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The Waratahs have a weak spot

7th July, 2014
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7th July, 2014
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There’s only one team that can deny Michael Cheika’s Waratahs their first Super title, and that’s his own.

Coach Cheika has performed miracles since he took over following a terrible 2012 season.

The Waratahs had lost a record 10 games after playing like non-caring headless chooks, scoring 346 points and giving up 407, a deficit of 61 to finish 11th.

In his first season, Cheika lifted the rotten culture to eight losses, scoring 411 to 370 – a plus of 41 to finish ninth.

This year with a game to go, the Waratahs will finished on top of the overall table, with 447 points so far, against 269, a record plus of 178, a record 51 tries to 24, eight precious bonus points, and a record six wins on the trot.

That’s a massive comeback, but then comes the question mark.

For the last 23 minutes of the first half last round, the Waratahs reverted to the type with slow ball, half Nick Phipps falling into the George Gregan trap of lifting the ball before delivering slow service, with the supports over-running the ball carrier, dropping passes, leading to too many turnovers.

Had the Highlanders been good enough they should have punished the Waratahs severely, but the Tahs still led 11-9 at the break.

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Come the semis and the final, the better sides will severely punish the litany of mistakes.

Whatever Cheika said at the break last week worked wonders, as the boys in blue piled on 33 points with five tries to one, playing magnificent and entertaining rugby.

That was more like it, and that’s what they must do to hold the Super Rugby trophy aloft.

So where has Cheika made his mark?

First up, he has made his squad proud, and he’s made every member of his squad believe in themselves, and each other.

He’s had plenty of talent to work with, only wingers Alofa Alofa and Taqele Naiyaravoro are non-Wallabies among his first choices.

Expect the 22-year-old Fijian flyer Naiyaravoro at 195cm and 120kgs to play a major role in the deciders.

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The keys to success are simple.

The all-Wallaby pack must deliver quicker ball, and the behemoth lock Will Skelton must play most of every game and not wither on the vine off the bench.

Quick ball will give the brilliant backs more room to move, and they will relish that, providing they get quicker service from Phipps.

Fly-half Bernard Foley is the surprise packet of the season, his trusty boot has led him to a Waratahs season points scoring record of 199 to date that has been supplemented by his outstanding generalship around the park.

And that’s where Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau will benefit.

Their inside centre-fullback combination, intuitive natures and their speed are tailor-made for each other.

Folau has scored a Waratahs record 12 tries, and there’s more in store. Many more.

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That leaves outside centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, and his wingers, with their problem being that Ashley-Cooper point blank refuses to unload.

By my reckoning, Ashley-Cooper passes one in seven. The other six he dies in possession, that invariably leads to a turnover, or a penalty.

A tragic waste of possession in attack.

There we have the Waratahs of 2014, a mighty unit when on song.

And a mighty coach who will be flexing muscle all the way to August 2nd and the Super Rugby final at Allianz.

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