Waratah coach Michael Cheika set the benchmark for the Wallabies by taking out their first Super Rugby title in 19 years.
In the toughest provincial tournament in world rugby, the Waratahs scored the most tries 55, and had the second least scored against them 24 – the Sharks had 22.
The Waratahs scored the most points 481 over 16 rounds, and had the least scored against them 272. The differential of 209 was way ahead of the second best and most successful franchise in history Crusaders with 123.
And to add the icing on the cake, Waratahs fly-half Bernard Foley was by far the top points-scorer of the tournament with 252, way ahead of the Hurricanes’ Beauden Barrett on 209.
Cheika then proved it with a 26-8 domination of the Brumbies in the semis, and a nail-biting 33-32 last minute win over the Crusaders in the Grand Final, a team the Waratahs hadn’t beaten in their last 11 outings, spanning a decade.
So it would be fair to say Michael Cheika had devised a formula for all seasons and all opponents.
Did Ewen McKenzie feed off that proven success?
An emphatic no.
Prop Benn Robinson didn’t even make the squad to meet the All Blacks to kick start the Rugby Championship.
The tournament-winning Nick Phipps-Bernard Foley pivotal 9-10 combination was totally ignored, and McKenzie came up with Brumby Nic White, and Waratah inside centre Kurtley Beale.
Unfathomable.
White’s pedestrian service was often hurried up by the ref calling him to “use it”, when he eventually got rid of the ball it was a lottery as to its accuracy, either too high, too far behind support, or even bouncing his passes along the deck.
And the least said about his box-kicking, the better.
The Waratah success was built around the pivots Phipps, Foley, and centres Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper with Israel Folau chiming in from out the back.
Beale and Folau worked a treat under Cheika’s guidance, but once Beale was moved inside by McKenzie, there wasn’t the room for the exciting pair to weave their magic.
Matt Toomua is no Beale, and while he’s as honest as the day is long, he will never have the x-factor, or flair, of a Kurtley Beale.
So what has McKenzie done after a 12-all draw and a 51-20 flogging to lose the Bledisloe Cup for another year?
Phipps and Foley will be the pivots against the Boks on Saturday in Perth, but Beale has been dumped to the bench.
Tevita Kuridrani comes into outside centre, forcing Ashley-Cooper onto the wing.
Hello, where is the sanity in that mixed mash?
Up front, where the forwards were suffocated by the men-in-black at Eden Park, there’s one forced change with hooker Nathan Charles injured, more’s the pity for both Charles and the side, but behemoth lock Will Skelton has been dropped altogether.
How did lock Rob Simmons, flanker Scott Fardy, and No 8 Wycliff Palu escape the chop? All three were totally ineffective at Eden Park, but then they had a few mates there.
What makes the current McKenzie selections so hard to cop and/or understand is Michael Cheika gave him the right formula on a gift-wrapped platter.
But Ewen McKenzie has chosen to ignore the obvious, which makes Saturday’s clash with the Boks, who aren’t playing all that crash hot themselves, all the more vital.
Matt
Guest
It's only the toughest tournament in the world if you play in the nz or sth African conferences. The Oz conference is soft and gives average teams like nsw or qld an easy ride to hosting home finals. which is why super rugby success will never translate into Bledisloe or RC success for Australia. And I wouldn't get too carried away with this year's result anyhow....winning by the margin of a questionable refereeing call does little to claim a strong bedrock of domestic rugby.
John
Guest
I am agreeing with Biltongbek. I think David is missing the forest through the trees
firstxv
Guest
Yep...same team...different coach. Will be the same when cheika takes over if they don't find new blood.
Hmmm, your sarcasm is dripping al over your keyboard. Who said I was judging it on one game?
superba
Guest
Skelton too slow can't jump .Will be a one hit wonder .
Fin
Guest
Rory you might need to dumb that down a bit.
Bunratty
Guest
He is saying that NSW would win because of better coaching, tactics, player enthusiasm etc. Maybe the players would be similar in both teams, but NSW would have better combinations etc.It boils down to where players are playing, who the coaches are, and coach-player interactions.
kibui b
Guest
sad but true, Oz needs 2 players in the mould of JPot, bullies who dominate you physically, and are smiling and high fiving....a deadly combination.
Darth Vadar
Guest
There seems to be a pattern here - Remember the Deans Era when the Wallabies were not crash hot and the Reds under Ewen were. History repeating itself here????????
kibui b
Guest
Waratahs forwards played better in the Super Rugby comp than they have for the Wallabies, Benn Robinson shouldn't be in the squad based on his current form. What David is missing is the Jacques Potgieter effect, which gave the forwards the impetus to literally throw themselves into contact on offense and defense. Sadly the wallabies don't have a character in the pack that plays with the level of infectious aggression to motivate the rest of them. I love watching the Tahs and JPot take on the line, without him, they don't win the Comp. Wallabies pack might get bullied this week, and then absolutley beaten to a pulp the week after if they don't pick up their aggro substantially.
Harry Jones
Expert
I still think we need an authoritative case-closed definitive article with impeccable sources that once and for all delineates the marked difference in speed, space, intensity, and decision making between club rugby (EVEN SR) and top tier test rugby. These Tahs are better than Wallabies articles are becoming silly
Marty
Guest
if only it were that simple.
The King
Guest
Ha- gold!
Jameswm
Guest
Sheesh? The Tahs played great and were the best side of the season. Give them some credit, including their coach. Why can't you concede this?
mpm
Guest
That's precisely the point. Test wingers need to be less of a defensive liability.
maxxlord
Roar Rookie
:) An unfortunate choice of alias on my part.
The King
Guest
Congratulations Maxx for sticking by your father
markjohnconley
Guest
Looking forward to Kuridrani back at 13; will Bob Dwyer get his way eventually and he'll be moved into 12, playing off Foley
bennalong
Guest
McKenzie picked all those Waratahs !!! He just refused to play their combinations Why?
Xenomorph
Guest
I dont think its bad at all. Only if you consider NZ good and everyone else bad. Aus is a top 4 side. Its not the top side but its one of the top sides so why do Australians and the odd Kiwi try to say they are rubbish? I think Hooper, Slipper, AAC, Folau, Moore and Charles would walk into the NZ squad. Im not sure how many Kiwis would walk into a world squad but Id guess and say Rettalick, Whitelock, B.Smith, A.Smith, C.Smith, Cruden, Savea and K.Read would be in the 23 if not the 15.