonight at Suncorp, the Brumbies should finish on top of the Australian Conference by play-off time.
Tomorrow afternoon the 25-man Wallaby squad to meet the Lions will assemble in Sydney, having played their last Super game until mid-July.
They will spend next week in Sydney, the second week on the Gold Coast, and the third week in Brisbane leading into the first Test at Suncorp on June 22.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Nah, I just want my boys to play positively and that was negative rugby. That loss doesn't hurt the way others have as I hope they will learn from it. I might have been more upset with Barnes getting the kick and the team deciding this was a way to go in the future. Halfway through those scrums there was a cutaway camera shot to AAC and Folau calling out to each other to plan what they would do if they got the ball. Against my natural instincts I thought yes, the boys have something on here, let it sing! Unfortunately the ball got to the back of the scrum and we held it there again. Five minutes wasted when we had possession in their 22 is poor and gutless rugby. I expect better.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Article on the herald web site says he is approaching them via official channels but hearing nothing back. Seems he has gotten them offside and is using the press to try and force a response from people who won't talk to him
Crazy Horse
Guest
What sort of a dill would bet everything on someone they have no control over making a decision on their favour? Don't they get it that a significant number of Refs will actively resist attempts to force a penalty? Refs who believe that penalties, particularly penalties that could determine the outcome of a close match, are reserved for deliberate infractions of the rules. Not for simply being outmanouvered by you opponent.
fredstone
Guest
Neutral refs also cheat... Bryce Lawrence, Barnes, Walsh being prime examples.
Chivas
Guest
No he's not my dad. I try to give some perspective to the discussion regarding Deans based on the knowledge I have of people who have worked directly with him or in teams he has coached. The reason I try to contribute is to show people there is another side to the story. I don't blindly hate or defend anyone. In fact I have made a genuine effort to always explain why I think what I do. So I'm not a fair poster... and your post is relevant how??? As to Adams response it made me laugh and I couldn't top it so never replied. I had a couple of goes, but there was nowhere to go. As for your response. It's a bit churlish... you can swap that for girlish (but I don't think that is politically correct). There you go get stick into that and have fun with it.
Chivas
Guest
What is there to say on this J2. The comment was in response to Aussies not whinging about referees... Read through every article. Didn't know you wanted some stats on it?!? As for rl, just another simple meaningless comment. It's an opinion site Justin. Don't like my comment, no-one forced you to read it. Your opinions aren't always as exciting and riveting as you may think either.
Chivas
Guest
I was thinking precisely the same. David is best speaking from a soapbox on off field dramas. I don't know when he was good at commentating on anything on the field.,in fact can't remember David ever doing so. Has he?
Bobby
Guest
Go and find a South african rugby website and you will witness aplenty much whining and whinging from them when they lose!!! next in line are the english!!
Justin2
Guest
Thats great, I dont know too many white washes where they kick goals
Justin2
Guest
Are you going to offer anything at all? The high and mighty routines is somewhat boring, tell me you have some more to offer...
Justin2
Guest
I think you have have taken it a step to far to suggest he "commentates on what happens on the field."
Sylvester
Guest
Not sure of the actual stats, but Jackson penalised the Crusaders heavily in the first 20-25 min. Easily forgotten as the worm turned it seems. As OJ says, they got the penalty everyone seems to think they deserved, had a chance to win the game, and missed. I don't see with there is to complain about. Had it been a reset or two earlier, still in exactly the same place with all but no time left in the clock,
bozo
Guest
From the time Tom Kingston played junior rugby with the Manly Roos, then Colts and grade with Uni, it was always obvious that Tom has a passion to play rugby. He scored something like 99% in the HSC and does not need rugby to create a career and make money. One assumes he read the writing on the wall that Chieka wants physically large players (may or may not be a good plan) and because he was not getting on the field or indeed the bench sought out other opportunities.
rl
Guest
And yet you STILL insist on coming back... Go figure.
Bakkies
Guest
Rodzilla improved at Bayonne pretty sure that his weight was the main issue at the Rebels. Lack of power in the pack didn't help either.
Bakkies
Guest
Cheika is being honest. It took Leinster a while to get used to it but they did deserve it.
Steve b
Guest
The ref was a joke. He allowed a knock on, crusaders coming in from the side and penalised the waratahs for offside after the crusaders were off side half the night. He changed the momentum of the game at critical times with poor decisions. The waratahs outplayed them all night only to lose the the ref. The decision making leaves a foul taste I'm my mouth for the entire comp
sheek
Roar Guru
Gidday David, I know its talk to the hand stuff (the head's no longer listening) by the time you get to 117 responses, but I just want to say I support Cheika's philosophy. May he win in the end. A mate of mine (Scots OB) asked me if I wanted to come down & watch Scots play Kings at Bellevue Hill. Having not seen a schools firsts match for many years, I said yes. There were no penalty kicks at goal in either the 2nds or 1sts, both matches won easily by Scots. It was mostly ball in hand stuff & hugely entertaining. Rugby at its grassroots best. I commend Cheika.He needs to remain true to his beliefs.
Dexter William
Roar Guru
Sad to hear that Foley is not persuaded to stay on. Beale is not the answer at 5/8 IMO, as he tends to play for himself rather than organise the backline attack. I will take Foley over Beale unless Cheika knows a way to coach KB that 3 or 4 other coaches has failed before. Refereeing was ok, but I think he did not give penalties to the Tahs as quickly as when the Saders did not release the ball when they got tackled. And for all other referees in SR, it is paramount for off side to be policed more than any other infringement, as marginal off-side is now a strategy that detracts from allowing attacking play that all fans of Rugby wants to see.
Schuey
Guest
People move jobs all the time, regardless of industry. To suggest that just because someone leaves a job they havent given 100% or havent been 'on board' is naive at best. By default We'd all have to stay at the same job for life or risk being a slacker. Why are rugby players any different to the rest of us??.