What a difference a week makes.
After their meek capitulation to the Crusaders last Friday the Waratahs came out of the sheds breathing fire to smoke the Chiefs in Sydney last night.
The Tahs’ six-try-to-four win was built on four things: a domination of the collisions, solid set piece, ambitious attack – including plenty of Chiefs-like off loads – and absolutely brutal defence.
The Hurricanes win over the Highlanders in the early game meant there’s no chance for a second Aussie team to make it through as a wildcard in the Australasian playoffs. Knowing this permutation before kick off, the New South Welshmen were desperate to keep their slender conference lead and that was evident in everything they did.
Blindside Dean Mumm set the defensive tone with a huge hit on fullback wunderkind Damian McKenzie early to stop a promising Chiefs attack dead in its tracks.
Despite this the Chiefs continued their occupation of the Tahs’ 22 and looked a sure bet to score out wide until Israel Folau gambled with a burst out of his defensive line to latch on to a wide ball from Brad Weber and race 80m for a 14-point try. Bernard Foley converted from out wide and the boys in blue were 10-0 up in as many minutes.
The Chiefs struck back almost immediately with a try from a Nick Phipps fumble over the line, then another to Aaron Cruden following some ensemble build up – neither of which were converted by the All Black pivot.
With the score locked up at 10 apiece after 20 there were danger signs for the home side with the Chiefs building pressure – added to by Wycliff Palu sent to the bin with 15 to go in the half. But his team resolutely stuck at it to only concede three points in his absence.
In spite of his spate in the naughty chair it was a vintage performance by the veteran No.8 who threw his big body about with controled fury.
Indeed it was his offload to send another impressive big bopper Will Skelton lumbering up the field that led to the first of Michael Hooper’s two tries a minute out from the break.
That gave the Tahs a 17-13 half time lead and a big mental boost, despite the Chiefs having dominated 74 per cent of territory in the first spell, including camping out in the Tahs’ 22 for nearly three minutes compared to just three seconds that the Tahs were allegedly in the Chiefs red zone.
An incredible stat when you consider two tries were scored in those three seconds!
Eight minutes after the resumption the visitors rallied when they stretched the Tahs to the right touchline before rapidly swinging it back to the left where busy hooker Nathan Harris barged over for their third.
But two minutes later Folau – who was at his virtually unstoppable best all night – helped wrest back the lead with a trademark midfield burst that led to a Hooper looper of a pass to give young fullback Andrew Kellaway his first Super try.
That was followed almost immediately by a scintillating 75m effort that saw Hooper over for his first Super double.
They then botched a golden overlap opportunity that would have seen them in again – only to go in again anyway via that man Folau to stun the Chiefs with three converted, unanswered tries.
Cruden gave his notoriously fast-finishing side a semblance of a sniff when he sent a beautifully weighted kick pass as a second receiver to send impressive right wing Toni Pulu over for a try that ultimately denied the Tahs a bonus-point win.
Livewire replacement back rower Jack Dempsey sealed the deal for the home team when he burst through a couple of sliding doors to scamper away for his team’s sixth try a few minutes from time.
Dempsey’s try was precipitated by McKenzie spilling the ball in contact – his second fumble in quick succession – that may have seen a black mark put through his name for Sunday’s announcement of the All Blacks squad to meet Wales.
The pending presence of international rugby was palpable in the Tahs’ performance with all the big names – Folau, Palu, Mumm, Hooper, Foley, Tatafu Polota-Nau and to a lesser extent Phipps, bringing a Test-match intensity to proceedings.
It was by far the Tahs’ best performance since the end of the Michael Cheika coaching era and would have no doubt brought as much pleasure to the Wallaby coach as it did his old understudy Darryl Gibson.
That it came against the leader of the high-flying kiwi pack, would have made the victory even sweeter.
On the flip side it asks some intriguing questions of the All Black selectors.
Chiefs’ captain and Richie McCaw’s heir apparent as All Black No.7 Sam Cane was well shaded by his Wallaby opposite in a beaten pack – and on a night that had earlier seen Ardie Savea put in a rather spellbinding, match-winning performance for the Canes.
And Cruden’s goal kicking woes must surely be of some concern to Steve Hansen and company?
Interesting times ahead.
Mark
Guest
Normally not Their are a lot of corrupt refs arounds And far too often Kiwi sides get a bit arrogant and forget they have to put in the hard yards Anyway Warratahs or Wannabes supporter who thinks that was a good performance to beat the Chiefs needs to wise up
Mark
Guest
Abysmal performance from the Chiefs Two tries scored that wouldn't have been if Ardie Savea was Openside Cane isn't McCaws replacement
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah explains a lot for me, a case of one trying to be too smart and the other picking it, ruthlessly so. I think the key point is its fixable, get back into the contact stuff and don't give any ground as they did.
