The Waratahs have put in a disjointed and error-ridden performance to go down comfortably to the Sharks in Durban, punished by ill-discipline and poor execution.
From the kick off, the Waratahs placed themselves under immediate pressure, failing to exit from their 22, Nick Phipps first box kick charged, and then failing to find touch, and after a few quick recycles, Sharks No.8 Lubabalo Mtembu strolled over in the corner to get the Sharks off to a flying start.
Discipline issues plagued the Waratahs from there, punctuated by a lazy clean out, lifting one leg and dumping a Shark player on his shoulder from Jack Dempsey, earning him 10 minutes on the sideline as the Sharks continued to tick the scoreboard over from the boot Curwin Bosch, who replaced Patrick Lambie early in the match through injury.
The Waratahs didn’t lack for endeavour, but they certainly lacked cohesion, loose passing allowing Bosch to intercept and race away to score the Sharks second try of the match, racing to an 18 to nil lead after just twenty minutes.
Israel Folau bought the Waratahs back into the match briefly, chasing and recovering a well-weighted chip ahead from Bryce Hegarty to score under the posts, but that would be all she wrote in the first half as the Sharks added a few more penalties.
Then after another error in midfield, Sharks winger Jacobus van Wyk swooped and ran away to give the Sharks a commanding lead at halftime of 31 points to 7.
The second half started promisingly, Sekope Kepu charging down an attempted box kick from Cobus Reinach, recovering and then with momentum, the Waratahs sent Folau over for his second but this would be the highlight of the second half.
Errors started to permeate through both sides and the game drifted to fulltime, the Sharks running out comfortable winners and bucking recent modern trends, preferring to kick their penalties rather than chase the bonus point.
The Waratahs will return to Sydney now with two comfortable losses on the trot, and now face a local derby at home against their local rivals, the Brumbies and I imagine they will be sweating on the fitness of injured first five Bernard Foley this week.
His experience and control would be a blessing for this Waratahs side as they look to get their season back on track.
MitchO
Guest
Didn't see the game but heard Folau made no tackles. We're there tackles he should have made but he had a babysitter? Just interested in how he went and what it means for Aus. I don't see him as more useful than other options at outcentre but I leave backline analysis to my betters.
DOUBLES
Guest
18 k at suncorp satday jockstrap..
DOUBLES
Guest
10 ?? That's over-exaggerating..I`d say 5 are up to it
DOUBLES
Guest
And Chieka reckons Phipps is the best Scrum half in super rugby.. Go figure...Top coach my @$$
DOUBLES
Guest
Cooper?? hahaha .7 yeas ago.. Get over it ..Ritchie got belted by a skinny flyhalf..We know ..Move on
Jock Cornet
Guest
The players main concern is not to get injured. Winning is just a small bonus. The reds nor the tahs have any pride in their jersey or state. It is purely business hence no supporters
Bring Back...?
Guest
And just to add - Hooper saying it was a successful tour on the training paddock - WTF? Do these guys watch replays of their own performances?
Bring Back...?
Guest
C'mon, seriously. This is what these guys do for a living. One brain-fade dropped ball per half is acceptable but I get the impression it was far worse. I saw a lot of the Reds v Crusaders and the Reds number 12 dropped plenty and conditions were perfect. The Reds were odds on to score on one occasion. Stiles should bench him until he can learn to catch whilst running. What excuse is there for the Tahs being disjointed? Haven't they been training together for months? The longer we keep make excuses for these guys, the longer mediocrity will prevail. Drop players and bring in fresh blood - start putting some of these pretenders on notice.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Agreed In Brief. Refereeing standards have been poor for years. Might not change the tesult as in this last game, but it surely spoils the spectacle when one side is being watched more heavily. All three nations are at fault here. I havent noticed it in Argentina or Japan.(yet)
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Why is it the ARU's fault the Tahs suck? They even have a Kiwi coach!
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
cheika kepu skelton cooper (though ineffective admittedly) weren't pulling it.. or maybe they were....
Celtic334
Guest
Even the 'good' players in the tahs (actually all super teams) are progressively getting worse. Someone please help!
Gilbert
Guest
Isn't Nathan Grey , current wallaby defense guru, their D coach?
In Brief
Guest
Ok, enough whingeing boys, it wasn't that bad - a few dropped balls and missed tackles, it happens. Hooper was awesome , Dempsey played well and Falou improved. Missed Skelton, and had a couple of duds off the bench. Also don't forget every single 50/50 call went against them too as it always does with home town refs. Better team won, but it doesn't help and in rugby referees have a huge impact, even more so than dropped ball and missed tackles if we want to be honest
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
Hegarty was shown up in this game. He shuffled the ball on without adding anything or limply took it into contact as a last resort when he realised he had delayed the playmaking too long. There was not one example of him working well with the 12, and he is not top team material. He simply isn't (yet). Phipps served him poorly I thought. Phipps did some great open field defence and had some very good touches, but his persistent box kicks were killing the Tah momentum. Horne needs to come into 12, where he can bend the line and set things up. He creates things. Kellaway had a forgettable game. Dizzy was good and both of those tries he would not have scored from 15. They were bereft of attacking ideas and for this reason they must fast track Jake Gordon to the starting no 9. He attacks form 9 and has a great service. He is the future but the Tahs are stuck in the past with Phipps. The Tahs pack is not the force it was even last year. I guess we won't know how good it is till all players are on board, but Wells was better at 8. Scrum was pretty good against a brutal Shorks pack at the set piece. Next week, Foley must play is he can. Horne to 12, Gordon to start.
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
"criminal sanctioned deeds"... ??? ... you're sounding a little loopy there fella. Good 'ol' Faith was pulling it, man.
Chasbie
Guest
I have watched the Waratahs play for 50 years and this team is the worst I've seen,their are only 10 players up to standard and the coaching staff are right out of their depth have know idea re the structural game of rugby, norths and Sydney university would beat them
riddler
Guest
sorry jigbon.. feel your pain.. couldn't get a feed to watch it.. but had diggers blog.. definitely didn't seem like one of the tahs better games..
Rugby Tragic
Guest
*quietly applauds* ... well riddler, Digger is very versatile, he's also on the riight! He is an absolute stalward of rugby blogging...
Jigbon
Guest
I watched the game with the old one eye closed as I winced at the unbelievably bad ball retention of the tahs. Ffs what is going on there ? And passing.. oh that's right you are supposed to pass to your teammate ... no one told them. I thought by their game you passed anywhere but. Foley is so missed too. How paul cully Can say bryce Hegarty is a good fly half astounds me. He can't set up his backs at all. He just shovels the ball along. He doesn't have that balance a good fly half has. I've Never thought he was any good as a fly half. And no go forward with the pack. Hooper was again a stand out and Folau had some good moments. Phipps is his usual erratic self and some of the replacements looked like they had a few too many rums the night before. Our defence was woeful. Actually everything was woeful. As was our skills so all in all another great night at the tv. ... not. Yes fair question what do they do in all that off season training. They need to learn to catch pass tackle. Just getting those three basics right may even see them win a game. But it's another long forlorn season ahead for all of our teams.