Coach Michael Cheika wasn’t too proud to have his Waratahs win ugly 23-5 over the Reds at Suncorp on Saturday night.
Cheika would far prefer to have his side play attacking entertaining rugby, and for about 10 per cent of the 80 minutes, they did just that.
In those eight or so minutes, no team in Super Rugby can go with the Waratahs as they seek to retain the trophy that took them 19 years to win.
Cheika-coached teams don’t make elementary errors. Snappy accurate passing, safe hands, constant support and heavy defence are hallmarks of a Cheika team.
But with 13 handling errors, and 19 missed tackles, the Waratahs were sloppy.
With the Reds playing even worse than the Waratahs, every one of the 27,199 spectators at Suncorp and all the Foxtel viewers around the world waited impatiently for a game of rugby to break out.
It did for about 30 seconds in the 24th minute when the vision of Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley sent replacement outside centre Matt Carraro on his way, and as the defence closed in on Carraro, Foley loomed up inside in support to cross for a spectacular try.
It was a real Waratahs try.
But spectacular moments were as scarce as hen’s teeth. Penalty happy referee Glenn Jackson didn’t help the cause by constantly blowing the pea out of his whistle and resetting more scrums than I cared to count.
So who did play well?
Waratah prop Benn Robinson became the most capped NSW rep with 137, eclipsing Phil Waugh, although the latter still holds the most capped Waratah record with 132 to Robinson’s 130.
Robinson celebrated by turning in one of his best games, skipper Dave Dennis has made the transition from flanker to lock his domain, and Beale was always on the lookout to attack.
On the debit side, when will hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau become a Waratah asset, and not a liability?
If he’s not consistently missing his lineout target, he’s being penalised, and on Saturday night his persistency in the latter earned him the only yellow card of the game
In defence of the Waratahs, last weekend’s bye after just two rounds clearly took the edge off the side. They should have won by at least 35 points, with 60 per cent of possession.
For the Reds, half Will Genia was positive behind a well-beaten pack. He’s back to his swift service best, and once he starts running again in possession, there’s no doubt he’s the best Wallaby half.
But no-one else stood out for the Reds, who had James Horwill as a late no-show, while skipper James Slipper failed a concussion test during the game, and winger Lachie Turner was carted off in a neck brace, but gave the thumbs up salute on the way to the shed.
Next up for the Reds is a visit from the Brumbies, who are playing the best of the Australian Conference, while the Waratahs head for New Zealand and a clash with the Highlanders, shock winners over the Chiefs.
But expect a major improvement in the defending champions.
Graeme
Guest
For me this is the last World Cup. Because of the format in 2016, and the fact that most wallabies will be playing in France, I am pinning all my hope on this world Cup.
Mike
Guest
:D
Woodsman
Guest
I think he is project managing in Christchurch and probably doesn't want anything to do with Aussie rugby.
jameswm
Guest
I think the Reds have heart. But it's tough playing a superior pack without your first string THP and both locks. NSW were man for man better and bigger, and better coached.
jameswm
Guest
Lacks physicality? The Tahs belted the Reds into submission.
jameswm
Guest
The Tahs had a few years of bad injury runs. The Tahs team would probably look like this without Skelton, Dennis, Foley, Folau and Beale. You forgot Holmes so I'll give you Kepu too. 1. Robinson 2. TPN 3. Ryan - srcumming issues 4. Potgieter 5. Lousi/Chapman 6. Tala Gray 7. Hooper 8. Palu 9. Phipps 10. Volavola/Lance - Beale is also our 2nd 5/8 so not quite like for like 11. Naiyaravoro 12. Horne 13. Carraro 14. Betham 15. AAC Reserves Latu, Tilse, Alaalatoa, Holloway/Chapman, Hoiles, McKibbin, Lance, Kellaway Lack of ball players in the backs but the forwards, with JackPots, Palu, Gray, TPN and Hooper would get us across the line.
jameswm
Guest
All correct. Didn't realise he was Aust born.
Funk
Guest
This is what I'm imagining happened: RG: Hey Ben, sorry mate but I have to let you know that we are not going to renew your contract Ben Lucas: What...Why?? RG: well we've got a full roster now and you services aren't required BL: who have you got as the reserve flyhalf? RG: well Quadie's looking good and we've just signed a gun under 20's 5/8 from the Bronc's BL: Seriously your cutting me for an under 20's league player? RG: oh no, we've also got Hunt lined up, and then there is also JOC who are both fantastic flyhalves who would be starting in any other super team BL: so you've got one and a half leaguies, half an AFL player and JOC, so loyalty means nothing to you Dick? RG: Loyalty??? BL: I'm going to France! Which is pretty much how I'm feeling at the moment!
Akari
Roar Rookie
You must have missed the Brumbies games thus far. As I recall, they gave the Chiefs tight five and scrum a belting until Sio was given a breather.
dru
Roar Rookie
Yep. A big thumbs up to Benn from me. Awesome work, changed his scrum approach each time requested by a dopey ref, and completely out-kidded the kid opposite. Also thought his link work and rucking was good, albeit room for improvement
kombiutedriver
Guest
Never thought I would ever write a post like this but .............. Oh God the Reds' performance on Saturday was embarrassing.as a life-long supporter of Queensland and the Reds there was a distinct lack of heart from the players as a whole. No fight and no pride in the jersey that upset a lot of supporters including me.. Adam Thompson showed more heart as an import. Very sad.
dru
Roar Rookie
From recollection that "scrum specialist" commented not a single time about Benn's awesome I troduction of Talakai to the professional game. An archytype performance that proves why TH's hate LH's. Benn was MOTM for me.
Graeme
Guest
Even with injuries he's playing with a pretty stacked team. On paper, even with injuries and police matters, they have the personel that they should be confidant of at least making the finals, and maybe more. They aren't. And Grahan isn't a very good coach.
MMaaxx
Guest
Another forgettable all Australian affair. The Aus conference seems to have regressed for some reason. Lacks heart, physicality etc. A bit of back line glitter once in a while and screeching easily excited commentators merely paper over the general lack of quality. Looking at the players on the field I expected so much more. Perhaps we were overly spoilt early 2000's with the quality the Aus teams produced. Struggle to like / identify with many of the Aus players. Not enough AAC's etc. Too many who are more concerned with posing for Instagram photos than playing their heart out on the field. Early day for sure so lots to happen. Still think the national team will go well this year and win their RWC group.
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
...and I heard that Hendrik Tui has arrived with a hairline fracture - so perhaps one thing that Rich Graham can't be blamed for.
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
I'm guessing that Nick Stiles will become interim Head Coach as the Reds want to play for him.
DMac
Guest
Tahs looked better than against the rebels for mine. In particular they started to support the runner better. A sign of improving fitness and combos.
Kane
Roar Guru
Unbeaten?
Iwillnotstandby
Guest
Jake ball is the game they need if they can't do the basics. Take a look at the brumbies. A year of winning ugly and doing the basics right got them to the final. Then they moved in to try the fancy stuff. I have no idea why the waratahs have gone backwards after last year. It's either their skills have declined or other teams have strategies to deal with what was almost unstoppable last year. Does Australia need the Reds to be strong? Those who mistake correlation with causation would say yes. But a strong brumbies and strong waratahs along with some odds and ends at the Rebels and the force will see us right, except in the tight five.
Robbo_76
Guest
Wasn't that what Mckenzie did as well? I think we need our best people, not just best person for that job