The NSW Waratahs have missed a chance to go to the top of the Australian Conference after suffering a disappointing 32-10 loss to the Sharks in a spiteful Super Rugby encounter in Durban.
Israel Folau’s absence at the back was telling on Saturday night, as the Waratahs failed to execute and build pressure in the first half, before ill-discipline saw the game get away from them.
The tone was set for a fiery encounter when NSW winger Rob Horne struck Sharks No.12 Francois Steyn high with a swinging arm early in the first half, and escaped with a warning from referee Mike Fraser.
Steyn retaliated with a late tackle on Kurtley Beale a short time later, where he swung the ‘Tahs playmaker to the ground like a rag doll, forcing him off the field for a short time for a concussion test.
Fraser issued a warning for the growing number of off-the-ball incidents, but the niggling continued.
It was the Waratahs who ultimately paid the price, when skipper Dave Dennis was yellow-carded for a push-and-shove at the scrum in the 48th minute – and the Sharks scored the match-turning try from the ensuing penalty to take a 19-3 lead.
At the time of Dennis’ sin-binning, Waratahs coach Michael Cheika came to the sideline to exchange words with the assistant referees and his staff, and after hooker Bismarck du Plessis crashed over, he stormed back up the tunnel to return to his coaching box.
The on-field chat continued as du Plessis got to his feet, before Waratahs stand-in captain Michael Hooper stepped in to order his players to refocus.
However, the damage was already done, and the No.1 South African franchise closed the contest out in an expert performance, capped off by a 73rd minute try to replacement Keegan Daniel.
A Bernard Foley consolation try came too little too late.
“There were plenty of opportunities there,” said Dennis.
“Discipline let us down and we couldn’t get rhythm through the game. There was too much drop ball.”
NSW arrived at the Shark Tank with a clear plan to stand up to the competition heavyweights, and succeeded, with some bone-rattling hits from the likes of Horne and Jacques Potgieter inspiring one of the most physical matches of the season.
However, the Waratahs were left to lament two missed penalty shots by five-eighth Foley in the first-half, which would have kept them within three at the break.
But more importantly, the Waratahs handed over too much ball.
NSW also struggled at the set piece, with props Benn Robinson and Sekope Kepu unable to stop the scrum from collapsing in the face of pressure from the giant Sharks front row.
The Waratahs will have fingers crossed that Wallabies fullback Folau can return for the second leg of their South African tour against the Stormers next week in Cape Town.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau left the field after 26 minutes, in another potential injury concern, and Horne may have a case to answer with the judiciary.
Tricky Dick
Roar Rookie
I was about to type "Rubbish," but fortunately googled it prior, and you are apparently 100% correct. Now I feel silly wearing one this whole time. http://youtu.be/RSJ5itfpwdk
Tricky Dick
Roar Rookie
I'm also not so sure that Beale wasn't suffering from a head knock after that takedown. If you watch the places in the second half where you'd expect vintage Beale to step or create, he offers up the same dummy left, keep ball move repeatedly. Caveats: 1) I haven't rewatched the game, 2) am a forward, and 3) for sure want to give due credit to the blitz defense of the Sharks. But I was thinking he looked a bit fuzzy in the second half. Against confrontational teams, would it not benefit the Tahs to slot a harder man into the center and keep the danger man from wasting his magic getting smashed? Horne looked eager to mix it up. How about Beale out to the wing instead?
David Baker
Guest
I escape SA blogs to avoid the nationalistic, conspiracy theory driven chaps.. I forget they are everywhere. Since SA has a bigger population we just have more of them Or are you just a troll You are exhibiting the same bias Today you have - Complained that SA sides get the best draws - Every country has at least one side (usually 2) that tours very late last year the Reds only hit SA in Round 14. The Bulls crossed the ocean in Round 4 and played the Blues followed by 3 overseas games. The Waratahs and Sharks crossed in Round 11 and the Hurricanes in Round 12. - Complained that the SA sides get more lenient punishments. Yes lets just look at an analysis of offence vs punishment - Blamed t'he Sharks for the spiteful affair - Ok thats one opinion - Whats next gregory?
gregory
Guest
That's what I'm for.when the sharks hit the road and theirs no comfort of home advantage and refs blowing visiting teams of the park.Another issue that I have been studying for some time now is the bias shown to SA players in comparison to NZ and AUS players.they(saffas) tend to get lenient punishments and the other sanzar teams get harh punishments.just go back in time and you will notice the trend.thats a worrying statistic.And where do bismarck get that attitude by telleng the ref that the chief of referees said he can ask questions.not a whole description of the rule book.He want ghe refs to hesitate when making a crucial descision that may go against his team.But we shall see when they go on tour.Jake White will cry in the news.critisizing the refs.just watch.now everything is smooth running in their camp and showing disrespect to the other camp by making fun of a coach.he' time as is with all coaches will come.just ask blackadder of the crusaders!
gregory
Guest
Why is it that the SA teams get the favorable draw in superrugby? Last year it was the bulls with seven home games thus qualifying for playoffs.this year its the sharks who get the benefit.so out of a possible 40 logpoints they get maybe 35.and that for playing at home.when was the last time a SA team won superrugby? They want a SA team to win.you can see it in the reffereeing of games
gregory
Guest
What I see from the SA sides especially the sharks tend to be over aggressive.the bulls are a clean physical side.You will allways observe when the sharks get bullied the resort to aggressive tactics by pulling and shoving opponents to intimidate them.If that doesn't work bismarck allways complain to the ref that somethings are happening that the ref do not see.the bulls fronted them and could have won by a bigger margin.You will allways see that the NZ teams play the SA teams with a physkcal approach leaving them with no option but to open up game and that suits the NZ teams perfectly.when the smash you,smash them back harder and you will see them surrendering!
