Little wonder coach Michael Cheika had a grin as wide as the Sydney Heads last night at ANZ Stadium after his Waratahs at last played the Cheika way. They beat the Crusaders 32-22 and rise to the top of the Australian Conference.
It’s taken 13 rounds for the Wallaby-laden Waratahs to get the Cheika message, but it was well worth the wait.
Just about everything the Waratahs did last night was precision and positive – two benchmarks of Cheika’s coaching.
‘Enjoy yourself’ is another.
With the Crusaders also ever willing and ready to run the ball, the result was a cracker of a game. The Waratahs were in command for 60 minutes, the Crusaders for 20, with the Waratahs coming home on a wet sail in the last 20 – especially the last 10.
And full marks to a virtual rookie South African referee Marius van der Westhuizen for allowing the game to flow, and then having the bottle to yellow card Richie McCaw for a professional foul with 10 minutes left on the clock.
So the Super Rugby table looks like this with three rounds to go:
Hurricanes – won 12, lost one, with nine bonus points – 57.
Waratahs – 9-4-5 – 41.
Bulls – 7-6-7 – 35.
Chiefs – 9-4-8 – 44.
Highlanders – 9-4-7 – 43.
Brumbies – 7-6-10 – 38.
The loss looks like ending the Crusaders’ magic run of 13 consecutive seasons in the Super Rugby finals series. The seven-time champions are now in ninth place, seven points adrift of the sixth-placed Brumbies.
But for the Waratahs, it’s ever upwards if they keep playing the positive precision rugby.
Everyone played their part last night, highlighted by runaway train winger Taqele Naiyaravoro dotting down for two tries, his opposite winger Rob Horne for a runaway try, and the bonus-earning fourth try to Bernard Foley.
His chip kick over the Crusaders defence before toeing the ball towards the chalk, regathering to crash over for a superb individual try in the shadow of full-time to put the win to bed.
Naiyaravoro is the only non-Wallaby back in the run-on side, and there’s no doubt that will be corrected sooner than later, as the Waratah backs went on a run-spree.
Horne ran 93 metres, Israel Folau 90, Adam Ashley-Cooper 53, Kurtley Beale 52, Naiyaravoro 41, Foley 28 and Nick Phipps 22.
But the backs wouldn’t have enjoyed so much time and space without the forewards doing their job.
Behemoth lock Will Skelton has gone from a last 20-minute benchman to a fully-fledged 80-minute source of destruction.
His size, his determination, and his aggression has given the Waratahs’ pack a new meaning, even though he sailed pretty close twice to a yellow card for shoulder charging.
The other part of Skelton’s game that has grabbed attention is his mobility and ever readiness to off-load to keep the phase moving forward – he has a great ball-sense.
Next up it’s South Africa for the Waratahs at EllisPark for theLions,and Bloemfontein for the Cheeths where both will face a very determined Waratah pack of Benn Robinson,Tolu Latu, Sekope Kepu, Skelton, skipper Dave Dennis,Stephen Holies, Michael Hooper, and Wycliff Palu.
And the Waratahs finish off the scheduled rounds with the old enemy – the Reds at Allianz.
In the all-important battle to top the Australian Conference, the Brumbies clash with the Bulls at home, the Force away, and the Crusaders at home.
That Australian Conference lead battle is far from over, but if the Waratahs keep playing like last night, it’s game, set and match.
Only the men in sky blue can decide that.
Dally M
Guest
I guess using Hume logic, now that the Waratahs beat the Crusaders and the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes, with no byes as an excuse, AND the Waratahs have already beat the Hurricanes this season we can safely pencil in a Waratahs win next time the Tahs & Canes meet right?
Tinfoil Hat
Guest
The only ones crying and flapping their arms are you, dmac, mike and a few other diehards who seem to think your precious tahs are above the rules of the game.
IronAwe
Guest
Haha, Jerry, love it!
bennalong
Guest
It doesn't mean itisn't stupid! Where's the evidence that the law is good for preventing injuries?
pick & go..!!
Guest
The Referee (would of, could of, should of) given Skelton a red card. But he didn't..!! Ironically McCaw has made a career of playing on the edge of the laws of the game. Now that Skelton has had one game where he got the rub of the green against an AB forward pack, alot of kiwi supporters crying foul play. Even some as going further to say Skelton is going to be targeted by the AB's for his indiscretions as a some sort of payback. This is rugby you hit & get hit after the game you have a beer together & move on.
pick & go..!!
Guest
Who is hyping up Skelton at test level? Most are praising his performance against the Crusaders. The only mention of Skelton at test level are kiwi fans talking up Skelton will be targeted by the AB's at test level as a pay back for his dangerous tackle on their precious Whitelock.
44bottles
Roar Guru
To clarify, was agreeing with you on the Latu-Skelton involvement. Just pointing out that being dropped, even if you land on your side, hurts like a mutha_____. I wouldn't be surprised if he was simply winded or hurt.
