The Waratahs have suffered a second loss at the hands of a physical side in both defence and at the breakdown, with the supply of ball to the outside backs comprehensively cut off at the source.
These tactics are precisely what they should expect from the top teams in the competition from here on in.
Before their Round 13 bye, the Waratahs will face the Stormers in Cape Town, the Force in Perth on the way back, the Bulls at home, the Blues in Auckland, and the Hurricanes at home. The first three of those teams are more than capable of playing the same defensive and hard-at-the-breakdown type of games that the Brumbies and Sharks have used to great success.
In Jean de Villiers, Kyle Godwin, and Jan Serfontein, Kurtley Beale can expect three more weeks of the in-your-face defensive treatment that Francois Steyn dished out on the weekend – much like Pat McCabe and Matt Toomua offered up a few weeks back.
This will be one of many things on Michael Cheika’s plate this week en route to Cape Town. Israel Folau is possibly rejoining the side this week, but his presence alone won’t produce points if the Waratahs midfield is again shut down so comprehensively.
It wasn’t just the outside options, either. So well were the Sharks defenders reading Beale (or so much was he telegraphing the play) that his inside runners were picked off all night in Durban, almost for fun by the end of the match. With the creativity of Beale essentially extinguished, Bernard Foley wasn’t able to produce many opportunities himself, leading to criticism at the lack of a Plan B.
Already, it seems that if the Stormers (with all of their defensive issues) can close down Beale, they’ll be halfway towards notching their second win for the season.
Cheika has to look long and hard at his Test-strength front row, which again was dominated in the scrum. Much has been said about Benn Robinson’s evident decline with the new scrum engagement sequence, and how superior scrummagers are now regularly exposing him.
Sekope Kepu wasn’t much better in this department, and he regularly found himself being worked over by ‘the Beast’, Tendai Mtawarira. Paddy Ryan fared no better – much worse, in fact – for the 27 minutes he was on.
On the topic of scrums, did anyone else notice Jannie du Plessis’ trickery on the ‘bind’ call? After being told the other week that he couldn’t bind on the armpit, and despite his on-field protestations that he was told he could, du Plessis would loosely grab Robinson’s jersey around the ribs as required on ‘bind’, only to let it go and re-grip on the arm or armpit on ‘set’.
Cheika may well have concerns about referees’ perceptions of his scrum, but there’s probably good reason such perceptions exist.
Then we have the rather liberal interpretation of what Cheika meant by suggesting the Waratahs were going to have to “front up” against the Sharks, and take them on physically. I think the notion of trying to out-muscle the most physical and aggressive side in the competition is up there in the ambitious stakes with trying to out-kick Marnitz Boshoff, but credit where it’s due, the Waratahs did well and truly hold their own in the physicality stakes.
Where they let themselves down was how they went on with things afterwards, or the little cheap shots that they interpreted “front up” to mean. That’s certainly not to say the niggles were one way, but the for the most part, the Waratahs brought a lot of it on themselves.
Whether it started the rot is inconsequential, but Rob Horne should not have stayed on the field after his stiff arm to Steyn’s jaw. In fact, given both Horne’s move and Steyn’s rag-doll tackle on Beale were deemed to have “met the red card threshold for foul play” on the charge sheet, the question of why they did stay on the field is legitimate.
The clear sanction under any of the numerous categories of Law 10 Foul Play – including both high and dangerous tackles – is a yellow card as a starting point. Moreover, referee Mike Fraser could have pre-emptively stopped the spot fires that broke out by issuing the first yellow there and then.
Either way, Horne will now miss the Newlands game, and can probably count himself lucky. Steyn should too, after it was ruled his sling tackle on Beale didn’t warrant suspension.
In the end, Waratahs captain Dave Dennis was the first to cop the yellow card, and I have absolutely no sympathy for him. For all those suggesting the 47th minute decision was a soft card – and I understand the sentiments – you need only rewind the tape to the 39th minute, where Fraser pulls both Dennis and Bismarck du Plessis aside for a chat after yet more niggle.
“There’s nothing in that, it’s just a bit of push and shove,” Fraser says, before telling the interjecting du Plessis that he’ll be doing the talking this time.
“Have a word to your players, there can’t be any more, OK, or somebody’s going to sit down. There’s too much off-the-ball stuff here. Leave it out, we don’t need it.”
The warning can’t have been any clearer. Cut the crap out, or someone will sit down. So when Dennis then started the next round of niggle with a shove on du Plessis at a scrum, Fraser had no alternative.
