The Waratahs have put in a disjointed and error-ridden performance to go down comfortably to the Sharks in Durban this morning, punished by ill-discipline and poor execution.
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Final score
Sharks 31
Waratahs 14
This early Sunday morning game sees the Waratahs travelling to Durban to play the Sharks. Join The Roar from 4:30am AEDT for all the live action as we cover this Round 3 match from South Africa.
Both sides enter this match with differing results from last week, the Sharks winning a thriller in Canberra on the stroke of fulltime while the Waratahs were well beaten by one of the early competition favourites, the Lions in Johannesburg.
The Waratahs will be looking for a big improvement from their forward pack this week after being pushed around at times against the Lions and the job certainly does not get much easier this week, as the Sharks have named a large and fast forward unit.
Unfortunately for the Waratahs, they are still missing some key personal for tonight’s match, namely Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps, their regular halves pairing so it is up to Matt Lucas and Bryce Hegarty to guide the Waratahs around the Shark tank this morning.
While the defensive performance from the Waratahs last weekend left a touch to be desired, they will be buoyed by the fact they scored a number of well-constructed tries themselves and certainly know they have the firepower within the side to jag a win today.
The Sharks pairing of Cobus Reinach and Patrick Lambie will see the Sharks with an advantage in this area and their calmness and experience will serve the Sharks well as they look to kick off their side’s home season on a winning note.
One key match-up to keep an eye on will be in the scrum battle as Tendai Mtawarira goes head to head with Sekope Kepu, the two experienced internationals have faced off on many occasions and will add another chapter to their personal rivalry while the performance of the two open sides, the ever reliable Michael Hooper up against one of the rising talents of South African rugby, Jean-Luc du Preez.
Prediction
Despite the travel, I think the Sharks have the pack and being at home again will be too much for the Waratahs in the end.
Sharks by 5
Join us this morning as we cover all the action live here on The Roar and don’t forget to use the comments section below.
Bfc
Guest
Feel ya pain...Frisby must have been taking lessons on the Spring Tour, as he was doing the same crap.....Maybe time for Stiles to hook Frisby and give Tuttle a start, even if it just to 'light the fire' under Frisby's butt (and Lucas to start ahead of Phipps for the TAHs..?). How is it that our two Wallas back up scrum halfs (assuming Genia is available...) are making the same mistakes over and over again? No flyhalf can look great with the rubbish dished up by Phipps and Frisby...
davSA
Guest
I thought the Sharks were pretty impressive with an aggressive defense . Constantly pushed the Tahs back over the gain line forcing errors. The number of intercepts was telling as a result of Waratahs having to force/shovel passes.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Holloway seems to be injured for an eternity. Need him back. But we can forget about getting too excited this season. Squad has not been assembled well. Either budget or Gibson or both are to blame.
Daveski
Guest
Yeah that was a somewhat extraordinary but in the context of this match true comment. "Folau is head and shoulders above the rest of this team" were the exact words.
AJ
Guest
I believe Phipps should either go back to club rugby if not ban him from ever kicking the ball. Just count the mistakes he makes every game. The coach needs top take some blame for these terrible games in South Africa.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Agree Daveski. At one point the SA commentary said Izzy was by far away the most talented player on the field for the Tahs and he may have to win the game on his own. He was exaggerating of course with Hooper and a few others doing their jobs too but he was implying that this Tahs squad is pedestrian. Some of Gibson's expectations of certain players are beyond what they can deliver. Changes are needed ASAP.
Daveski
Guest
It would seem that way Lost. Alas some of the NRC stars like Lolohea, Simone, Toleafoa haven't proven they belong here yet and as much as like Dempsey and Wells individually the current back row is too light. Hanigan and Holloway will go a long way to fixing the lack of go forward punch and carrying skills but the issues run deeper than that. The only positives from this match were a lift in form and application from Izzy and the debut of Cam Clark who looked OK. The Tahs backline just isn't functioning and was totally directionless in that second half.
Jock Cornet
Guest
Due to the utter decline in our clubs we just have to buy more leaguies. The players are crap.
Ray
Guest
3 rounds played and the most we can utter, is –its going to be a long season and so it is. The level of continued lack of discipline by the Tahs is woeful and simply unacceptable. Based on the performance of the local teams, not to mention dwindling attendances as evident by the Brumbies drawing a meagre 8,500 [at home]. I can only conclude with the closing line from the past TV series, ‘The Two Ronnie’s’, ‘Well its goodnight from him and goodnight from me!
Barra23
Roar Rookie
Poor game from the Tahs. Depth is a real issue with the subs contributing little. Doesn't seem to be core of decent but not outstanding Super rugby players. The big names are all trying to do it themselves and the rest are Shute Shield players way out of their depth. Hegarty and Simone are not up to super rugby standard, Phipps needs to go back to club rugby for a spell, Wells and McDulling were very ordinary (can they tackle?), Poor all round game. Don't rate them against the Brumbies next week. Going to be a long season. How can the state with the largest player base have such a poor squad? Are all the big names sucking up the money or is it just piss poor recruitment?
Bamboo
Guest
Made worse by NZ having played 5 local derbies, Australia 3. Long season ahead indeed.
Carlos the Argie
Guest
Yes, the second half drifted. Became so boring that I decided to take the dog for a walk instead. At least the dog was happy.
Digby
Roar Guru
I am not betting anything!
Diggercane
Guest
Thanks riddler.
Digby
Roar Guru
The Waratahs have put in a disjointed an error ridden performance to go down comfortably to the Sharks in Durban this morning, 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 Number 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 and 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 as 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.
concerned supporter
Guest
NSW Waratahs = missed tackles, dropped ball, turnovers, second half no purpose kicking. Hegarty cannot control a game, they must drop him.What are the B.Foley haters saying now? Q.Cooper was just ok, although he had slow service from Frisby and the Queensland forwards. Passive NSW second rowers.Simone was not given a decent chance.Folau got involved and was outstanding Is there anybody happy with Nathan Grey as a defensive coach?
Max
Guest
The Warratahs need a lesson in ball retention, if i see Nick Phipps give away possesion with no gain from a usless box kick again, Im going to reach through the screen and slap him, How about running a few phases through the hand
riddler
Guest
cheers digger for the blog.. most appreciated..
JMB
Guest
The Oz leader in their conference the Brumbies are W 1 L 2 pd -1. Oh dear. Three rounds in and Kiwi teams have almost tripled Oz's collective wins. Another long and painful year awaits Oz Super Rugby.
Harry Jones
Expert
Bet the house