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Yes Taylorman, I don't think the Chiefs thought the Tahs would exploit it so ruthlessly with their pick and goes. Good captaincy on Hooper's behalf to see the opportunity and pounce. The irony is that such was the Tahs' forward momentum and they were able to find the space out wide - mostly through the brilliant efforts of Folau - that the fanning defence was supposed to negate. Back to the drawing board on this one for the Chiefs.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Hi Matt, in terms of the Chiefs effort, do you think their tactic of hanging off the rucks contributed to their downfall? It's almost as if the non committal to the contact extended further than it was supposed to, allowing the Tahs to attack through the middle more easily. Dunno, but it sure looks weird when only one side is on the ground with the ball so often.
taylorman
Roar Guru
In saying that Jameswn, I don't want to start this all over again so I Will leave it at that other than to say when a side loses, especially in a completely unexpected manner in which the Chiefs did, part of it will be to do with what they did wrong, so that provides scope for discussion in terms of what they can improve on.mand as you know, a large percentage of what is said on this site is exactly that, how things can be improved. So despite the Tahs playing brilliantly, something also went badly wrong for the Chiefs. Not little things, tweaks, something major. Because tweaks do not explain how the Tahs were able to just railroad through the opposition like that. And nor does the Tahs playing brilliantly explain it completely, because then they would have a massive problem trying to explain why they don't do that every week, in fact why they haven't done that all season, why they didn't get close to it for example last week against the Crusaders. No, the way that game went was something went really well for the Tahs, and really poorly for the Chiefs. Tahs need to figure out how they can reproduce that effort every week, and the Chiefs need to work out what went wrong this time, aside from being completely outplayed.
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Jack Having lost five of their previous six against the Tahs going into this game I hardly think the Chiefs were "taking them lightly". The Chiefs had an off night but it was largely because the Tahs aggressive defence severely cut down their time and space which harried the Chiefs into mistakes and largely stopped them from doing their usual thing of building constant pressure and turning that into points. Something a hugely improved offensive effort enabled the Tahs to do. This was the - at the time - top ranked Aussie side giving the - at the time - top ranked kiwi side a right old thumping in the last game before the international window. The Tahs made a statement.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes Jameswn, just like your comments last week that the Tahs only lost cos they got a bad start, nothing to do with how the Saders played. works both ways. Only difference there was, Kiwis didn't jump on you for saying it. Mention here that the Chiefs played poorly second half and world war three breaks out. Fickle.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Stay with the Blues TM mate.... you have suffered too long now to let them go!.... I've got a good feeling in my water... I hope I haven't just peed my pants ...
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yeh I'm inclined to agree Moa, even if Lima does get a start in June, I don't think he's the type that will let us down, as was shown at Ellis Park, last year. But what did surprise me mate, was why did Jamie take him off in the 58 minute, as he was playing so well, & Geeeez as we have all noticed, that kick!!!! Outrageous..
jameswm
Roar Guru
So the Tahs only won because the Chiefs took them lightly? Maybe PeterK was right - Kiwi teams are never beaten by a better side...
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Good point DanFan Certainly a heap more pick and goes and off loads in close from the Tahs' forwards - most of which were effective.
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Thanks Muzzo Yes, both results certainly stuffed my tips up for the week.
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Thanks KP
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Hi Peter K Yes, good point, I concede I was a bit early with that call, apologies, although still think it likely only one Aussie team will go through.
Jack
Guest
So terrible last week and good this week against a side clearly taking them lightly and having an off night means they've made a big statement? Seasons aren't made of one off performances. The Tahs won't be there at the end of this year and articles like this will have faded into history. Learn from the best teams in this comp, you won't win em all but you certainly won't win the comp by turning up a handful of times and calling it a season.
chracol
Guest
Mumm didn't miss McKenzie.
chracol
Guest
Agree. I made the comment elsewhere that Ardie Savea had a better game than Cane without acknowledging that it was a comparison over two very different games. Cane's role in the June test with Wales will come under scrutiny and if he is found wanting Savea is waiting to pounce on a starting spot and maybe it's his time.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes it's weird the rugby stops now and we get all these tests everywhere...surreal... In terms of the Blues they're way way overdue for a good win like this one. but listening to JK on Breakdown the other night trying to convince the other three very somewhat staunch South Islanders Of a win based on passion and accuracy, their comments that the Blues don't have the structure, the right 10 to direct the play etc etc it just felt ominous. They're right Im afraid is all I could think, JKs pain coming through the TV set almost. He's still a passionate Blues man but geez none of thought it would be this bad for so long.
Old Bugger
Guest
As always mate....the less supporting, the heavier the weight. Make sure its a good rub for both you and RT.....in fact, good enough to scrape a win. Btw, I'd offer my shoulders to share the load but after last night, I'm wondering if I still have them.....?? That was a result, I don't really want to think about for at least, the next month......haha!!