Socrates
Guest
If you are wearing a patch you can only see out of one eye.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Foley was awarded MoM over the ground speakers about 2 minutes before that try. Maybe Foley was trying to show the doubters the MoM was disserved. All tries like that have luck in them as that ball bounces cruelly at times. I think the Queensland inside centre kicked the ball past the fullback in their match and the ball bounced the wrong way. Everyone screamed what a mug he was, but Foley walks on water. :)
ThugbyFan
Guest
Emric is spot on. The tackling and defence by the Tahs was bone jarring at times. It was sad to see Daniel Carter dropping the ball twice on a great tackle (both times by Hooper I think). After that he was barely seen, a shadow of the great player he once was. I suspect Carter will only be at the RWC as a reserve, especially after the 5/8 jinx in the last world cup. As for McCaw, still a gun player though has lost lots of pace. The boos as he walked off should be seen as a compliment to one of, if not the best, ever No 7. Sure he plays borderline, any 7 that doesn't is usually seen on the reserve bench.
Ryanno
Guest
Taylorman, "I just thought it was funny watching all those cheering fans watching McAw take the walk…fickle in a sense…like all their dreams have come to fruition in the one moment. Lovely happy smiley faces..where .for McCaw it was just another day at the office…well most of a day" The beauty of it wasn't that it was a one off. It was that Saint Ruchie was pinged for something similar in the final last year, cost them the win. Then again on Saturday night he costs his team the win this year in a rematch. Twice in a row, there is not a rugby fan the world over that doesn't crack a smile about that apart from Kiwis. Ruchie has got away with so much rubbish over the years, it's nice when a ref has the gumption to call him out and not put up with it.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Agree with that. They will pressure him physically, they will look to make sure he has to work overtime & given that he is a main ball runner will make sure the tackles are solid. My concern with Skelton in the Wallaby pack is who is going to go with him if he decides to up the aggressiveness. The AB pack is better than its parts as they work so well together & the bench guys don't drop the standard.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Agreed with PeterK here. I was at the game, the massive screens showed the "tackle" heaps of times. Watch it slowly, Skelton has his arms around Whitelock's upper chest and arms and lifts him. Boofhead Latu comes in, grabs his hips and lifts Whitelock so that hips and legs are about 30cm (1 foot) above his shoulders and drives down. Skelton realises this and lets Whitelock go. He falls about a metre onto his shoulder. Yes Skelton lifted Whitelock, no he didn't upend him and in fact diffused what could have been really ugly. As for Whitelock laying on the ground like an Italian Soccer centre forward, well of course he wasn't feigning injury but he sure recovered fast once the yellow card was given out. However he could have been winded so lets leave it at that. The ref and TMO clearly saw it this way also as only Latu got carded. To this point I agree with the referee and yes, Latu needs a citing and a suspension to learn Lifting is Banned. They also looked many times at Skelton's hard tackle and fall onto McCaw (I think it was). It was borderline at best and could have gotten a yellow. Similarly the linesmen and ref missed a head high shot on Hoiles by a Sader's player about the 60th min. Hoiles, a decoy, was trotting through the defence line with the ball 20 odd metres away and WHAM. Some cleanouts, by both sides, were pretty borderline also. There will be lots of bruised bodies after that match, I can assure you. I always find it odd at SAnZar rulings. Many off-the-ball incidents (punches, elbows) that were missed are never cited but issues that were dealt with on the field are often cited seemingly for political reasons. Off the cuff, the best example was Rocky Elsom getting 3 weeks suspension for punching a Saffer prop who had just walked behind a Tah's player and king hit him from behind. The Saffer got 1 week suspension. Figure that one out. On their previous performances, I suspect Skelton will get 2 weeks.
Jeremelane
Guest
White lock was passed out before he hit the ground! If you're going to pretend to be injured you should do it properly and wait for the contact first!
Kiwi
Guest
I take it back, Tahs will finish 6th and get bundled out by the Stormers in the first week of the finals. Which is a fair result based on the quality of coach and the players.
Zero Gain
Guest
Our wine is probably better, unless you want that mass produced sauvignon blanc rubbish. That are pretty good at that. NZ Chardonnay is also pretty good, but their reds are definitely average. Unlike our Reds who are a sleeping giant awaiting the coach who can wake them from their slumber...
WQ
Guest
OJ, their Red wine is better!!
WQ
Guest
Skelton is a sook and will prove to be a typical big boy bully, whilst things are going his way he will be in everything, as soon as they are not you will be flat out finding him on the paddock!
soapit
Guest
its the way both union and league are going (league especially after alex mckinnon). lift and you take a risk of being suspended because it can go wrong so easily.
soapit
Guest
no dont think i have, only in rucks or after fieding kicks where i knew it was a penalty. its perfectly fine in league so perhaps i somehow managed to attribute it to something else when it happens.