Richard Harvey
Guest
Yes I think sone deal of credit is due to the Tahs for their fortitude and refusal to back down and give up. It was agreta old fgashiojne3d stoush and we eere to trivia but the scrum inferioroty, missed penalties and that last pass inability to finhish off in the first half in particulare, killed off their chances. I also do not believe that if Folau had played, Tahs would have won. Too much is being made of his absence in Durban although too much cannot be said of his ability, it is enormous!!
JB
Guest
Agreed Tane, he has proved his value time and time again, I personally think he is the best coach in the world, a sharks super 15 victory should put in beyond doubt.
JB
Guest
As long as you keep it to the rugby rhino I've got no problem, just don't appreciate being lumped in with aussies that think south africans are dirty, I've never claimed that or written anything like that on the roar. I'm all for banter and there are no sour grapes here, the tahs ran into a quality outfit and were outplayed plain and simple.
Crazy Horse
Guest
The Tahs were penalised more because they infringed more. Dennis was sent off for further infingement after being warned late in the first half. He shoved his oppnent in what was obviously a deliberate niggle. His action resulted in a general mele. The Ref was absolutely correct to jump on him. The Tahs were extremely lucky Horne wasn’t sent off as well for his high tackle. He would have been if I was the Ref. Scrumming with your knees almost on the ground is a recipie for a collapse. The Tahs fans need to suck it up and admit they were beaten by a better team. Without Izzy they were shown up as being very ordinary. As many commentators have said they need a Plan B.
Michael
Guest
Exactly right. Well said. Hopefully we do better next week against the Stormers.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Agree but he is one of the few who seems to have a glimpse into the dark arts. I also think that refs would be smart to make a call to repeat collapses(on one scrum) where it is not obvious. Penalise the defending team and get the game moving.
Charging Rhino
Guest
I agree with that BB
Charging Rhino
Guest
Oh JB, ya need to just relax my man. :-) Why get all personal and so upset about what I wrote? Or is that your reality so you assume it's other peoples' reality too? Or am I being what you what you would deem is "Un- Australian" that gets under your skin ??? To suggest that the Sharks smashed an Aussie team up front? Or don't you think it's smug to write an entire article about the Waratahs and what they failed to do and all about them etc etc and give pretty much only two words in the whole article which compliments the Sharks, "expert performance"? Reality check perhaps if you read it from a Sharks perspective? Meanwhile, the Sharks did everything and if a few balls had stayed in heir hands it would've been 40 points plus, they dictated play, and suffocated them like a python to keep them in their own half and piled on the points. Simple. I'm not trying to bad mouth the Tahs, they put in big hits too, but they were like that kid who fell out of the tree... He just wasn't in it!!! ;-) Sharks were never ever in danger during that game. That was pretty obvious. Is that smug? I don't know.... To me it's just a reflection of an eventual 32-10 score line. The Tahs forwards got frustrated and didn't like it so they started to get a bit hot headed but the Sharks just held their own and did not relent to pile the pressure on. It happens to many teams when they get strangled. A mini example of this was when Jean Deysel held the scrum half away like a big brother holds away his whining younger sibling, waving his arms trying to go bazerk but simply powerless to the brute force hardly putting any effort in to keep him away. Anyway it's jut a game. What does my opinion or your opinion matter anyway? Peanuts :-) And of course it's going to differ if we support the other side! But in the end.... all supporters from all teams are just all the same :-) Some are ridiculously biased and one eyed, others are a bit blind or don't know the laws if the game an others are more reasonable. I'd like to think that I try and be as unbiased and reasonable as possible. Cheerio. Have a good day. (Or is that passive aggressive and smug too?) I actually do hope that you have a good day. Why would I wish something bad on anyone, let alone someone I don't know!?
soapit
Guest
he's a moron if he assumes this. or do you mean dominant? either way theres more laws in the scrum besides thou shalt not collapse
R.E.A.P.E.R.
Guest
Thank God it was a neutral ref; would have never heard the end of it...'Tahs were better than the scoreline suggests, but it was always going to end with a Sharks win: Chieka's charges never stood a chance, and btw, you don't play hardball against a South African side: they are the toughest players in rugby! 'Tahs should make the play-offs this year, but no further...
fredstone
Guest
The Reds forwards when touring SA... The Tahs this week. Stephan Moore everytime it gets hot in the oven
Magic Sponge
Guest
As long as the tahs show fight and produce good contests, I still love watching them as they are having a go. Losing is just part of sport, no real big deal, keep going Cheika and the troops
bennalong
Guest
Joubert does it right He assumes that the attacking side will not collapse. This means the penalties end up even and tricks are useless. Then both teams settle unless defending/attacking the line
bennalong
Guest
but not a send off offence