“There’s no need for the push, away you go,” Fraser said, with the look of a parent disappointed that a child would be stupid enough to call their bluff.
That moment summarised the lack of leadership the Waratahs had all night. A comment on The Roar over the weekend suggested that Michael Hooper showed more leadership in the 10 minutes Dennis was off the field than Dennis did in the 70 minutes he wasn’t, and I agree.
I can’t help but wonder if Cheika might need to give Dennis a Ewen McKenzie-style of rev up, a la James Horwill midway through the 2013 international season.
It’s one of many things the Tahs need to think about.
bennalong
Guest
Clever!
bennalong
Guest
Brett. Why are you encouraging trolling?
Chris
Guest
Can the Waratahs actually win away games? They are nothing more than flat track bullies.
Short-Blind
Guest
Actually Vic like most of us I've been watching him for years. I've never seen him trail a referee for 15 metres with a sook look bleating. McCaw is much more subtle than that (in the main) and usually talks to the ref in short dialogues. If not a kiwi so this is no McCaw love in. I'm just saying as far as handling the refs and not being a sook its McCaw first, BOD second and daylight after that. Australia hasn't had a good leaders since John Eales retired and it shows up up every year. I don't rate Horwill as a captain, Pocock is likely gone (and still not great captain material IMHO), Genia is way too moody and slams his team too much. Really if you look at the Wallabies this year McKenzie has some big calls to make. Hooper should be the long term Wallaby captain.
LukeR
Guest
Yes, well this probably shows how much of an influence Wayne Smith had on the ABs. He was the attack coach in 2011 right?
RobC
Roar Guru
I wouldn't mind if the Stormers win. I actually prefer the Tahs to win. But a Stormers win would be good to see, for the second time this season. JDV is a great captain, and statesman for the game. Too many injuries though. I still cover my eyes, on the replay before Aplon, dislocates his elbow.
Chivas
Guest
Most thugs are cry babies :-). But I would be happy to have him in my team if he ever gets confused and wants to find himself.
bennalong
Guest
Brett I'm sorry I didn't get in earlier but I have to say I find your approach to the Tahs appears overly negative. As a committed NSW fan I was disappointed in their showing but for you to fall for Bismarks bleating complaints to the ref (same complaint made soon after by Dennis who had not heard Bismark), or to see Horne's personal error as evidence for an argument about the meaning of "fronting up", talking about "niggle" (which was not a feature of the first half) says to me you were watching an Australian team with a jaundiced eye Foley's goal kicking percentage was excellent coming into the match and his failure to make two easy shots in the first half did not help his team. Had he made them the score would have been 12-9 going into the second half. IMO this reflected the state of the game up to that point, though the refereeing of the scrums already showed that the ref was going to wield the big stick. Too early, signalling perhaps that he doesn't have a clue about scrums He did this erratically and had already penalised Phipps for not putting the ball in to an unstable, moving scrum. An attitude that did not bode well early in the game By the way, did you see Robinson pop Jarni Du Plessis up in the front row without getting a mandatory penalty? (Craig Joubert follows the sensible policy of erring on the side of the attacking scrum in the first half. This has the effect of discouraging tricks that stand to get three points and encouraging stable scrums. It is also logical) I do think the Tahs need another scrum coach because this was similar to the Brumbies game and similar tricks produced similar results. But IMO to criticise the Tahs in defence and at the breakdown is incorrect Like the Brumbies the Sharks success came because they attacked second and third receiver. Phipps made this worse by too frequently making Beale second receiver, and they were all over him. Foley handles these contests better than Beale and I think Cheika is making a mistake undermining Foley who was doing a great job last year. Beale's success comes when spaces open up, so I'm merely suggesting he play more of a twelve role with Foley even using him frequently as a decoy to keep attention off him a bit You chose the Sharks to win for a number of reasons. The fact that the Tahs lost their first away game on the road, against the competition leader, would lead me to expect a lighter touch when analysing the game.
formerflanker
Guest
Excellent analysis.
Fair go
Guest
Maybe we should try a team with only left feet? Really are u guys kidding? The Tahs were beaten because the other big units wanted the game more than they did. Maybe Horne helped the sharks. Who knows. But the fact is that one team had the mojo. Let's forget the selection question shall we?
