What was the difference between Super Rugby’s two east coast Aussie teams on Saturday? Well, it certainly wasn’t the home ground advantage.
The game should have been held at Allianz stadium, the convicts should have played the curtain raiser to celebrate the Madi Gras and turnstiles would have spun a heck of a lot more (dear NSWRU, please hold your post-Olympic handshakes in Paddington).
So let’s take a look at what led to the Waratahs’ dominant performance over the Reds.
1. Defence
Right from the opening hit, the Waratahs defended superbly. As the game went on, it started to look like a scene from The Waterboy – they were actually making ground in defence.
At one stage, successive tackles from Wycliff Palu, Alofa Alofa and Michael Hooper actually drove the Reds 30m up field.
Tactically, the Reds looked like they got it wrong on the night. While Nick Phipps defended in the line, Will Genia perched himself behind it, creating more work for the pillar/post defenders to cover the line.
This left the inside channel wide open and all blue tries were scored under the posts.
An interesting question arises – is rush-up defence taking away the attacking team’s space or does it use up player petrol and leave the defensive line scattered?
2. Focus and aggression
In 2012, with minutes remaining, Tom Carter started verbally gloating on-field about a Tahs victory. Dom Shipperly provided a lesson in manners by scoring a fantastic last second try to win the game for the Reds.
In 2014, the Waratahs stayed more focused than a laser eye surgeon.
The glare Will Skelton gave Liam Gill midway through the second half sent a strong message – “Come and talk to me when you’re 21 and nine months”.
Throughout their brutal hits and physical clean outs, the Tahs remained composed and steadfast.
A John ‘Knuckles’ Connolly game-plan of fisticuffs never looked so outdated. In contrast, Michael Cheika used a far more advanced form of coaching science to bring out player aggression – a cartoon stick figure.
3. Adaptation
In the first half, the Waratahs looked Kiwi-esque, and there is no greater compliment to a rugby team.
When you see forwards passing like backs, and backs hitting rucks like forwards, the number on their jersey becomes just that.
The Tahs pushed every attacking opportunity in the first half, and when the pill turned to soap, the students of Darwinism adjusted course, keeping it close and slowing it down with penalty goals.
Just before the half you could almost hear the ghostly screams of the past – “You’re a man down – take the points!”
“It’s 2014!” replied the in-form Kurtley Beale. “Eat my quick tap and five points.”
4. Game plan
I’m not really sure what Richard Graham’s game plan was, and neither was he. The Waratahs, however, played like they were acting out a script; everyone appearing to follow a somewhat rehearsed trajectory, with the only exception being Adam Ashley-Cooper’s option to kick twice in positive attacking positions.
A constructive criticism here is to simply stop doing it. In rugby circles it’s like drinking with your right hand – it’s just unacceptable.
5. The second five
The second ball-playing option is working wonders for NSW.
When Bernard Foley is on fire, his outside backs are hitting quality angles. If he begins to prepare for his super bowl career, Beale steps in and commands play seamlessly.
Quade Cooper could not have been more alone as a ball player and that was the difference for the Reds.
Take out their best player, and the machine stops functioning. When Israel Falau went to the bin, NSW just kept scoring.
Its 2014. Gen Blue are appearing to have a few points of difference.
WillieOMG
Guest
p-p-p-p-p-pokerface!
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think that is fair and with a light lock in Simmons, a non-heavy hitter at hooker in Saia you suddenly have the majority of the pack in that lighter category which is the criticism laid at them. They have proven in the past that they can get good results against good teams but this match on the weekend and their dumping from the finals by the Sharks (was that last year or the year before?) has shown their vulnerability against truly big packs.
Pete
Guest
Great article also! I like the quality on the roar this year! Dont like the quality of the reds so far this year. As a QLDer I have to say the win over the brums was flakey. Ok we had a good lineout and scrum and a couple of birlliant attacking plays but it was not a solid win. I remember very well the reds of 2011 and they were as good as the chiefs at getting over the ball!!. There is no use planning the next raid unless you secure ball. I really enjoyes the pick and drive. They should bring it back big time. The way they pushed it forward then sprinted out of the backline. Magic! Im pleased to see the tahs show some true potential. The addition of beale and falou have been magic!! I hope they but bonus point try efforts on overseas teams. Reds will see you in the finals... :)
RobC
Guest
I think there was only point 1. Once this was successful, the others were benefits. re point 4 Reds game plan: It was clear in the first 20 minutes what their gameplan was. But they couldnt deliver.
onetruegame
Guest
Yes fos, burgess is easy to pick in a fifteen - but hard to put in a nine jersey. Don't know how a man can rise that high in the game and still have a Suss pass. Mystery. Bloody good player though.
Derek
Guest
I have to agree with BBill regarding coaching. Its early days but as far as my Reds go, but I am not impressed with what I have seen so far. Last week the Brumbies couldn't buy a penalty conversion which would have changed that outcome and this week the Tahs were in a different league altogether. Link would have had his head in his hands; last week the Reds produced a win against the run of play and this week instead of the fast, dynamic, clever attack, the Reds appeared to be leaderless and stuck in glue. I agree Bill, another forgettable season for the Force and probably looks like the Reds too!