Bismarck is likely to have an identity crisis, not sure whether he is a thug or a cry baby. ;)
Vic
Guest
SB, clearly you haven't watched Ritchie McCaw sooking to refs all the time, and doing a great job of it too.....if anything, Bizzie should be congratulated on learning how to sook, as I'm sure that's not his usual style. I think Jake White learned a thing or two in Australia.
Short-Blind
Guest
Lets cut to the chase on this BEALE Since his schoolboy days at Joeys he has carved up loose defences with footwork and speed. If there is go forward and space in the game he is all over the holes and stars on, ala his first three games this year. if there is no go forward and a solid rush defence (when he is at 10 or 12) he is completely lost. He has gone through phases against this type of defence over the last few years with the Wallabies and at S15 level - chip kick, sucker pass to next man (or telegraph inside ball), crab sideways and dud pass. lose the ball in (soft) contact. Basically he doesn't possess the option a modern 12 needs which its to harden the F up and run straight and hold onto/recycle the ball when needed. Oh for a 12 in Oz that can do both these things....thats another post. TAHS CAPTAINCY I said on a thread about a year ago that the Tahs couldn't win the comp due to their poor leadership options - and asked Chieka to be bold and put Hooper up for the job. Agree with most above Dennis is a passenger except for his line out expertise and his leadership is just appalling. Chieka has been reluctant to load up Hooper so early in his career but the time has come to make some big calls NIGGLY TAHS I agree with the guys above who said that other than Horne's cheap shot (yellow or red) the Tahs did well and were not overtly 'niggly' They do need to think about a plan B when their space is closed down.....but that is about the coach and on field leadership having the situational awareness to sort it out in the moment. The reason the Tahs lost this game (other than the scrum debacle) is because of the amount of ball they turned over from playing too loose and thus not being able to build pressure....and Foley's poor goal kicking. FOLEY a 10 You can't win the comp without a world class 10 and the Tahs don't have one. I've been a fan of Foley's - his form last year was great but unless he quickly improves his overall kicking game and ability to 'control' a match then the Tahs chances for glory are over. BISMARK IS A SOOK My goodness I haven't seen a more petulant childish approach from a captain for ages - up there with Horwill at his best. That he won the ref over says a lot about Dennis (C).
Chivas
Guest
Of course. Anything wlse would require original thought and less reliance on common cliches. Some of us don't need to seek approval before posting a different opinion to the main.
DMac
Guest
I'd be happy to see Hoiles get a bit more game time.
BrumbiesSupporter
Roar Rookie
Beale was on fire a couple of years ago, and he is showing good form in attack when he has space and good support runners. But he has also had some forgetful touches of the ball, which has left me wondering what he was thinking. Yes, it's easy for me to criticise what he should have done while sitting in my couch, but there are other players (i.e. Toomua) who have proved (in my mind) that they are more reliable and as result in a better position to secure a wallabies jersey.
Mic
Guest
Well you speak as though you have played 100 games of super rugby and know what it's like to captain your state. When your competing at such a high level and yellow cards are given to players for a nudge then maybe the ref should go back to under 10's Yes the ref said that the next incident would earn you a stint on the bench, what about the punch in the scrum that Dennis asked the ref about. He was reviewing things that happened 5 phases beforehand so what was stopping him from going back to the scrum...? Cards weren't given when they should have been. So many incidents where missed or ignored (du plessis standing on a waratahs players chest in a ruck) I hope I never see mike Fraser referee another tahs game.
Brett McKay
Expert
Grotto, I can't recall the handling error numbers, but I'd imagine they were high for both sides. The first half, especially, never really felt like it got going for long periods, and that probably had everything to do with the physical contest from both sides..
Brett McKay
Expert
Probably the same number as you, I suppose Mic, but I fail to see the relevance in the question. If a referee says he'll act on the next piece of niggle, and he does, how exactly is that wrong? Now several comment have raised the question of why Bismarck du Plessis wasn't also carded for his retaliation, and that's a fair call. It's also been discussed widely that a yellow (or even red) card on Horne, and maybe even Steyn too, earlier in the game could have nipped a lot of this in the bud. Again, that's a reasonable call.
jason8
Guest
The problem is that you Aussies think that to front up means to get into the niggle... which seems to be more of a distraction to you than to us. Now the AB's are past masters at niggle they do it in the dark recesses where no one sees it and then wait for a brainiac like Bismarck to respond in full view of the ref. No you fellas would do better to stick what you do best... play patient, smart and wait for the gaps rather than trying to hit it up through a guy Steyn's channel.