Excited
Guest
Pure & Simple the Reds just did not show up. AS a Queenslander I spent Saturday night screaming at the box! Across the park they looked rudderless & un-motivated (All bar Lachie Turner who chased & ran hard all night). How much of this rests with the players & with the coach is debateable - the strategy of kicking away posession was clearly the work of the coach. When the opposition is red hot on attacking & are actually starting to execute a strong game plan why continue - hit plan B. There appeared to be none. Take a good look at yourself Mssrs Graham & Co -an inferior game plan & losses at the force are one thing WASTING the talent of the Reds is just plain WRONG.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
As a Tahs fan I almost feel wrong commenting on the Reds. My take though in the lead-up to the match was that Qld with it's lighter more mobile pack would run NSW around until there was no more gas in the NSW tanks and then along would come Quade & Will and put us to the sword. IMHO, not a bad plan IF it comes off. Of course to make it come off you need to 'weather the storm' and the storm the Tahs were sending wasn't rain & a bit of a breeze, it was of cyclonic conditions. To me the sheer intensiity of the Tah attack & defence is what surprised our mates in red. I'll admit it surprised me too actually, but in a good way. :) So what normally happens with rush defence or when you're up against a big pack? You kick behind. You run them around. You wait until there's a lull in the weather (so to speak) and then you strike. The trouble was NSW were not letting up and kicks behind weren't paying dividends either. I'll be honest & admit that at times I wondered if our blokes were on magic mushrooms or something. I can't work out if Richard Graham didn't deviate from his 'plan' because he felt the Tahs would wilt sooner or if he's just way out of his depth. For the sake of Australian Rugby we need all 5 provincial teams coached by top shelf coaches. To me this is where the ARU should be concentrating more of it's efforts. Or to put it another way, who in the Lord's name gave Michael Foley and Richard Graham a gig as head coach? It just seems madness! :(
jutsie
Guest
i dont think any of the reds backrow are poor players but i do think the balance is wrong and they may need alter the combo. they miss a samo/higgy type. The three backrowers are all grafter types now
formeropenside
Guest
Burgess loooks good when he is doing things other than distributing the ball - tackilng, running a quick tap, etc. Until he can pass to both sides consistently and well, he is likely to remain a good rugby player but a poor halfback.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I do think Quirk has copped some unjustified criticism - he in particular seems to have been hung out as a major weaklink in the back row but I think the Reds backrow weren't able to assert any pressure because their tight five had been so blown away.
JB
Guest
Seriously impressed with Burgess on the weekend, what a player, we have to remember Genia only just pipped him for the Wallabies starting spot a while back and people have since gone to say Genia is the best scrum half in the world, Looking forward to him and Genia going head to head.
JB
Guest
Tend to agree PK the score line flattered the reds it was a flogging
Ajax
Guest
Nice article, NSW did indeed play like All Blacks at times.. was good to watch. QLD have problems, their flat attack got swamped, no plan B.. Taps great 12, average 13. Chris F Sautaia (forget the spelling) should have come on at 13.. but their penchant for playing small mobile forwards is coming back to bite them I think. They need more grunt in the tight 5.. Their forwards were having a go, but their one out league style hit ups got smashed by NSW gang tackles. The Reds lineout was pretty good mind you. Hard to assess Genia and QC..given the amount of pressure they were under. QC didnt make any mistakes as far as i can tell.. Genia needs to run more with the ball..an occasional snipe would do wonders for their attack. Burgess and Phipps both had good games employing the tactic. interesting comment about the tries on the inside channel.. on turnovers QC drifts out to 13, then sprints back to fullback to defend... the assumption is that everyone else just compresses... if Genia also drops back, they are short a couple of bodies where they most need them.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Reds were lost. They weren't in the game from teh kick off really. Some were lazy, some were just playing badly... The team looked to have a plan, but it was a terrible one, and it was not deviated from at all... Even when the plan was going badly. It was like the Wallabies of last early last year... The Tah's were rushing and sending shooters. Yet the Reds didn't once try to get in behind them, they just kept putting the ball to the bloke being rushed... The lineout should have stopped going off the top, because the Tahs were sweating on it all game, and they just kept dropping it off the top. The Reds should have brought a few down to maul, and draw in the piggies... Gill was passing and playing the link all game. But he was passing to blokes under pressure, and the worst thing was you could see it in the players eyes... Straight after he passed it, and it went to the proverbial, everyone just looked like they didn't want to be there... I have said before, the Reds need a centre with punch. I don't think we have one. Harris Taps and Finger are all like for like at 12. All are 12s, with Finger being the best of them at 13, so why was Taps at 13? He was lost the week before, and was lost again last week at 13. CFS would be the best 13, but he wasn't selected there, but even he isn't a centre with punch. He has good feet, and good hands, but I can't see him running over anyone at any stage. He needs to get a bit aggressive, and be "Beast Mode" as his nickname suggests, but I don't think he has it in him. The Tahs were just very good with their intensity. The Reds were terrible with theirs. Simmons was jogging across field in the first 5 minutes and if he was moving with purpose, he could have been in position to stop Folaus' first try. Quirk was doing try savers left right and centre, all from behind, because the Tahs were just pouring through holes... It was just ordinary to watch. Hard not to be super critical... I think I am failing... I hope the Tahs continue the surge. I hope the Reds pick themselves up and sort themselves out. Otherwise it will be a long year.
PeterK
Guest
agree about the ref, if he was even and balanced Tahs would have won by 20 more points, he favoured the reds enormously.
JB
Guest
There was a lot of talk before the game about a more mobile reds pack winning the battle of the breakdown with more speed and numbers there, the opposite occurred, hats off to the tahs tight 5 who made the reds tight 5 look like schoolboys. They were battered at the ruck. Reds lineout was great though, not many more positives for them though.
Chui
Guest
Rise and shine campers, it's Groundhog Day..........
Mike
Guest
Yes, its an evil conspiracy ... :roll:
DB
Guest
Could not agree more, Harris is solid but nothing more and faingaa and taps should only ever play 12 moving forward. Sautia needs to get onto one wing to start lurking off quades shoulder like digby and Kerevi (when fit again) needs to start at 13. We need players to to bend and bust the line and with Kerevi and sautia we have the bigger bodies to do that. I think it also brings better balance and would allow toua and turner to use any created space. Shipps to the bench for me, just not doing enough!